Patreon has officially rolled out a new version of its iOS app that allows users to make payments via the web—a significant shift made possible by a recent court decision in the ongoing legal battle between Apple and Epic Games.
Previously, Patreon’s iOS users were limited to Apple’s in-app purchase system, which meant Apple collected a percentage of each transaction. But thanks to a U.S. court ruling on April 30, Apple must now permit app developers to link to external payment options, bypassing the standard App Store commission.
With the latest update (version 125.5.0), Patreon users can now choose to pay creators through the web, using various methods such as credit cards, Venmo, PayPal, or even Apple Pay—but crucially, not exclusively through Apple’s system. The option for Apple in-app purchase still exists, but it’s now minimized in presentation, placed in smaller text under the bold “Join” button. This shift will likely encourage more users to complete their transactions directly through Patreon’s own platform.
Patreon confirmed to that the update has been approved by Apple and is currently rolling out to U.S. users. Most should see the new checkout options within 24 hours of updating the app.
This update comes in the wake of Apple being forced to revise its App Store developer policies, which now allow apps like Spotify and Amazon Kindle to direct users to their websites for payments. In doing so, Apple can no longer prohibit developers from using external payment links.
Patreon has been vocal about the ruling’s positive impact, noting it gives creators more financial freedom. Without Apple taking a cut, more of each subscription payment goes directly to the creator. The platform even celebrated the decision in a community update on Discord, stating that a previously looming deadline set by Apple—requiring all Patreon creators to move to Apple’s in-app subscription billing by November 2025—may now be unnecessary.
“This is still a developing situation,” Patreon wrote, “but we are moving forward under the assumption that the November 2025 deadline for all Patreon creators to switch to subscription billing is no longer necessary.”
For now, while creators still need to use subscription billing to accept payments via the iOS app, this court decision signals a potential turning point for how mobile commerce works on Apple’s ecosystem.
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