Updated April 2026 · 4 min read

iFood, Mercado Livre, Rappi: Brazilian apps that need your CPF

The best apps in Brazil all require a CPF to sign up. Here is what you are missing out on without one.

Brazil's app ecosystem is incredible

Brazil has one of the most developed app ecosystems in the world. Food delivery that is fast and affordable, e-commerce with next-day delivery, ride-hailing that is cheaper than driving, apartment platforms with virtual tours. The technology is genuinely impressive.

But every single one of these apps requires a CPF to sign up. It is not optional. Brazil uses the CPF as a universal identity number for everything digital. Until you have one, you are locked out of the best parts of living here.

Food delivery: iFood and Rappi

iFood is Brazil's largest food delivery app with over 300,000 restaurants. The variety is incredible, the prices are reasonable, and delivery is fast. It is the Uber Eats of Brazil but bigger and better integrated into daily life. CPF required.

Rappi delivers food, groceries, pharmacy items, and basically anything else you can think of. Need medicine at 11pm? Rappi. Forgot to buy milk? Rappi. Also requires a CPF.

Without these apps, you are limited to restaurants that have their own delivery or walking to pick up food. In a country where R$25 gets you a full meal delivered to your door, not having access to iFood feels like a genuine loss.

Shopping: Mercado Livre and Amazon BR

Mercado Livre is Latin America's largest e-commerce platform. Electronics, furniture, clothing, household items, often with same-day or next-day delivery in major cities. The deals are consistently better than physical stores. CPF required.

Amazon Brazil operates separately from Amazon US/UK. Different inventory, different prices, great Prime delivery. CPF required.

Without a CPF, you are shopping in physical stores, paying retail prices, and carrying everything home yourself. With a CPF, you have two of the biggest e-commerce platforms in the world delivering to your door.

The full list of what opens up

Uber and 99 for rides (99 is often cheaper and is Brazil's own). QuintoAndar for finding your apartment. Gympass/Wellhub for gym access across hundreds of locations. Netflix Brazil and Spotify Brazil at local pricing in reais, which is significantly cheaper than international pricing.

Even government services like checking your vaccination records or accessing your digital health card require a CPF.

The pattern is always the same: Brazil has built amazing digital infrastructure, and the CPF is the key to all of it. Once you have yours, every app, every service, every convenience that makes Brazil such a great place to live becomes available to you.