Patreon vs SubscribeStar vs beehiiv comes down to how much you earn each month. This comparison covers cost only, not how much each platform helps you earn. We assume $10 pledges paid by US card to a US creator.
On those terms, Patreon costs about 16% all-in at any revenue level. SubscribeStar costs 11% to 19%, depending on which processing fees you absorb. beehiiv costs 18% to 22% at $500 a month and 8% to 9% at $10,000, because its fee is a plan price that scales with list size.
Below roughly $800 to $1,400 a month, Patreon is cheaper than beehiiv. Above that range, beehiiv is cheaper. The exact crossover depends on how many of your subscribers pay.
SubscribeStar has the lowest platform fee at 5%, but it holds a 10% rolling reserve. Its all-in cost depends on the processing model you choose.
These are our calculations, based on the fee pages of each platform. The assumptions are listed under each table. Outside the US, fees and payout options can differ, so check each platform’s page for your country before you decide.
Patreon vs SubscribeStar vs beehiiv: Quick comparison
| Property | Patreon | SubscribeStar | beehiiv |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Fan-funded creators who want a known brand | Creators who want a 5% platform fee | Writers and publishers building an email list |
| Platform fee | 10% (pages published after Aug 4, 2025) | 5% | 0% on paid subscriptions (Lite and Pro) |
| All-in cost at $2,000 a month | about $318 (16%) | $220 to $380 (11% to 19%) | $227 to $257 (11% to 13%) |
| Main catch | Unpublishing a legacy page resets you to 10% | 10% rolling reserve, variable processing | Plan price rises with list size |
What are Patreon, SubscribeStar and beehiiv?
- Patreon is a membership platform. Fans pay monthly tiers or buy one-time items on your Patreon page. Founders Jack Conte and Sam Yam launched it in 2013.
- SubscribeStar is a membership platform launched in 2017. It runs one flat plan and reviews creator profiles before monetization starts. The company is registered in Sheridan, Wyoming.
- beehiiv is newsletter software. You send email, run a website and podcast, and charge for premium posts. Former Morning Brew staff launched it in 2021. Its Ad Network, paid recommendations and digital products add other income.
Patreon and SubscribeStar sell memberships on their own sites. beehiiv sends email to your subscribers. That difference sets how each one scales.
Patreon vs SubscribeStar vs beehiiv fees in 2026
| Fee | Patreon | SubscribeStar | beehiiv |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 10% for pages published after Aug 4, 2025. Legacy 5%, 8% or 11% if continuously published since on or before that date | 5% | 0% on paid subscriptions and digital products (Lite and Pro) |
| Card processing | 2.9% + $0.30 (US cards, USD payout) | 3% + $0.30 up to 10% + $0.40, set by your fee model | Stripe fees, about 2.9% + $0.30 for US cards |
| Monthly cost | $0 | $0 | Free to 2,500 subscribers. Lite and Pro priced by list size |
| Extra fees | PayPal/Venmo from non-US payers 3.9% + $0.30. 2.5% currency conversion when payment and payout currencies differ | 5% API usage fee may apply. Payers with non-US cards may pay 3.5% | None beyond plan price and Stripe |
| Payout | Direct deposit $0.25 (US). PayPal 1%, min $0.25, cap $20. Payoneer $1 | Fee depends on method and country | Through your Stripe account |
| Cash held back | None listed | 10% rolling reserve | None listed |
| Taxes | Collects VAT/GST/sales tax on its platform fee where required | Helps collect and remit VAT and sales taxes | Check beehiiv’s help center |
beehiiv plan prices by list size
beehiiv prices Lite and Pro by total subscribers, free and paid together:
Annual billing costs less. Lite supports up to 100,000 subscribers and Pro up to 250,000. Confirm current prices on beehiiv’s pricing page before you buy.
Patreon vs beehiiv vs SubscribeStar: What you keep at $500, $2,000 and $10,000 a month
Assumptions:
- Every payer pays $10 a month by US credit card. Creator is in the US and paid in USD.
- Patreon: new-creator plan, 10% + 2.9% + $0.30 per payment.
- SubscribeStar: 5% fee. The creator absorbs processing. Low case 3% + $0.30. High case 10% + $0.40.
- beehiiv: Stripe at 2.9% + $0.30 per payment, plus a Lite plan sized to total list. Paying subscribers are 5% of the list (low cost case) or 2% (high cost case).
- Payout fees are left out. They’re small.
| Monthly revenue | Payers | Patreon | SubscribeStar | beehiiv |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | 50 | $80 (16%) | $55 to $95 (11% to 19%) | $89 to $109 (18% to 22%) |
| $2,000 | 200 | $318 (16%) | $220 to $380 (11% to 19%) | $227 to $257 (11% to 13%) |
| $10,000 | 1,000 | $1,590 (16%) | $1,100 to $1,900 (11% to 19%) | $789 to $889 (8% to 9%) |
What the table shows:
- Patreon is flat at about 16%. That’s 10% platform plus 5.9% processing on a $10 pledge.
