Best Alternatives To Patreon – 9 Choices Worth Knowing

Patreon is a membership platform that allows content creators to run a subscription service. If you’re a content creator, artist, or business owner who wants to start earning a monthly income, a platform like Patreon may be in your best interest. 

That being said, Patreon charges quite a bit of transactional fees and doesn’t provide any helpful promotional tools to its users. It’s also geared toward those who are looking to build a long-term relationship with their audience rather than a one-time business deal. 

Below are the nine best alternatives to Patreon that will let you connect with your audience in creative ways, promote your work to more potential customers, and create a sustainable income.

Best Alternatives To Patreon

Before choosing a platform below, be sure to read up on what each platform offers and how it compares to Patreon. For instance, if you want to build a website that’s separate from your membership platform, a service like Memberful may be your best bet. If you want to find more creative ways to connect with your audience, platforms that offer a wide range of business tools, like SubscribeStar, may be the best platform for you. 

1. Ko-fi

Ko-fi is a platform that lets creators receive money from fans of their work. With Ko-fi, you can create your page and share it with anyone. Not only is it free to make an account and page with Ko-fi, but there are no extra fees.

Once you create a page, you can receive supportive messages and donations from visitors. You can also sell products and let your visitors request new work from you. If you’re looking for an easy-to-use platform that allows you to engage in meaningful dialogue with your audience, Ko-fi may be the best platform for you. Unlike Patreon, Ko-fi doesn’t charge those who donate or take any cut of your donations. 

2. Indiegogo

Indiegogo is a crowdfunding website that supports innovators and entrepreneurs in the early stages of their careers. If you’re looking for more funding from supporters, Indiegogo is a great platform to consider to get your next business venture rolling. 

With Indiegogo, you can start a crowdfunding campaign that lets others evaluate your product, follow your journey, learn about your story, and support your business. If you want others to help fund your next big project, Indiegogo is a great platform to use. 

While Indiegogo is a crowdfunding platform, Patreon is a membership platform. Patreon focuses on consistent support from patrons, while Indiegogo lets visitors make one-time payments. If you want to maintain an ongoing relationship with your audience, Patreon is the better platform for you. On the other hand, if your main goal is to fund a product and let viewers make one-time payments, Indiegogo is the platform for you. 

 3. Kickstarter

Kickstarter is a crowdfunding website that was initially made to help creatives bring their project to life. If you’re an author, artist, illustrator, musician, or any creative, Kickstarter may be the best crowdfunding platform for you. 

If you have an upcoming project that requires a fixed amount of funding, Kickstarter is an excellent platform for you. If you’re looking for long-term financing, Patreon may be a better platform to consider. 

4. Buy Me A Coffee 

Buy Me A Coffee is the #1 Patreon alternative and a highly used membership platform overall. With Buy Me A Coffee, users can accept support and membership from their fans. If you want more funding for your work and a meaningful relationship with your audience, Buy Me A Coffee may be the best membership platform for you. 

With Buy Me A Coffee, supporters have the option to make a one-time donation or become a recurring donator. Unlike Patreon, you don’t have to be actively working on a project to start a page with Buy Me A Coffee. They also offer customizable widgets for your website and reward links that you can send out to supporters. 

5. Anchor Listener 

If you have a podcast or want to raise donations through podcast listeners, Anchor Listener is the best platform for you. With Anchor Listener, you can produce a podcast, distribute it to a broad audience, and get recurring fans’ donations. 

Anchor Listener charges low fees, compared to Patreon, and pays you right away. That being said, if you don’t have a podcast that’s likely to reach a broad audience, this may not be the perfect platform for you. 

6. SubscribeStar

If you’re a content creator who’s looking to get a steady income, SubscribeStar is the perfect membership platform for you. This popular membership media platform lets others follow your journey and support your work. If you’re an artist, musician, dancer, or any other creative type, this is an excellent alternative to Patreon to consider. 

SubscribeStar charges a service fee of 5% and various transaction fees. You can withdraw money through a bank transfer and get your funds quickly. Unlike Patreon, SubscribeStar provides its creators with helpful resources, such as network opportunities, that will help them advance their careers while earning money from loyal fans. 

7. Podia

If you want to sell a membership program, webinar, or an online course, Podia is the perfect platform for you. With Podia, you can set up your website, add products, create a brand, and communicate with your audience. 

If you have a brand that you’re passionate about and a potential long-term audience, this platform is for you. While Patreon lets others support your work that’s already been created, Podia helps you create the work and build your business. 

8. Memberful

Memberful is an online platform that lets users sell memberships to their audiences. With Memberful, you can create your website, send email newsletters, create podcasts, and more. If you’re looking for a platform that lets you connect with your audience in creative ways, this is the platform for you. 

Although both Patreon and Memberful support independent creators, Memberful is more geared toward those who want to create their customizable website. Unlike Patreon, your website is entirely separate from your account on the platform itself. 

9. Flattr

Flattr is a donation subscription service where users can have their supporters opt-in to send them funds periodically. Whether you want your website to gain more traffic, your business to gain more customers, or your creative work to gain more attention, Flattr can help you reach those career goals. When compared to Patreon, Flattr has lower fees, and no supporter sign-up is required. 

Final Thoughts: Patreon Alternatives

The nine alternatives to Patreon above will help you get your work to a broader audience and build a more reliable income. Whether you’re trying to fund your next big project or gain a wider readership, the platforms above will help you reach those goals.