Apple has issued a warning to crowdfunding app Patreon, stating that they may remove it from the App Store if creators persist in utilizing unsupported third-party billing options or disabling transactions on iOS rather than utilizing Apple’s in-app purchasing system. As part of their efforts to enhance the membership experience on the iOS app, Patreon has recently announced a comprehensive migration plan. Over the course of 16 months, the company will be transitioning all creators to Apple’s subscription billing system, with the aim of completing the process by November 2025.
Patreon’s reaction to the Apple warning
In addition to the above, Patreon has notified creators that, starting in November 2024, they will transition to subscription billing. However, creators will have the flexibility to choose whether they want to increase the membership fee to account for Apple’s commission or absorb the fee themselves. Furthermore, creators have the option to postpone the migration in their Patreon settings until November 2025, according to the company’s statement. On the other hand, if creators opt for the second choice, they will need to implement Apple’s subscription billing in order to offer memberships in the iOS app starting in November.
Apple’s uneven App Store standards have been criticized before, but this news underscores them. Epic Games, which makes Fortnite, sued Google for antitrust issues. Epic lost the claim, but the court said Apple was not a monopolist. The court ordered the iPhone manufacturer to allow connections to alternative payment choices in applications. Apple has allowed developers to promote subscriptions via website connections. Apple will collect 27% commission instead of 30% or 12% instead of 15% for auto-renewing memberships in the second year. (Apple’s injunction compliance is being litigated.) 
In spite of Apple’s rules and policies, Patreon had managed to navigate somewhat ambiguous territory. While some of its subscription-based offerings were accessible through its app, others were not. According to Patreon CEO Jack Conte, one possible reason for the Patreon exception was that users didn’t rely on Patreon to find creators and content. Conte shared this insight with tech news site The Verge in 2021. However, the discovery occurred through alternative channels. Despite not having a specific agreement with Apple to bypass the App Store fees, the app managed to avoid Apple’s in-app billing requirements for a considerable period.
It is evident that Patreon is dissatisfied with the recent demands from Apple to adhere to its policies. The platform informs creators that neither of the presented options—increasing subscription prices or absorbing the costs—is considered “ideal.”
According to a blog post by Patreon, the majority of creators on the platform utilize subscription billing. Throughout the past few years, we have methodically implemented the migration process, addressing each obstacle that arises to ensure a seamless transition for creators. That’s how we prefer to introduce our products. Regrettably, due to Apple’s timelines and constraints, we are unable to proceed in the same manner. Now we are compelled to migrate all creators on Apple’s timeline instead of allowing them to transition to subscription billing at their own discretion.
The company emphasized that Apple’s fees are only applicable to the iOS app, reassuring creators that they can maintain the same prices on the web and Android platforms. Creators were also encouraged to direct their fans to a Help Center article that provides detailed information about iOS fees. This way, subscribers can gain a better understanding of the consequences associated with their purchase decisions.
