What Apple’s New iOS Rules Change
Apple’s new iOS rules for third-party app stores and alternative payments are a set of policy and technical changes that let developers distribute apps and process transactions outside Apple’s own App Store and in-app purchase system while still relying on Apple’s core platform tools and security checks. These changes follow a three‑year antitrust investigation triggered by a complaint from Mercado Libre and culminate in a binding agreement with Brazil’s competition regulator CADE. Developers can now offer iOS app distribution via third-party app stores iOS users can install, as well as Apple alternative payments both inside apps and on external websites. At the same time, Apple will keep reviewing all apps through a lighter "Notarization" process and continue charging reduced but still significant commissions on both App Store and out-of-store activity.
How Third-Party App Stores on iOS Will Work
Under the new Brazil app store rules, developers can distribute iOS apps through rival marketplaces instead of relying only on Apple’s App Store. These third-party app stores iOS will support must be formally authorized by Apple and meet “ongoing requirements to serve developers and users,” including security-related obligations. Apple says it will perform a baseline review, called Notarization, on all apps regardless of the store they come from. This combines automated checks and human review and focuses on basic functionality and serious security threats, but is “less comprehensive than the App Review process” that still applies to App Store apps. Developers using alternative distribution will pay a 5% Core Technology Commission on iOS apps sold outside the App Store, which Apple argues compensates it for tools, technologies and services that underpin iOS app distribution.
Alternative Payment Options and Apple’s Commissions
Developers now have more freedom to use Apple alternative payments for in-app purchases and subscriptions. They can integrate third-party payment processors directly inside their apps or route users to external sites to complete transactions, even when the app itself is listed on Apple’s App Store. Apple says alternative methods “will always be presented alongside Apple In‑App Purchase,” preserving its own option. However, Apple will not provide refunds or subscription management for payments processed outside its ecosystem, and purchase histories will not show these transactions. According to Silicon Republic, Apple cut its App Store commission from 30% to 10% for several developer programmes and some subscriptions, while others will pay 21%. Developers steering users to website payments face a 15% commission in many cases, and an additional 5% fee applies to in‑app purchases made through Apple’s own system.
Security Concerns and User Experience Trade-Offs
Apple is warning that opening iOS to rival marketplaces and payment processors “opens new avenues for malware, fraud, scams, and privacy and security risks.” To address these risks, it worked with CADE to define new safeguards, including authorization for every third-party marketplace and mandatory baseline reviews for all iOS apps, regardless of where they are distributed. Users benefit from more choice in iOS app distribution and payment methods, but they also face more complex responsibilities. Payments handled by alternative processors will not show up in Apple’s subscription tools, and Apple will have limited capacity to help if something goes wrong. That means users must rely on each marketplace or processor’s support policies. The result is a more open but also more fragmented user experience, where security and accountability vary from store to store.
Global Implications for Developers and Platforms
Brazil now sits alongside the EU and Japan in forcing Apple to loosen control over iOS app distribution and in-app payments. For developers, this creates new channels to reach users but also a patchwork of regional rules, fees and technical requirements. A studio may ship the same app through Apple’s App Store in one region, an authorized marketplace in another, and a mix of Apple and third-party payment processors depending on local regulation. While commissions have fallen for many participants in Apple’s Small Business, Video Partner and Mini Apps Partner programmes, developers still need to weigh the 5% Core Technology Commission and other fees against the reach and trust of Apple’s ecosystem. The outcome is a hybrid model: iOS remains a controlled platform, but regulators are steadily carving out more room for competition in app stores and payments.
