With the growth of the creator economy, more people are monetizing their content through subscriptions, donations, and direct fan support.

Two major platforms, Substack vs Patreon, have become prominent options for content creators aiming to earn through subscriptions and loyal fanbases.

Choosing the right platform can make a significant difference in your revenue, audience engagement, and long-term growth.

Let’s look into the features, pricing, and advantages of each so you can decide which one suits your creative goals best.

What is Substack? 📬

Substack launched in 2017 with a mission to empower independent writers and journalists.

It began as a platform for paid newsletters, but over time, it’s become more than just a text-based platform.

Substack now supports video, podcasting, and its own community features such as threads, messaging, chats, and Notes, which is for quick, tweet-like posts.

This diversification positions it as a comprehensive platform for creators.

Key Features and Tools

• • Rich Text Editor: Substack’s editor is easy to use, supporting images, audio, video, and rich text formatting.
  • Paywall and Subscription Options: Creators can choose which content to publish for free and which to offer behind a paywall, with options for monthly or annual subscriptions. Substack handles all the technical aspects, from email distribution to subscription management.
  • Import Existing Audience: Substack allows writers to import existing mailing lists and archives from platforms like WordPress, Medium, and MailChimp, making it easy to migrate.

Who Uses Substack?

Substack is popular among writers, journalists, bloggers, and podcasters who want to monetize their work directly through paid newsletters and subscriptions, building a dedicated audience for their content.

Audience Ownership and Control

Substack emphasizes direct audience relationships, with the platform allowing creators to keep their subscriber lists and manage how they interact with their audience.

Writers can send welcome emails, comment directly with readers, and get notified when subscribers like or interact with their content.

Growing Multimedia Support

As I’ve stated above, Substack has recently expanded to support video and podcast content, allowing creators to host their audio and visual content alongside their written work.

You can create a video post or upload or record videos directly in a post. You can also turn your videos into a podcast, make videos available to everyone, or use a paywall for a whole or part of a video.

The podcasting feature allows you to create both audio and video podcasts and produce voiceovers and narrations for your text posts. You can share episodes to Substack subscribers and to all the major podcast players.

Monetization Model and Pricing

Substack operates on a straightforward revenue-sharing model, taking a flat 10% of subscription earnings.

Additional costs include standard credit card fees.

For creators looking to add their own domain, Substack charges a one-time $50 fee.

What is Patreon? 🪙

Founded in 2013, Patreon took a different approach from the beginning.

Unlike Substack, Patreon provides a platform for all types of creators to build a fanbase willing to pay for exclusive content.

By offering tiered membership options, it has become popular for creators who rely on regular support from a dedicated audience.

Key Features and Tools

• • Creator Page Customization: Each creator gets a personalized page with a custom URL, where they can set up a profile, add an “About” section, and design a tier-based membership system for supporters. You can also post a wide variety of content, including audio files, images, videos (directly or via Vimeo), and more.
  • Membership Tiers and Rewards: Patreon allows creators to set up multiple membership tiers. For example, basic-tier members might receive exclusive updates, while higher-tier members could access tutorials, behind-the-scenes content, or digital downloads. This approach makes Patreon ideal for creators who want to offer varied rewards.
  • Post Scheduling and Public Content: Patreon offers a feed-like page where creators can schedule posts, making it possible to keep fans engaged without manually posting. Creators can also publish public posts to attract potential subscribers.

Who Uses Patreon?

Patreon is used by podcasters, video creators, musicians, artists, and game developers to fund their craft through direct support from their community.

Audience Engagement

Patreon supports direct messaging, custom rewards for higher tiers, and a Relationship Manager tool to manage fan interactions.

Although it lacks some community-building features (like threaded comments), it offers a unique way to manage one-on-one engagement.

Revenue Model and Pricing

Patreon uses a tiered pricing model, taking 5%, 8%, or 12% of a creator’s monthly revenue, depending on the plan (Lite, Pro, or Premium).

Each plan unlocks different features, such as advanced analytics and premium tools for creators on the Premium Plan.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison of Substack vs Patreon 🔍

To choose between these platforms, it’s crucial to understand how each one aligns with your content type, audience engagement needs, and monetization goals.

Here’s a detailed feature comparison:

Content Format and Flexibility

• • Substack: Primarily focused on text content, but it now includes support for podcasts, videos, and social media-like updates through Notes. This is ideal for creators whose primary content format is writing, though it has expanded into multimedia.
  • Patreon: Patreon allows creators to post virtually any type of content—videos, music, blog posts, behind-the-scenes insights—making it ideal for multimedia creators with a mix of formats.

Subscription and Monetization Models

• • Substack: Creators set a single subscription fee for all premium content, ideal for straightforward monetization without many tiers.
  • Patreon: Offers tiered membership options, allowing creators to reward fans at different levels with varying perks. This setup is ideal for creators looking to diversify their revenue based on the fan’s level of support.

Audience Engagement and Community Building

• • Substack: Substack includes threaded comment sections for posts, letting readers reply to each other’s comments and create a dialogue. It also has the Notes feature for short updates and community interaction.
  • Patreon: Offers direct messaging with fans and the Relationship Manager tool for targeted interactions, though comments lack threading. Fans can comment on content, but there’s no option for them to reply to each other.

Analytics and Performance Tracking

• • Substack: Provides basic metrics like views, opens, clicks, and shares, allowing creators to measure subscriber engagement. They also send monthly stats reports by email, including subscriber count, post reads, etc.
  • Patreon: More advanced analytics, including insights into patron demographics and traffic sources. The platform also integrates with Google Analytics, enabling creators to track detailed engagement metrics.

