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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
3Skool logoSkoolPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android4 of 438.6
4Circle logoCirclePaidNoWeb, macOS, Windows +24 of 438.6
  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)
  3. Skool logo

    3. Skool

    Best for: Creators selling a paid community with courses and live calls bundled in

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android

    38.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Memberful

    Run a paid community with courses for a flat monthly price.

    Pros

    • Gamification keeps members engaged
    • Flat pricing with unlimited members and courses
    • Simple to set up in an afternoon

    Cons

    • Very little branding or layout customisation
    • Courses are basic compared with course platforms
    • Hobby plan's transaction fee is high
    Visit Skool Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.37
    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 Skool a good Memberful alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Hobby plan
    $9/month with 10% transaction fee
    Checked Oct 25, 2026skool.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro plan
    $99/month with 2.9% transaction fee
    Checked Oct 25, 2026skool.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2019
    Checked Oct 25, 2026skool.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Headquarters
    Los Angeles, California
    Checked Oct 25, 2026skool.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Circle logo

    4. Circle

    Best for: Creators and brands running a paid or customer community with courses and events

    PaidWeb, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android

    38.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Memberful

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

    Pros

    • Highly configurable spaces, access rules and branding
    • Courses, events, chat and payments in one community
    • Workflows and API for automation on higher plans

    Cons

    • Costs rise quickly for automation and branded apps
    • Takes time to configure well
    • Course tools are lighter than dedicated course platforms
    Visit Circle Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.37
    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 Circle a good Memberful alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free trial
    14 days, no card
    Checked Oct 25, 2026circle.so(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $89/month (Professional)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026circle.so(opens source in a new tab)
    Business plan
    $199/month, adds workflows and API
    Checked Oct 25, 2026circle.so(opens source in a new tab)
    Scale plan
    $419/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026circle.so(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.