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Apple is forcing Patreon to switch to its iOS in-app purchase system, or it will remove the app from the App Store.
Last year, Patreon announced that Apple urged it to use its in-app purchasing system in its iOS app instead of other billing options. However, Patreon has been able to avoid this until now and has continued to offer other payment systems.
Now, Apple has threatened Patreon that it might remove its app from the App Store if it doesn’t start using the company’s in-app payment system beginning this November.
Patreon released a blog post today announcing that it must comply with Apple’s demands. As a result, Patreon has initiated a 16-month migration process to transition all its creators to Apple’s in-app purchase model.
New Patreon Fees
This change will lead to Apple imposing a 30% App Store fee on all new memberships purchased through the Patreon iOS app. Consequently, you must pay nearly four times the current Patreon platform fee of 8%.
Patreon has left it up to creators to decide whether to increase their membership prices on the iOS app to offset the Apple 30% fee or absorb it themselves.
If you use the @Patreon app on iOS and decide to donate to your favorite artist or developer Apple will get 30% of your donation. Because… you know… because??? Eh… because…??? pic.twitter.com/87xUkD4I4v
— Kenney 🔜 IndieDevDay (@KenneyNL) August 12, 2024
While Patreon plans to switch to the Apple subscription model by November of this year, it will offer creators the option to delay the transition until November 2025. However, choosing this option won’t make much sense as creators won’t be able to sell new memberships on the iOS app until they adopt Apple’s in-app purchase system.
The increased fee will only apply to memberships purchased through the Patreon iOS app. You will still pay the same membership fee if you purchase through the Patreon Android app or its website.
