Apple has set a new deadline of November 1, 2026 for all Patreon creators to switch from Patreon's legacy billing system to the App Store's in-app purchase system in the Patreon app on the iPhone and iPad, as reported by TechCrunch. Note: This image has been edited to include a pile of cash. Patreon is a platform where creators such as YouTubers can receive payments from fans, which can be a valuable revenue stream alongside ads and sponsorships.
It’s all about control of reach.
If I was an influencer and using Patreon (I’m neither), it’s a simple decision:
Total reach * conversion rate * platform commission = income
Apple’s app store has a fuckton of desirable reach - they monopolize (arguably literally) all the easy payments from iphones and kill anybody else who tries to redirect eyeballs. They are too strong. But what else are you going to do if you need Patreons or app customers, etc?
You can’t ignore the reach, and you’d have to pay or work harder to get eyeballs another way too unless you can get free publicity by being crazy or something and pull people into your own payment/ download channels.
You aren’t gaining reach by having your current followers gain a payment fee.
It’s just something you don’t have a say in.
I thought Epic won this lawsuit though.
Once they are following, I’d think you can begin to convert them to higher tiers of support through private channels?