For years, Patreon has been the go-to platform for creators to earn through memberships. Writers, podcasters, artists, and YouTubers alike have used it to build recurring income from their biggest fans.
But here’s the reality in 2025: Patreon isn’t the only option anymore. Between rising platform fees, feature limitations, and the need for more control, many creators are asking the same question: What are the best Patreon alternatives?
The good news? There are plenty of choices. From simple “tip jar” platforms to full-blown community hubs and newsletter tools, you can now match your monetization strategy to the platform that actually fits your audience—and keeps more money in your pocket.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the best Patreon alternatives for 2025, compare their fees and features, and highlight which ones work best for writers, artists, streamers, educators, and beyond. By the end, you’ll know exactly which platform to try next (and how much more you might keep).
Quick Picks (by Scenario)
Don’t want to scroll through every detail? Here’s the quick guide to the best Patreon alternatives in 2025, depending on what you’re looking for:
All-in-one community + courses hub → Mighty Networks. Great for building your own branded community space with memberships and learning tools.
Best mix of tip jar + memberships + shop → Ko-fi. Offers one-off donations, monthly memberships, and even a digital shop—all under one roof.
Simplest “buy me a coffee” style support → Buy Me a Coffee. 5% fee, easy setup, and familiar for casual supporters.
Newsletter-first creators → Substack (10% fee) or Ghost(Pro) (0% fee + hosting). Substack for plug-and-play simplicity, Ghost for full ownership.
Add memberships to your own site → Memberful (4.9% fee + Stripe). Perfect if you already run a WordPress or custom site.
Sell digital products & subscriptions → Gumroad (10% fee) or Lemon Squeezy (5% fee). Both act as Merchants of Record, meaning they handle global taxes for you.
Courses + downloads + memberships → Podia. User-friendly for coaches, educators, and online course creators.
Community-first creators → Circle (cleaner UI for group interaction) or Mighty Networks (richer all-in-one toolkit).
Quick takeaway: if you just need support + tips, go with Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee. If you want to own your audience, look at Ghost or Memberful. If your focus is community or teaching, Mighty Networks and Podia are hard to beat.
How to Choose (Fast Framework)
With so many Patreon alternatives out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The trick isn’t to find the “best” platform overall—it’s to find the one that matches your business model, audience, and goals.
Here’s a quick framework to guide your choice:
1
Business Model Fit
Ask: How do I want to earn?
Recurring memberships → Patreon, Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee, Memberful.
Donations-only → Liberapay, Open Collective.
Courses or coaching → Podia, Mighty Networks.
Digital products/subscriptions → Gumroad, Lemon Squeezy.
Newsletters → Substack, Ghost.
Communities → Circle, Mighty Networks.
2
Take-Home Math
Don’t just look at platform fees. Add up:
Platform cut (e.g., 5–10%).
Payment processor fees (Stripe/PayPal, usually ~2.9% + $0.30).
Any monthly subscription costs. Sometimes a “0% fee” platform with a monthly price works out better once you grow.
3
Audience Experience
Consider what your fans get:
Is there a mobile app?
Do they need to create a new login?
Does the platform look professional and easy to use?
The smoother the supporter’s experience, the easier it is to grow.
4
Ownership & Portability
Ask yourself:
Can you export your email list or member data?
Are you locked into their ecosystem?
Do you want full control (Ghost, Memberful) or convenience (Substack, Patreon)?
5
Roadmap & Support
Look at how active the platform is:
Are they shipping updates regularly?
Do they have reliable customer support?
Are they sustainable (or could they disappear overnight)?
Use this framework before comparing fees and features. It’ll save you from shiny-object syndrome and point you straight to the platform that fits your strategy.
Patreon in 2025 (Baseline to Compare)
Before we explore the alternatives, let’s set the baseline: what does Patreon look like today in 2025?
What You Get with Patreon
Recurring memberships – monthly or annual tiers with perks.
Digital product sales – one-time offers like downloads or exclusive videos.
