Side by side
Buttondown vs Patreon
Both stand on publishing and subscriptions software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APIWeb
Choose Buttondown if you need email automation, audience segmentation, landing pages, and a subscriber allowance of up to 100 on its free plan or 1,000 on its paid tier. Look elsewhere if those subscriber limits or the $9.00 USD monthly paid tier do not fit your needs.
Visit Buttondown
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+1
Patreon combines paid memberships and digital shops with content, community, and podcast tools. Creators can start for free, but platform and other fees apply when earning through Patreon.
Visit PatreonThe facts
| Buttondown | Patreon | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Web | Android, API, iPhone, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Basic: $9 a month | Patreon platform fee: $10 a month |
| Plans published | 6 | 4 |
| Maker | Buttondown | Patreon |
| Website | buttondown.com | patreon.com |
| On publishing and subscriptions software | #1 of 22 | #2 of 22 |
Buttondown: what it does well
- Free plan covers up to 100 subscribers.
- Paid tier covers up to 1,000 subscribers.
- Includes email automation and audience segmentation.
- Includes landing pages.
- Offers 45 native integrations.
What to know first
- Free plan is capped at 100 subscribers.
- The listed paid tier costs $9 a month.
- Available on the web platform.
Patreon: what it does well
- Creators can start without paying upfront.
- Supports monthly and annual subscriptions.
- Offers memberships, one-time payments, and digital shops.
- Includes chats, direct messages, and comments.
- Mobile apps are available for iOS and Android.
What to know first
- Patreon charges 10% of income earned on the platform.
- Payment processing and other fees may also apply.
- Individual livestream sessions are limited to 12 hours.
- Public API v1 is scheduled to stop working October 7, 2026.
Alternatives to Buttondown Alternatives to Patreon The whole list