New Patreon memberships purchased through the iOS app will be subject to Apple’s 30 percent App Store fee in the coming months, the crowdfunding platform announced in a blog post on Monday.
Patreon must implement the change by November or risk being kicked off the App Store. That would have devastating implications, as Patreon CEO Jack Conte said in a YouTube video discussing the changes that iOS is now the most used platform for communities on Patreon.
Creators must switch to Patreon’s subscription billing method to comply with the limitations of Apple’s in-app purchasing system. Because of this rule, Apple will automatically take a 30 percent cut from purchases. Patreon has developed an optional tool that automatically increases a creator’s prices within the iOS app to offset the cost of Apple’s fees, so creators earn the same amount per membership as they do on other platforms. However, creators can opt out of the automatic payment increase and cover the 30 percent fee themselves, eliminating the need for customers to pay for memberships.
“Of course, none of these solutions are ideal,” Patreon said in the post. Pricing on the web and in the Android app will remain unaffected.
These changes have been in the works for some time. Patreon announced in December that Apple would require the platform to use its in-app payment system. At the time, Patreon said it expected Apple to start charging the 30 percent fee on recurring subscriptions sometime in 2024.
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