Use Patreon’s official Patreon WordPress plugin to lock selected WordPress posts or custom post types for Patreon members. Set your site’s permalinks to a structure other than Plain, connect your creator campaign through the plugin’s authorization wizard, then choose the required Patreon Level on each item you want to restrict.
What the Patreon WordPress plugin restricts
The plugin lets you choose a Patreon Level for an individual WordPress post or custom post type. Visitors who are not signed in, as well as WordPress users who are not members of the required Patreon Level, see the content locked. They can choose Unlock with Patreon, sign in or select a membership option on Patreon, and then return to the post.
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Patreon Levels are membership price options. Depending on the creator’s payment settings, members may pay monthly or per creation; check those settings when deciding which Level should unlock an item.
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- Change the permalink structure if needed. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Settings > Permalinks and choose any structure other than Plain. Patreon lists Plain permalinks as incompatible with plugin setup.
- Sign in to your creator account. Make sure you are logged in to Patreon before starting the setup wizard.
- Install and activate the plugin. In WordPress, go to Plugins > Add Plugin, search for Patreon WordPress, then install and activate it.
- Authorize your campaign. Open the Patreon WordPress settings, start the setup wizard, and allow it to access your creator campaign. Post syncing is optional.
- Choose the required Level for each item. Edit a post or custom post type, select the intended Patreon Level from its access dropdown, and save or update the item.
- Check the visitor experience. View the item as an unauthenticated visitor and as a logged-in WordPress user who is not a member. Confirm that the lock appears and that Unlock with Patreon leads into the sign-in or membership flow.
Plugin or custom API integration?
| Option | Setup | Control | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patreon WordPress plugin | Install through the WordPress dashboard and connect a creator campaign with the authorization wizard. | Choose a Patreon Level for posts and custom post types. | Uses the plugin integration. Check compatibility with your installed release and other site components. |
| Custom Patreon API integration | Requires development work involving OAuth and API resources. | Can use membership and entitled-tier data to build a tailored access system. | Your implementation must track Patreon’s API documentation and version changes. |
For an API integration, Patreon’s reference says OAuth and API requests should be handled server-side and that there is no separate API sandbox. Its August 7, 2026 changelog notice scheduled API v1 retirement for October 7, 2026. Patreon also described an extension through January 20, 2027 for eligible creators who requested it by the stated deadline. Because the retirement date is imminent and the extension is conditional, check Patreon’s current API documentation before building or maintaining against v1.
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What to verify on your own site
The documented integration covers WordPress posts and custom post types, but that does not establish that every direct media URL is protected or that every theme, cache layer, and third-party plugin will behave correctly. Test the actual restricted pages and media paths on your site, including with a non-member account and any caching enabled. Do not assume that restricting a page also secures a separately accessible file URL.
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