Apple pressures Patreon: Switch to its billing or face app store removal

Apple has warned that it will pull the crowdfunding app Patreon from the App Store if creators persist in using unauthorised third-party billing methods or deactivate transactions on iOS, rather than utilising Apple’s in-app purchasing system.

In a recent blog post and email to Patreon creators, the technology giant announced a 16-month transition plan to shift all membership billing to Apple’s subscription system by November 2025.

Creators on Patreon have been informed that Apple will transition all memberships to subscription billing starting November 2024. 

They can choose to either increase their membership prices to cover Apple’s commission or take on the cost themselves.

Creators can also postpone the migration to November 2025 through their Patreon settings. 

However, delaying will mean they won’t be able to offer memberships via the iOS app until they switch to Apple’s subscription billing, which will be mandatory starting this November.

Patreon stated that neither option—raising subscription prices nor covering the cost themselves—is ‘ideal’.

However, it stressed that Apple’s fees are only in the iOS app, with creators’ prices on the web and Android app remaining ‘completely unaffected’. 

“Most creators on Patreon use subscription billing. Over the past few years, we’ve slowly rolled it out, tackling each hurdle that has come up to ensure that the migration is not disruptive for creators,” the blog post said. 

“That’s the way we like to roll out products. Unfortunately, because of Apple’s timelines and constraints, we can’t continue to do it this way. Instead of helping creators move to subscription billing if and when they feel like it’s right for them, we’re now forced to migrate all creators on Apple’s timeline.”

Patreon also recommended that creators direct their fans to a Help Center article detailing iOS fees, helping subscribers understand the impact of their purchase choices.

Apple has previously been accused of implementing its App Store rules unfairly, with notable criticism coming from Fortnite maker Epic Games, which sued the company over antitrust concerns.