iOS App Billing & Subscription Update (Patreon)

Hey, just doing some clerical work here.

You probably heard that last November Patreon raised their prices for iOS app users by a little bit. This was Patreon essentially passing down Apple's 30% App Store fee to the end users. However an additional effect is that it's causing Patreon to switch every creator's billing schedule to subscription billing by November 2025. For those that don't know, currently there are 4 general billing models:

1. Subscription Billing - New users are charged up front and billed every month on that same date.

2. Monthly Charge Upfront - Users are charged when they join, then on the first of every month.

3. Monthly Non-Charge Upfront - Users are not charged when they join, then they are charged on the first of every month.

4. Per Creation - Users are charged upon publishing of paid posts, up to the limit they specify.

Right now I'm using #3. Fun fact, I started the Patreon on option 4 way back in the day when I was still doing this as a hobby. Anyway, I've always liked #3 because it not only gives people a chance to look around and see if they actually want to support me before they get charged, but also because it gives me the ability to halt billing for a month whenever I feel it's appropriate - and do so near the end of the month, essentially without billing anyone. It's a trade between income and flexibility.

Now that they're forcing the change by November 2025, I'm going to have to switch eventually. If you're already subscribed, this shouldn't change anything for you.  You'll still be charged at the first of the month. However it will effect new members whenever they sign up.

Right now I'm planning on switching in March - which again shouldn't matter to anyone currently subscribed - but I'm just giving a heads-up.