AppBreakup
Submit an app

Patreon alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Patreon: 10% platform fee plus processing and payout fees, and writing and email tools are basic for newsletter writers. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Patreon, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Memberful currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Ghost logoGhostOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted5 of 555.3
  1. Ghost logo

    1. GhostTop pick

    Best for: Independent publishers who want their own branded site, newsletter and memberships

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Patreon

    Own your site and keep subscription revenue with 0% fees from Ghost.

    Pros

    • No transaction fees from Ghost on paid memberships
    • Open source and self-hostable for full control
    • Custom themes and a large integration marketplace
    • Fast sites with strong SEO defaults

    Cons

    • No discovery network to bring in readers
    • Starter plan lacks custom themes and paid subscriptions
    • Self-hosting needs a server and some sysadmin work
    Visit Ghost Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    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 Ghost a good Patreon alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Starting price
    $18/month (Starter, billed yearly)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Publisher plan
    $29/month, billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Transaction fees
    0% from Ghost (processor fees apply)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes, Ubuntu or Docker
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Patreon alternative for…

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

Memberful logo

Best Patreon alternative for most people

Memberful

Same parent company, but runs memberships on your own site and brand.

Ghost logo

Best Patreon alternative for a free option

Ghost

Own your site and keep subscription revenue with 0% fees from Ghost.

Buy Me a Coffee logo

Best Patreon alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Buy Me a Coffee

Lighter option for tips and simple memberships, quick to set up.

Ghost logo

Best Patreon alternative for open source

Ghost

Own your site and keep subscription revenue with 0% fees from Ghost.

Ghost logo

Best Patreon alternative for self-hosting

Ghost

Own your site and keep subscription revenue with 0% fees from Ghost.

Substack logo

Best Patreon alternative for iPhone and Android

Substack

Better fit if your membership is mainly a written newsletter.

Steady logo

Best Patreon alternative for working in the browser

Steady

European membership platform with a similar 10% model and EU VAT handling.

Patreon alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Patreon?

Memberful ranks first right now. Same parent company, but runs memberships on your own site and brand. Buy Me a Coffee and Substack follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Patreon?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Patreon?

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

Why do people switch from Patreon?

The complaints we hear most: 10% platform fee plus processing and payout fees; writing and email tools are basic for newsletter writers; little control over page design.

How is this list ranked?

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