David Brooks
I won't sugarcoat it: Apple just declared war on the creator economy. And the first battlefield is Patreon.
On January 28, 2026, Apple reimposed its mandate forcing Patreon to migrate all of its creators to the in-app purchase (IAP) system by November 1, 2026. This means Apple will take a 30% commission on every new subscription made through the iOS app.
For a creator earning $10,000 per month, that's $2,700 less in their pocket. Every month. Without changing anything about their content, their audience, or their effort.
My verdict is clear: this isn't a platform policy. It's a tax on creative work.
What Exactly Happened
The Apple-Patreon saga has been a rollercoaster of three policy reversals in 18 months. Here's the complete timeline:
| Date | What Happened |
|---|---|
| January 2024 | Patreon starts using IAP for digital products, paying Apple 30% |
| August 2024 | Apple demands ALL memberships use IAP by November 2024 |
| November 2024 | New iOS subscriptions start going through Apple's system |
| April 2025 | Epic v. Apple ruling pauses forced migration in the US |
| May 2025 | Apple tells Patreon the deadline is "no longer in effect." Patreon pauses transition |
| January 2026 | Apple reverses AGAIN and reimpose the mandate. Deadline: November 2026 |
Three policy changes in 18 months. Patreon CEO Jack Conte put it bluntly: "This is so bad, this is the worst."
What's most telling is how Apple forced the issue. According to Patreon, Apple threatened to remove the entire Patreon app from the App Store if they didn't comply. Patreon proposed multiple tools and alternative timelines so creators could migrate at their own pace. Apple rejected every proposal.
The Real Impact in Numbers
Let me break this down with actual data. Here's the commission structure before and after Apple's mandate:
Before the Apple Tax (Web/Stripe payments)
| Item | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Patreon fee | 8-12% |
| Payment processing (Stripe) | ~2.9% + $0.30 |
| Total fees | ~11-15% |
| Creator keeps | ~85-89% |
After the Apple Tax (iOS in-app purchases)
| Item | Year 1 | Year 2+ |
|---|---|---|
| Apple commission | 30% | 15% |
| Patreon fee | 8-12% | 8-12% |
| Total fees | ~38-42% | ~23-27% |
| Creator keeps | ~58-62% | ~73-77% |
Year one is devastating. A creator who used to keep 89% of their revenue now keeps 60%. That's a 33% drop in net income.
Impact by Revenue Level
| Monthly earnings | Before (net) | After Year 1 (net) | Monthly loss | Annual loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000/mo | ~$890 | ~$620 | -$270 | -$3,240 |
| $5,000/mo | ~$4,450 | ~$3,100 | -$1,350 | -$16,200 |
| $10,000/mo | ~$8,900 | ~$6,200 | -$2,700 | -$32,400 |
For a creator earning $5,000/month from iOS subscribers, we're talking about $16,200 per year vanishing. That's a part-time assistant's salary. Or the difference between creating content professionally and needing a side job.
The Number Apple Doesn't Want You to Calculate
To maintain their net earnings, a creator must raise iOS prices by 42.86%. A $10/month tier becomes $14.29. A $25 tier becomes $35.71.
Who pays that increase? The fans. The very fans already financially supporting their favorite creators.
Patreon's Response
Patreon hasn't stayed quiet, but they don't have many options either.
What CEO Jack Conte Said
"This is so bad, this is the worst."
"We actually reversed a decision a couple of years ago to make the newest billing model mandatory, and we reversed that decision specifically because we heard from creators that this newest billing model did not yet work for them."
Tools Patreon Is Offering Creators
- Automatic iOS price increase: Calculates a ~43% higher price for app transactions only, so the creator earns the same net amount
- Absorb-the-fee option: Uniform pricing across platforms, but the creator earns less on iOS
- Annual subscriptions: Coming before November 2026
- Web redirect: Patreon actively encourages fans to subscribe via the web to bypass Apple's fee
Patreon's official post leaves no room for ambiguity: "We strongly disagree with this decision."
What Patreon cannot do is ignore Apple. Without an iOS presence, Patreon would lose access to hundreds of millions of iPhone users. Apple knows this. And they use that veto power as leverage.
The Legal Context: Epic, the EU, and What's Next
This isn't an isolated battle. The "Apple Tax" has been in courts and regulatory hearings for years.
Epic Games v. Apple: The Neverending Saga
The Epic Games lawsuit against Apple has been a legal rollercoaster:
- 2021: Judge Rogers orders Apple to allow links to external payment methods
- April 2025: Rogers declares Apple "blatantly and willfully" violated her order. Refers Apple to federal prosecutor for possible criminal contempt
- December 2025: Appeals court partially reverses, saying Apple CAN charge a "reasonable commission" on purchases through external links
The net result: in the US, users can technically complete payments outside the app, but Apple can still charge a commission. The definition of "reasonable" remains unresolved.
The EU Digital Markets Act (DMA)
In Europe, the picture is different:
- Apple was designated as a "gatekeeper" under the DMA
- EU developers can communicate alternative payment options outside the App Store
- Apple is transitioning to a new tiered commission model in the EU
- European Patreon creators have more flexibility to avoid Apple's commission
The Spotify Fine: $2 Billion
The European Commission already fined Apple $2 billion in 2024 for "anti-steering" rules that prevented Spotify from telling users about cheaper subscription options outside the app.
