Is Patreon still worth using?

If you have an existing audience on Patreon with a community, yes. But grandfathered rates are what make it work. New creators would be better served starting on Substack or Ko-fi.

Should I leave Patreon?

Not necessarily. But build relationships on email first, and use Patreon as one of several revenue channels, not your only one.

Which platform takes the lowest cut?

Ko-fi (5%), then Beehiiv (5-15%), then Substack (10%), then Ghost (you pay a monthly fee, keep 100%). The answer depends on your audience size and growth stage.

Can I avoid Apple's 30% tax?

Yes. Sell subscriptions through the web instead of the iOS app. Tell your audience to buy through your website or use a web link. Apple's tax only applies to in-app purchases.

Patreon 10% Fee + Apple 30% Cut: Creator Alternatives 2026

On August 4th, 2025, Patreon did something that sent shockwaves through the creator world: they introduced a new 10% flat fee for all new creators signing up.

Before that, Patreon's fee structure was tiered. Creators on the standard plan paid 5% in platform fees plus Stripe's payment processing fee (around 2.2%). Some tiers were 8% or 12%. The flat 10% was new. It was also a signal.

"We're raising prices because our costs are going up," Patreon said. Fair enough. Servers cost money. Moderators cost money. Building features costs money.

But then came the real problem.

Apple's 30% Tax on Patreon

In November 2024, Apple forced a rule through the App Store: any subscription purchased through the iOS app of a platform like Patreon would be subject to Apple's 30% in-app purchase tax.

Let's do the math. A creator launches a $10 Patreon tier through iOS:

Gross revenue: $10

Apple's cut: $3 (30%)

Patreon's cut: $0.70 (10% of remaining $7)

Stripe processing: ~$0.16

Creator gets: $6.14

That's not 10% or even 12%. That's 39% gone to middlemen. And the creator? They're left with 61 cents on the dollar.

On the web, without Apple's tax, the split is much cleaner. But mobile is where the growth is. Mobile is where habits form. And Apple basically said: if you want iOS creators, we're taking a piece.

Patreon can't change this because Apple owns the App Store. They set the rules. So Patreon absorbed some of the cost and passed the rest to creators through higher platform fees.

Where Creators Are Moving

Smart creators saw this coming and already had exit plans.

Substack: Takes 10% of subscription revenue. No Apple tax on web. Creators can use their own apps or just send via email. Email is the one channel Apple can't tax. Most Substack writers don't sell through the app. They sell through the web. It's simple math.

Beehiiv: Takes 5-15% depending on plan, and they've built their own email platform. Like Substack, they're not primarily app-based. They're web-first.

Ghost: You host it on your own server, pay a monthly fee ($29-$199), and keep 100% of subscription revenue. No middleman. This is attractive for established creators with audiences that can support self-hosting costs.

Ko-fi: Takes 5% of tips and memberships. Explicitly designed as a Patreon alternative for smaller creators. Low barrier to entry. Creators with 1,000 followers who don't qualify for Patreon often use Ko-fi first.

Custom Apps: Some creators are building custom apps or using platforms like Gumroad to sell memberships directly. More technical lift, but maximum control and no platform tax.

The pattern is clear: every alternative to Patreon is either lower fee, web-first, or self-hosted. Because the Patreon + Apple combo is too expensive.

The Real Cost of the Squeeze

Here's what nobody talks about: Patreon's new 10% fee affects only new creators. Existing creators grandfathered in at their old rates. So Patreon didn't raise everyone's fees. They just made it so new creators can't compete on price.

That's a death spiral. New creators go to Substack or Ghost. Patreon's growth slows. Existing creators on old rates eventually realize they can move and keep more money. More exit.

For the creators still on Patreon, the iOS app is becoming a liability. Some are explicitly discouraging iOS app purchases and directing fans to buy through the web instead. They're telling their audience to use a web browser on iPhone rather than the app. That's how bad the economics got.

Patreon's response has been to argue that the community and features justify the fee. And they're right that Patreon has built something real. But features don't matter if the math doesn't work.

What's Coming Next

The fee wars in the creator economy are just beginning. Patreon and Apple's squeeze created an opening for every alternative platform. Substack is hiring aggressively. Beehiiv raised another funding round. Ghost is growing fastest in the self-hosted space.

For creators, the message is clear: don't lock yourself into one platform. Build your own email list. Own your direct-to-fan relationship. Use Patreon or Substack or Ko-fi as a tool, but not as your lifeline.

Because the moment a platform's fees get too high, creators can leave. And in early 2026, they are.

Patreon's New 10% Fee and Apple's 30% Cut: Why Creators Are Looking for Exits