# A Patreon alternative for small creators > A Patreon alternative for small creators: when Patreon's 10% fee and member posts are worth it, and when a membership button on your own page is enough. Patreon is built for running a membership business. If you have a few dozen supporters who mostly want to back your work, you may not need all of it. ## What Patreon costs now 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 published on or before that date keep their earlier plan, unless they unpublish their page, which moves them to the 10% plan. On top of the 10%, Patreon lists card processing of 2.9% + $0.30 on US cards, payout fees that depend on the method (for example $0.25 per direct deposit in the US) and a 2.5% currency conversion fee when a member pays in a different currency from your payout. Tax can apply to the fees too. All as of October 2026, per the pages under Sources. ## What you get for it Patreon is not just a payment button, and it is fair to say so: - **Members-only posts**, video, audio and files, with tiers that unlock them - **Community features** such as comments and chats - **Patreon's own app**, where members follow your posts - **One-time purchases** of digital products alongside memberships If your membership is the product, with weekly posts, episodes or files, that is worth paying for and makerhandle is not a replacement. ## When a membership button is enough Many small creators and makers do not post members-only content at all. Their supporters just want to chip in every month for an app, a game, an open source tool or a newsletter they already get for free. For them, 10% plus processing buys a lot of features nobody uses. makerhandle's [support button](https://makerhandle.com/features/support) covers that case. Built in, it offers up to three **monthly tiers** with a price, a short description and up to three perks each, plus a "make this monthly" option on one-time support. Members pay through Stripe Checkout into **your own Stripe account**, and you see them on a supporters wall and in a CSV export. **0% platform fee on Pro, 5% on Free**, plus Stripe's own fees. Built-in support is opening to makers in stages; the link button works for everyone today. Perks are what you deliver yourself: a Discord role, early builds, your name in the credits. makerhandle does not host members-only posts. ## Who should pick which - **You publish for members every week:** Patreon (or Ko-fi). The posts, app and community are the point. - **A handful of monthly backers for something free:** a membership button on your own page is simpler and cheaper. - **Developers:** [GitHub Sponsors](https://makerhandle.com/compare/github-sponsors) takes no fee on sponsorships from personal accounts, if your supporters are on GitHub. - **Already on Patreon:** keep it. Point the makerhandle button at your Patreon page today; there is nothing to migrate. [Memberships for indie makers](https://makerhandle.com/blog/memberships-for-indie-makers) covers pricing tiers and perks that do not eat your week, and [Buy Me a Coffee alternatives](https://makerhandle.com/compare/buy-me-a-coffee-alternatives) lists the rest. ## 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) - [Patreon help center: Creator fees overview](https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/11111747095181-Creator-fees-overview) - [Stripe: pricing](https://stripe.com/pricing) ## Questions ### How much does Patreon take? For creators who published after August 4, 2025, Patreon's help center lists a 10% platform fee plus processing (2.9% + $0.30 on US cards) and payout fees. Earlier creators keep their legacy plan unless they unpublish. ### What is a good Patreon alternative for small creators? Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee if you want a hosted page with member posts for less. A membership button on your own page, like makerhandle's, if supporters mostly want to back your work rather than unlock content. ### Can makerhandle host members-only posts? No. makerhandle memberships are monthly support with perks you deliver yourself. For gated posts and files, use Patreon or Ko-fi and link to it. ### Can I link my Patreon from makerhandle? Yes, on every plan. The support button opens your Patreon page in a new tab. --- Source: https://makerhandle.com/compare/patreon makerhandle: makerhandle is a link in bio for makers, creators and small businesses: your links and your work, with optional verified revenue.