In case you don't follow tech or social media news very closely: Apple has informed Patreon that starting in November, they intend to start collecting 30% of every subscription made through the Patreon iOS app.
That's not really new for Apple - every developer who wants their app available through the App Store is subject to this 30% charge, and in most case the developer takes this into account when determine the price for their apps. What's unusual here is Apple, in effect, charging "third parties" (that's you, the subscriber) this fee.
Before I go any farther, I should make this clear: this policy will NOT affect CURRENT subscribers. If you're a current subscriber, nothing will change. Your subscriptions will not go up unless I change it. (And I have no plans to do so.)
This "Apple Tax" will ONLY affect NEW subscriptions, and only if you start your subscription through the Patreon iPhone app (and I assume iPad, since iPadOS is a variation of iOS).
So if you're:
A new visitor who's thinking about supporting my work with a subscription
An unpaid member who's considering a paid membership
A former subscriber who's canceled and is thinking about re-upping
then my advice to you is simple: DO NOT use the iPhone/iPad Patreon app to start/restart your subscription. Joining through a desktop web browser or the Android app will NOT be subject to the App Store 30%.
Patreon has given us creators an option for handling subs coming through the iOS app: the default is to allow Patreon to add 30% to the subscription fee automatically (the option I've chosen, which would raise my own rates to $1.30/month for the "Loyal Fan" tier, and $6.50/month for the "Patron of Strong-Girl Art" tier); or to opt in to not passing the 30% on to the subscribers (in which case I'd have to eat the charge, meaning I'd only get $3.50 of the $5/month sub and 70¢ of the $1/month; obviously not a palatable option).
This will take effect in November (I assume on the 1st), so if you're thinking about taking out a paid membership, NOW is the time to do it!
Once again: Current members/subscribers will NOT be affected; only new subs made through the iOS Patreon app will be subject to the new fee, starting in November.
And: THANK YOU to all of my members!