Patreon vs Substack: key differences explained for beginners

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 9 Nov 2026 · 9m ago

Two ways fans support creators

Creators increasingly earn directly from their audience rather than relying only on advertising. Patreon and Substack are two popular ways to do this. Patreon focuses on memberships: fans choose a monthly tier and receive benefits. Substack focuses on publishing: readers subscribe to a newsletter, with some posts reserved for paying subscribers. This guide compares them for beginners. Fees and features change, so check each help centre.

Side-by-side overview

| Feature | Patreon | Substack |

|---|---|---|

| Core model | Memberships with tiers | Newsletter subscriptions |

| Best formats | Video, audio, art, community, mixed | Writing, podcasts, some video |

| Free option | Free memberships possible | Free newsletter and posts |

| Fees | Platform percentage plus processing | Platform percentage plus processing |

| Audience ownership | Member data with limits | Exportable email list |

| Discovery | Limited internal discovery | Recommendations and app network |

How Patreon works

You create a page, describe what you make and set up tiers at different monthly prices. Each tier lists benefits, such as early access, exclusive posts, behind-the-scenes content, community chat or physical rewards. Fans pay monthly or per creation, depending on settings. You post content on Patreon and manage members there.

How Substack works

You start a publication, write posts and send them to subscribers by email and in the app. Readers can subscribe for free, and you can turn on paid subscriptions at monthly or annual prices, reserving some posts, podcasts or threads for paying subscribers.

Fees explained

Both platforms take a percentage of paid revenue and pass on payment processing fees from their payment partners. Patreon's platform fee has varied by plan and start date. Substack has taken a fixed percentage of paid subscriptions. Payment processing usually includes a percentage plus a small fixed fee per transaction.

Worked example: 200 paying supporters

A creator has 200 paying supporters at 5 dollars a month, or 1,000 dollars. With a 10 percent platform fee, that is 100 dollars, and payment processing of about 3 percent plus 0.30 dollars per payment costs 30 dollars plus 60 dollars, or 90 dollars. The creator keeps about 810 dollars a month before tax. Small payments carry a higher share of fixed processing fees, so annual plans or higher tiers improve the percentage kept. The percentage calculator on this site helps check fees.

Content formats

Substack suits writers, journalists, analysts and podcasters who publish regularly. Patreon suits video creators, illustrators, musicians, game developers and community-focused creators who offer varied benefits.

Discovery and growth

Substack's recommendations and app help readers find new publications. Patreon relies mostly on creators bringing fans from other platforms.

Owning your audience

Substack lets you export subscriber emails, making it easier to move. Patreon gives creators member information, though some is limited.

Payouts

Both pay through supported payment methods on regular schedules, with fees that vary by method and country.

Taxes

Creator income is usually taxable, and platforms may collect sales taxes or VAT in some places.

Setting up your first offer

On either platform, start with a simple offer you can sustain. A newsletter writer might publish one free post a week and one extra post for paid subscribers. A video creator on a membership platform might offer one tier with early access and a monthly behind-the-scenes video, then add tiers later once demand is clear. Too many tiers or promises at launch can lead to burnout and disappointed supporters. Describe benefits clearly so fans know exactly what they receive.

Pricing your membership or subscription

Look at similar creators to see typical prices, then consider the value you offer and how often you publish. Many creators set an entry tier at a low monthly price to make supporting easy, with higher tiers for more benefits. Annual plans can offer a discount and reduce payment processing costs. Review prices once you have a few months of data on sign-ups and cancellations.

Keeping supporters

Retention matters as much as sign-ups. Deliver what you promise on time, communicate with members regularly, ask what they enjoy and thank them publicly where appropriate. If you need a break, tell supporters in advance and consider pausing billing, which both platforms support in some form.

Moving between platforms

If you switch platforms later, give your audience plenty of notice, explain why and make the move easy with clear links. Expect some supporters not to follow. Keeping your own email list reduces the risk of losing contact.

Promoting your page

Share your page across your existing channels, add links to video descriptions, social profiles and websites, and mention it naturally in your content. Offer free samples so new fans can see what paying supporters receive.

Community features compared

Community is a major reason fans pay. Membership platforms offer member-only posts, comments, polls and chat spaces, and many creators link to private community servers or groups for higher tiers. Newsletter platforms offer comments on posts, subscriber chat threads and discussion spaces inside the app, though the main relationship usually remains the newsletter itself. Think about how you want to interact with supporters: daily chat, monthly live sessions or occasional comments. Choose the platform whose community tools match the level of interaction you can realistically manage.

Audio and video

Podcasters and video creators have options on both platforms. Newsletter platforms have added podcast hosting, video posts and live streaming features, letting creators deliver paid audio or video alongside writing. Membership platforms let creators share videos, audio and private podcast feeds for supporters at different tiers. If your main content is long video, check upload limits, video player quality and how easily supporters can watch on phones and televisions.

Free versus paid content balance

Creators on both platforms need free content to attract new fans and paid content to earn. A common approach is to keep most content free and offer extras, such as bonus posts, early access, archives or community, to paying supporters. Putting everything behind a paywall too early can stall growth, while giving everything away removes the reason to pay. Review the balance every few months based on growth and conversion from free to paid.

Mobile apps and reader experience

Both platforms have apps that help fans read, watch and listen. Substack readers also receive posts by email, which many people prefer for longer writing. Patreon supporters often use its app to access content and notifications. Test how your content looks on each, including images, video and formatting, before committing.

Legal and tax responsibilities

Creators remain responsible for following copyright law, avoiding misleading claims, disclosing sponsorships in content and paying income tax on earnings. Some platforms collect and remit sales taxes or VAT for digital subscriptions in certain regions, but creators should still check their own obligations. Keep records of monthly income, fees and payouts.

Common mistakes

Launching with too many tiers, promising more content than you can produce, ignoring free content, failing to keep a copy of your audience list and not tracking cancellations are common beginner mistakes.

Measuring progress

Track free followers or subscribers, paying supporters, conversion from free to paid, monthly revenue after fees and cancellations. A small, loyal group of paying supporters can be more valuable than a large audience that never pays. Look for which posts or benefits bring new paying supporters, and do more of what works.

Combining with other income

Many creators combine memberships or paid newsletters with advertising, sponsorships, affiliate links, courses, merchandise or freelance work. Spreading income across several sources protects you if one platform changes its fees or policies.

Branding and custom domains

Newsletter platforms let you connect a custom domain to your publication for a fee, which strengthens your brand. Membership pages use the platform's address with your page name, and you can link to it from your own site.

Which suits which use case

Writers wanting a newsletter business: Substack. Creators offering varied benefits or communities: Patreon. Some use both.

Reader questions

Questions about earning as a creator? Send them through the Ask page on this site.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only. Fees and features change; check official help centres. No income is guaranteed.

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