# Patreon alternatives, now that new creators pay 10%

> Patreon now charges new creators a 10% platform fee. The alternatives for memberships, with fees checked: Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee and your own page.

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.

## What changed at Patreon

[Patreon's help center](https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/36426991446797-A-standard-platform-fee-for-new-creators-effective-after-August-4-2025) 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](https://makerhandle.com/features/support) 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](https://makerhandle.com/blog/memberships-for-indie-makers) for tiers that do not eat your week.

More alternatives roundups: [Ko-fi alternatives](https://makerhandle.com/compare/ko-fi-alternatives), [Later Linkin.bio alternatives](https://makerhandle.com/compare/later-linkin-bio-alternatives), [Milkshake alternatives](https://makerhandle.com/compare/milkshake-alternatives), [Taplink alternatives](https://makerhandle.com/compare/taplink-alternatives), [About.me alternatives](https://makerhandle.com/compare/about-me-alternatives).

## Sources

- [Patreon help center: a standard platform fee for new creators, effective after August 4, 2025](https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/36426991446797-A-standard-platform-fee-for-new-creators-effective-after-August-4-2025)
- [Ko-fi help center: Does Ko-fi take a fee?](https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002506494-Does-Ko-fi-take-a-fee)
- [Ko-fi help center: What is Ko-fi Gold?](https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005506873-What-is-Ko-fi-Gold)
- [Buy Me a Coffee: FAQ (5% transaction fee, no monthly fee)](https://buymeacoffee.com/faq)
- [GitHub Docs: About GitHub Sponsors](https://docs.github.com/en/sponsors/getting-started-with-github-sponsors/about-github-sponsors)

## 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.

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Source: https://makerhandle.com/compare/patreon-alternatives
makerhandle: makerhandle is a link in bio for makers, creators and small businesses: your links and your work, with optional verified revenue.