Patreon
Cashing in Stage 3
Patreon unbundled creators from ads, then raised fees and tightened rules as it scaled. Audiences still subscribe; creators feel the platform tax—stage 3.
- Since
- 2013
- Function
- Creator economy
- VC-backed
- Yes
- Public
- No
News signals
Aug 14, 2024
Apple's App Store rules force Patreon to raise iOS subscription prices
Drip pricingCreator squeeze
Mar 14, 2024
IMF notes creator economy growth alongside concentration and fee pressures
Take rateMarket consolidation
More in Creator economy
-
Ghost
1 Plenty for usersOpen-source publishing platform run by a nonprofit foundation; self-hostable for free, Ghost Pro managed hosting funds the foundation without taking a cut of creator revenue.
-
Ko-fi
2 Hard to leaveTips and memberships with lighter branding than Patreon; Gold tier and shop features add platform dependency over time.
-
OnlyFans
3 Cashing inCreator subscriptions with high take rate and policy whiplash; payment processors and brand risk shape who can stay on platform.
-
Substack
2 Hard to leaveNewsletter + payments with clearer creator cut than ad platforms; network features and video push toward fuller stack lock-in.
