Well, U.S. fans are in luck because Patreon has some exciting news! Later this fall, you’ll be able to purchase memberships from your favorite creators directly within the iOS app at the prices set by the creators for each of their membership tiers. This new feature should start showing up over the course of this week. It comes on the heels of other positive changes in billing options, brought about by Apple’s draconian in-app purchase requirements.
Until now, creators on Patreon were stuck with legacy billing models like first-of-the-month and per-creation billing. Apple required developers to use its in-app purchase system, which severely limited how creators could profit from their apps and services. The newest Patreon iOS app update, version 125.5.0, has landed! Now, users can experience a completely web-based checkout process with access to all major payment types at the point of sale, including credit card, Venmo, PayPal, and Apple Pay.
This new web-based checkout method has been set as the default for U.S. fans, offering more flexibility in terms of payment methods. All that said, Patreon needs to play by Apple’s rules. That means that the checkout process needs to open in an external browser rather than within the app itself.
As it stands only about 5% of active creators on Patreon have made the switch to the subscription billing models. This is a US-only change so far. For creators not based in the United States, they still have to provide subscription billing to be able to sell new memberships. This change positions Patreon to better serve the bottom 5% of creators. These creators had been hurting under prior billing restrictions and are now able to prosper.
Remember Apple originally gave Patreon a deadline. The company forced all makers to migrate to its iOS in-app purchase system by November 2025, or face being dropped from the App Store. However, recent developments have altered this timeline.
“As a result of the recent ruling and changes on Apple’s end, the November 2025 deadline is no longer in effect, and as of today, no new deadline has been set. This means that, as of now, we can give creators more time and flexibility in when and how they switch while we simultaneously work to resolve issues that have blocked them from switching in the first place,” – Patreon
In light of these changes, Patreon is working diligently to resolve issues that previously hindered creators from adopting new billing models. The platform is specifically focused on maintaining an ongoing dialogue with Apple. It advocates for less cookie-cutter, more flexible approaches that prioritize creator autonomy.
“We’ve stayed in close conversation with Apple and have continued advocating for a more flexible approach — one that gives creators more time and choice,” – Patreon
The addition of multiple payment types via Patreons online checkout, including credit/debit cards as well as PayPal is a great start. It can accommodate everyone from the more analytically-minded users to less technical user preferences. Moreover, it mirrors industry trends that are increasingly turning to flexible subscription offerings.