Community features – posts, polls, and messaging inside Patreon’s platform.
Analytics & payouts – see what’s working and get paid on a predictable schedule.
Integrations – connect with Discord, Zapier, email tools, and more.
For many creators, Patreon is still the most familiar and trusted brand in membership-based income.
Pricing in 2025
This is where things have shifted:
New creators now pay a flat 10% platform fee on all earnings (plus standard payment processing).
Legacy creators on older plans (Lite, Pro, Premium) can keep those rates—but only if they never unpublish their page.
One-time product sales also carry fees.
In short, if you’re starting fresh in 2025, Patreon is more expensive than it used to be.
Who Patreon Works Best For
Creators who want an easy, no-frills way to launch memberships.
Those with audiences already familiar with Patreon.
Beginners who value brand trust over squeezing every percent of revenue.
Patreon is still solid—but with higher fees and limited flexibility, it’s no longer the “automatic” choice. That’s why so many creators are exploring alternatives.
If you’ve ever wanted a platform that feels like a tip jar with extra perks, Ko-fi is hard to beat. It started as a simple “buy me a coffee” style tool but has grown into a full creator platform with donations, memberships, and even a digital shop.
Key Features:
One-off donations – fans can support you instantly without creating an account.
Monthly memberships – set up tiers and perks like Patreon.
Ko-fi Shop – sell digital downloads, physical products, or even commissions.
Zero-pressure setup – you can start with tips only and add memberships later.
Best For
Anyone who wants a low-fee alternative to Patreon without sacrificing flexibility.
Artists, writers, and streamers who want tips + lightweight memberships.
Creators selling digital downloads or commissions.
Pros
Supporters can donate without signing up → very low friction.
Option to keep fees at 0% with Ko-fi Gold.
Versatile: tips, memberships, shop, commissions all in one place.
Well-known and trusted by fans.
Cons
Community features are minimal compared to Patreon or Mighty Networks.
No built-in newsletter or advanced analytics.
Best for small to mid-sized creators, not full-scale communities.
Pricing
Free plan – Ko-fi takes 5% service fee (plus standard payment processor fees).
Ko-fi Gold ($12/month) – unlocks extra features and 0% service fee (you just pay PayPal/Stripe fees).
This makes Ko-fi one of the cheapest platforms if you’re earning consistently.
As the name suggests, Buy Me a Coffee is all about making it easy for fans to chip in and support you. Think of it as Ko-fi’s close cousin: simple, lightweight, and designed for creators who don’t want to fuss with complicated setups.
Key Features:
One-off donations – supporters can literally “buy you a coffee” (or any custom label you choose).
Recurring memberships – set up monthly or yearly support with different tiers.
Extras – sell digital products or one-off services alongside donations.
No log-in barrier for fans – supporters can pay in a couple of clicks.
Best For
Casual creators who want a low-commitment way to get support.
Beginners testing the waters of memberships.
Artists, streamers, or writers who want a fast, no-fuss alternative to Patreon.
Pros
Incredibly easy to set up—no tech skills required.
Familiar and trusted format for casual supporters.
Works well for creators with small or global audiences.
No upfront costs—just pay as you earn.
Cons
Less flexibility than Ko-fi (no advanced shop features).
No in-depth community tools.
The 5% cut adds up if you earn a lot.
Pricing
Flat 5% transaction fee on all earnings (plus standard Stripe/PayPal processing).
No monthly subscription.
This makes it predictable, but not quite as low-cost as Ko-fi Gold if you scale up.
If your strength is writing and building an audience through email, Substack is one of the best Patreon alternatives in 2025. It’s built specifically for writers, journalists, and newsletter creators who want to monetize their content directly.
Key Features:
Email newsletters – publish posts that go straight to subscribers’ inboxes.
Memberships – set up monthly or yearly paid subscriptions.
Free + paid tiers – let fans choose whether to support or just read free content.
