Please Do NOT Use Apple to Make Purchases via Patreon!

This isn't really a change for Patreon, but more so for Apple. I've known about this for some time but have only recently realized the damaging ramifications behind Apple's change.

In order to keep Patreon in their Apple store, Patreon was required to switch over to their in-app purchase requirements. In basic terms, Apple required Patreon to apply a 30% app store fee to ALL purchases in the Patreon app, both memberships and shop items (for new purchases, not existing ones). And, Apple would hold these purchases in their entirety for no less than 75 days before being distributed to the creator.

But where does that 30% fee get applied? One of two places: either the supporters pay more, or the creators eat up that fee. THIRTY. Percent. Full disclosure: I set the fee to apply to supporters, in large part because Patreon is really my only financial support system for my creative projects, and I made sure to edit descriptions for collections and shop items . Of course, that really stinks and I don't want to have to do that, but I don't feel inclined to change that unfortunately.

Here's the message I really want to hammer home though: please DO NOT use in-app Apple purchases, please use the desktop or mobile website! I don't want you guys to get charged an extra 30% for stuff and I'd like to make the most of the support. In-app purchases via Apple also mean that all those purchases are held by Apple for a minimum of 75 days which is very discouraging to me as a creator.

Android and PC users, you do not have to worry about a thing. But if Apple Users would refrain from purchasing in the Patreon Apple app and use desktop or mobile websites instead, for both their benefit and mine, that would be greatly appreciated. 👍