What is Patreon?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Patreon is a crowdfunding tool helping online content creators earn money directly from their audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This allows creators to keep their freedom of expression without obliging the rules of the higher-ups such as publishers, agents, or editors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patreon quickly rose to the top of crowdfunding platforms due to its unique, rewarding system and multiple subscription options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the platform\u2019s noble cause to give the power back to the creators comes with some limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re looking for a platform to help you connect with your audience and monetize your digital product, make sure it ticks all the boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, let\u2019s first see what separates Patreon from the rest and see if there are Patreon alternatives that are better suited for your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patreon\u2019s<\/a> creator is a musician who wasn\u2019t happy with the low recurring revenue he earned from YouTube. On top of that, the system pressured creators to constantly develop fresh new content that valued quantity over quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many creators still weren’t able to find success after growing subscribers on YouTube.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n With this in mind, it\u2019s easy to guess why Patreon was well-received among content creators. It helped creators focusing on their work, knowing they\u2019ll have recurring financial support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its reward system is a great way to reward \u201cpatrons\u201d with exclusive content and make them feel a part of something bigger. On the other hand, it motivates others to commit, knowing that they\u2019ll have access to the gated content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, nothing is perfect. Patreon takes notably high transaction fees (10%) combined with commission fees of the likes of Paypal. It also obliges patrons to recur commitment, when for some creators, even a one-time payment would suffice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, you should keep in mind that Patreon is just a side platform that you can never really own. You can\u2019t \u201cown\u201d your audience (patrons), nor could you build an entire membership around it. And those are the traits of some upcoming Patreon alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to turn your content creation from a passion project to a real online business, you\u2019ll need a tool like Hyax<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is an all-in-one membership website builder that allows you to create, market, and sell your digital (and even physical products) in a blink of an eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, Patreon is a crowdfunding platform first and foremost. Besides managing subscriptions and exclusive content for different subscription plans, you can\u2019t do much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a Patreon alternative, Hyax provides all the above on top of all other features that suit modern content creators. Create your membership site and design the landing page. Manage subscriptions, memberships, build courses and digital downloads, and more. The software\u2019s UX and drag-and-drop builder make it easy to start your own digital enterprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, the platform has a digital storefront option that you can design and customize. So, if you\u2019re a creator selling digital products, you can manage your entire business operation here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With Hyax, you have complete freedom to start building a community instead of all your members\u2019 data being owned by Patreon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is extremely important for the future of your business. What if Patreon shuts down? What happens to all your audience or members? With Hyax, you\u2019re the owner of your email list, and even if you make the jump to another platform, you can still reach your followers easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On top of everything, the platform has top-notch promotional features. It allows you to build a sales funnel with upsells (a discount over $50 purchase) and manage payments quite easily<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the downsides of platforms like Hyax is that you\u2019ll have to commit to paying a monthly subscription instead of relying on transaction fees. So if you\u2019re still making content as a hobby, there\u2019s a chance Patreon\u2019s system might suit you better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But if you\u2019re looking to make the jump and turn your passion into a career, Hyax can do a pretty good job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scrile Connect<\/a> is a fully-customizable complex solution for creating your own Patreon alternative website with no restrictions of content and 0% commission fee from revenue<\/strong>. It is a full-featured turnkey platform that is ready-for-launch with no coding needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can start an independent private website for monetization of exclusive content and fan base of creators under your own brand and domain name, with your own privacy policy, pricing, and no transaction limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The platform has multiple built-in monetization tools for content creators: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, there is an admin dashboard for agencies and admins to manage creators and members, set payout commissions, check earning statistics, and control all aspects of your platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking for a Patreon alternative to fund a particular one-time project, then Kickstarter<\/a> is for you. While Patreon relies on recurring monthly revenue, Kickstarter aims to fund your project as quickly as possible. You use it (as the name says) to kick-start a project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With Kickstarter, you rely on a few things \u2013 exposure, good marketing<\/a>, and the appeal of your product. It works on an all-or-nothing system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You set up a financial goal for your project, and you put hope into a crowdfunding platform. If you don\u2019t achieve the goal in a limited time, your project is bust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the platform’s upsides is that you can finance some of your ideas quickly and independently. It also lays the groundwork for your followers to keep following you after the funding completes. Kickstart will even promote the project on their website in the \u201cproject that we like\u201d section.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, if you want a recurring income stream from content you create consistently, Patreon remains a better solution. Some creators use both crowdfunding platforms simultaneously \u2013 one for cash flow and one for one-time projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ko-fi<\/a> is a Patreon alternative better suited for small content creators who are still testing their audience’s waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike Patreon, Ko-fi doesn\u2019t require your audience to commit to a subscription service. Instead, they can provide one-time payments and hand out occasional tips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a way, this makes for a healthier creator-audience relationship, where they don\u2019t feel like they\u2019re committing but can still provide support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ko Fi\u2019s other upside is that there aren\u2019t any transaction fees other than commissions from payment processors like Paypal or Stripe. So, it\u2019s free to use, easy to get started, and lets your audience decide when and how much to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On top of that, Ko-fi provides a unique feature where you can sell on-off services, content, or even events for a fee that you decide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, it doesn\u2019t provide that aura of membership exclusivity notable for Patreon. The rewards system and access to exclusive content are what keeps your audience close while also providing guaranteed monthly cash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Buy Me A Coffee<\/a> (BMC) is one of the alternatives to Patreon that\u2019s slowly getting traction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Content creators can set up a profile easily and set up their price of one coffee. Then, your audience can donate as many cups of coffee they like and support your work. Your supporters can also commit to monthly subscriptions, so you receive recurring revenue (just like Patreon).<\/p>\n\n\n\n On top of that, Buy Me a Coffee is an extremely user-friendly platform. It\u2019s quick to set up if you\u2019re a creator and even quicker to donate as a supporter. In fact, your donators don\u2019t need to have an account if they want to make a one-time payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All the cash goes directly to your wallet, and you keep what you raise, besides the 5% transaction fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the flip side, Buy Me a Coffee ineffective in collecting data and audience insights. The only relevant interaction comes from posts and messaging features, but it\u2019s still better than nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s also no option to create subscription tiers or separate memberships that allow you to distribute exclusive content to special members. So if you had a plan to segment your audience by their donations and add some exclusivity, you might want to look for a different tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar to Hyax, Podia<\/a> is an all-in-one selling platform for creators. Therefore, it\u2019s much more powerful than a simple donation website but also much more expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With Podia, you can lay the groundwork for your entire personal brand. Starting with designing your website, building courses, and segmenting memberships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, it\u2019s a platform for those who want to move from a third-party donations platform and have total control over who their audience is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This makes Podia great for seasoned content creators that have already built a following on their social channels. If so, you can then monetize this authority with Podia\u2019s features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The platform doesn\u2019t limit you to the number of digital products you want to sell and doesn\u2019t charge transaction fees. Its smooth user interface makes the website and course design real easy while providing simple analytics to keep track of your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, if you want to commit to a membership website, you\u2019ll need to pay up. Podia will charge a monthly subscription ($29.99\/month base plan) for its service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Patreon Pros<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Patreon Cons<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Top 5 Patreon Alternatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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1. Hyax<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Pros:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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2. Scrile Connect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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3. Kickstarter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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4. Ko-fi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Pros<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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5. Buy Me a Coffee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Pros:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Honorary Mention: Podia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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