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Memberful alternatives: 7 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Memberful: monthly fee plus a transaction percentage, and you bring your own audience; there is no marketplace. We ranked 7 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Memberful, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Patreon currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Patreon logoPatreonFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 466.5
2Substack logoSubstackFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 457.2
  1. Patreon logo

    1. PatreonTop pick

    Best for: Podcasters, video creators and artists who want paid memberships handled for them

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Memberful

    Hosted marketplace page with discovery and payments handled, if you don't need your own brand.

    Pros

    • Handles payments, taxes, fraud and payouts for you
    • Supports video, audio, chats and a shop, not just text
    • Recognised brand that fans already trust with card details

    Cons

    • 10% platform fee plus processing and payout fees
    • Writing and email tools are basic for newsletter writers
    • Little control over page design
    Visit Patreon Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Patreon a good Memberful alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free to start
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026patreon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platform fee
    10% of income, plus processing fees
    Checked Oct 25, 2026patreon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Newsletters
    Email newsletters included
    Checked Oct 25, 2026patreon.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Currencies
    16+ for payouts and pay-ins
    Checked Oct 25, 2026patreon.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Substack logo

    2. Substack

    Best for: Writers who want built-in discovery and paid subscriptions without running any tech themselves

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Memberful

    Free to run and simpler, for memberships that are mostly a newsletter.

    Pros

    • Built-in reader network and recommendations help new writers grow
    • Free to start, with paid subscriptions switched on in minutes
    • Podcasts, video and chat live alongside the newsletter
    • Easy imports from Mailchimp, Ghost, WordPress and others

    Cons

    • 10% cut of paid revenue gets costly for big publications
    • Limited control over design and site structure
    • Your publication sits inside Substack's brand and app
    Visit Substack Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Substack a good Memberful alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, free to start
    Checked Oct 25, 2026substack.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Revenue share
    Writers keep 90% of paid revenue, minus card fees
    Checked Oct 25, 2026substack.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid subscriptions
    5 million+ across the platform
    Checked Oct 25, 2026substack.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Imports
    Mailchimp, beehiiv, Ghost, WordPress, Medium and more
    Checked Oct 25, 2026substack.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Memberful alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Patreon logo

Best Memberful alternative for most people

Patreon

Hosted marketplace page with discovery and payments handled, if you don't need your own brand.

Ghost logo

Best Memberful alternative for a free option

Ghost

Website, newsletter and memberships in one open-source platform with no payment fees.

Steady logo

Best Memberful alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Steady

Commission-only pricing with no monthly fee, handy before revenue is steady.

Ghost logo

Best Memberful alternative for open source

Ghost

Website, newsletter and memberships in one open-source platform with no payment fees.

Ghost logo

Best Memberful alternative for self-hosting

Ghost

Website, newsletter and memberships in one open-source platform with no payment fees.

Circle logo

Best Memberful alternative for Mac

Circle

Hosted community with courses and events instead of bolting memberships onto a site.

Circle logo

Best Memberful alternative for Windows

Circle

Hosted community with courses and events instead of bolting memberships onto a site.

Substack logo

Best Memberful alternative for iPhone and Android

Substack

Free to run and simpler, for memberships that are mostly a newsletter.

beehiiv logo

Best Memberful alternative for working in the browser

beehiiv

Newsletter platform with paid tiers and no revenue share on paid plans.

Memberful alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Memberful?

Patreon ranks first right now. Hosted marketplace page with discovery and payments handled, if you don't need your own brand. Ghost and Steady follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Memberful?

Yes. Patreon (free plan + paid), Ghost (open source), Steady (free plan + paid) and Substack (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Memberful?

Yes: Ghost. Ghost can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Memberful?

The complaints we hear most: monthly fee plus a transaction percentage; you bring your own audience; there is no marketplace; needs a Stripe account.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Memberful, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.