How Patreon and WordPress 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.
WordPress powers a huge share of the web for good reason. This page compares WordPress.com hosted plans. You get the block editor, thousands of themes, comments and likes, Jetpack newsletters, and on higher plans the full plugin ecosystem and WooCommerce. Nothing else offers this much freedom to extend, and your content is exportable and yours.
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.
WordPress
- WordPress extends by plugin: a form plugin, a booking plugin, an email plugin, each with its own settings.
- WordPress email is Jetpack newsletters or a plugin.
- WordPress accessibility and SEO depend on your theme and plugins.
Choose Patreon when recurring fan support with tiers and members-only perks is the model.
Choose WordPress when you want maximum control, plugins for anything, and the option to self-host.
Compare features
What's on Patreon and WordPress
A check means that capability is available. Patreon and WordPress are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace sitePatreon: Not includedWordPress: Included
- Custom domainPatreon: Not includedWordPress: Included
Public content
- BlogPatreon: Not includedWordPress: Included
- Reader engagementPatreon: Not includedWordPress: Included
- Shop pagesPatreon: IncludedWordPress: Included
Audience and email
- AudiencePatreon: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Marketing emailsPatreon: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Bulk email workflowsPatreon: Not includedWordPress: Included
Messaging
- Built-in chatPatreon: IncludedWordPress: Not included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsPatreon: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Orders and fulfillmentPatreon: IncludedWordPress: Included
Team
- Admin usersPatreon: IncludedWordPress: Included
- Per-admin permissionsPatreon: IncludedWordPress: Included
- AI AssistantPatreon: Not includedWordPress: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Patreon or WordPress, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Patreon or WordPress may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Patreon vs WordPress pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Patreon
Current plans and prices
See what Patreon charges on their pricing page.
WordPress
Current plans and prices
See what WordPress charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Patreon and WordPress
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 WordPress?
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 WordPress when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Patreon and WordPress are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Patreon or WordPress?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Patreon or WordPress for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Patreon and WordPress?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Patreon and WordPress set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Patreon or WordPress 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.