Patreon creators hit with 30% Apple App Store fee
Patreon says Apple has "forced" it to adopt its in-app payments system — and an accompanying fee.
Creators using Patreon will be hit with a 30% fee for payments made through the iOS app, following an ultimatum from Apple.
Patreon’s app risked being dropped from the App Store if it didn’t adopt the tech giant’s in-app payment system, according to a statement released Tuesday.
Creators can choose to automatically uplift their prices for App Store customers or absorb the fee from their own earnings.
The former would mean creators receive the same fee for each new paid subscription, regardless of the platform it was purchased through. Subscribers, however, would pay more for memberships purchased through Apple.
Patreon advised creators to avoid paying the fee themselves, but accepted some users might prefer not to pass the cost onto their fans.
“We don’t recommend this, because it means you’d earn less per membership on in-app iOS transactions,” Patreon wrote. “But ultimately we believe it's important to give you agency to make your own decisions.”
Fans with existing memberships will not be affected by the change, nor will users who pay via the Patreon website or the Android app.
The company says it has been ‘forced’ into the move, which has already faced sharp criticism online.
Indie games developer KenneyNL wrote on X: “If you use the @Patreon app on iOS and decide to donate to your favorite artist or developer Apple will get 30% of your donation. Because... you know... because??? Eh... because...???”
Reposting KenneyNL’s post, Epic Games CEO and Founder Tim Sweeney added: “Now Apple is demanding a 30% cut of all Patreon DONATIONS. Apple must be stopped. The digital world cannot go on like this.”
Patreon isn’t the only app to switch up its payments system after having issues with Apple’s App Store rules.
As of June, Telegram bot users, channel owners and stores have been told to use Telegram’s Stars payment system to sell products through the app.
Users can buy Stars in-app via Apple or Google, or by interacting with Telegram’s “PremiumBot.” They can then spend their stars on content or other digital products. Creators and developers can exchange the Stars they receive for Telegram’s cryptocurrency, Ton.
The move will add an extra layer of complexity for sellers who previously accepted payments in-app via Stripe links or other third-party providers.
This move by Apple is another example of how tech giants leverage their control over ecosystems to impose hefty fees on creators and businesses. Patreon creators are now faced with the tough choice of either increasing prices for their fans or absorbing a significant cut to their earnings. It’s frustrating to see creators, who are already working hard to sustain their livelihoods, being forced into these positions just to keep their content accessible on platforms like iOS. Tim Sweeney’s comment highlights the bigger issue: this kind of gatekeeping stifles innovation and exploits creators’ work. It’s time for more dialogue about fairer digital marketplaces.
Hey,
Interesting development with Patreon and Apple's App Store fee. It's a tough situation for creators who rely on every bit of their earnings. It would be great if platforms could find more equitable solutions that don't burden creators or their supporters. This could push more users towards direct web payments to avoid the extra charges.