How Patreon and Podia compare
Patreon turned fans into patrons. Membership tiers, members-only posts, community chats, a shop for one-off items, and native podcast and video delivery give creators steady income from the people who care most. It is the default word for creator memberships, and the tools have grown up with it.
Podia is the all-in-one that stays friendly. Courses with drip and quizzes, digital downloads delivered the second someone pays, coaching products, events, a community with paid plans, a website with a real blog, and Podia Email with broadcasts and campaigns, all under one login and one bill. Sales tax across 230 jurisdictions, 20 plus currencies, coupons, bundles, and payment plans come standard, and Shaker and Earthquaker drop the transaction fee to zero. For a creator selling digital products, Podia removes a lot of glue.
Where they are different
Patreon
- Patreon lives at patreon.com/yourname and gates most content.
- Patreon takes a percentage of membership revenue.
- Patreon messages patrons in-app.
Podia
- Podia's coaching product takes payment and then hands booking to Calendly, SavvyCal, Acuity, or YouCanBookMe.
- Podia Email sends from Podia and includes 100 to 1,000 subscribers by plan.
- Podia's chat inbox gathers chat.
- Podia gives one assistant on Shaker with full access.
Choose Patreon when recurring fan support with tiers and members-only perks is the model.
Choose Podia when courses, downloads, and paid memberships are what you sell and you want checkout, tax, and delivery handled for you.
Compare features
What's on Patreon and Podia
A check means that capability is available. Patreon and Podia are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace sitePatreon: Not includedPodia: Included
- Custom domainPatreon: Not includedPodia: Included
Public content
- BlogPatreon: Not includedPodia: Included
- Reader engagementPatreon: Not includedPodia: Included
- Shop pagesPatreon: IncludedPodia: Included
Audience and email
- AudiencePatreon: IncludedPodia: Included
- Marketing emailsPatreon: IncludedPodia: Included
- Bulk email workflowsPatreon: Not includedPodia: Included
- Campaign workflowsPatreon: Not includedPodia: Included
Messaging
- Built-in chatPatreon: IncludedPodia: Included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsPatreon: IncludedPodia: Included
- Orders and fulfillmentPatreon: IncludedPodia: Included
Team
- Admin usersPatreon: IncludedPodia: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Patreon or Podia, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Patreon or Podia may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Patreon vs Podia pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Patreon
Current plans and prices
See what Patreon charges on their pricing page.
Podia
Current plans and prices
See what Podia charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Patreon and Podia
You don't pay until you publish.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own.
Common questions
Is Cardel an alternative to Patreon or Podia?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Patreon or Podia when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Patreon and Podia are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Patreon or Podia?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Patreon or Podia for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Patreon and Podia?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Patreon and Podia set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Patreon or Podia to Cardel?
Start with Build Your Site, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.