Patreon is a creator platform optimized for recurring fan support with flexible reward tiers and broad content types, while Substack is a newsletter-first platform specializing in written content with simpler monetization and better email deliverability. Choose Patreon for diverse creators needing tiered perks; choose Substack for writers prioritizing direct reader relationships.
Patreon vs Substack — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Membership platform connecting creators with fans through recurring pledges and exclusive content.
Newsletter platform for independent writers with simple paid subscription monetization
Primary Content Type. Platform Fee. Creator Monetization Options. Email Deliverability. Subscriber Community Features. Learning Curve. Audience Discovery
Patreon excels for creators producing diverse media formats who need flexible monetization tiers, audience engagement tools, and want to build sustainable fan communities. Substack is superior for independent writers and newsletter creators who prioritize email deliverability, simplicity, and direct reader relationships over feature complexity. Choose Patreon if you create videos, podcasts, or art; choose Substack if writing is your primary medium and audience growth through discovery matters.
Patreon: 5% + payment fees (7.55% total average) | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Platform-owned; limited export capability | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Posts, messaging, polls, Discord sync | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Limited; template-based | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Monthly cycle + 14-day hold | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Unlimited (all tiers) | Substack: N/A
Patreon: iOS & Android apps available | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Unlimited custom tiers | Substack: N/A
Patreon: $25 | Substack: $0 (no minimum)
Patreon: Posts, comments, media galleries, polls | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Yes, but exclusivity encouraged | Substack: N/A
Platform Commission on Paid Subscriptions
Patreon: 5-12% (5% Stripe, 12% PayPal) | Substack: 10% (all payment methods)
Patreon: 3+ million monthly visitors | Substack: 1+ million (estimated 2024)
Patreon: 5 (tiers, tips, merchandise, goals, DMs) | Substack: 2 (free + paid subscriptions)
Patreon: Patreon owns data; limited direct contact | Substack: Creator owns full email list and subscriber data
Patreon: High (creator feed, categories, trending) | Substack: Moderate (Notes feature, recommendations)
Patreon: Moderate—tier customization, perk management, integration setup required | Substack: Low—straightforward publish-and-monetize flow
Patreon: 2 (Stripe + PayPal) | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Embed option; limited native sync | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Patron chat, Discord integration, polls, exclusive channels, member-only posts | Substack: Comment sections, reader replies, minimal community tools
Patreon: Limited; Patreon branding mandatory | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Basic API with limitations on customization | Substack: Limited API with basic integrations only
Patreon: Patreon Plus required ($8/month) for full features | Substack: N/A
Patreon: 2.8M creators | Substack: 3M+ creators
Patreon: 250M+ monthly patrons | Substack: N/A
Patreon: $9,999/month per tier (unlimited tiers) | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Posts, DMs, polls, exclusive content, video uploads, scheduling | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Direct messages, community feed, Discord integration | Substack: N/A
Patreon: iOS and Android native apps | Substack: N/A
Patreon: 1 (memberships/subscriptions focused) | Substack: N/A
Patreon: 8% platform fee | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Monthly (1st of following month) | Substack: Monthly
Patreon: ~1.5 million monthly creators | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Advanced (retention, churn, demographics, goals) | Substack: N/A
Patreon: 3-5% (varies by region) | Substack: Included in platform fee
Patreon: Unlimited | Substack: 3 tiers maximum
Patreon: Posts, exclusive feeds, DMs, polls, live streams | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Stripe, PayPal, regional options | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Video, audio, podcasts, art, music, writing, gaming, photography | Substack: Written content and newsletters only
Patreon: ~80-85% (standard email system) | Substack: ~95% (optimized infrastructure)
Patreon: 8% + payment processing (2.2% + $0.30) | Substack: 10% subscription revenue only
Patreon: Memberships, tips, paid posts, merchandise, sponsorships | Substack: Subscriptions, tips, cross-promotion ads, sponsorships
Patreon: Limited—minimal algorithmic discovery, relies on external promotion | Substack: Active—directory recommendations and subscriber suggestions
Patreon: $1 minimum payout | Substack: $10 minimum payout (or held until threshold)
Patreon: 6+ million monthly patrons | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Limited; patron data siloed on platform | Substack: N/A
Patreon: 4 methods (memberships, tips, shop, early access) | Substack: N/A
Patreon: 190+ countries with local payment methods | Substack: N/A
Patreon: Basic email to patrons only | Substack: N/A
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Low (requires existing audience)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Immediate (day 1)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Newsletters, Notes, Video, Audio (4+)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: 10-15M (growing)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Low (own subscribers)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Expanding (Notes, Video, Visual)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Limited customization options
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Established Notes network with high discoverability
