Apple will soon begin collecting a 30 percent commission on all in-app subscription payments made through the Patreon app on iOS, which will be a major shift for digital creators using the platform.
The move follows Apple’s decision to enforce its long-standing App Store rules on subscription billing, setting a final deadline of November 1, 2026, for Patreon to migrate remaining creators off its legacy billing system.
Though most of Patreon’s user base has already transitioned, about 4 percent of creators still use the older billing method.
They will now be required to adopt Apple's in-app purchase system or risk removal of their services from the iOS app. The change reactivates a policy Apple first pushed in 2024 but had paused following legal and platform-related disputes.
“We strongly disagree with this decision,” Patreon wrote in a company blog post. "Creators need consistency and clarity in order to build healthy, long-term businesses."
Patreon noted that the policy reversal was "the third such change from Apple in the past 18 months."
Why It Matters
For creators on Patreon, Apple’s standard 30 percent commission on in-app purchases could have a significant impact on revenue unless they raise prices or persuade supporters to switch to web-based payments.
Apple considers the financial support fans give to creators as digital goods, which fall under its existing in-app purchase rules. After one year of continuous subscription, the commission rate drops to 15 percent, in line with Apple’s standard policy for subscription-based services.
Patreon offers creators the ability to either absorb the fee or increase prices within the iOS app.
Supporters can also avoid Apple’s commission by completing transactions through their mobile browser, a workaround enabled by loosened App Store rules after the Epic v. Apple ruling.
What To Know
The November 2026 deadline was reimposed after Apple initially gave Patreon until November 2025 to comply.
Patreon then paused the transition, citing new flexibility following the legal ruling. But Apple’s latest move reinstates the requirement, and creators still using legacy billing must switch by the deadline.
Patreon says it has built new tools to help ease the transition, including eligibility tracking, tier repricing, gifting and discounting features, and an upcoming annual-membership-only option.
The company expressed frustration that its proposed solutions were rejected by Apple.
“Unfortunately, Apple has continually declined them,” Patreon said in a statement quoted by TechCrunch.
What People Are Saying
Commenters on Reddit's r/Apple forum weren't impressed, with one writing, "Not a good look. At all."
"Just go to the website instead of letting them take a cut through the app," another user suggested. "Not everything needs to be an app in the first place."
"What does the app do that the website can't?" a third user wondered. "If I were Patreon, I would just abandon the app and focus engineering on improving the web-based experience."
Finally, one individual shared their experience with another app: "I had a YouTube subscription through the app for many years. When they announced prices would be going up, I did some research and realized how much I was paying extra.
"I cancelled and then re-subscribed through the website, and it was significantly cheaper. Never subscribe to things through the app."
What's Next
Creators must fully migrate by November 1, 2026, or risk being removed from the iOS App Store.
Newsweek has reached out to Apple for comment via email.
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