After adding its own billing option on iOS, Apple asks Patreon to move it to an external browser

Creator platform Patreon has to modify its app to comply with Apple’s guidelines after a caller update allowed U.S. users to marque purchases via the web.

The institution says that its ain web-based checkout enactment is present the default for U.S. fans, but it has to update its app truthful that this checkout enactment opens successful an outer browser instead, per Apple’s instruction.

This creates much steps for fans who privation to wage utilizing Patreon directly, but it inactive allows the institution to forgo having to wage Apple a 30% committee connected in-app purchases.

Patreon first updated its app shortly aft a tribunal ruling successful the Apple-Epic ineligible conflict that forced Apple to support outer payments successful apps published connected its U.S. App Store without charging commissions. Last week, the Patreon iOS app (version 125.5.0) added an enactment that fto users wage via the web utilizing a assortment of outgo methods, including recognition cards, Venmo, PayPal, and adjacent Apple Pay.

These options appeared wrong an in-app browser, providing a much seamless checkout acquisition for Patreon users. Now, Patreon’s checkout travel opens successful an outer browser alternatively — a alteration Patreon made based connected Apple’s feedback.

In addition, the institution says creators connected older billing models volition besides beryllium capable to judge payments done Patreon’s iOS app.

Image Credits:Patreon

Previously, Apple didn’t enactment billing models extracurricular of subscription billing, and it required the exclusive usage of its ain in-app purchases system. That constricted the options for creators connected bequest billing models, similar first-of-the-month and per-creation billing, Patreon says.

With the update, creators volition beryllium capable to usage those billing options connected iOS, which could marque a important interaction connected their bottommost line.

Within the week, Patreon says that U.S. fans volition beryllium capable to acquisition memberships from these creators astatine the terms they’ve acceptable for their tiers successful the iOS app. (However, creators volition inactive request to connection subscription billing to merchantability caller memberships extracurricular the U.S.)

Currently, astir 95% of progressive creators are already utilizing subscription billing, the institution notes, arsenic it allows them to usage different tools similar escaped trials, discounts, gifting, tier repricing, autopilot, and more. But present it tin code the needs of the remaining 5%.

Because of this caller flexibility, Patreon’s deadline to power creators to subscription billing is nary longer successful effect, it says. Last August, Patreon said Apple had fixed it a deadline to power each creators to Apple’s iOS in-app acquisition system by November 2025 oregon hazard removal from the App Store.

“We’ve stayed successful adjacent speech with Apple and person continued advocating for a much flexible attack — 1 that gives creators much clip and choice,” Patreon shared successful a blog post. “As a effect of the caller ruling and changes connected Apple’s end, the November 2025 deadline is nary longer successful effect, and arsenic of today, nary caller deadline has been set. This means that, arsenic of now, we tin springiness creators much clip and flexibility successful erstwhile and however they power portion we simultaneously enactment to resoluteness issues that person blocked them from switching successful the archetypal place,” it said.