Patreon was one of the pioneers of the subscription model for content creators and since its creation, the creator economy has exploded with many alternatives to it. Whether you're frustrated by Patreon's high fees, limited customization options, or other issues, this comprehensive guide discusses the 11 best alternatives based on extensive real-world testing and analysis.
Many of Patreon's alternatives offer lower fees (many with 0% platform fees), better customization options, specialized features for specific creator types, more flexible monetization models and better community-building tools.
Patreon Alternatives Comparison Table
Top Patreon Alternatives in 2025
1. Ko-fi
Best for: Artists, writers, and small creators prioritizing simplicity
Pricing: Free Contributor plan, 5% platform fee; Ko-fi Gold at $12/month, 0% platform fee
Ko-fi stands out as the closest alternative to Patreon, offering a simple platform that can be set up in under 10 minutes, and creators can accept; One-time donations ("buy me a coffee"), recurring memberships, digital product sales and commission requests.
Pros:
- Zero platform fees on donations
- Incredibly user-friendly interface
- Multiple revenue streams supported
- Strong, supportive community
- No minimum payout requirements
Cons:
- Limited design customization
- Basic analytics on free tier
- No built-in audience discovery
- Fewer integration options
2. Buy Me a Coffee
Best for: Content creators looking for a professional looking platform
Pricing: Free to start
Platform Fees: 5% on all transactions
Buy Me a Coffee offers Ko-fi's simplicity with a more professional feel. The interface is sleek, mobile-optimized, and designed for conversion, making it ideal for creators who want to inspire fan confidence without extensive setup.
Pros:
- Beautiful, professional design out-of-the-box
- Built-in email marketing tools
- Extras widget for easy website integration
- Superior social media integration
- Seamless membership tier management
Cons:
- Higher fees than Ko-fi
- Limited customization despite polished appearance
- Customer support can be slow
3. Gumroad
Best for: Digital product sellers (ebooks, software, art, courses)
Pricing: Free to start
Platform Fees: 10%+$0.5 fee on all sales originated by user, 30% fee on sales originated by Gumroad
Originally built for digital products, Gumroad has successfully expanded into subscriptions while maintaining its core strength in one-time purchases. Despite high fees, its top features justify the cost for serious digital sellers.
Pros:
- Unmatched digital product delivery system
- Built-in affiliate program
- Automatic tax and VAT handling
- Comprehensive sales analytics
- Strong anti-piracy measures
Cons:
- High 10% fee structure
- Subscription features feel secondary
- Limited community-building tools
- Basic email marketing
4. SchoolMaker
Best for: Creators looking to sell courses online
Pricing: $29/month
Platform Fees: No fees
SchoolMaker is an easy to use course creation platform where you can run cohort-based or evergreen courses, create private communities, and track student progress with a built-in CRM.
Pros:
- Seamless course + community integration
- Focused on driving positive student outcomes
- Zero transaction fees
- Superb support
- Multi-lingual
- CRM tools for tracking student progress
- Modern interface
Cons:
- Restricted to course creation
- Limited marketing and discovery tools
5. Memberful
Best for: Bloggers and creators with existing websites
Pricing: $49/month + 4.9% of sales + Stripe fees
Memberful is good for integrating membership functionality into existing websites, especially WordPress sites. It offers complete white-label control over the user experience. It is with noting that Memberful was acquired by Patreon in 2018.
Pros:
- Perfect WordPress integration
- Complete branding control
- Professional checkout experience
- Support for digital downloads and private podcasts
- Direct Stripe integration
- Excellent customer support
Cons:
- High transaction fees
- Requires technical knowledge
- No standalone features
- Limited email marketing
6. Podia
Best for: Course creators, coaches, and content entrepreneurs
Pricing: $39-$89/month
Platform Fees: No transaction fees on paid plans
Podia positions itself as a comprehensive platform combining course creation, digital products, memberships, and email marketing in one platform. It is very good for educators building complete online businesses.
Pros:
- True all-in-one functionality
- Excellent customer support
- Free platform migration service
- Strong course creation features
- Built-in email marketing
- Website builder included
Cons:
- Higher monthly costs
- Limited design flexibility
- Basic community features
- Learning curve for full feature set
7. Mighty Networks
Best for: Creators focused on engaged communities
Pricing: $41-$360/month
Platform Fees: 2.5% - 5%
Mighty Networks prioritizes community engagement over simple subscriptions, offering best-in-class tools for building active, engaged member communities with integrated courses and events.
Pros:
- Advanced community building tools
- Native mobile apps for members
- Course integration
- Event management features
- Activity feeds and member profiles
- Good for cohort-based courses
Cons:
- Overkill for simple creator support
- Significant learning curve
- Limited payment flexibility
- Analytics could be improved
8. Kajabi
Best for: Established creators with significant revenue
Pricing: $81-$399/month
Platform Fees: No transaction fees
Kajabi is an all round platform that offers several features for creators building online businesses. It is one of the most feature-complete platforms available in 2025.
Pros:
- Advanced marketing automation
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Professional course creation tools
- Built-in email marketing suite
- Sales funnel builder
- Enterprise-level capabilities
Cons:
- More expensive than Patreon
- Overwhelming for most creators
- Steep learning curve
- Limited customization despite high price
9. Substack
Best for: Writers and journalists
Pricing: Free to start
Platform Fees: 10% of paid subscriptions
Substack has changed the paid newsletter game with its platform specifically built for written content monetization. Its built-in discovery features and network effects make it quite powerful for growth.
Pros:
- Excellent reader experience
- Built-in audience discovery
- Strong network effects
- Good mobile apps
- Active writer community
- Simple setup for paid newsletters
Cons:
- Limited to newsletter format only
- High 10% fee
- No multimedia support
- Low customization options
11. Liberapay
Best for: Open-source advocates and minimalist creators
Pricing: Completely free
Platform Fees: 0% (funded by donations)
Liberapay operates as a non-profit, open-source platform focused on sustainable creator support without commercial interests. It's built around recurring donations rather than content paywalls.
Pros:
- No fees whatsoever
- Ethical, transparent operation
- Open-source philosophy
- No corporate interests
- Focus on sustainable giving
Cons:
- Very basic features
- Limited payment options
- Small user base
- No marketing tools
- Minimal UI/UX
- No content hosting
Which Patreon Alternative Should You Choose?
If you are a new creator, start with a free and easy to use platform to test monetization with zero financial commitment and without spending too much time setting it up. Simplicity and lack of fees is ideal for understanding your audience's willingness to support you before making any financial or time investment. As your revenue grows, consider platforms with monthly fees but more features.
For experienced creators, choose a platform that offers the best balance of features and ease of use, with a professional appearance that inspires supporter confidence. Also ensure that the pricing of the platform you choose works for you in the long term, avoid choosing free platforms that lock you into higher costs in the long run from transaction fees.
You can also use multiple platforms such as Ko-fi for tips, Gumroad for products, and SchoolMaker for courses. If you’re looking to switch from Patreon, consider platforms such as SchoolMaker that offer free, done-for-you migration services that make switching less painful and less costly.
Here is a video to give you more information about Patreon alternatives in 2025.
(can change CTA here to "start free trial")
