In a recent blog post and email to creators, Patreon announced that Apple has threatened to remove the creator platform from the App Store if creators use unsupported third-party billing options or disable transactions on iOS. This decision comes as Patreon begins a 16-month-long migration process to move all creators to Apple’s in-app purchase system by November 2025.
Patreon’s Response to Apple’s In-App Purchase Policy
According to Patreon, the company has been informed that it will switch creators over to subscription billing as of November 2024. However, this means that creators will have to decide whether to price their memberships at a higher fee to cover Apple’s commission or absorb the fee themselves.
Patreon Offers Creators Options
While Patreon is migrating to Apple’s in-app purchase system, the company has offered creators two options:
- Raise subscription prices: Creators can choose to raise their subscription prices to cover Apple’s commission.
- Absorb the fee: Alternatively, creators can decide to absorb the fee themselves.
Consequences of Not Complying with Apple’s Policies
However, if creators choose to delay the migration in their Patreon settings until November 2025, they won’t be able to offer memberships in the iOS app until they adopt Apple’s in-app purchase system. This is because Apple’s rules will apply as of this November.
The Impact on Creators and Fans
Patreon emphasized that creators can continue to offer the same prices on the web and Android, but fans who want to subscribe through the iOS app will have to pay a higher price or face not being able to purchase memberships at all. To inform their fans about this change, Patreon advises creators to send them to a Help Center article explaining iOS fees.
Background on Apple’s App Store Rules
This move by Apple serves as another example of how the tech giant has applied its App Store rules unevenly. Critics, including Fortnite maker Epic Games, have accused Apple of antitrust issues in the past. Although Epic largely lost that lawsuit, the court did decide that iPhone makers would have to allow links to other payment options inside their apps.
Epic’s Lawsuit and Its Implications
In 2020, Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of antitrust issues in the App Store. While Epic largely lost that lawsuit, as the court ruled Apple was not a monopolist, it did decide that iPhone makers would have to allow links to other payment options inside their apps.
Why Patreon Had Been Able to Skirt Apple’s In-App Billing Requirements
According to Patreon CEO Jack Conte, the company had existed in an odd sort of gray area due to many users not coming to Patreon itself to discover creators and content. Instead, discovery took place through other channels. While Patreon admitted it didn’t have any special contract with Apple to avoid App Store fees, its app had been able to skirt Apple’s in-app billing requirements for some time.
Patreon’s Reaction to Apple’s Pressure
Clearly, Patreon is not happy with the recent pressure from Apple to comply with its policies. In a blog post, Patreon stated that neither of the options presented — raising subscription prices or absorbing the fee themselves — was "ideal." The company noted that most creators on Patreon use subscription billing and would prefer to have more control over when they switch to this method.
What This Means for Creators
The announcement by Apple has significant implications for creators who rely on Patreon’s platform. While Patreon is working to comply with Apple’s policies, creators will need to adapt their pricing strategies or risk losing access to the iOS app.
