Apple has set a new deadline of November 1, 2026 for all Patreon creators to switch from Patreon's legacy billing system to the App Store's in-app purchase system in the Patreon app on the iPhone and iPad, as reported by TechCrunch. Note: This image has been edited to include a pile of cash. Patreon is a platform where creators such as YouTubers can receive payments from fans, which can be a valuable revenue stream alongside ads and sponsorships.
An app you can only get via the Apple store, mandated by Apple?
You can make the subscription through the website on the phone just as well and not pay the cut to apple.
Most likely the app exists just because people don’t know how to type patreon.com into the browser anymore
Full functionality is available on the web AFAIK. And if you subscribe on the web, there’s no Apple cut, but you can still use the app to see said content.
It’s an inconvenience, but a super easy one to get past and not exclusive to Patreon so a trick any Apple users should know anyway if they enjoy paying subscriptions for things (Netflix, Spotify, whatever)
I too assume the Patreon App doesn’t do anything that cannot be done on their web page. I can imagine there are good dev reasons but also bad incentives to make it an app.
I am biased against Apple as I like being the one in control of my hardware/software… but is it a stretch to say Apple influence their users to use apps instead of web pages (so they can rent-seek a cut)?
Your opinion of Apple is generally valid, but as an Apple user for the last few years, I’ve never actually seen Apple push me to install an app. It’s always the website itself saying “it’s even better in the app!” or something.
Yeah. But why would you use the app? I personally didn’t know there even was an app.
Maybe it offers something better than on whatever web browser Apple mandates, or maybe no reason but user preference.
PWAs aren’t great on iPhone… They intentionally limit some functionality to push people towards the App Store.
Some people want everything as apps for some reason.
There’s no way that the Patreon app isn’t more than a dolled up web view. If people make stupid decisions I guess the fallout is on them.
Sadly the fallout is usually on everyone - eventually companies will copy a shady practice as it’s been shown they can get away with it until no other option exists. It falls on the technologically literate to call out when others are being mistreated or they can suffer too.
No, the fallout is on creators.
I have the Android app, but I can download podcast episodes on WiFi to save on mobile data. That’s as good a reason as any to use the app.
You could also use any other podcast app.
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