What Patreon does
Patreon is a platform that helps creators build direct relationships with their most engaged fans. Creators offer benefits such as exclusive content, community access, or insight into their creative process in exchange for a monthly subscription. Named features include direct audience interaction in an ad-free environment, creative control without ad-based monetization constraints, and predictable revenue from monthly member payments. Listed perk options include shoutouts, name in credits, polls, livestreams, group chats, patron-only shows, merch, discounts, early access, and extra episodes. The page is aimed at independent creators. Pricing is a monthly subscription model, but the page does not state specific prices.
How Patreon compares with its closest alternatives
3 of the 5 closest alternatives have a free plan, as Patreon does. Only Beehiiv lists a starting price, $39 a month. 4 of the 5 offer an API, as Patreon does. Patreon offers a web app and a mobile app. Of the alternatives, all 5 offer a web app and 3 offer a mobile app. Patreon was founded in 2013; the alternatives were founded between 2010 and 2021, 1 of them earlier. The alternatives with a known headquarters are in the United States.