The pattern is clear: Apple imposes, regulators fine, Apple appeals, and meanwhile keeps collecting.
Winners and Losers
Losers
| Who | Why |
|---|---|
| Patreon creators | Lose up to 30% of revenue on iOS subscriptions |
| Fans/subscribers | Higher prices if creators pass on the cost |
| Patreon as a company | Loses competitiveness vs platforms without iOS apps |
| Creator economy | Negative signal for the entire industry |
Winners
| Who | Why |
|---|---|
| Apple | Billions in additional commissions |
| Platforms without iOS apps | Ko-fi, Ghost, Gumroad become more attractive |
| Web browsers | Creators redirect fans to pay via the web |
Alternatives: Where to Go if the Apple Tax Hits You
If you're a creator and this concerns you, here are platforms that don't go through the App Store:
| Platform | Commission | iOS App | Apple Tax Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ko-fi | 0% (Gold: $12/mo) | No | None |
| Ghost | 0% (self-hosted) | No | None |
| Gumroad | 10% | No | None |
| Buy Me a Coffee | 5% | Limited | Minimal |
| Whop | 2.7% | Yes | Variable |
| Substack | 10% + Stripe | Yes | Under negotiation |
| Patreon | 8-12% + 30% Apple | Yes | Full |
The irony is that smaller, less feature-rich platforms become more financially attractive. A creator on Ko-fi Gold pays a flat $12/month fee and keeps 100% minus processing costs (~2.9%). On Patreon with the Apple Tax, that same creator loses up to 42%.
Ghost is another option for tech-savvy creators: it's open source, can be self-hosted, and has zero platform fees. The cost is management complexity.
The Real Issue: Who Owns Your Audience?
This controversy goes beyond percentages and commissions. The fundamental question is: who controls creator monetization?
Apple argues its platform provides distribution, security, and payment processing. And they're right: the App Store reaches over 1 billion active devices.
But creators argue their fans follow them, not the App Store. A fan paying $10/month for a creator's content doesn't do it because the App Store recommended them. They do it because they discovered the creator on YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, or their own podcast.
Apple didn't generate that relationship. But they take 30% simply because the fan used an iPhone to subscribe.
As Patreon stated in their official blog: "Apple didn't create these creators or their communities. The creators did."
What's Coming: The Domino Effect
If Apple consolidates this policy with Patreon, what stops them from doing the same with other platforms?
| Platform at risk | Payment type | Exposure |
|---|---|---|
| Discord | Nitro, Server Boosts | High |
| Twitch | Subscriptions, Bits | High |
| YouTube | Channel memberships | Medium |
| Teachable/Udemy | Online courses | High |
| Any membership app | Digital subscriptions | Full |
Discord already pays the Apple Tax on Nitro purchases. Twitch negotiated a special deal with Apple. But the trend is clear: Apple wants its cut of every digital transaction that happens on an iPhone.
The App Store's estimated operating margin is 78%. According to Hacker News analysis, Apple could charge just 7% and still make a 20% profit. But they charge 30% because they can.
What This Means for You as a User
If you're a fan of any Patreon creator and use an iPhone, here's what you need to know:
- In-app prices may rise ~43% to offset Apple's commission
- Subscribing via the web is cheaper for your favorite creator (and possibly for you)
- Your creator may receive payment 75 days later if you pay through the app (Apple holds the funds)
- Some payment options disappear in the app (per-creation billing, first-of-month billing)
My direct recommendation: if you want to support a creator, subscribe from your browser. The creator receives more, you pay the same or less, and Apple doesn't take 30% of someone else's work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Apple charge Patreon 30%?
Apple considers Patreon memberships as "digital goods" subject to App Store commissions. Under their guidelines (section 3.1.1), any digital content or subscription purchased within an iOS app must use Apple's in-app purchase system, which charges 30% in the first year and 15% from the second year onward.
How many Patreon creators are affected?
96% of creators have already migrated to subscription billing. The November 2026 mandate directly affects the remaining 4%, but Patreon notes these are often the most established and longest-running creators. However, ALL creators with iOS subscribers are affected by the 30% commission on new sign-ups through the app.
Can I avoid the Apple Tax as a fan?
Yes. If you subscribe to a creator from a web browser (Safari, Chrome) instead of the Patreon app, the transaction doesn't go through Apple and the 30% commission doesn't apply. Many creators are actively asking their fans to subscribe via the web.
What alternatives do creators have?
Platforms like Ko-fi (0% commission with Gold plan), Ghost (0%, self-hosted), Gumroad (10%), and Buy Me a Coffee (5%) either don't have an iOS app or aren't subject to the Apple Tax. The downside is fewer features and a smaller user base than Patreon.
Will antitrust laws change this?
The EU already fines Apple and the Digital Markets Act requires allowing alternative payment methods in Europe. In the US, the Epic v. Apple case still lacks a definitive resolution. The appeals court said in December 2025 that Apple can charge a "reasonable commission," but didn't define what "reasonable" means. Real change will be slow.
