Patreon
Membership platform with built-in creator discovery
membershipFree planSetup: simple
7.8
Visit Patreon →AppAdvize
Score / 10
Overview
Patreon is the original creator membership platform — patrons pay a monthly or per-creation fee to support creators and unlock exclusive content. Patreon's built-in discovery network exposes creators to patrons already browsing the platform, which is a real growth advantage. The platform fee varies by plan tier, taken as a percentage of monthly earnings. For creators already building an audience on YouTube, podcasting, or art, Patreon is the lowest-friction way to monetize.
Pros & Cons
What we like
- ✓Built-in patron discovery — Patreon users actively look for creators to support
- ✓No upfront cost — revenue-share model only
- ✓Supports monthly, per-creation, and annual billing
- ✓Discord and other integrations for member benefits
Watch out for
- ✕Platform fee (5–12% depending on plan) adds up at scale
- ✕Limited customization and branding control
- ✕No course or community features built in
- ✕Revenue tied to Patreon's platform — hard to migrate members
Best for
- YouTubers, podcasters, and artists with existing audiences looking to monetize
- Creators who want built-in discovery without marketing their own membership
Not ideal for
- Creators wanting full brand control (Ghost or beehiiv offer more ownership)
- Course creators (Kajabi or Teachable are purpose-built for that)
Alternatives
AppAdvize Scores
Ease of Use8.5/10
Value for Money7.5/10
Support Quality7/10
Integrations7/10
Scalability8/10
Overall7.8/10
Pricing
✓Free plan available
Free — Free to launch — platform fee (5–12%) taken from earnings
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 2013
- Users
- 250,000+ creators, 8M+ active patrons
- Setup time
- ~20 min
- Complexity
- simple
- Maturity
- established
Last verified: 2026-03-01