Calculate your potential Patreon earnings with platform fees and payment processing
Patreon provides creators with a sustainable income through membership tiers. Your actual earnings depend on your tier structure, patron count, and the fees deducted by Patreon and payment processors. This calculator helps you understand your true net income after all fees are accounted for.
Best for creators just starting out. Includes basic tools for launching your membership. You keep 95% of your earnings before payment processing fees. Limited features but lowest platform cost.
Most popular choice for growing creators. Includes unlimited tiers, analytics, special offers, and more engagement tools. The 8% fee is balanced with significantly more features to help you grow your patron base.
For established creators with large communities. Includes team accounts, priority support, merch for membership, and advanced analytics. Higher fee but maximum features for scaling your creator business.
In addition to Patreon's platform fee, payment processors charge approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per successful transaction. This means:
Most successful creators use 3-5 tiers ranging from $3-$50. Entry tiers ($3-$5) attract the most patrons, mid-tiers ($10-$25) provide the bulk of income, and premium tiers ($50+) serve superfans. Avoid too many tiers as it creates decision paralysis.
Each tier should offer clear, incremental value. Entry tiers might include early access and behind-the-scenes content. Mid-tiers add exclusive content, Discord access, or monthly Q&As. Premium tiers offer one-on-one time, custom content, or physical rewards.
While $1 tiers attract many patrons, the $0.30 processing fee means you only net about $0.60 per patron after all fees. Many creators find $3-$5 entry tiers more sustainable while still being accessible to most supporters.
Patrons stay subscribed when they receive consistent value. Set realistic tier benefits you can deliver monthly. It's better to under-promise and over-deliver than to burn out trying to fulfill unsustainable rewards.
Mention your Patreon regularly on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or wherever your audience is. Show patron-exclusive content previews to demonstrate value. Pin Patreon links in video descriptions and social media bios.
Patrons want to feel like insiders. Respond to comments, run polls for content ideas, and acknowledge patrons publicly (with permission). Building genuine relationships increases retention and encourages tier upgrades.
Create urgency with special promotions: founding member rates, limited tier slots, or bonus content for new patrons. These campaigns can significantly boost sign-ups during launches or special events.
With an average pledge of $7-$10, expect $70-$500/month gross, or $60-$425/month net after fees. This supplements income but rarely replaces a full-time job. Focus on consistent content and community building.
At this level with $8-$12 average pledge, you're earning $400-$2,400/month gross ($340-$2,040 net). This can cover part-time income or significant side income. Many creators reach sustainability here.
With $10-$15 average pledge, you're earning $2,000-$15,000/month gross ($1,700-$12,750 net). This range allows full-time creator careers. Focus on retention, tier optimization, and scaling content production.
At $12-$20+ average pledge with 1,000+ patrons, you're earning $12,000-$20,000+/month gross ($10,200-$17,000+ net). At this level, consider the Premium plan for team features and advanced tools to manage your creator business.
Patreon income is taxable as self-employment income in most countries. Important considerations:
Monthly churn (patrons who cancel) typically ranges from 5-15%. A 10% monthly churn means you need to gain 10 new patrons per 100 existing just to maintain current income. Factor this into growth projections.
Survey departing patrons to understand why they're leaving. Common reasons include financial constraints (unavoidable), lack of engagement (fixable), or fulfilled value (natural). Focus on improving engagement and delivering consistent value.
Reach out to former patrons with special offers or updates about new content. Many cancellations are temporary due to budget constraints. A friendly reminder months later can bring patrons back.
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