Community features – comments, likes, “Notes” (like Twitter threads inside Substack).
Podcast & video hosting – you can host audio/video directly in your newsletter.
Best For
Writers, journalists, and bloggers who want to focus on writing, not website building.
Podcasters who want to integrate episodes with their email list.
Creators who want discovery + community features baked in.
Pros
Extremely simple setup—no tech headaches.
Built-in discovery features can help you grow.
Mobile app for readers makes newsletters feel like a feed.
Trusted by audiences (big names in writing use it).
Cons
10% fee can sting as your subscriber base grows.
Limited customization—you’re stuck with Substack’s look and feel.
Harder to fully “own” your audience compared to Ghost (though you can export emails).
Pricing
Free to publish if you don’t monetize.
10% platform fee on all paid subscriptions + Stripe processing fees.
That means if you charge $5/month, Substack takes $0.50, Stripe takes a bit more, and you keep the rest.
If Substack is the plug-and-play option, Ghost(Pro) is the creator-owned alternative. It’s an open-source publishing platform designed for blogs + newsletters + memberships—giving you full control over your brand without losing out to heavy platform fees.
Key Features:
Email newsletters + blog posts – publish content on your site and send it to subscribers.
Memberships – offer free, monthly, or annual tiers.
Custom design & branding – no cookie-cutter look; make it fully yours.
Integrations – connect with tools like Zapier, Stripe, analytics, and more.
SEO-friendly – built with clean code and performance in mind.
Best For
Writers and bloggers who want to own their platform and brand.
Creators ready to invest in building a long-term publishing business.
Anyone frustrated by Substack’s 10% cut but who still wants newsletter + blog functionality.
Pros
Full control over your site and audience.
0% cut of your revenue (huge if you grow big).
Beautiful, customizable themes.
Own your email list—you’re not locked in.
Cons
Monthly cost upfront, even if you’re just starting out.
More setup compared to Substack (though Ghost(Pro) handles hosting for you).
Smaller discovery ecosystem—growth is mostly on you.
Pricing
Flat monthly hosting fee (starts at $15/month for the Starter plan).
0% platform fee – you keep everything you earn, minus Stripe’s standard processing fees (~2.9% + $0.30).
This makes Ghost cheaper than Substack once you cross a certain revenue threshold.
If you already run a WordPress site or blog and just want to add memberships on top, Memberful is one of the best Patreon alternatives. Instead of forcing you into a new platform, it plugs directly into your existing site and gives you the tools to run a paid community or subscription business.
Key Features:
Recurring memberships – monthly or yearly plans.
Multiple tiers – create different perks or pricing levels.
WordPress integration – works seamlessly with your existing site.
Stripe-powered payments – direct payouts and global support.
Custom branding – no “locked-in” look; everything sits under your own site.
Best For
WordPress users who want memberships without moving platforms.
Bloggers, educators, podcasters who already have an established site.
Creators who want control + flexibility instead of being locked into Patreon.
Pros
You own your site, audience, and brand completely.
Works great for bloggers, podcasters, or anyone with a site already running.
Stripe handles the payments, so you get reliable payouts.
Flexible: you can mix free + paid content on your own terms.
Cons
Requires a website (not a standalone tool like Patreon or Substack).
Monthly fee on Pro plan may feel steep for beginners.
No built-in “discovery” features—you’ll need to bring your own traffic.
Pricing
Free plan – 10% transaction fee.
Pro plan ($49/month) – lowers fees to 4.9% + Stripe processing.
All plans: unlimited members, integrations, and advanced features as you scale.
If your focus is more on selling digital products or subscriptions rather than running a membership community, Gumroad is one of the strongest Patreon alternatives. It’s built for creators who want a simple way to sell ebooks, art, templates, videos, music, or even memberships—all with checkout handled for you.
Key Features:
Sell digital products – ebooks, art, music, courses, templates, software, etc.
Subscriptions – set up recurring payments for exclusive content or access.
