Patreon is a membership platform optimized for creators seeking recurring fan support with built-in audience discovery, while Ghost is a self-hosted or managed blogging/newsletter platform designed for publishers who want full content ownership and direct subscriber relationships without platform fees.
Patreon vs Ghost — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Choose Patreon if you want a creator-focused platform with built-in discovery, lower technical barriers, and multiple revenue streams for emerging creators seeking their first 1,000 supporters. Choose Ghost if you're an established publisher prioritizing content ownership, full audience data control, and are willing to invest in self-promotion and technical setup to avoid platform dependence and revenue sharing.
Membership platform connecting creators with fans through recurring pledges and exclusive content.
Self-hosted or managed blogging platform with built-in memberships and newsletter functionality.
Monthly Active Users (Creator Community)
Structured comparison data for Patreon vs Ghost with 158 attributes.
Platform Commission on Paid Subscriptions
Average Writer Earnings (Partner Program)
Monthly Newsletter Subscriber Allowance (Free Tier)
Monthly Bandwidth Included (Starter Plan)
Patreon vs Ghost — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Patreon vs Ghost.
Ghost's self-hosted option is free, while Ghost(Pro) managed plans start at $25/month with zero revenue sharing. Patreon charges 5% + 2.2% + $0.35 per transaction, totaling 7.55% average cost on patron pledges. A creator earning $1,000/month on Patreon loses $75.50 in fees; on Ghost(Pro) at $25/month plus transaction fees (~2.2%), the cost is around $47/month total—a $28+ monthly savings.
Can I export my subscribers from each platform?
Ghost allows complete subscriber data export in JSON format, including email addresses, membership status, and engagement metrics. Patreon does not provide direct access to patron email addresses or contact information; creators cannot bulk export subscriber lists, limiting audience portability if they switch platforms.
Which has better discovery for new creators?
Patreon has 6+ million monthly active patrons who browse the discover feed, giving new creators exposure potential. Ghost has no built-in discovery feed; growth relies on the creator's existing audience, SEO, and social sharing. Studies show creators on Patreon gain patrons 3-4x faster in their first 6 months compared to self-hosted platforms.
Which platform is better for newsletter creators?
Ghost is specifically built for newsletter publishers with advanced email features: segmentation, conditional logic, A/B testing, and subscriber analytics. Patreon offers basic email-to-patrons functionality but lacks automation. If newsletters are your primary focus, Ghost is significantly better optimized.
What happens if each platform shuts down or changes terms?
If Patreon changes policies or shuts down, creators lose access to subscriber data and earnings in progress. With Ghost self-hosted, creators retain all data and can migrate instantly to another server. Ghost(Pro) subscribers can export all data and run the self-hosted version independently. Ghost offers substantially more platform risk mitigation.