Patreon
Membership platform with built-in creator discovery
AppAdvize Score
out of 10 · How we scoreShort answer
Patreon scores 7.8/10 in our review and is best for youtubers, podcasters, and artists with existing audiences looking to monetize and creators who want built-in discovery without marketing their own membership. The standout: Built-in patron discovery — Patreon users actively look for creators to support. Watch out: Platform fee (5–12% depending on plan) adds up at scale. There's a free plan to start with.
Reviewed by the AppAdvize editorial team · last verified March 2026
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.
Pricing
Free — Free to launch — platform fee (5–12%) taken from earnings
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
See all Patreon alternatives, compared →Patreon FAQ
Is Patreon worth it?
Patreon scores 7.8/10 in our review and is a strong fit for youtubers, podcasters, and artists with existing audiences looking to monetize. Standout: Built-in patron discovery — Patreon users actively look for creators to support. Main trade-off: Platform fee (5–12% depending on plan) adds up at scale.
Is Patreon free?
Patreon is free to use — Free to launch — platform fee (5–12%) taken from earnings.
What are the best Patreon alternatives?
Top Patreon alternatives are Kajabi, Circle, Mighty Networks. See our full comparison at /tools/patreon/alternatives.
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Quick Facts
- Founded
- 2013
- Users
- 250,000+ creators, 8M+ active patrons
- Setup time
- ~20 min
- Complexity
- simple
- Maturity
- established
Last verified: 2026-03-01