Pay-what-you-want pricing – let fans choose their price.
Global payments + VAT handled – Gumroad acts as a Merchant of Record, taking care of taxes.
Embeddable buttons & pages – sell directly from your site or social media.
Best For
Writers, artists, and indie devs selling digital downloads.
Creators who want subscriptions but don’t need a full-blown membership site.
Beginners who want a frictionless, global checkout system without monthly costs.
Pros
Extremely easy setup—great for digital products.
No upfront monthly costs.
Gumroad handles global taxes/VAT for you.
Flexible: one-off sales, subscriptions, or even free giveaways.
Cons
The 10% fee can add up if you scale to high volumes.
Marketplace discoverability is limited; most sales come from your own promotion.
Less suited for community-building compared to Patreon or Mighty Networks.
Pricing
10% platform fee + $0.50 per transaction (plus payment processing).
30% per transaction when new customers find and buy from their discover marketplace.
Higher visibility sales through the Gumroad marketplace can also carry fees.
If you like the idea of Gumroad but want lower fees and more flexibility, Lemon Squeezy is a strong Patreon alternative in 2025. It’s built for selling digital products, software, and subscriptions—and, like Gumroad, it acts as a Merchant of Record (MoR), meaning it handles sales tax and VAT for you.
Key Features:
Digital products + subscriptions – sell ebooks, software, memberships, or recurring content.
Global payments – supports multiple currencies and taxes automatically.
Built-in email marketing – send newsletters and drip campaigns without third-party tools.
Embeddable checkout – add purchase buttons or forms directly to your site.
Licensing & software sales – especially useful for SaaS and indie developers.
Best For
Digital creators & indie developers selling software, plugins, or licenses.
Creators selling subscriptions or downloads who want a Gumroad alternative with lower fees.
Anyone who wants an all-in-one system with email + checkout built in.
Pros
Lower fees than Gumroad.
All-in-one: store, subscriptions, and email marketing in one place.
MoR model means you don’t have to worry about tax compliance.
Developer-friendly features (like software licensing).
Cons
Still newer and less recognized compared to Gumroad.
Discovery is minimal—you’ll need to drive your own traffic.
More features than some creators need (can feel overwhelming if you just want tips).
Pricing
5% platform fee + $0.50 per sale (plus payment processing, included in the fee).
Email Marketing free for first 500 subscribers
This makes Lemon Squeezy more affordable than Gumroad if you’re scaling up.
If your creator business goes beyond donations and into courses, digital products, and communities, Podia is a strong Patreon alternative. Think of it as an all-in-one platform for creators who want to teach, sell, and connect—all under one roof.
Key Features:
Online courses – create and sell video lessons, coaching, or drip content.
Digital downloads – ebooks, guides, templates, or audio files.
Memberships – recurring subscriptions with different tiers.
Community features – host discussions and connect members in one place.
Email marketing – send broadcasts, newsletters, and automated campaigns.
Website builder – run your entire creator site through Podia, no extra hosting needed.
Best For
Educators, coaches, and course creators who want to sell lessons + memberships.
Creators who want one tool to replace Patreon, email marketing, and website hosting.
Growing creators ready to invest in a platform that scales with them.
Pros
All-in-one tool: courses, memberships, products, and email marketing.
Clean, easy-to-use interface for both creators and members.
No extra plugins or tech setup needed.
The Shaker plan (0% fee) is great for scaling.
Cons
Monthly cost may feel high for small creators.
Community features are simpler than Mighty Networks or Circle.
Less discovery—most traffic will come from your own promotion.
Pricing
Mover plan ($39/month) – 5% transaction fee on sales.
Shaker plan ($89/month) – 0% transaction fee (just processing fees).
Both plans include hosting, email marketing, and unlimited products. You can save 15% by choosing yearly billing.
If your vision is less about tips or one-off sales and more about building a thriving community, Mighty Networks is one of the strongest Patreon alternatives in 2025. It’s designed for creators who want their own branded space—complete with memberships, events, and courses.
