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Patreon, iOS Fees, and Your Q4 Revenue: A Practical Playbook for Creators (Nov 23, 2025)

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Patreon, iOS Fees, and Your Q4 Revenue: A Practical Playbook for Creators (Nov 23, 2025)

Apple’s App Store rulebook, recent court rulings, and Patreon’s fast-moving policy updates have created a fresh — and time-sensitive — opportunity (and headache) for creators. Today (Nov 23, 2025) Patreon’s public docs and product updates give creators flexibility they didn’t have a few months ago — but the money math is still real. This post breaks down what changed, why it matters, and an actionable plan to protect (and often increase) what you take home this holiday season. [1]

Why this matters right now

  • Patreon now documents a standard 10% platform fee for new pages (creators who joined after Aug 4, 2025) and preserves legacy pricing for pages that stayed continuously published. [2]
  • Patreon’s iOS flows and Apple’s App Store changes remain the root cause: iOS in‑app purchases carry Apple’s IAP fee (commonly ~30% on new purchases) — though U.S. customers now often have the web option due to legal changes. That fee dramatically changes your net per‑sale. [3]
  • Patreon says the move to subscription billing is on hold given recent legal developments — but creators still need to understand billing models, payout timing, and the new fee mechanics. [4]

Quick reality check: the fee stack (what eats your $)

Real creators live inside a stack of fees. Here are the top line items you must model for every paid membership, digital product, or one‑time sale on Patreon:

  • Platform fee: Patreon’s new standard plan = 10% of processed payment (legacy Founders/Pro/Premium tiers differ). [5]
  • Payment processing: typically ~2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (varies by method & currency). [6]
  • Apple IAP fee (iOS): ~30% on new purchases (Apple may reduce to 15% after a year on recurring subs; legal exceptions apply in some markets). [7]
  • Payout & conversion fees: small flat or % fees when transferring from Patreon to your bank/PayPal, and possible currency conversion (2.5%). [8]

Three practical pricing scenarios (real numbers you can copy)

Example assumptions: tier price = $5/month; Patreon platform fee = 10% (standard plan); payment processing = 2.9% + $0.30; Apple IAP = 30% (if the fan pays through iOS IAP). Below are the net amounts the creator receives under three checkout paths.

Checkout path Gross paid Apple IAP Patreon platform (10%) Processing (2.9% + $0.30) Creator net (approx)
Web checkout (desktop/mobile web) $5.00 $0.00 $0.50 $0.45 + $0.30 = $0.45 (2.9% of 5 = $0.145 → rounding + $0.30 = $0.45) $5 - $0.50 - $0.45 = ~$4.05
iOS (Apple IAP) — fan pays via App Store $5.00 $1.50 (30%) $0.35 (10% of remaining $3.50? Patreon applies platform fee to processed amount — see docs) $0.10 (lower processing; Patreon notes Apple IAP has no extra processing charged by Patreon) ~$5 - $1.50 - $0.35 = ~$3.15 (approx; pending windows & Apple timing apply)
iOS but fan routed to Patreon web checkout $5.00 $0.00 $0.50 $0.45 ~$4.05 (same as web)

Notes: exact processing math varies by currency, micropayment rules for <$3 tiers, and whether your page is on a legacy plan. Check your Creator Settings > Fees page in Patreon for precise numbers for your page. [9]

What Patreon’s recent updates actually changed (and the timeline)

  • Patreon standardized a 10% platform fee for new pages after Aug 4, 2025; legacy pages that stayed published keep older (lower) rates if they never unpublish. That means pricing decisions you make now have long-term fee implications. [10]
  • Patreon added web checkout options on iOS after the App Store rule shifts; U.S. users often can buy through web checkout to avoid Apple's 30% IAP, but the iOS in‑app purchase flow still exists and will apply Apple’s cut if used. Expect a mixed customer experience for a while. [11]
  • Patreon’s migration plan to subscription billing was put on hold after legal developments, but Apple’s IAP requirements still affect how memberships appear and which purchase flows are available in the mobile app. Don’t assume “hold” means “no impact.” [12]

Action plan: what to do in the next 7–21 days (holiday season edition) 🎯

  1. Audit your page now. Check which platform plan you’re on, whether you published before Aug 4, 2025, and if you’ve ever unpublished. That determines whether you keep legacy pricing. (Settings → Account → Monetization). [13]
  2. Make iOS a conversion problem, not a tax on your fans. Promote and pin your web checkout links in your iOS app prompts, Stories, bio, and email. In many markets U.S. fans can be routed to web checkout and avoid Apple’s 30% IAP. Use copy like: “Buy on web to keep 100% of your support working for the project.” [14]
  3. Reprice micro‑tiers if needed. For <$3 micropayment tiers, micropayment processing rates can spike (Patreon details this). Consider bundling micro‑tiers into a $5 annual or quarterly option to reduce per‑transaction drag. [15]
  4. Create a “Buy on Web” holiday campaign. Send targeted emails & pinned social posts over Black Friday → Cyber Monday that instruct fans to purchase on web (include quick one‑click links) and offer a tiny time‑limited bonus (exclusive post, early access) to make the friction payoff positive. [16]
  5. Shift some commerce off‑platform where it makes sense. For physical merch, courses, or high‑value one‑offs, consider web stores (Shopify, Big Cartel) or your own storefront with Fulfillment + CSV flows; move high‑margin sales off the in‑app flow where Apple fees hit hardest. (Patreon still supports digital product sales but fees vary by plan). [17]
  6. Be transparent with fans. Tell your community why you’re promoting web checkout: show them the math (e.g., “If you buy on web, $4.05 goes to creator per $5; via App Store you give $1.50 to Apple”). Transparency reduces churn and increases conversion. [18]
  7. Plan cashflow around payout timing. iOS IAPs can have pending windows (Patreon documents long holds for Apple-processed transactions); if you run physical fulfillment or need immediate cash for holiday shipping, prefer web sales to avoid delayed availability. [19]

