Apple's requirements are about to hit creators and fans on Patreon

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Scope of Apple’s New Requirements

  • Apple’s 30% App Store fee will apply to all new Patreon memberships and shop purchases made inside the iOS app.
  • Commenters highlight Apple’s rule that digital goods/services consumed in the app must use in‑app purchase; “donations” that unlock content are treated as digital sales.
  • Patreon says Apple will not allow “unsupported billing models” in the app and threatens removal if Patreon disables in‑app transactions or keeps incompatible models.

Impact on Patreon’s Billing Models

  • Patreon plans to end per‑creation and “first‑of‑month” billing by Nov 2025, moving everyone to monthly/annual subscriptions.
  • Many creators and patrons see per‑creation as central to Patreon’s value: it aligns payment with output and allows guilt‑free breaks.
  • Others note Patreon has long de‑emphasized per‑creation and suspect the company is using Apple as cover to kill a costly/awkward feature.
  • Several creators say they will cancel or leave Patreon if forced into flat monthly billing.

Who Really Pays the “Apple Tax”?

  • Creators can either raise iOS prices ~43% to net the same amount or eat the 30% cut.
  • Commenters expect most will raise prices, so iOS users effectively pay more than web/Android users for identical access.
  • Some argue Patreon, whose cut is smaller than 30%, can’t realistically absorb this; others say everyone loses except Apple.

Why Not Drop the iOS App or Use Only the Web?

  • Many suggest: ditch the app or remove in‑app purchases and push users to the mobile web.
  • Counterpoints:
    • Patreon’s own data (referenced from a video) allegedly shows iOS is its most‑used platform.
    • Native apps convert far better than web forms; users expect apps and push notifications.
    • iOS PWAs and Safari are seen as technically and UX‑wise inferior or intentionally limited.
    • Apple’s anti‑steering and external‑link rules make it risky or costly to tell users to pay elsewhere.

Fairness, Antitrust, and Comparisons

  • Many view this as classic abuse of gatekeeper power: Apple forcing a third party to redesign its business, even affecting non‑Apple users.
  • Comparisons are drawn to Steam, credit cards, game consoles, Costco, and Standard Oil; opinions differ on how analogous they are.
  • Some defend Apple: app distribution, fraud handling, tax/currency complexity, and easy centralized cancellations justify a significant fee (though many still say 30% is too high).
  • Others call for regulation, breakup, or forced openness (alternative app stores, sideloading, or FRAND‑style terms).

Broader App vs Web and “Middleman” Debates

  • A recurring thread questions why every service needs an app; some blame data‑collection incentives and Apple’s long neglect of the mobile web.
  • There is discussion of “middlemen” everywhere (Apple, Patreon, Visa, PayPal, Steam), with some proposing non‑profit platforms or stronger consumer‑protection laws (e.g., ban dark‑pattern cancellations).