Integrations and Automation

• • Substack: Limited integrations, supporting only basic tracking with Facebook, X, and Google Analytics.
  • Patreon: Extensive integrations, including Zapier (enabling automation with thousands of apps), WordPress, Mailchimp, Discord, Vimeo, and more. These options make Patreon a better choice for creators who want advanced automation.

Content Delivery and Scheduling Options

• • Substack: Designed for regular newsletters with easy scheduling, while additional content types are published as posts to subscribers.
  • Patreon: Includes more complex scheduling tools, allowing creators to release content for specific tiers at specific times. This is helpful for creators planning a content calendar with exclusive rewards.

Platform Fees and Revenue Models: Patreon vs Substack  💸

The pricing and fees are a major factor for many creators when choosing a platform:

Substack’s Fee Model

Substack takes a 10% cut of creator earnings, with credit card fees (about 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction) added separately.

This simple model is appealing for those who want a predictable fee structure.

Patreon’s Tiered Pricing Plans

Patreon’s Lite Plan charges a 5% fee, Pro Plan 8%, and Premium Plan 12%, with the transaction fees similar to Substack.

Creators must balance the additional revenue potential with the added costs, as more features and priority support come with higher fees.

The Pro and Premium plans also unlock extras like tiered rewards and creator-led workshops.

Revenue Potential

Substack and Patreon both have the potential for substantial earnings depending on the size and engagement of a creator’s audience.

Creators with larger audiences may find Patreon’s tiered approach profitable, while writers focusing on text-based content may prefer Substack’s simplicity.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Platform 💪🏽

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each platform can help determine which one aligns best with your content style and revenue goals:

Substack’s Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths: Simplicity, ease of use, straightforward subscription model, and strong audience ownership.
• Weaknesses: Limited discoverability tools, minimal integrations, and less support for non-text content, even with recent multimedia expansions.

Patreon’s Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths: Tiered membership options, a broad set of integrations, and flexibility for multimedia content make it ideal for creators with diverse formats.
• Weaknesses: Higher fees at the Premium level, limited threaded comment features, and reliance on external integrations for full functionality.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Substack and Patreon ✅

When deciding which platform is the right fit, consider these key factors:

Content Type

Substack suits creators focused on writing or podcasting, while Patreon is better for creators who offer a mix of content types, such as music, video, and digital downloads.

Audience Size and Engagement Goals

Small, loyal audiences may benefit more from Substack’s straightforward subscription model, whereas creators aiming for varied fan rewards will find Patreon’s tiered options advantageous.

Revenue Goals and Pricing Strategy

Think about whether a flat fee model (Substack) or a tiered, percentage-based model (Patreon) aligns best with your long-term revenue goals.

Substack’s flat 10% cut may be easier to manage for creators seeking predictable fees, while Patreon’s tiered approach can be ideal for those seeking to monetize higher-level subscriptions and exclusive content.

Platform Discoverability and Marketing Support

Substack provides discoverability with features like the “Recommendations” feature (where publications can recommend other Substacks to their readers), a leaderboard of top podcasts, plus a curation of the top posts in several categories, discoverable to readers.

On the other hand, Patreon’s well-established creator directory and potential integrations with tools like Google Analytics and Mailchimp can enhance your discoverability and help you reach new fans.

Can You Use Both Substack and Patreon?❓

Some creators choose to use both Substack and Patreon to diversify their income.

For instance, a writer might use Substack to send regular newsletter content to a wide audience while offering special content, like exclusive behind-the-scenes videos, on Patreon.

Pros of Dual-Platform Strategy

Using both platforms can maximize your reach by engaging audiences in different ways.

Substack can serve as your main platform for regular content, while Patreon can support a tiered structure where high-paying fans access premium content.

Cons of Dual-Platform Strategy

Managing two platforms may be time-consuming and potentially confusing for your audience.

There’s also the risk of diluting content if it’s spread thinly across two platforms, so it’s important to establish a clear content strategy to avoid overwhelming yourself or your followers.

Tips for Managing Both Platforms

• If you decide to use both, clarify what unique value each platform offers.
• For example, you could use Substack for public newsletters and Patreon for in-depth, high-value content.
• Establish a consistent posting schedule to keep your audience engaged without feeling overextended.

Alternatives to Substack and Patreon for Content Monetization 🧩

While Substack and Patreon are popular, other platforms offer unique features for creators seeking alternatives:

1. Ko-fi: Allows creators to accept one-time donations, making it ideal for those who prefer flexible support without subscription fees. Ko-fi also includes options for memberships and shop features for selling items like digital downloads.
2. Ghost: A powerful open-source platform that resembles Substack in structure, offering tools for publishing newsletters, running a website, and monetizing content. Unlike Substack, Ghost provides advanced SEO capabilities, making it suitable for creators focused on blog or website visibility.
3. Buy Me a Coffee: Similar to Ko-fi, this platform lets creators accept one-time tips or donations. It also includes subscription options for fans who want to support creators on a recurring basis, which makes it appealing to creators who want low-pressure monetization options.

Each of these alternatives serves specific needs, so you should consider the type of content you create and your monetization goals when exploring options beyond Substack and Patreon.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice for Your Content and Audience 🤔

When choosing between Substack and Patreon, consider the platform that best aligns with your content type, audience engagement style, and long-term revenue goals.

• Substack offers simplicity and independence, perfect for writers, podcasters, and multimedia creators who want control over a direct subscription-based relationship with their audience.
• Patreon provides flexibility and a tiered membership structure that suits creators offering a variety of content types and rewards. Its integrations and analytics are excellent for creators who want advanced engagement options and detailed insights.

Ultimately, the best platform depends on what you create, how you engage with your audience, and what revenue model feels most sustainable.

Whichever you choose, aligning your platform choice with your content and community goals will help you build a supportive, engaged, and thriving creator community.

Feel free to grab my free eBook in which I discussed the best creator business to start and make money online.