How Patreon and Substack 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.
Substack made paid newsletters normal. You write, it sends, and readers can subscribe or pay in one click. The network effects are real: recommendations, Notes, the app, and discovery bring new readers you did not have to find. There is no monthly fee, and for a writer who wants to write rather than run software, that is a gift.
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.
Substack
- Substack is a network you publish into.
- Substack takes a percentage of paid subscriptions.
- Substack chat and comments live in its app.
Choose Patreon when recurring fan support with tiers and members-only perks is the model.
Choose Substack when you want to write, get paid, and be discovered with the least possible setup.
Compare features
What's on Patreon and Substack
A check means that capability is available. Patreon and Substack are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace sitePatreon: Not includedSubstack: Included
- Custom domainPatreon: Not includedSubstack: Included
Public content
- BlogPatreon: Not includedSubstack: Included
- Reader engagementPatreon: Not includedSubstack: Included
- Shop pagesPatreon: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Audience and email
- AudiencePatreon: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Marketing emailsPatreon: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Bulk email workflowsPatreon: Not includedSubstack: Included
Messaging
- Built-in chatPatreon: IncludedSubstack: Included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsPatreon: IncludedSubstack: Not included
- Orders and fulfillmentPatreon: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Team
- Admin usersPatreon: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Per-admin permissionsPatreon: IncludedSubstack: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Patreon or Substack, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Patreon or Substack may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Patreon vs Substack pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Patreon
Current plans and prices
See what Patreon charges on their pricing page.
Substack
Current plans and prices
See what Substack charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Patreon and Substack
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 Substack?
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 Substack when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Patreon and Substack are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Patreon or Substack?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Patreon or Substack for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Patreon and Substack?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Patreon and Substack set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Patreon or Substack 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.