Just because it's the standard, doesn't mean that the rate isn't extortionate. Especially against a smaller company like Patreon. Consider also that Apple has built a "walled garden" where there is no other way to get an app onto your phone except through the App Store or by "breaking" your phone.
Yup, but apparently everyone has to do it so we're all about to start losing a shit-ton of money--though apparently current patrons are grandfathered in to the old system and won't be affected
I'm sorry. It seems relying on any platform at all for income is becoming next to impossible. I'm hearing this story, with minor variation, over and over again.
I think you can get around this by steering new subscribers to the website rather than the app. The Apple tax is only imposed on subscribers through the iOS app.
I have been trying to help my teen find a streaming platform for her to follow music she likes that doesn’t rob it’s creators. So far seems like none of them pay fairly at all.
doesn't this just mean that by default, folks buying a new patreon sub will pay ~40% more than buying it anywhere else to make sure creators don't see less money for the same content?
No. Apple has prohibited apps and creators from price differentiating so you are not allowed to charge different prices for Apple users vs other users, and you are not allowed to tell users where they can sign up otherwise.
I'm just reading the FAQ and you may adjust your pricing, but yeah, you can't cut off Apple app store sales. So you either overcharge everyone, or you take a huge pay cut
i know other apps like audible and spotify have a hard time explaining why you can't buy a new subscription through their iOS apps, which is how those companies decided to get around apple's 30% fee. no easy solutions when a single company has such a huge market share and decides to be anti-consumer
yeah, that was my understanding too - i definitely think that giving creators the chance to just "turn off" new purchases on iOS as an option would've been ideal, but maybe apple is throwing their weight around to discourage that kind of behavior.
But then all users, including already existing patrons, wouldn't be able to access any of their favorite creator's content through the app.
Personally, I never use the app and only use the website, but I'm sure there's a sizeable existing audience that interface w/ creators primarily through it.
Given what Apple has been doing the past couple of years and what companies have been trying to do to circumvent it, sounds about right. Like when companies tried removing all money through iOS and told you to go to their website directly.
I've been hearing that Ghost is a reasonable alternative to Patreon, and operates on a set monthly fee for the creator instead of a percentage of their subscriptions.
Yeah I’ve been hearing podcasts I follow straight up tell ppl about this & that if they want to subscribe/give to their Patreon do it through the site directly not the app
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It sucks. 30% is too much. I would have preferred a flat rate per transaction or 10% or less.
Personally, I never use the app and only use the website, but I'm sure there's a sizeable existing audience that interface w/ creators primarily through it.
2) Have several tip jars + donation/subscription options.
3) Don't "build your house on another man's land" in that 1 service should never be the end-all-be-all for your income.