Patreon vs YouTube channel memberships
Verdict. Patreon wins for most YouTubers. YouTube keeps 30% of membership revenue, three times Patreon's 10%, and by our math that costs you $1,500 at $5,000 a month against $705 on Patreon. Patreon also lets you export member names and emails, while YouTube members exist only inside YouTube. Channel memberships do have one real advantage. Viewers join right on your channel, and YouTube covers card fees. Running both works fine, with a cheap YouTube tier for casual viewers and Patreon for fans who will follow you off the platform.
Pick Patreon if
you want to keep 90% before processing and own a member list you can export and take elsewhere.
Pick YouTube channel memberships if
you already qualify for the program and your viewers won't leave YouTube to pay, since joining happens on your channel and YouTube covers card fees.
Side by side
| Compared | Patreon | YouTube channel memberships |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 6.1 / 10 | 3.5 / 10 |
| Best for | Video creators, podcasters and artists with loyal fans | YouTubers whose viewers want perks without leaving YouTube |
| What it costs | New creators pay a 10% platform fee plus 2.9% + $0.30 card processing per payment, a 2.5% currency conversion fee when fans pay in another currency, and a small payout fee. | You keep 70% of membership revenue after taxes and fees, YouTube keeps 30%, and YouTube covers card processing. |
| Keep from $1,000 | $841 (Standard) | $700 (Channel memberships) |
| Plans from | Free | Free |
| Payouts | You withdraw manually up to once every 24 hours, or turn on automatic payouts on the 5th of each month. US bank transfers cost $0.25 per payout, PayPal costs 1% capped at $20 with a $10 minimum, and Payoneer costs $1 with a $25 minimum. Money arrives in 1 to 5 days, and iOS in-app earnings stay pending for up to 75 days. | Earnings are paid through AdSense for YouTube. Last month's finalized earnings post between the 7th and 12th, and payment is issued between the 21st and 26th once your balance passes the threshold, $100 for USD accounts. Smaller balances roll over. |
| Who can join | Open to anyone 18+, or younger with a parent's or guardian's permission. US creators get paid by bank transfer, and creators elsewhere use Payoneer, PayPal or local bank transfer in supported currencies. | You must be 18+, live in a supported country and have 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 watch hours in 365 days or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days. Made-for-kids channels and some music channels are excluded. |
| Founded | 2013 | 2018 |
Scorecards
| Criterion | Possible | Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Fees$159 on $1,000 a month | 3.0 | 1.23 |
| FeaturesDepth for its category | 2.0 | 1.60 |
| EaseSignup to first sale | 1.5 | 1.20 |
| OwnershipExport, domain, own payments | 2.0 | 1.00 |
| PayoutsSpeed, methods, countries | 1.5 | 1.05 |
| Total | 10.0 | 6.1 |
| Criterion | Possible | Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Fees$300 on $1,000 a month | 3.0 | 0.00 |
| FeaturesDepth for its category | 2.0 | 1.00 |
| EaseSignup to first sale | 1.5 | 1.20 |
| OwnershipExport, domain, own payments | 2.0 | 0.40 |
| PayoutsSpeed, methods, countries | 1.5 | 0.90 |
| Total | 10.0 | 3.5 |
Where Patreon falls short
- New pages pay 10%, up from the old 8% Pro rate, before any processing.
- Unpublishing your page even briefly moves a legacy plan to the 10% standard plan.
- iOS in-app purchases outside the US lose 30% to Apple, or 15% after a member's first year.
- iOS in-app earnings sit pending for up to 75 days before you can withdraw.
- A $3 tier loses about 23% to the platform fee and processing combined.
Where YouTube channel memberships falls short
- YouTube keeps 30%, three times Patreon's standard 10% rate.
- You need 500 subscribers plus 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views first.
- Members exist only inside YouTube. Lose the channel and you lose the membership.
- Payouts need $100 in a USD account and arrive once a month.
- Made-for-kids channels and some music channels cannot use it.
Still deciding? See every option in membership platforms.