Patreon

Patreon is the largest creator membership platform, hosting millions of fans supporting creators across art, music, podcasts, and writing. Its core advantage is discoverability: creators get exposure to Patreon's existing audience actively looking to support creators, plus built-in tools for tier-based rewards, exclusive content, and community spaces. While the 10% fee + processing is higher than Memberful, Patreon's value lies in member acquisition and platform trust.\n\nFor indie hackers just starting a membership business, Patreon is often the path of least resistance: no technical setup, free to start, and access to a built-in community of supporters ready to pay. The platform now includes discussion spaces, live streaming capability, and product (digital goods) features, making it viable for creators building engaged communities. The trade-off is less control over branding and member relationships, though Patreon's community features have matured significantly.