“Different strokes for different folks” is an ideal perspective when it comes to searching for platforms that cater to your business’s objectives. Whether your aim is to draw a larger following or to sell merchandise surrounding your populated content, running a business entails the necessity to interest new clients that will support you monetarily in the process.
While Patreon is a well-known and seemingly popular platform to accomplish your webpage’s goals, others are growing exceedingly within the market as well. Let us keep our options open when deciding which platform may best meet our webpage’s needs, shall we?
What is Patreon and why do I need it?
In case you are not familiar with the Patreon platform, before we introduce alternatives let us briefly review a rundown of this, particularly popular website.
Patreon offers three plans users can utilize that include different levels of accessibility to features that encourage subscribers to pledge a personalized membership with the artist or content creator.
Unfortunately, the discoverability of this platform’s creators is not ideal for beginners who have not yet built up substantial followings. While Patreon offers promotional tools to help users get noticed, their utilization is only effective on outside social media platforms that redirect potential subscribers to the creator’s Patreon page for an option to pledge.
After a wide sweep over the web with all of its many polls and opinions, we examined ratings of top suggested platforms in narrowing down our search and discovered the following best options for artists and creators alike.
Top 9 Best Patreon Alternatives
- Youtube – Most Cost Effective for Content Creators of All Types
- Linktree – Best for Connecting Creators to Audiences Everywhere
- Ko-Fi – Best for Beginner Content Creators Promoting Digital Content
- Buy Me a Coffee – Best for Single Donations and Small Projects
- Instagram – Best for Affiliate Marketing, Artists Influencers, and Content Creators
- Facebook – Best for Beginner Artists, Influencers, and Content Creators
- TikTok – Best for Viral Content Creators with High Volume Following
- OnlyFans – Best for Daring Content Creators
- Podia – Best for Digital Content Creators
1. YouTube – Most Cost Effective for Content Creators of All Types
Pricing: Free account; Flexible paid advertising budget
Over the years, many business owners, experts, and creators have gained their veteran status from the help of Youtube’s platform as it is home to a plethora of content:
- viral videos for laughs and satisfaction,
- DIY crafts and projects with how-to videos for everything under the sun
- artists, musicians, and producers exhibiting their masterpieces
- instructors of all things academic, practical, and technical to help students of all calibers
- Inspirational and motivational speeches
But the list does not end there! Perhaps your content will be at home also in the ever-growing video library that YouTube supports with its millions of curious viewers and subscribers looking for their next fix of entertainment.
| Pros | Cons |
| Earn income from subscribers by LIVE streaming content consistently | Requires 1,000 subscribers to monetize content |
| Sell merchandise from the Merch Shelf linked to YouTube channel posted from your webpage | Requires 400 hours of watch time to monetize content |
| Creator Studio tools for users to help edit and prepare their content for publication | Must advertise to build larger following |
| Add tags and link handles in the description to direct viewer traffic to the right places | Algorithms factor in searches, length of views, and subscribers |
| Algorithms will help your channel show up in the right place at the right time to attract viewers |
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2. Linktree – Best for Connecting Creators to Audiences Everywhere
Pricing: Free plan- basic features;1.75% Commerce link launch processing fee; Pro plan- $6.00/month; 0.5% commerce link launch processing fee
Budding from Bolster, the former workplace of the brothers Zaccaria along with a mutual partner, Nick Humphreys, Linktree grew as a solution to the tedious problem of bio link distribution throughout various social media platforms. In 2016, this idea came to life and has helped over eight million creators of all industries take root into grounding their online presence ever since.
| Pros | Cons |
| Pro plan upgrade contains access to premium content analytics, platform integration page customizability, and promotional boosts with unlimited support | Free users are limited to basic platform integration (only includes Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, Tik Tok, Twitch, Vimeo, and Clubhouse) |
| Combines ability to direct traffic to all sources of content in one place just with the click of a button | Free features are limited on analytics and customization |
| Sell memberships, merchandise, and digital products through a “shop now” button | Not for every creator, only those with linkable content, services or shops |
| Feature portfolios and exclusive content by linking anywhere it may be relevant to your following |
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3. Ko-fi – Best for Beginner Content Creators Promoting Digital Content
Pricing: Free account; 5% fee on commission services and sales; Gold Membership account- $6.00/month; Annually paid Gold Membership-$4.50/month; 0% donations and membership fees deducted (plus card processing fees)
For years, since 2012 to be exact, Ko-fi has been paving the way for the next big thing with one tip at a time.Receiving credit for your works has never been easier with such an accessible platform. Whether you’re creating wallpapers or simple projects to share with the world, Ko-Fi helps connect your content with supporters that care enough to tip you change, and dollars, to aid your journey in creation.
| Pros | Cons |
| Cost effective platform | Free users have limited access to features |
| Offers different levels of monthly membership pricing tiers to supporters with optional rewards for higher tiers | Small currency conversion fees for payments made outside of base currencies |
| Easily link to your webpage for immediate sales on digital or physical products, commissions and services | Card processing fees are 2-3.4%+$0.30 from Paypal and Stripe on transactions |
| Receive goal oriented donations that are paid out instantly | |
| Feature portfolios of content for supporters to explore and give “tip money” towards | |
| Ability to receive donation alerts while Streaming on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitch, and YouTube | |
| Share updates on projects or content with posts featuring blogs, images or videos |
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4. Buy Me a Coffee – Best for Single Donations and Small Projects
Pricing: 5% of all donations are deducted. Optional pledge transaction fees.
