Apple Extends Patreon In-App Billing Deadline to 2026

Apple has given Patreon until November 1, 2026, to transition all remaining creators from legacy billing methods to its in-app purchase system for subscriptions on the iOS App Store, or face potential removal of the app. The policy, which affects about 4 percent of Patreon's creators, aims to ensure compliance with Apple's rules on digital transactions and commissions.

The requirement stems from Apple's longstanding guidelines that mandate in-app purchases for subscriptions sold through apps on its platform. Apple views payments from supporters to creators on Patreon as digital services subject to its commission structure, which charges 30 percent on initial transactions and 15 percent on subscriptions after the first year. Previously, some creators used Patreon's legacy billing, processed outside the App Store, which Apple regarded as circumventing these fees.

This latest deadline follows a series of policy shifts. In 2024, Apple notified Patreon that all creators must switch to subscription billing via in-app purchases by November 2025 to remain on the App Store. Patreon began a phased rollout in November 2024, allowing creators to either absorb the fees or raise subscription...