Blog: Patreon Changes (Patreon)

If you haven't heard, there are few changes that are happening on Patreon. None will affect you right now. They also don't affect you if you're an Android user. This is iOS only. But you might want to understand what's going on.

HERE'S SOME HISTORY

Apple companies charges 30% every time an app is sold in their App Store. That is their fee for including the app in their store. Many businesses avoided this fee by giving away the app for free. Then they offered In-App purchases which occasionally bypassed the 30% fee.

Some companies, like Patreon, didn't have an app to start. They sold memberships through their website. When they created an app and started giving it away, they didn't sell memberships. But over the past couple o'years, they updated the app to make it not only better, but to sell memberships.

Apple noticed. They are now requiring that Patreon pay the 30% commission on all NEW memberships that are made through iOS apps.

THREE CHOICES

Patreon gave us two choices. But there's another.

First, Patreon Creators can swallow the cost and keep the fees as they are across all devices.

Thus my $5 membership is just $5 if you sign up to Patreon through the Patreon App on iOS devices.

Second, Patreon Creators can just let Apple tack on a 30% increase in their fee so that the Creators get paid the same, but you, the Patron, end up paying a little more.

This is what I decided. I don't know how many people are signed up on Patreon's iOS app, but I suspect it could be a big financial hit that I can't afford. I am an indie musician barely making ends meet. If it wasn't for my Sugar Mamma (my wife), I'm not sure how viable my music career really is. So I made no changes.

There is a third option though. That is to encourage Patrons to sign up not using the iOS App. That's what I'm doing.

WORKAROUND - YOU CAN STILL USE THE APP

Here's the thing. If you sign up through any browser, Apple will not charge you extra. You can still use the iOS app if you sign up through a browser. Just use your regular Patreon login.

Personally, I love the app, and I will continue to use the app.

This change really sucks for the ease and efficiency of signing up for those of us who use the app. Nevertheless, there is this workaround.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER CHANGES

There will come a time when you credit card number changes. You'll have to re-sign up to Patreon. That's fine. But just move it to the app if you want to avoid the bigger fee.

Again, it sucks. I know. But I certainly understand that Apple needs to make money and that Creators need to make money. I think Patreon did a great job making it possible for Creators to adjust to this change.

Thanks for your patronage!