January 28, 2026

Apple has reimposed its subscription billing mandate for creators on Patreon

Apple has renewed its requirement forcing Patreon to move all creators to subscription billing – the only billing model compatible with their in-app purchase system – by November 1, 2026.

Note: This update is for the 4% of creators still using our legacy billing models: first-of-the-month and per creation billing. If you're already on subscription billing, this does not apply to you. You can see which billing model you’re on in your billing and payout settings.

In 2024, Apple mandated that Patreon move all creators onto subscription billing by November of 2025, or risk being removed from the App Store. Last May, after a landmark court decision, Apple told us the timeline of that mandate was no longer in effect.

Apple has now reversed course again, reimposing their subscription billing mandate with a new transition deadline of November 1, 2026.

We strongly disagree with this decision. Creators need consistency and clarity in order to build healthy, long-term businesses. Instead, creators using legacy billing will now have to endure the whiplash of another policy reversal – the third such change from Apple in the past 18 months.

Over the years, we have proposed multiple tools and features to Apple that we could’ve built to allow creators using legacy billing to transition on their own timelines, with more support added in. Unfortunately, Apple has continually declined them.

We know that Apple is serious about enforcing this mandate. Late last year, they blocked a Patreon app update and made it clear that in order to remain in the App Store, we have to comply with their billing requirement. Because millions of fans use iOS as their primary way to access Patreon and connect with creators, having our app blocked — or not available in the App Store at all — isn’t an option.

We also want to own our part in this. Last May, when Apple told us their deadline was no longer in effect, we quickly paused the forced transition and told affected creators that they could maintain their existing billing models. Our goal was to remove any immediate barriers preventing creators from getting paid, and we stand by that intent. At the same time, we see that this pause ultimately created more uncertainty. We’re glad creators didn’t have to make the switch last year, but we’re sorry for the disruption this has caused.

What creators using first-of-the-month or per-creation billing need to know

You will need to switch to subscription billing before November 1, 2026. If you don’t initiate the switch by then, your account will be automatically transitioned. Learn more in our FAQs on migrating to subscription billing.
We’re here to help. Our goal is to support the long-term success of your business. That means offering one-on-one guidance from Patreon’s Support Team, clear timelines, and hands-on help through this transition.
Your existing members will continue to be billed on the first of each month. These changes will only impact new members.
U.S. fans are still able to bypass Apple’s fees on iOS. Due to the current court ruling, U.S. fans on iOS can continue to join via mobile web, which avoids Apple’s fee. This remains true even after you move to subscription billing.

Tools we’ve built (and are building) to support your transition

We know switching billing models can raise questions about timing and delivery of benefits to your existing and future members. We’ve been building tools for subscription billing to support a smooth transition.

Benefit eligibility status tool: See who has paid or is scheduled to pay, and deliver benefits on your preferred cadence without changing your current workflow.
Tier repricing: Adjust prices (up to once every 30 days) for new members or all members to help maintain or grow earnings while honoring long-tenured fans.
Gifting and discounts: Offer gifted memberships, complimentary access to certain members, free trials upon signup, or automatically discount free members to grow your community and offer payment flexibility.
Coming soon: Annual-only memberships: If monthly billing doesn’t fit your workflow, you’ll be able to start offering annual memberships only (rather than monthly), giving you and your members more flexibility around timing while ensuring payment upfront. We’re on track to make this available before November 2026.

When you’re ready, our Support Team is here for you

These tools have helped creators successfully transition to subscription billing and, in many cases, grow or stabilize their earnings. That said, every creator’s business is different. What worked for others might not be the right fit for you. Whether you decide to move forward with subscription billing or determine Patreon is no longer the right platform for your business, our Support Team is here to walk you through your next steps.

To ensure you get one-on-one support, please contact Support via your billing & payout settings by September 30, 2026.

We also want to make it easy for you to connect with other creators. Please join the #ios-billing-chat channel in our Creator Community Discord to ask questions and learn from creators who’ve already made the switch. Comments are off on this post because that channel is our dedicated place to have these conversations – where we’ve discussed this topic together in the past.

You can explore step-by-step guides below:

And here are a few examples of how creators planned their transitions, communicated with members, and kept their businesses growing:

Our responsibility

This isn’t the outcome we hoped to share. Our goal is to protect your stability, provide clarity, and give you the tools you need to move forward confidently. We’re disappointed that Apple’s changing requirements have put creators in this position at all. Ultimately, Apple’s decisions only strengthen our resolve to keep building a platform that puts creators first, because that’s the platform you deserve.

Linked post · May 2, 2025 <blockquote>⚠️ UPDATE JANUARY 28, 2026:Apple has renewed its requirement forcing Patreon to move …