Patreon is one of the most recognized names in the creator economy, but is it actually worth your time to promote it in 2025?
In this review, we’ll take a deep dive into how Patreon’s affiliate program works, what it offers, its pros and cons, and whether it’s a good fit for your audience. By the end, you’ll know if this is a program worth adding to your affiliate portfolio or if your efforts would be better spent elsewhere.
Patreon Affiliate Program Overview
Patreon is one of the most well-known membership platforms in the world, used by millions of creators ranging from podcasters and YouTubers to musicians, writers, and educators. The platform allows creators to offer exclusive content, perks, and community access in exchange for monthly subscriptions from their fans.
The Patreon Affiliate Program rewards you for sending new creators who sign up for Patreon and start earning. Unlike other platforms, Patreon does not pay recurring commissions, it offers a fixed payment of $50 if a newly referred creator reaches 20 patrons within their first 20 days. The referral program is only available to existing creators on Patreon so if you want to earn with the platform, you must be a registered user.
As of September 2025, Patreon has paused its Creator Referral program with no definite restart date. If you are looking for an affiliate program to promote that has high recurring commissions, check out SchoolMaker.
What Makes the Patreon Affiliate Program Stand Out?
Not every affiliate program is created equal, and Patreon’s affiliate program has some unique elements that make it stand out in the crowded affiliate marketing space.
1. Strong Brand Recognition
Patreon is practically a household name in the creator economy. Millions of fans already know about it, which makes it much easier to promote compared to lesser-known platforms. If you mention Patreon in your content, chances are your audience already has some familiarity, which helps with conversions.
2. Great Fit for Creator-Focused Niches
If your content already speaks to creators, whether that’s bloggers, musicians, writers, or online educators, Patreon is a natural program to recommend. It integrates seamlessly with the types of discussions many creator-focused influencers are already having.
Who Should Promote Patreon?
Patreon isn’t the right fit for every affiliate marketer, but it is ideal for people with a close network of creators or aspiring creators. Here’s who will get the most benefit:
- Patreon users who have/belong to a community of fellow creators
- Coaches and consultants who help creators monetize their work
If your readers or viewers are mostly consumers (rather than creators), Patreon won’t work well. But if you know many other creators personally, then Patreon is a good fit.
Patreon vs Other Affiliate Programs
To see if Patreon’s affiliate program is really competitive, it’s helpful to compare it with other creator-focused platforms in 2025:
Patreon has some advantages, especially brand recognition but it lacks long-term recurring commissions, which platforms like SchoolMaker provide.
Pros and Cons of the Patreon Affiliate Program
Like any program, Patreon’s affiliate setup comes with pros and cons.
Pros
- Strong brand trust: Easier to promote since most creators already know Patreon
- Creator-first appeal: Perfect fit for audiences made up of creatives
Cons
- Strict promotion rules
- Earnings tied to creator success
- Competitive niche: Many affiliates already promote Patreon, which can make it harder to stand out
How Much Can You Really Make?
Your income potential with Patreon depends entirely on how well the creators you refer perform;
- Say you refer 10 creators in one month that all get up to 20 patrons
- You get $50 for each creator
- That’s a total of $500 in affiliate commissions that month
How to Join the Patreon Affiliate Program
Getting started is pretty simple:
- Register as a Patreon creator
- Go to patreon.com/invite
- Apply to join (approval usually takes a few days but the program is currently paused).
- Once accepted, you’ll receive your unique referral link.
Final Verdict: Is the Patreon Affiliate Program Worth It in 2025?
Patreon is a big name but there are way better options than Patreon if you are an affiliate marketer trying to earn consistent monthly revenue from your efforts. Programs like SchoolMaker’s affiliate program offer high recurring earnings and longer cookie durations that make it very attractive compared to others.
FAQs
1. Do I need to be a Patreon user to join the affiliate program?
Yes, only Patreon creators can promote it.
2. How often do I get paid?
Payments are made monthly for a minimum of $50
3. Can I promote Patreon alongside other affiliate programs?
Yes, and it’s better to do so.
4. Is there a cost to join the affiliate program?
No, joining Patreon’s affiliate program is completely free.
5. What’s the best way to promote Patreon?
By referring creators in your personal network to join the platform
(can change CTA here to "start free trial")