Key Features:
Community platform – host discussions, groups, events, and live sessions.
Memberships – charge for access to your community or create tiered plans.
Courses – sell structured lessons, coaching, or group programs.
Events & live streaming – run workshops, webinars, or member meetups.
Mobile app – your community lives in its own app-like space (iOS + Android).
Best For
Educators, coaches, and community leaders who want to run courses + memberships in one hub.
Creators who value engagement and interaction over just recurring payments.
Teams or organizations building branded networks.
Pros
All-in-one solution for building a branded community hub.
Clean mobile app experience for your members.
Combines community + courses + memberships in one place.
If you want to turn your audience into an active community, with courses and memberships built in, Mighty Networks is one of the best Patreon alternatives.
If you love the community-first approach but don’t need all the extras that Mighty Networks offers, Circle is a leaner, cleaner Patreon alternative. It’s built to give creators a private, branded community platform where members can connect, interact, and learn together.
Key Features:
Community spaces – organize conversations into groups, topics, or channels.
Memberships – create free or paid tiers, with different levels of access.
Events & live streams – host live video calls, workshops, or group sessions.
Integrations – connect with tools like Zapier, Slack, or your website.
Custom branding – design your space to match your brand.
Best For
Creators, coaches, and educators who want a dedicated community space.
Membership sites where interaction is the main value.
Teams who already have products or content elsewhere but need a hub for members.
Pros
Clean, modern, distraction-free interface.
Focused purely on community and interaction.
Easy integration with your existing site or membership tools.
Members can access via web and mobile apps.
Cons
Monthly cost is higher than simple donation platforms.
No built-in digital product sales (unlike Podia or Gumroad).
Growth and engagement are entirely up to you—no built-in discovery.
Pricing
Starts at $89/month for the Basic plan with 14 days free trial.
Higher tiers unlock advanced features (automation, analytics, multiple spaces).
Transaction fees apply to paid memberships (varies by plan + Stripe fees).
If you want a community-first Patreon alternative without extra clutter, Circle is an elegant, focused solution for 2025.
A Quick Note on Donation Platforms
While this guide focused on the top 10 Patreon-style alternatives (with memberships, perks, shops, and communities), there are also a couple of platforms worth mentioning if you’re looking for pure donations rather than member perks:
Liberapay – A non-profit, open-source platform with 0% platform fees. Supporters can set up weekly donations, but there are no perks, tiers, or community features. Best for open-source projects or activists.
Open Collective – Designed for teams and communities (like meetups, local groups, or software projects). Offers transparent funding with donations managed through fiscal hosts.
These are excellent if your supporters just want to give money with no strings attached—but for most creators seeking Patreon-style memberships, the 10 main alternatives above will be a better fit.
Side-by-Side Fee & Feature Comparison
Here’s a quick look at how the top Patreon alternatives in 2025 stack up.
If you want lowest fees, Ghost(Pro) (0%) or Ko-fi Gold (0%) win.
For newsletters, choose between Substack (easy) and Ghost (flexible).
For courses + all-in-one, Podia and Mighty Networks shine.
For simple tips/donations, Ko-fi and Buy Me a Coffee are best.
Case-Based Recommendations
Still not sure which platform fits you best? Let’s break it down by creator type so you can quickly match your needs to the right Patreon alternative.
For Writers & Newsletter Creators
Best pick:Substack if you want plug-and-play simplicity and discovery features.
Alternative:Ghost(Pro) if you want full control, custom branding, and 0% platform fees.
Go Substack if you’re starting out. Go Ghost when you’re ready to scale and own your audience.
For Artists & Streamers (Tips + Light Memberships)
Best pick:Ko-fi (Gold) – versatile with tips, shop, and commissions.
Alternative:Buy Me a Coffee – super simple for casual support.
Ko-fi if you want a shop + memberships. Buy Me a Coffee if you want the easiest tip jar.
