What Patreon is
Patreon is a platform where creators earn money from their audience. Creators can offer monthly and annual subscriptions, membership tiers and one-time payments.
A newsletter operator can use it to run a paid membership next to a free newsletter. Patreon includes email newsletters among its tools, and creators can export their email lists.
Patreon is free to start. It takes a percentage of what a creator earns, plus separate payment fees.
Who it is for
Patreon is for creators in podcasting, video, music, visual art, game development and newsletter writing. Hundreds of thousands of creators use it.
A newsletter operator who wants a paid membership with community features may use it. It has chats, comments and direct messages, so it is closer to a creator membership hub than to a plain payment tool. Operators who only want to charge a subscription fee on their own site may find the fit looser.
What you can do with it
Patreon offers earning tools: monthly and annual subscriptions, membership tiers and one-time payments. Creation tools include audio, images, rich text, native video, livestreaming and email newsletters. Community tools are chats, direct messages and comments.
Growth tools include automated growth tools, member analytics, free trials, discounts and sales, and creator-first discovery. Podcast tools cover importing and syncing, multiple podcasts, Spotify integration, Synced Feeds and RSS distribution. Patreon also offers an online shop for digital products. Email lists can be exported.
Plans and pricing
Patreon has one pricing model and no plan names. Patreon is free to start, and a creator pays only after earning. It takes 10% of income earned on Patreon.
Payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees are charged in addition, along with applicable taxes. Patreon handles payment processing and payouts. It supports 16+ currencies for payouts and pay-ins. It also handles most applicable tax collection and remittance. Fans can pay by methods such as PayPal, Apple Pay, Venmo and Sofort.
What it works with
Patreon works with Spotify and Synced Feeds for podcasts, plus RSS distribution. It has partners and integrations, with a featured section and a full app directory.
Patreon has mobile apps on Google Play and the App Store.
Things to know before you choose
Patreon charges more than its own 10% fee. Payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees apply on top, and the amounts are not published. No usage or feature limits are published.
Support is a Help Center with sections on getting started, payments, member management, and content and engagement. Patreon also offers getting-started guides and a creator community. Headquarters are in San Francisco.
At a glance
From the company's own pages. Prices and plans change, so confirm on their site.
- What it does
- Lets creators earn from monthly and annual subscriptions, membership tiers and one-time payments.
- Used for
- Charging readers for a paid membership that sits alongside a free newsletter.
- Free plan
- Yes. Patreon is free to start and creators only pay when they start earning.
- How it charges
- A 10% fee on income earned on Patreon, in addition to payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees, and applicable taxes.
- Works with
- Spotify integration, synced feeds, and podcast importing and syncing with RSS distribution of episodes.
- Key features
- Subscriptions and tiers, one-time payments, email newsletters, chats and direct messages, native video and livestreaming, podcast tools, free trials, member analytics, and an online shop.
- Plans
- No named plans. Patreon is free to start and takes 10% of income earned on the platform, plus other fees.
- Support
- Help Center with sections on getting started, payments, member management, and content. Patreon also has creator resources and a creator community.
- Company
- Headquarters are at 600 Townsend Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94103. Hundreds of thousands of creators use it.
- Last checked
- October 11, 2026
Questions operators ask about Patreon
Does Patreon cost anything to start?
No. Patreon is free to start and creators only pay when they start earning.
How much does Patreon take?
Patreon charges a 10% fee on income earned on Patreon. Payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees, and applicable taxes are charged in addition.
Can a newsletter operator send email through Patreon?
Yes. Email newsletters are among its tools for creators.
Can creators take their email list with them?
Yes. Exportable email lists are among its features.
Can I sell products as well as memberships?
Yes. Creators can run a paid membership or sell digital products through an online shop.
Does Patreon handle sales tax?
Patreon handles most applicable tax collection and remittance. Applicable taxes are also charged in addition to the 10% fee.
Can I give a free trial or a discount?
Yes. Free trials and discounts and sales are among its growth features.