The Engineered Network: Apple iOS Patreon App Subscriptions

14 August, 2024

Late last year and again a week ago Patreon warned all of it’s Creators (including myself) that Apple would start enforcing their 30% fee for Commerce purchases through the Patreon iOS app and later in the year, now identified as November 2024, 30% would be applied to all subscriptions made through the Patreon iOS app.

As we don’t sell “Commerce” items through Patreon (we use Spring and Cotton Bureau directly) this had no impact to TEN, however with the impending change over to Apples internal app-subscription method I wanted to quickly state my position and advice for fans of TEN moving forward.

Existing Patrons Have No Impact

These changes ONLY apply to NEW Patrons, and only to those new Patrons that sign up to support WITHIN the Patreon iOS App on an iOS device.

Patreon iOS App Pricing Adjustment

Unlike Apple Podcasts’ when subscribing through Apples own system, there is no mention or call out to say Apple are skimming 30% off the top, nor will there ever be unless there’s government regulation making Apple tell the customer that. Patreon on the other hand are doing this:

This clearly shows the difference (thanks to updated regulations) between subscribing via the Web and subscribing via iOS/Apple. I've therefore made the difficult decision to adjust the Patreon iOS-subscription pricing only, to compensate for the 30% Apple Tax. This will potentially limit new supporters via this mechanism but I'm hopeful that potential supporters will note that support via Patreons website is cheaper for the same end result.

Apple Are Just Being Consistent

Whilst many people are upset about this move the truth is that rightly or wrongly, Apple are just being consistent. There are no real positives I’m aware of where the Patreon iOS app is a huge advantage over the website (especially considering the content TEN produces), so I’ll hold on the anti-Apple tirade. Is it merely the nature of this beast.

Avoid Signing Up via the Patreon iOS App if Possible

How this will work following the change (according to a Discord Q&A Patreon have been hosting for the past few days now) is that people that sign up on the Website will still be able to log into the Patreon iOS app if they want to and get access to all of the Patron benefits. It’s worth noting however that the Private RSS Audio Feed URL is still available from the website and the Web-app for Patreon has most of the features of the native app. My advice is to simply avoid the Patreon iOS App unless you have a compelling reason to use it.

Thank you all!

I’m grateful to each and every person that supports TEN, via whatever means suits them the most. Thank you for your ongoing support and as always, thank you for listening.