Apple’s requirement to use iOS in-app purchases
Except for U.S. customers who are purchasing memberships (see below), Apple requires that all digital purchases (including annual and monthly memberships, and digital goods) made through the Patreon iOS app use their in-app purchase system, which comes with a 30% fee on the prices of these sales. Patreon does not charge any additional payment processing fees on iOS transactions, but our platform fee still applies.
For iOS users in the U.S.: Fans in the U.S. have the option to complete their purchase through Patreon’s mobile web checkout instead of using Apple’s in-app purchase flow. Purchases completed on the mobile web are not subject to Apple’s App Store fee.
Migrating to subscription billing
All creators still using legacy billing will need to switch to subscription billing by November 1, 2026. Apple has reinstated a requirement first introduced in 2024: subscription billing is the only billing model supported for in-app purchases on iOS. To keep the Patreon iOS app available on the App Store, creators using legacy billing models must migrate.
Creators have until October 31, 2026, at 11:59 pm PT to complete the switch.
Why migrate before the deadline?
- 1:1 migration support: If you’d like hands-on help, contact Patreon Product Support from your billing & payout settings. The deadline to receive 1:1 guidance is September 30, 2026. Our team can walk you through pricing, timing, and the migration process
- More time to communicate with fans: Migrating earlier gives you flexibility to notify members about any changes to billing or benefit delivery on your own timeline
You can also learn more about Apple’s decision and how it impacts Patreon creators here.
How subscription billing has helped creators grow
Subscription billing offers a more predictable model for you and your members and unlocks tools like Free trials, Autopilot, Gifting, Discounts, and Tier Repricing.
Hear from creators who have found success and growth with switching to subscription billing:
- Why Knitty Magazine moved to subscription billing, and what advice she’d give to others
- Learn how a TTRPG creator saw higher earnings after moving to subscription billing from per-creation
- Discover how a 3D printer streamlined benefit delivery after moving to subscription billing from per-creation
- Get tips from a former per-creation creator on how he talked about the changes with his community
- Learn how a former CUF creator saw higher retention rates when he moved to subscription billing
How to migrate to subscription billing
Switching to subscription billing is a permanent, one-time change, and we want to make sure you feel supported through the process.
- For first-of-the-month billing creators: You can switch to subscription billing at any time. If you don’t switch, your memberships will remain available to existing fans, but will not be purchasable in the iOS app for international fans.
- For per-creation billing creators: Migration requires manual support from our team. If you’d like to make the switch, contact Support and we’ll help guide you through the process.
Read these Help Center articles to learn about the process of migrating to a new billing model and its impact on you and your members:
- How to move from 1st-of-the-month to subscription billing
- How to move from per creation to subscription billing
- How iOS in-app purchases impact fans
For answers to frequently asked questions, please visit our iOS In-app Purchases and Migrating to Subscription Billing: FAQ
Creators control how Apple’s fee is applied to their prices
Switching to subscription billing does not mean all fans will be required to use in-app purchases. Due to current U.S. court rulings, iOS users in the U.S. can continue to sign up through Patreon’s mobile web checkout, which is not subject to Apple’s App Store fee.
As a result, most new U.S. members will still join through web checkout rather than Apple’s in-app purchase system.
For those fans purchasing via Apple's in-app system, creators can choose to:
- Increase the prices of the memberships and digital goods sold in the iOS app. This will help creators earn the same across platforms despite the Apple fee and is the default option
- Keep prices the same across all platforms. This means that the creator absorbs the Apple App Store fee themselves and therefore earns less from sales in the iOS app
You can switch from the default setting of increasing the prices of membership and digital goods sold on the iOS app by visiting your Billing and payouts settings.
We’ve created a page on how iOS in-app purchases will impact fans you can share with fans to help communicate this change.