Alternatives
Patreon alternatives, now that new creators pay 10%
Patreon is still the deepest membership platform. But if you launched after August 2025 you pay 10%, and that changes the math for small memberships.
Already have a page there? Bring it over in one click.
What changed at Patreon
Patreon's help center says creators who publish their page after August 4, 2025 pay a standard 10% platform fee, plus payment processing. Creators who launched earlier keep their older plan unless they unpublish.
For a creator with 200 members at $5, 10% is $1,200 a year. That is fair when you use what Patreon offers: posts, tiers, a community and discovery. It is a lot when members mostly want to chip in.
The alternatives
| Option | Platform fee on memberships | Monthly price | Posts for members |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patreon | 10% (new creators) | None | Yes |
| Ko-fi | 5%, or 0% with Gold | Gold $12 | Yes |
| Buy Me a Coffee | 5% | None | Yes |
| GitHub Sponsors | 0% from personal accounts | None | No |
| makerhandle support button | 0% on Pro, 5% on Free | Pro $20 a year | No |
Payment processing applies on top everywhere. Fees as of October 2026; see Sources.
When a button is enough
Many memberships are really "support me monthly": no exclusive posts, maybe a thank-you and a name on a wall. For that, makerhandle's support button does the job on your own page: up to three monthly tiers with perks, a supporters wall and payouts to your own Stripe account, at 0% platform fee on Pro. Built-in support is opening to makers in stages; until then the button can open your Patreon page.
If you post for members, keep Patreon (or Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee) for that and link it from your page. Read memberships for indie makers for tiers that do not eat your week.
More alternatives roundups: Ko-fi alternatives, Later Linkin.bio alternatives, Milkshake alternatives, Taplink alternatives, About.me alternatives.
Questions
How much does Patreon take?
Creators who publish after August 4, 2025 pay a 10% platform fee plus payment processing, per Patreon's help center. Earlier creators keep their older plan unless they unpublish.
What is the cheapest way to take monthly support?
A button on your own page with a 0% platform fee, like makerhandle Pro at $20 a year, plus Stripe's processing. Ko-fi Gold ($12 a month) also has no platform fee.
Can I move my patrons?
Not automatically: members have to subscribe again on the new platform. Many creators keep Patreon for existing members and point new ones to the new option.
Add monthly support to your page
Free for up to 5 projects. Pro is $20/year.