important news! (Patreon memberships and billing systems)

[Since my English is really terrible, but I want everyone to understand what this is about, I copied the text of another Patreon artist I follow, since the same thing will affect us.]

I'm Sorry >,<

🟥 MEMBERSHIPS:

Recently, Apple is requiring that Patreon use their in-app purchasing system and remove all other billing systems from the Patreon iOS app. This means that starting in November, new memberships purchased in the iOS app will be subject to Apple's 30% App Store fee.

How does this affect you?

If you're an iOS user, but you're already an existing patron of mine, this raise will not affect you. You will keep being charged the usual amount.

If you're an iOS user and you're not a patron of mine but were thinking about become one, Apple will charge you an extra 30% on top of the price of the tier you chose starting November.

Can this extra cost be avoided?

Yes, it can!

If you're an iOS user, simply use an Android device or computer to subscribe and the prices will appear as the usual amount. Only AFTER you've successfully subscribed, you can then download the Patreon iOS app to your usual device and use it to see my content.

It's annoying and stupid, but I wanted to let you know so you don't get scammed by Apple's greed. None of that extra 30% goes to authors nor to the Patreon team. It's just Apple demanding even more money.

TLDR:

If you're an existing patron, you don't have to worry about any extra charges. But if you cancel your membership now and want to come back at a later time, make sure to subscribe through an Android device or through a computer to avoid Apple's extra 30% fee.

🟥 BILLING SYSTEMS:

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Besides this, since Apple's in-app purchase system only supports subscription billing, they have made clear that if creators on Patreon continue to use unsupported billing models or disable transactions in the iOS app, Patreon will be at risk of having the entire app removed from their App Store.

I currently use a first-of-the-month billing model; e.g. you joined on July 15th, but from August and forward you'll be charged on first day of the month.

This was the standard billing model Patreon had when I joined, and I never felt a need to change it.

But with current demands from Apple, I am being forced to change to a more typical subscription billing system; e.g. you joined on July 15th, so your next charge will be on August 15th too, and then on September 15th, and so on...

How does this affect you?

Once again, if you're already an existing patron of mine (regardless of the device you use to see my content) there will be no changes for you. You'll still be charged on the 1st of every month as usual.

If you cancel your subscription at some point, and you wish to come back at a later date however, your new billing date will be the date you joined. Same as if you were a completely new patron.

I'm still not sure how this all will affect my content or the way I deliver some rewards, but Patreon will eventually put me on subscription billing model whether I like it or not. So I might as well do it myself now and see how that goes!

I ask for your patience over the following months in case things don't work out smoothly for me.