Patreon Alternatives for Creators in 2026: 12 Platforms That Don't Take 12%
Let's do some quick math.
You're a creator earning $5,000 per month on Patreon. After Patreon's 8-12% platform fee, plus payment processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, you're losing $600-750 every single month to fees.
That's $7,200-9,000 per year. Enough for professional equipment. A part-time assistant. A vacation. Instead, it disappears into platform fees.
No wonder creators are searching for Patreon alternatives.
But here's what most "Patreon alternatives" articles won't tell you: replacing one subscription platform with another subscription platform might not solve your real problem.
The issue isn't just fees. It's relying on only subscriptions.
The Real Problem With Patreon (It's Not Just Fees)
Yes, Patreon's fees are high. But there's a deeper issue:
Only 1-5% of your audience will ever subscribe to anything.
Think about your own behavior. How many newsletters are you subscribed to? How many Patreons do you support? Probably a handful at most—even though you follow hundreds of creators whose work you enjoy.
Your audience is the same. The 95%+ who love your content but don't subscribe aren't cheap or disloyal. They're rational humans who haven't yet found the right entry point.
Patreon (and most alternatives) focus only on subscriptions. That works great for your superfans—but what about everyone else?
The best solution might be: keep Patreon for subscribers AND add a way to monetize the rest.
With that context, let's explore your options.
Subscription-Based Patreon Alternatives
These platforms work similarly to Patreon but often offer lower fees or different features.
1. Ko-fi
Best for: Creators who want flexibility between donations, subscriptions, and shop sales
Pricing:
- Free tier: 0% platform fee (you only pay payment processing ~2.9%)
- Gold tier: $6/month for extra features, still 0% platform fee
Pros:
- Zero platform fees on the free tier—a massive advantage
- Supports one-time donations, subscriptions, and digital product sales
- Simple, clean interface
- No approval process to start
Cons:
- Fewer discovery features than Patreon
- Limited membership tier customization on free plan
- Smaller ecosystem of creator tools
Verdict: If fees are your main complaint about Patreon, Ko-fi is the obvious first choice. The 0% platform fee is unbeatable.
2. Buy Me a Coffee
Best for: Creators who want simple tip-jar functionality with optional memberships
Pricing:
- 5% platform fee on all transactions
- Payment processing additional (~2.9% + $0.30)
Pros:
- Dead simple to set up
- Strong "casual support" culture—less pressure than formal subscriptions
- Supports one-time donations, memberships, and extras
- Mobile app for managing supporters
Cons:
- 5% fee is higher than Ko-fi's free tier
- Limited customization options
- Membership features less robust than Patreon
Verdict: Great for creators who want something simpler than Patreon, but Ko-fi's free tier makes it hard to justify the 5% fee.
3. Memberful
Best for: Established creators who want to own their audience data and integrate with existing websites
Pricing:
- Starter: Free (10% transaction fee)
- Pro: $25/month (4.9% transaction fee)
- Premium: $100/month (4.9% transaction fee, more features)
Pros:
- You own your customer data and email list
- Integrates with your existing website (WordPress, custom sites)
- Works with Stripe for payments—you have the Stripe relationship
- Podcast integrations, Discord integrations
Cons:
- Monthly fee on top of transaction fees
- More complex to set up than plug-and-play platforms
- Requires existing website/infrastructure
Verdict: Excellent for professional creators who want control, but overkill for casual creators.
4. Gumroad Memberships
Best for: Creators already selling digital products on Gumroad who want to add subscriptions
Pricing:
- 10% flat fee on all sales (includes payment processing)
Pros:
- Simple flat-fee pricing
- Combine subscriptions with one-time product sales
- Built-in audience and discovery features
- Good for selling courses, ebooks, templates
Cons:
- 10% fee is higher than most alternatives
- Platform is primarily designed for products, not ongoing membership content
- Less community/engagement features
Verdict: Only makes sense if you're already in the Gumroad ecosystem.
5. Itch.io
Best for: Game developers, indie creators, artists selling digital downloads
Pricing:
- You choose your fee: 0% to whatever you want to contribute
- Default suggestion is 10%, but 0% is allowed
Pros:
- Choose-your-own platform fee is unique and creator-friendly
- Strong indie game community
- Good for pay-what-you-want pricing
- Supports donations and tips
Cons:
- Niche audience (primarily games/interactive media)
- Not designed for ongoing subscriptions
- Limited outside of gaming/creative tools space
Verdict: Perfect for game devs; not relevant for most other creators.
6. Ghost
Best for: Writers and journalists who want a professional newsletter + membership platform
Pricing:
- Starter: $9/month (0% transaction fee)
- Creator: $25/month (0% transaction fee)
- Team: $50/month (0% transaction fee)
- Payment processing via Stripe (~2.9%)
Pros:
- 0% transaction fee—you only pay Stripe processing
- Own your content and audience completely
- Beautiful, professional publishing platform
- Excellent SEO and website features
- Native email newsletters
Cons:
- Monthly platform fee regardless of revenue
- Steeper learning curve than Substack
- Primarily for writers—less suitable for video/audio creators
Verdict: Best-in-class for serious writers who want to own their platform.
Beyond Subscriptions: Alternative Monetization Models
Here's where it gets interesting. What if subscriptions aren't the answer?
