Recently, Patreon announced that memberships sold on the iOS app will soon be subject to Apple’s 30 percent commission on in-app purchases. This change is set to take effect starting in November, forcing creators to use Apple’s in-app payment system or risk being removed from the App Store. This will have significant implications for both creators and subscribers alike.
Creators on Patreon will now have to switch to Patreon’s subscription billing method in order to continue earning money through the iOS app. This means that Apple’s 30 percent commission will be applied to each new membership purchased, as well as for each renewal. To counteract this new fee, Patreon will give creators the option to automatically increase their prices in the iOS app. However, this ultimately means that creators will end up with less money for their work due to the additional commission.
For subscribers, this change means that memberships purchased on Patreon’s iOS app will become more expensive due to Apple’s App Store Fee. Unless creators choose to absorb this fee themselves, subscribers will end up paying more for their memberships compared to purchasing them on the web or through the Android app. This could potentially lead to a decrease in subscribers or a shift towards other platforms that do not have these additional fees.
In the past, Patreon was able to avoid Apple’s 30 percent commission by using alternative payment processors. However, this exemption came to an end in 2021 when Patreon announced that it would have to transition to Apple’s in-app payment system. The decision to implement this fee on digital goods came into effect at the beginning of 2024, extending to new memberships and subscriptions later in the year. This change has put pressure on creators and subscribers to adjust to the new pricing structure.
Apple’s 30 percent commission on Patreon memberships sold on the iOS app will have a significant impact on both creators and subscribers. Creators will end up with less earnings for their work, while subscribers will have to pay higher prices for memberships. This could potentially lead to a shift away from the iOS app towards other platforms that offer a more cost-effective solution. It remains to be seen how creators and subscribers will adapt to these changes in the coming months.
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