Patreon Earnings Calculator
Estimate your revenue from Patreon based on patrons, average pledge, and platform fees.
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Table of Contents
Comprehensive Patreon Earnings Guide
What is Patreon?
Patreon is a membership platform that lets creators earn recurring revenue from fans (patrons) who pay a monthly (or per-creation) pledge. Creators set tier prices and offer rewards; Patreon takes a platform fee (typically 5–12% depending on the plan) plus payment processing fees. Your take-home is the sum of pledges minus these fees. This calculator uses the platform fee only; for a more accurate net, factor in payment processing (e.g. ~3% + $0.35 per transaction) if needed.
How Patreon Payouts Work
Patrons are charged each month (or per creation, depending on your setup). Patreon deducts its platform fee and payment processing fees, then pays you according to your payout schedule (e.g. monthly). Minimum payout thresholds and methods (PayPal, bank transfer, etc.) vary by country. Declines and chargebacks can reduce your balance; new patrons and churn make monthly revenue fluctuate.
Monthly vs. Per-Creation Billing
You can choose to charge patrons monthly (fixed amount each month) or per creation (charged when you publish a new post). Monthly billing gives more predictable revenue and is common for ongoing content (podcasts, art, videos). Per-creation works for creators who publish irregularly; patrons pay per piece. For this calculator, use your average number of paying patrons and the average amount they pay per month (so for per-creation, estimate average pledges per month based on your publish frequency).
Patreon Plan Comparison
Lite / Pro
- Lower platform fee (e.g. 5% Lite, 8% Pro)
- Core features: tiers, posts, payouts
- Good for most creators
Premium
- Higher fee (e.g. 12%); more support and tools
- Merch, analytics, team features
- For larger or professional creators
- Patrons: Supporters who pay a recurring pledge (monthly or per post).
- Pledge / tier: The amount each patron pays; you can have multiple tiers ($2, $5, $10, etc.).
- Platform fee: Patreon's cut (e.g. 5% on Lite, 8% on Pro, 12% on Premium); payment processing is extra.
- Revenue is recurring and more predictable than ad-based income; payouts are usually monthly.
Benefits of Using Patreon
- Recurring revenue: Predictable monthly income from committed fans.
- Direct relationship: Build a community and offer exclusive rewards.
- Independence: Less reliance on ad rates or algorithm changes.
Limitations and Considerations
- Churn: patrons can cancel anytime; monthly revenue can vary.
- Payment processing and platform fees reduce take-home pay.
- Patreon's policies and fee structure can change; check the latest terms.
This calculator is for estimation only. Actual earnings depend on your Patreon plan, payment processor fees, currency, and patron retention. Always check your Patreon dashboard for real figures.
Enter your patron count and average pledge to get a ballpark. Combine Patreon with other revenue (YouTube, Twitch, sponsorships) for a full picture of creator income.
Patreon Plans & Fees
Patreon offers several plan tiers; the platform fee varies (e.g. 5% for Lite, 8% for Pro, 12% for Premium). Payment processing fees (e.g. card processing) are additional and depend on the payment method. Use your actual plan fee in the calculator for the best estimate.
| Plan | Platform fee (typical) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lite | 5% | Core features |
| Pro | 8% | More tools, analytics |
| Premium | 12% | Merch, priority support |
Payment processing (e.g. 2.9% + $0.35 per transaction) is separate; Patreon deducts it before or after the platform fee depending on plan. Check Patreon's pricing page for current rates.
Factors That Affect Earnings
Several factors influence your net Patreon income. The table below summarizes the main ones; use averages over a few months for the calculator.
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Patron count & churn | New signups and cancellations change revenue; typical churn 3–10%/month |
| Tier mix | More high-tier patrons raise average pledge |
| Payment failures | Declined cards, expired methods reduce payout |
| Currency & fees | International patrons; conversion and processing vary |
| Chargebacks | Rare but can deduct from balance |
- Patron count and churn: New signups and cancellations change monthly revenue; use a stable average for planning.
- Tier mix: If many patrons choose higher tiers, your average pledge and revenue increase.
- Payment failures: Declined cards or expired payment methods can reduce the amount you receive.
- Currency and fees: International patrons may have different processing costs; Patreon converts currency.
Tips to Maximize Revenue
- Offer clear value: Exclusive posts, early access, or tangible rewards help justify pledges and reduce churn.
- Tier structure: Several tiers ($2, $5, $10+) let patrons choose their level; highlight benefits at each tier.
- Communicate regularly: Posts and updates keep patrons engaged and less likely to cancel.
- Promote elsewhere: Drive traffic from YouTube, Twitter, or your site to your Patreon page.
- Track metrics: Use Patreon analytics to see which tiers and content perform best.
- Launch strategy: Announce your Patreon to your existing audience with a clear pitch; offer early-bird or founding patron rewards to convert fans.
- Reward ideas: Behind-the-scenes, early access, Discord roles, Q&A, or physical rewards (stickers, prints) can justify higher tiers.
Payout Schedule & Minimums
Patreon pays creators on a schedule (e.g. monthly, around the 5th of the month for the previous month's earnings). You must reach a minimum payout amount to receive funds; the minimum depends on your payout method and country (e.g. $5 for PayPal in some regions, higher for bank transfer). Payouts can take a few business days to arrive. Check your Patreon creator dashboard for your exact threshold and schedule.
- Frequency: Usually monthly; balance rolls over until the minimum is met.
- Methods: PayPal, bank transfer (e.g. ACH, SEPA), or other options depending on country.
- Delays: First payouts can take longer; chargebacks or holds may delay or reduce a payout.
Alternatives to Patreon
Other platforms offer similar or complementary ways to earn from fans. Ko-fi allows one-time tips and optional monthly memberships with no platform fee on tips (they take a cut on optional Ko-fi Gold features). Buy Me a Coffee is geared toward one-time support and simple memberships. GitHub Sponsors targets developers. Some creators use Patreon alongside a tip jar or merchandise store. This calculator's formula (patrons × pledge × (1 − fee)) can be adapted to any membership platform if you know the fee structure.
- Ko-fi: Tips and memberships; flexible fee structure.
- Buy Me a Coffee: One-time support and memberships; simple setup.
- Other: Gumroad, Substack (newsletters), or your own site with a payment processor.
Patreon Earnings Formula
The formula for estimating Patreon revenue (after platform fee) is:
Practical Example
200 patrons, $5 average pledge, 8% fee
Patrons: 200
Average pledge: $5
Fee: 8%
Gross = 200 × 5 = $1,000
Net = 1,000 × (1 − 0.08) = $920 per month
Per year: $920 × 12 = $11,040