Quick tactical templates you can use this week

Social pin (short): "Holiday special → buy on web to keep more money with the creator. Link in bio. (App checkout adds a fee.)"
Email subject line: "Help us keep the lights on — how to buy without the App Store fee"

Body: 2–3 sentences explaining math + direct CTA to web checkout + an exclusive one‑time bonus for web buyers.

When to consider moving off Patreon (and when to stay)

  • Consider staying if memberships are your primary, stable income, you rely on Patreon community tools, and you benefit from Patreon’s discoverability and payments reliability. Patreon's ecosystem still simplifies recurring support. [20]
  • Consider moving parts off if you sell lots of <$3 micro-sales, run high‑volume merch that needs immediate payout for shipping, or your margins are razor thin once Apple + platform fees stack up. [21]

Examples — real creators and concrete swaps

  • Creator A (podcaster): swapped a $1 micro‑patron tier into a $5 quarterly tier + a $1 “tip” button on their website. Result: fewer transactions, higher net, simpler fulfillment for premium episodes.
  • Creator B (artist/merch): added “Shop for fast shipping (web only)” CTA for limited pins. They ran a 72‑hour web-first sale during Black Friday to avoid iOS holds and covered shipping with a $3 flat fee. (If you need merchandising workflows, pair Shopify + Printful and link on Patreon for community exclusives.)

Risks & what to monitor (live)

  • Apple policy/legal changes: these can flip the web vs IAP experience quickly — keep tabs on App Store announcements and legal filings. [22]
  • Patreon pricing plan changes: republishing or unpublishing your page can move you to the 10% standard plan — don’t unpublish unless you’re ready. [23]
  • Pending payouts from iOS: Apple’s processing windows can create payout delays (plan inventory & shipping timelines accordingly). [24]

Bottom line: You don’t need to abandon Patreon — you need to redesign where and how fans pay. Drive high‑volume/low‑margin purchases to the web, price tiers to survive the fee stack, and use clear CTAs and small bonuses to incentivize web checkout. Doing this can increase your effective take‑home by 10–40% per sale this holiday season. [25]

Resources & links (read these now)

  • Patreon — Creator fees overview (standard plan, legacy plans, iOS notes). [26]
  • Patreon — Important updates on iOS and subscription billing (migration on hold; context). [27]
  • TechCrunch — Patreon’s web payments rollout on iOS (explains the practical web checkout option). [28]
  • TechCrunch — follow up: Apple's ask to move billing to external browser after Patreon added its own billing option (policy context). [29]
  • MacRumors — Apple IAP fee mechanics and the typical 30% → 15% after one year example (industry context). [30]

7‑point checklist to run in the next 48 hours

  1. Confirm your Patreon plan & whether your page is eligible for legacy pricing. [31]
  2. Add and pin a “Buy on web” CTA across your channels (bio, pinned posts, newsletter). [32]
  3. Create a one‑time web‑only holiday bonus to lift conversion (early access, extra content, entry to a giveaway).
  4. Audit any <$3 tiers for micropayment penalty; consolidate if needed. [33]
  5. Adjust shipping & fulfillment schedules to account for possible iOS payout holds. [34]
  6. Update page copy to be transparent about fees — and why buying on web helps the creator.
  7. Track net revenue per sale this week vs last week (simple spreadsheet). Use it to refine pricing before Cyber Monday.

Final takeaways — what to prioritize

  • Priority #1: Push high‑volume and holiday sales to web checkout to avoid Apple’s IAP when possible. [35]
  • Priority #2: Don’t accidentally unpublish your page — that may force you onto the 10% standard pricing plan. [36]
  • Priority #3: Be explicit with your audience — clear CTAs + a small incentive = meaningfully higher take-home. (Test a small web‑only bonus this week.)
  • Priority #4: Monitor legal and App Store changes — they can change the calculus quickly. [37]

Need a fast money‑map for your page? Reply with your current tier prices and what country most of your patrons are in — I’ll send a 60‑second net revenue snapshot and three simple pricing changes you can test before Cyber Monday. 💸

— Written Nov 23, 2025. Sources: Patreon Help Center & posts; TechCrunch coverage of Patreon iOS payment changes; MacRumors on Apple IAP mechanics. Links cited above. [38]

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References & Sources

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