Patreon

Active

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 2013
Developer: Patreon, Inc.
Pricing: Freemium
Open source: No
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web

Indexes

Community/Forums

Overview

Patreon is a platform that enables creators to receive recurring financial support from fans through paid memberships, providing access to exclusive content such as podcasts, videos, art, writing, and music. It supports both creators, who manage pages, posts, and stats, and members, who interact with content and communities. The service stands out with its mobile app for on-the-go management, profile switching between creator and member views, and unified notifications.¹²³

Key Features

Profile Switcher - Switch between creator and member views by tapping profile picture to manage or interact differently.
Overview Tab - Displays business stats like total members, earnings estimates, new/canceled members for creators.
Self View Tab - Preview Patreon page as members see it to manage posts, drafts, and schedules.
Direct Messaging - Send messages to new members directly from the overview tab.
Content Access - Members access exclusive posts, collections, chats, and creator shops.
Unified Inbox - Centralized notifications and messages across creator and member activities.
Membership Management - View, edit, and manage active memberships from home screen.
App Settings - Customize app icon, profile details like name, photo, and bio.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Lite	5% of monthly earnings	Basic membership tools, posts, community chat.
Pro	8% of monthly earnings	Lite features plus videos, merch, Discord integration.
Premium	12% of monthly earnings	Pro features plus advanced analytics, 24/7 support.

Platforms & Requirements

Available as web platform at patreon.com and native mobile apps for iOS and Android via app stores. Mobile apps require latest version for full features like profile switching and stats; web supports all desktop actions. No native desktop apps for macOS or Windows; limitations on older devices not specified.¹²³

Integrations & Ecosystem

YouTube
Discord
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Shopify
ConvertKit
Mailchimp
API access

Alternatives

App	Difference
Ko-fi	Offers one-time donations alongside memberships with lower or no platform fees.
Substack	Focuses on writers with built-in newsletters and lower revenue cut.
Buy Me a Coffee	Simpler donation model without monthly memberships, free to use.
Gumroad	Emphasizes one-off digital product sales over recurring support.

Reputation

Patreon is recognized for empowering creators with stable income and community tools, praised for mobile app improvements and exclusive content access. Criticisms include platform fees up to 12% plus payment processing, occasional policy changes affecting creators, and moderation controversies. Overall, it maintains a solid user base among content creators despite competition.¹²³

Sources (6)