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Basic subscription and open rate analytics
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Limited third-party integration options
Patreon: N/A | Substack: $0 (10% revenue share)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Basic (limited control)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Limited templates and styling
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Strong directory and algorithm-driven recommendations
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Primarily paid subscriptions
Patreon: N/A | Substack: $0 (revenue-share only)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Basic (simple sequences)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: No - subscriptions only
Patreon: N/A | Substack: 30 minutes - 1 hour
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Email, help center, limited support
Patreon: N/A | Substack: $100 (10% of paid subscriptions)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: No—requires third-party integration
Patreon: N/A | Substack: ~500,000+ writers
Patreon: N/A | Substack: ~50+ million monthly
Patreon: N/A | Substack: 3-5 basic templates
Patreon: N/A | Substack: 5 (list-based only)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: 0 (built-in subscriptions only)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: 12 (Professional plan)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: 500K publications
Patreon: N/A | Substack: 10% on paid subscriptions
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Native email infrastructure
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Directory + recommendations (30-40% of growth)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Text newsletters, podcasts (limited)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: $0 (free plan available)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: 10% flat platform fee
Patreon: N/A | Substack: 5-10 minutes (sign up and publish)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: 15-20 template variations
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Newsletters, posts, audio, Notes (social)
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Yes, algorithmic recommendations to 100M+ users
Patreon: N/A | Substack: Unlimited (free forever plan)
How to choose between Patreon and Substack
Patreon vs Substack — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Patreon vs Substack. Contains 116 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Patreon vs Substack — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Patreon vs Substack.
Which platform takes a lower cut of my earnings?
Substack has a lower effective fee at 10% of subscription revenue with no additional payment processing charges. Patreon charges 8% platform fee plus 2.2% + $0.30 payment processing, totaling approximately 10.2-10.5% depending on average patron tier value. For most creators, the difference is negligible (0.2-0.5%), but Substack's transparency and lack of payment fees make budgeting simpler.
Can I use both Patreon and Substack simultaneously?
Yes, many creators use both platforms strategically. Patreon works well for sustaining fan communities with exclusive content and perks, while Substack excels at nurturing email subscribers with written essays or newsletters. You can cross-promote between platforms—for example, offer Patreon supporters a free Substack upgrade or use Substack to drive new patrons. However, managing two platforms requires additional effort and content creation.
Which platform is better for growing an audience from zero?
Substack has a significant advantage due to its active directory and algorithmic recommendations that surface new newsletters to potential subscribers. Patreon relies almost entirely on external traffic—you must promote your page through social media, YouTube, or other channels to gain patrons. If audience discovery is your priority, Substack is substantially better; if you already have an audience, both platforms work equally well for monetization.
Patreon is the only viable option if you create video, podcasts, or audio content natively. Substack does not support multimedia content beyond embedded links or external players. You could theoretically link to external podcast/video platforms from Substack, but you lose the engagement benefits of integrated content. Patreon is purpose-built for multi-media creators.
Which platform has better email deliverability for reaching subscribers?
Substack significantly outperforms Patreon in email deliverability, with approximately 95% inbox placement rate versus Patreon's 80-85%. This is because Substack has invested heavily in email infrastructure, authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and maintains strong sender reputation. Patreon's emails are more likely to land in spam folders, especially for new patrons. If email reach is critical, Substack is the clear choice.
How to Choose Between Patreon and Substack
Primary Content Type: Patreon has All media types (video, audio, art, writing, gaming), while Substack has Newsletter and written content only.
Platform Fee: Patreon has 8% of earnings plus payment processing, while Substack has 10% of subscription revenue only (no payment fees).
Creator Monetization Options: Patreon has Memberships, one-time tips, merchandise, paid posts, while Substack has Paid subscriptions, free posts, tips, cross-promotion ads.
Email Deliverability: Patreon has Standard email system, potential spam folder issues, while Substack has Optimized email infrastructure, high inbox placement rate.
Subscriber Community Features: Patreon has Patron-only Discord, polls, post comments, exclusive chat, while Substack has Comment sections, minimal built-in community tools.
Learning Curve: Patreon has Moderate (complex tier setup, multiple features), while Substack has Minimal (focused UI, straightforward publishing).
Audience Discovery: Patreon has Platform discovery limited, relies on external promotion, while Substack has Substack directory and recommendation algorithm.