For Bloggers, Podcasters, or Site Owners
Best pick:Memberful – integrates directly with your existing site.
Perfect if you already run WordPress or a blog and just want to add a membership layer.
For Educators, Coaches & Course Creators
Best pick:Podia (Shaker plan) – all-in-one for courses, downloads, memberships, and email.
Alternative:Mighty Networks if community interaction is a bigger priority than courses.
Podia if you’re teaching. Mighty Networks if you’re building a learning community.
For Digital Product Sellers
Best pick:Lemon Squeezy – lower fees, built-in email, handles VAT.
Alternative:Gumroad – familiar, simple setup.
Lemon Squeezy for scaling, Gumroad for testing the waters.
For Community Builders
Best pick:Circle – sleek, focused, and easy to brand.
Alternative:Mighty Networks – more powerful, but pricier and heavier.
Circle if you want a simple hub. Mighty Networks if you want a full-fledged branded network.
Wrapping It Up
Patreon may still be the most recognizable name in creator monetization, but in 2025 you’ve got more choice than ever. Whether you’re a writer, artist, educator, or community builder, there’s a platform designed to fit your needs—often with lower fees and more flexibility than Patreon offers today.
The key is not to chase every shiny tool. It’s to find the platform that aligns with your audience, content style, and income goals.
Here’s a quick checklist to guide your decision (Ask yourself first):
Do I want simple tips or one-off donations? → Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee
Do I want to run a newsletter-first business? → Substack or Ghost(Pro)
Do I already have a WordPress site or blog? → Memberful
Do I want to sell digital products or subscriptions? → Lemon Squeezy or Gumroad
Do I focus on courses, coaching, or downloads? → Podia
Am I building an engaged community space? → Mighty Networks or Circle
The “best” Patreon alternative is the one that matches your creative workflow and makes it easy for fans to support you. Once you’ve picked your platform, the real work is showing up consistently and delivering value to your audience.
FAQs on Patreon Alternatives
1. Which Patreon alternative has the lowest fees?
If you want the lowest possible fees, Ko-fi Gold and Ghost(Pro) are top picks. Ko-fi Gold lets you pay a flat $6/month for 0% platform fees, while Ghost(Pro) charges no platform fee but does have a hosting cost (~$15–$20/month).
2. Can I use multiple platforms at once?
Yes. Many creators stack platforms—like using Substack for newsletters and Ko-fi for tips. The key is not to overwhelm supporters. Keep your setup simple and clearly explain where to support you.
3. What’s the best alternative for writers?
– Substack if you want easy setup + discovery. – Ghost(Pro) if you want more control, branding, and lower long-term costs.
4. What’s the best option for selling digital products?
5. Can I migrate my patrons from Patreon to another platform?
Not directly—you can’t export payment info. But you can export email addresses (depending on what members opted into). Best approach: ask patrons to re-subscribe on your new platform and offer an incentive to make the switch.
6. Do all platforms handle taxes and VAT?
No. Some platforms like Gumroad and Lemon Squeezy act as Merchants of Record (they handle global taxes for you). Others like Memberful or Ghost(Pro) rely on Stripe, which means you’re responsible for VAT/sales tax.
7. What if I just want tips and donations, no memberships?
Go with Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee. Both allow one-off donations without requiring supporters to create an account.
Which Patreon alternative is best for building a community?
If your goal is more than just collecting payments and you want to create a thriving, interactive community, the top choices are: – Mighty Networks – best if you want a full-featured hub with courses, events, and memberships all in one branded space. – Circle – ideal if you want a clean, focused community platform without extra complexity. Both go beyond Patreon’s simple posts and chats, giving you tools to build a long-term home for your audience.
A passionate Blogger, Web, and Graphic designer from India. An Engineer by qualification and a Blogger by profession. Tech-savvy and love to share the experiences gathered through the long journey of blogging and digital marketing.
At BlogTweaks he writes about Blogging, SEO, Content Creation, Vlogging, and more.
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