Side by side
Paid Memberships Pro vs Patreon
Both stand on membership site platforms. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Self-hostedWeb
Paid Memberships Pro combines content restrictions, membership billing and administration for WordPress sites. The free plan provides a self-hosted option, while paid plans add premium add-ons and support.
Visit Paid Memberships Pro
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
| Paid Memberships Pro | Patreon | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Self-hosted, Web | Android, API, iPhone, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Standard: $499 a year | Patreon platform fee: $10 a month |
| Plans published | 7 | 4 |
| Maker | Paid Memberships Pro | Patreon |
| Website | paidmembershipspro.com | patreon.com |
| On membership site platforms | #6 of 85 | #2 of 85 |
Paid Memberships Pro: what it does well
- Create unlimited free or paid membership levels.
- Supports one-time and recurring billing intervals.
- Includes Stripe and PayPal without platform transaction fees.
- Free plan includes 25 free add-ons.
- Core plugin and add-ons are GPLv2 open source.
What to know first
- Payment gateway charges still apply.
- Technical support covers only three recent minor releases.
- Premium purchases’ guarantee covers one payment.
- Paid plans start at $49 a month.
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 Paid Memberships Pro Alternatives to Patreon The whole list