Some do it for the money, others for the fame, but if you do it for the love and passion then Buy Me a Coffee may be best for you. Since 2018, Buy Me a Coffee has been helping artists and creators to gather support for funding their current projects along with those to come in the future. Whether it be enough to buy a coffee or a new piece of equipment, this Patreon alternative is quickly proving that a little bit can go a long way.
| Pros | Cons |
| Accepts donations that can be paid out with no minimum hold. | Deducts 5% of Donations |
| Ability to receive one time pledges or start monthly memberships | Pledges subject to transaction fees from PayPal |
| Offer tier-based memberships with a determined price range to provide more exclusive content to higher paying supporters | Avoid processing fees charged to supporters by paying them yourself |
| Link to social media or website | Small-time platform |
| Set specific donation goals to audience | Simple minimalistic features |
| Easily transferable funds to PayPal and Stripe | —- |
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5. Instagram – Best for Affiliate Marketing, Artists, Influencers, and Content Creators
Pricing: Free account; Paid advertising per click minimum budget $1.00/day; Paid advertising minimum budget of $5.00 per day (clicks, likes, and views)
Being a creative branch of Facebook, Instagram grants users convenient accessibility to both platforms, which creates effortless content sharing between the two. The combination is an advantage for this platform’s users as creators possess the ability to connect and gain access to following all over the world with Instagram’s constant futuristic developments from Mike Systrom.
| Pros | Cons |
| Gain followers and traffic surrounding relevant content with hashtags | Videos have a limit on time |
| Connect with affiliate marketers to earn excess income with sponsorships | Low discoverability for accounts without large number of followers |
| Earn income for going LIVE to promote your own content and collaborate with other influencers, artists, and content creators | Must convert personal account into a professional or creator account to utilize certain features that promote content for monetization |
| Run ad campaigns that automatically connect to Facebook from Instagram once accounts are linked | Users may only carry up to five accounts on Instagram |
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6. Facebook – Best for Beginner Artists, Influencers, and Content Creators
Pricing: Free account; Paid advertising available with flexible or set budget
Created by the technology mogul Mark Zuckerburg to connect social networks around the world, Facebook has been continuously upgraded to integrate artists, content creators, and influencers with growing audiences everywhere as well. All in one place, creators can advertise and promote their content, socialize with inner circles and be introduced to new ones, all while posting updates along the way.
| Pros | Cons |
| Users can utilize Creator studio to help meet content promotional and publication needs | Vulnerabilities to spam and phishing |
| Offers paid subscriptions and memberships from followers | Misdirected target audiences |
| Apply to receive income through affiliate marketing and branding opportunities | —- |
| Paid advertising budgets are flexible towards user’s needs | —- |
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7. TikTok – Best for Viral Content Creators with High Volume Following
Pricing: Free account
As an addictively growing $250 billion dollar company, TikTok shows promise to its many creators to build their brands along with their fortunes. Although TikTok’s algorithm can be tricky, it is fair, as every form of creator gets their fifteen minutes of fame in one video or the next. The promise lies in the creator’s abilities to supply consistent content; although, an increasing number of videos remain unoriginal leaving an inviting opportunity for unique creators to grandfather themselves into becoming the next viral sensation.
| Pros | Cons |
| Freely post content of all calibers for any audience | Only pays between two to four cents per every thousand views |
| Use hashtags to create relevance for your content that attracts viewers and subscribers | Income is low for creators with under one million followers |
| Connect to LinkTree for digital sales or merchandise promotion | Must display editing skills for high quality interactive videos to gain essential viewability |
| Earn income for popular views and large fanbase | Time limit for video content |
| Receive donations without platform deductions |
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8. OnlyFans – Best for Daring Content Creators
Pricing: Free account; 20% deduction of total earnings every 21 days
While OnlyFans originated in 2016 as a profitable space for all creators, from fitness experts sharing their work-out routines to musicians playing exclusively released content for member subscription, in recent years it has gained popularity for promoting creators of provocative adult-oriented content. Although the platform has been branded by society to focus on the daring scale of content, it is still a worthwhile alternative to Patreon for exclusivity to earn honest income, as not all content is explicit-centered.
| Pros | Cons |
| Post exclusive content subscribers must pay to see | Has gained a heavily populated reputation for catering towards adult content |
| Accept tips and donations | Cannot cash-out funds until after 21 days |
| During Pandemic grants ability for creators to stay safe and continue their services online | Website cannot detect screenshots of exclusive content |
| Sexually-positive platform | Limit on maximum amount charged for subscriptions |
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9. Podia- Best for Digital Content Creators
Pricing: Mover (plan for beginner content launchers) $39.00/month or $78.00/year; Shaker (plan for expert content releasers) $79.00/month or $158.00/year
Last, but definitely not least of all, Podia has helped digital creators fund their careers and projects abundantly and professionally. With this platform, creators have been able to market themselves and their content on a wide scale that continues climbing with every successful subscription.
| Pros | Cons |
| No fee charged on contributions | Flat fee yearly or monthly |
| Sell exclusive memberships to content | Not the most cost-effective |
| A one-stop shop, all inclusive platform for selling online courses, webinars, and digital downloads | Limited platform that is aimed only towards content creators such as coaches, teachers, and writers |
| Contains email marketing features | |
| Connect affiliate links | |
| Two plans to choose from catering to beginners or experts |