Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Apple has set a November 1, 2026 deadline for Patreon to migrate all creators to in-app purchase subscriptions, affecting about 4% of creators still using legacy billing methods.
- Macworld reports this mandate stems from App Store rules preventing external subscription links, with the previous deadline paused due to the Apple vs. Epic legal battle.
- Patreon will comply despite disagreeing with Apple’s decision to maintain its App Store presence, forcing creators to adjust their billing methods.
TechCrunch is reporting that Apple has given Patreon a new deadline to migrate all of its creators to use Apple’s in-app purchases for subscriptions.
While most of Patreon’s creators already use their new billing schemes, about 4 percent of them have elected to stay on “legacy billing” and will have to change their accounts.
This all started back in 2024 when Apple said that, in order for the Patreon app to stay on the App Store, it would have to have all Patreon creators bill through in-app purchases. Any attempt to push people to the web to subscribe would be in violation of its App Store rules. Patreon devised a new billing system, under protest, that allows its creators to either absorb the App Store fee themselves or to increase their subscription price to compensate for it. The deadline for changing over would have been November 2025.
But that all got put on pause last year, when a ruling in the Apple vs. Epic legal battle called into question the ability of Apple to impose these rules. Patreon told its creators that the deadline was no longer in effect.
Now, as reported by TechCrunch, Apple is telling Patreon that it does indeed have to move creators over to App Store billing for subscriptions in order to stay on the App Store, and the new deadline is November 1, 2026. Patreon disagrees with the decision, but will abide by it. Patreon creators who need more information can check the Patreon In-App purchases billing FAQ.
