Should You Use Patreon or WordPress?

Want to turn your passion into profit? Compare Patreon and WordPress Membership Websites to find the ideal platform for monetizing your website.

Are you torn between choosing Patreon or a membership site for your creative endeavors? Look no further. Dive into this informative show, where we delve deep into both platforms’ features, benefits, and limitations.

First Half of The Show

Introduction

  • Patreon is one of the most popular donation-based platforms; only it works on subscription models instead of one-time payments. Patreon is quite helpful for artists to become recognized in a short period. It provides business tools to help run subscription services for their content.

Pros

  • Great starting point for creators looking to start monetizing their content
  • It helps you start generating monthly income
  • You can customize prices
  • Built-in communication tools
  • Ease of Use and Set up

#1 Ease of Use and Set up

Users find Patreon easy to use and set up, with a straightforward process of entering details and selecting membership tiers. Many reviewers have expressed their satisfaction with the user-friendly interface and streamlined setup process.

#2 – It’s a great starting point connected to monetizing your creative content.

#3 – You do have direct control of what you can charge using Patreon

#4 – It has some nice community-building tools that are easy to set up and use

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Issues with charges and refunds
  • One-Option-Fits-All: The Limits of an Unbranded Experience
  • The Chronological Feed: A Design Choice That Leads Patreon Creators to Burnout

#1 – General Costs

High fees compared to other platforms: Several reviewers have expressed dissatisfaction with the fees charged by Patreon, stating that they are higher compared to other similar platforms. The perceived high fees make some users question whether Patreon is the best choice for individuals and organizations seeking alternative monetization options, especially considering the availability of other platforms with more competitive pricing structures. This percentage depends on the plan you choose:

Lite

This plan takes a 5% commission and offers:

    Patreon Workshops

    Patron Communication Tools

    Hosted Creator Page

Pro

This plan takes an 8% commission and offers:

    All features included in Lite

    Membership tiers

    Analytics and Insights

    Priority Customer Support

    Creator-led Workshops

    Unlimited app integrations

    Special Offers Promo Tool

Premium

This plan takes 12% commission and offers:

    All features included in Lite and Pro

    Team Accounts

    Dedicated Partner Manager

    Merch for Membership

#2 – Issues with charges and refunds

A few users have experienced problems with being charged for subscriptions to creators who have already closed their accounts, leading to difficulties in getting their money back. These issues with charges and refunds can be frustrating for users and may erode trust in the platform’s payment system.

#3 – One-Option-Fits-All: The Limits of an Unbranded Experience

One of Patreon’s biggest ‘pros’ for creators who are tight on time is how quickly you’re able to get set up on the platform. But, when you’re trying to grow your exclusive community beyond that small circle of fans and reach other segments of your audience, a page that looks and feels exactly the same as every other Patreon creator is going to work against you.

#4 – The Chronological Feed: A Design Choice That Leads Patreon Creators to Burnout

The platform only offers one layout for your Patreon page: a chronological feed that shows one post at a time. That’s it. No libraries, or catalogs, or playlists.

Second Half of the Show

How to Create a Powerful Patreon Alternative with WordPress

#1 – Choose a Quality WordPress Web Host

#2 – Use either LearnDash or LifterLMS as your subscription plans.

  • Decide if you want to offer courses.
  • Will you need to protect any other content?
  • If yes to both, you may need an LMS and membership plugin.

#3 – Use Kadence WP to build your website.

#4 – Marketing automation using either FluentCRM or WPFunnels with Mail Mint

  • Uncanny Automator

#4 – Set Up Features Patreon Doesn’t Offer

-a- Online courses.

-b- Member forums (BuddyBoss)

-c- Event Registration

-d- User profiles

This Week Show’s Sponsors

Sensei LMS: Sensei LMS

LifterLMS: LifterLMS

BlogVault: BlogVault

The WP-Tonic & Membership Machine Facebook Group

Why don’t you sign up and be part of the WP-Tonic &  Membership Machine Show & WP-Tonic Facebook group, where you can get all the best advice and support connected to building your membership or community website on WordPress?

Facebook Group

 

48 – The Membership Machine Show: Patreon vs WordPress Membership Website was last modified: October 1st, 2023 by Jonathan Denwood

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ADVICE ABOUT BUILDING YOUR FIRST WORDPRESS LMS?

  • Here's a complete step-by-step cheatsheet to creating launching and growing a successful course based LMS

Also start receiving our monthly newsletter with great LMS and WordPress advice and news

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.

WP-Tonic on iTunes Listen on Google Play Music