Patreon

Newsletter

Patreon is a site where you sell memberships to fans. It is free to start. Patreon keeps 10% of income on pages published after August 4, 2025, plus processing, currency conversion and payout fees and taxes.

The verdict

Stay on Patreon while your members pay you less than about $290 a month, because Patreon’s 10% then costs less than Ghost Publisher at $29 a month billed yearly. As of October 26, 2026, Ghost Publisher is the lowest flat fee for paid members. Pages published earlier keep legacy pricing, Patreon’s older rates.

As of October 26, 2026, those rates are 5% on Founders, 8% on Pro and 11% on Pro + Merch. As of October 26, 2026, creators on legacy billing, Patreon’s older way to charge members, must switch to subscription billing by November 1, 2026. After that date, Patreon pauses their billing.

Read the verdict before you buy. Skip anything that only looks good in a demo.

Best for

Creators whose members pay them less than about $290 a month, since Patreon’s 10% then costs less than Ghost Publisher at $29 a month billed yearly. Creators who still have legacy pricing at 5% or 8%.

Not for

Creators above about $290 a month in member income who want a flat fee, since Ghost Publisher at $29 a month billed yearly for 1,000 members then costs less. Newsletter writers above about $490 a month in member income. beehiiv Lite at $49 a month billed yearly takes 0% of paid subscriptions.

When we use it

Free to start, with no monthly bill.
Below about $290 a month in member income, 10% costs less than Ghost Publisher at $29 a month billed yearly.
Pages published before the 10% plan keep legacy pricing at 5%, 8% or 11%, as of October 26, 2026.

Margin notes

Patreon’s platform fee, the share of each payment Patreon keeps, is 10% on pages published after August 4, 2025. Processing, currency conversion and payout fees come on top.
As of October 26, 2026, creators on legacy billing must switch to subscription billing by November 1, 2026, or Patreon pauses their billing.
As of October 26, 2026, a page you unpublish moves to the 10% plan.

What to do next

Add up what your members paid you last month. If 10% of it is under $29, Patreon costs less than Ghost Publisher at $29 a month billed yearly. If you are on legacy billing, switch to subscription billing before November 1, 2026. Price each flat plan on Patreon alternatives.