7. SoloPass (Micropayments)
Best for: Creators who want to monetize their entire audience, not just the 2-5% who subscribe
Pricing:
- Transparent per-transaction fees
- No monthly platform fees
- Uses Open Banking for low-cost payments
Pros:
- Monetize the 95% who won't subscribe
- One-time payments with no recurring commitment for fans
- Privacy-first—no user accounts required
- Works alongside existing subscription offerings
- Perfect for individual articles, videos, downloads
Cons:
- Different model requires different thinking
- Not a subscription replacement—works best as a complement
- Newer platform, smaller ecosystem
Verdict: Not a Patreon replacement, but a Patreon complement. Add micropayments to capture revenue from everyone who won't subscribe. The best answer might be "Patreon AND micropayments."
8. Lemon Squeezy
Best for: Creators selling digital products, courses, and software
Pricing:
- 5% + $0.50 per transaction
- Handles global taxes (VAT, sales tax) automatically
Pros:
- Automatic tax compliance (huge headache solved)
- Modern, clean checkout experience
- Supports subscriptions AND one-time purchases
- Built for digital products
Cons:
- Higher per-transaction fee than some alternatives
- Primarily product-focused, not membership-focused
- Relatively new platform
Verdict: Great for course creators and digital product sellers, especially those selling internationally.
9. Stripe Payment Links + Your Own Website
Best for: Tech-savvy creators who want maximum control and lowest fees
Pricing:
- Stripe processing only: ~2.9% + $0.30
- No platform fees
Pros:
- Lowest possible fees
- Complete control over experience
- No platform lock-in
- Direct customer relationships
Cons:
- Requires building/maintaining your own website
- No discovery or community features
- More technical work required
- You handle customer support, refunds, etc.
Verdict: Maximum control for creators willing to do the technical work.
10. YouTube Channel Memberships
Best for: YouTubers with established channels (1,000+ subscribers)
Pricing:
- YouTube takes 30% of membership revenue
- Available at 1,000+ subscribers
Pros:
- Built into platform your audience already uses
- Custom badges, emoji, members-only content
- Leverages existing YouTube audience
Cons:
- 30% fee is extremely high
- Limited to YouTube content
- You don't own the customer relationship
- YouTube algorithm changes can devastate your business
Verdict: Convenient but expensive. Consider as a complement, not your primary monetization.
11. Discord Paid Communities
Best for: Creators with engaged communities who want interactive access
Pricing:
- Discord takes 10% of subscription revenue
- Payment processing additional
Pros:
- Direct community engagement
- Real-time interaction with supporters
- Tiered access levels
- Strong for gaming, crypto, and tech communities
Cons:
- 10% fee is significant
- Community management is time-intensive
- Not suitable for all content types
- Requires active participation
Verdict: Great for community-focused creators, but requires significant time investment.
12. Podia
Best for: Course creators and coaches selling premium digital products
Pricing:
- Free: 8% transaction fee
- Mover: $33/month (5% transaction fee)
- Shaker: $75/month (0% transaction fee)
Pros:
- All-in-one platform for courses, downloads, coaching, community
- No transaction fees on higher tiers
- Built-in email marketing
- Clean, professional checkout
Cons:
- Higher monthly fees on paid tiers
- 8% on free tier is steep
- Primarily designed for education/coaching
Verdict: Excellent for course creators; overkill for casual content creators.
Comparison Table: All 12 Patreon Alternatives
| Platform | Platform Fee | Best For | Subscription | One-Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ko-fi | 0% | All creators | ✅ | ✅ |
| Buy Me a Coffee | 5% | Simple tipping | ✅ | ✅ |
| Memberful | 4.9-10% | Website owners | ✅ | ❌ |
| Gumroad | 10% | Product sellers | ✅ | ✅ |
| Itch.io | 0-10% (you choose) | Game devs | ❌ | ✅ |
| Ghost | 0% + $9-50/mo | Writers | ✅ | ❌ |
| SoloPass | Per-transaction | All creators | ❌ | ✅ |
| Lemon Squeezy | 5% + $0.50 | Product sellers | ✅ | ✅ |
| Stripe DIY | 2.9% | Tech-savvy | ✅ | ✅ |
| YouTube | 30% | YouTubers | ✅ | ❌ |
| Discord | 10% | Communities | ✅ | ❌ |
| Podia | 0-8% + fee | Course creators | ✅ | ✅ |
The Best Patreon Alternative Depends on Your Situation
If you just want lower fees: Ko-fi (0% platform fee)
If you're a writer/journalist: Ghost (professional, you own everything)
If you sell courses/digital products: Podia or Lemon Squeezy
If you want maximum control: Stripe + your own website
If you want to monetize non-subscribers: SoloPass (micropayments)
The Real Answer: Diversify Your Revenue
Here's the truth most "Patreon alternatives" articles won't tell you:
The smartest creators in 2026 don't rely on a single platform or a single monetization model.
They use a combination:
- Subscriptions (Patreon, Ko-fi, Ghost) for superfans willing to commit monthly
- One-time purchases (Gumroad, Lemon Squeezy) for premium products
- Micropayments (SoloPass) for the 95% who want to support occasionally, not subscribe
- Tips (Buy Me a Coffee, Ko-fi) for casual appreciation
Don't ask "What's the best Patreon alternative?"
Ask: "How do I monetize my entire audience, not just the 5% willing to subscribe?"
The answer is almost always: diversify.
Ready to monetize your entire audience? Learn how SoloPass micropayments can complement your existing subscription revenue—and finally capture value from the 95% who won't subscribe.