YouTubers, TikTokkers, podcasters, verified Twitter users,Twitch streamers, and other content creators have one thing in common: many of them use Patreon to supplement their income.

In a world where content is king and digital creators reign supreme, monetizing creative work remains a challenge for many. Enter Patreon, a game-changing membership platform that bridges the gap between creators and their most dedicated fans. Offering a unique blend of crowdfunding and subscription services, Patreon is revolutionizing the way creators get paid and how fans interact with the content they love. Whether you’re a YouTuber, podcaster, artist, or a fan looking to support your favorite internet personality, understanding how Patreon works can unlock a world of possibilities. We’ve been Patreon users for years. Here’s how the platform works and how it’s reshaping online content creation and consumption.

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What is Patreon?

Patreon is basically a crowdfunding site for content creators. But it describes itself as a “membership platform that makes it easy for creators to get paid.”

We’ve all heard about the starving artist whose paintings, sheets of music, and sculptures have gone for millions only after they’ve died. That’s a thing of the past. The web has given many creators not only a platform to share their work, but also a way to crowdfund revenue. For example, they can charge $5 a month through Patreon, and if you pay, you’ll become a patron and will get early access to their content and works.

Patreon was co-founded in 2013 by Sam Yam and Jack Cont. It’s based in San Francisco and has about 8 million active users

How does Patreon work?

you may access Patreon on the web or from its mobile apps.

Are you an online content creator or an artist looking for supplemental income? Patreon can help you generate revenue for some of your creations, whether it’s a podcast, video, song, webcomic, or whatever. Your fans, or patrons, can pay as little as a few dollars/pounds per month or per post for access to your work. You will get paid every month, or every time you release something new. You can even manage rewards for each tier, especially if there are higher rewards that involve meeting patrons or custom work.

The number of people currently supporting you is always visible on your page to other patrons of the Patreon platform. Also, the primary way that you communicate with your supporters is via the feed on their page. You can post text, images, videos, and polls. Patreon also lets you block off certain posts to specific tiers. For instance, you can make it so that only new posts are shown to those contributing at least $1.

Patreon has custom RSS feed support, too, plus integration with Discord.

You likely heard your favorite internet celebrity recently mention Patreon. Well, Patreon is a way for you to pay them for the content they create. Through Patreon, you can now pay creators (also called Patreon members) per month or per post. For example, you could pay $5 a month through Patreon to get special access to a YouTuber’s videos, which are private to everyone else, or you could give them $1 for every new video they post. Either way, if you become a Patreon patron and choose to support a creator, then Patreon said you’re a “bonafide, real-life patron of the arts.”

Think of it this way: In exchange for supporting creators, you’re able to receive certain perks, access to exclusive uploads or new work, ad-free content, and more.

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Is Patreon free to join?

Yes, joining Patreon is free for both creators and patrons to join. However, creators can choose to generate revenue from patrons on the platform either per creation or via monthly subscriptions from patrons.

How much does Patreon cost for patrons to use?

Patreon creators typically display monetary goals on their page and may offer multiple tiers for patrons to join, with each tier corresponding to a specific monetary amount.

These tiers can range. The most common is subscription billing, typically paying anywhere from $1 to $100 a month. The more a patron contributes, the more perks they may receive. Some of the highest tier rewards usually include the ability to directly communicate with the creator, though those tiers may have a maximum number of “slots” that can be filled.

Billing options

There are currently four payment models that a creator may offer, according to Patreon. Their exact descriptions are below. Each model may unlock different content for different creators.

How much does Patreon cost for creators

There are four different fees on Patreon. You can readPatreon’s FAQ pageto see the full description for each fee, but they are summarized below:

Creator plans

Patreon now has three creator plans: Lite, Pro, and Premium. Not every creator who joins Patreon wants or is ready for its full suite of features. But if you become interested in Patreon’s other tools and product features, like multiple membership tiers, special offers, and detailed patron analytics, you may always upgrade. Go toPatreon Creator Plansto learn more about the price for each plan.

How to become a Patreon creator

First, to see if Patreon is right for you and whether you should ask others for support, check to see if one of these fields apply to you:

Can anyone become a Patreon creator?

Yes, anyone can become a Patreon creator. It’s popular among artists, musicians, podcasters, YouTubers, and various online content creators.

How to become a Patreon patron

If you want to support a creator, visit their Patreon page and select one of their tiers. The tier you choose will unlock certain benefits offered only in that tier. The tier price is the minimum payment option to unlock that tier. If your creator doesn’t have tiers, simply click the Become a Patron button on their page.

First-time patrons will need to add their payment method and confirm their details to become an official patron of a Patreon creator. On the confirmation page, you can review your payment details, set the amount or monthly limit, and confirm.

Patreon examples

Still confused about how or why you’d use Patreon? Here is a simple example: Molly Burke (below) is a YouTuber who is blind. She creates videos to educate others and to bring awareness. She sometimes offers exclusive access to her personal life if you support her through Patreon. For instance, in 2020, she started dating someone new and introduced him first to patrons. Non-paying YouTube viewers must wait to meet her new beau.

More Patreons to follow

The table below showcases the top 10 Patreon creators, highlighting who they are, what they create, and how many paid members they have as of January 2024. This snapshot of the most popular creators is sourced fromGraphtreon’s ranking of the platform’s top-growing accounts.

Creator name

Patreon page description

of paid members

Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast

Creating Hot Casts

Ilja Jusupov aka x4fab

Creating mods for Assetto Corsa racing simulator

Chapo Trap House

Creating Chapo Trap House Podcast

If Books Could Kill

Those shoes look really comfortable

Peter Boese

Creating Pure, a weather and graphics mod for Assetto Corsa/CSP

Dungeons and Daddies

Creating premium dad audio content

Creating a podcast

Not Another D&D Podcast

Creating Audio Adventures

DarkCookie

Creating Summertime Saga

Worlds Beyond Number

We play games to make stories out of sound

Want to know more?

Check outPatreon’s support hubto learn more about Patreon memberships, taxes, fees, FAQ tiers, etc.