- The Patreon and beehiiv lines cross between about $800 and $1,400 a month. The 5% conversion case crosses near $800. The 2% case crosses near $1,400.
- SubscribeStar’s low case beats Patreon at every size. Its high case loses to Patreon at every size. Your processing setting decides which one you get.
- beehiiv’s cost follows list size. A big free list with few payers costs more than the table shows for the same revenue.
- Pledge size matters. At $5 pledges, the $0.30 flat fee pushes Patreon to about 19% all-in and SubscribeStar to 14% to 23%.
This compares cost. It doesn’t compare how much each platform helps you earn. Earnings depend on the wider mix of creator income streams, not fees alone.
Run your own numbers:
Monthly cost = platform % x revenue + (processing % x revenue + $0.30 x number of payments) + monthly plan fee
Patreon vs SubscribeStar vs Beehiiv costs the comparison tables skip
SubscribeStar holds 10% of your earnings. Its pricing page says clients must keep a reserve of 10% of earnings on the platform. At $2,000 a month, that’s about $200 you can’t touch.
The page says the reserve is returned within 90 days after account termination. It can also apply to creators with refund rates above 3% or chargeback rates above 0.1%.
- SubscribeStar can change who pays processing. The platform may change that setting on any subscription. If fees rise, the creator covers the difference.
- SubscribeStar API clients can pay extra. Its pricing page lists a 5% API usage fee that may apply.
🡪 Patreon resets legacy pricing if you unpublish. Unpublish your page, even briefly, and republishing puts you on the 10% plan. Patreon says to use the pause tool instead.
🡪 Patreon charges 2.5% for currency conversion. It applies when a payer’s currency differs from your payout currency, on the full amount including tax. Creators paid outside the US sometimes offset this with a multi-currency account.
🡪 Apple takes 30% on eligible Patreon iOS purchases. Patreon adds no extra processing fee there, but its platform fee still applies.
beehiiv’s new pricing is rolling out now. New customers pay the October 1, 2026 prices. Existing customers move at their first renewal on or after November 1, 2026.
beehiiv says some accounts were moved to a higher tier to match their real subscriber count.
Cleaning out inactive subscribers can lower your tier.
SubscribeStar vs Patreon vs beehiiv: Which one should you choose?
- Under about $800 a month, with fans who already follow you on social: Patreon. Setup is quick and the fee is a flat 16% in our model.
- You want the lowest platform fee and can live with a reserve: SubscribeStar. Set your processing model first, then run the numbers. Read its content guidelines before you commit.
- You publish writing or audio and want ads, sponsors or paid recommendations: beehiiv. The Ad Network is the main reason to pick it over the other two.
- $2,000 or more a month from subscribers: run the formula above. In our model beehiiv is cheapest at $10,000.
- You want both a membership and an email list: run both. They’re separate services.
Creators selling one-off products instead of memberships often end up comparing Gumroad and Buy Me a Coffee.
How to move from Patreon to beehiiv
- Set up beehiiv and connect Stripe.
- Create your paid tier at the same price as your Patreon tier.
- Check Patreon’s help center for what member data you can export.
- Post your move date and a subscribe link on Patreon.
- Pause your Patreon page. Don’t unpublish it if you’re on a legacy fee.
- Keep both running for one billing cycle and watch how many patrons convert.
- Close Patreon tiers once your paid list holds steady.
Patreon vs SubscribeStar vs beehiiv FAQs
Q#1. How much does Patreon take in 2026?
10% platform fee for pages published after August 4, 2025, plus processing (2.9% + $0.30 on US cards) and payout fees. Pages published continuously since on or before that date keep a legacy 5%, 8% or 11% fee.
Q#2. How much does SubscribeStar take?
5% service fee, plus processing from 3% + $0.30 up to 10% + $0.40 if you choose to absorb it. Payout fees vary by method and country. It also holds a 10% rolling reserve.
Q#3. Does beehiiv take a cut of paid subscriptions?
No platform fee on Lite and Pro. You pay Stripe’s processing fees and a monthly plan price set by your subscriber count.
Q#4. Is SubscribeStar cheaper than Patreon?
Often, but not always. In our $10-pledge model SubscribeStar costs 11% to 19% all-in and Patreon costs about 16%. The processing setting decides.
Q#5. Can you use Patreon and beehiiv together?
Yes. They’re separate services. Run supporters on Patreon and your newsletter on beehiiv, and link them to each other.
Q#6. Is beehiiv free?
There’s a free plan for up to 2,500 subscribers. beehiiv lists paid subscriptions, ad monetization and automations under Lite.
Q#7. How long does SubscribeStar approval take?
SubscribeStar reviews creator profiles before monetization starts. The pages we checked don’t give a fixed time. Creator reports range from days to months.
Q#8. What does Apple’s fee do to Patreon prices?
Apple charges 30% on eligible purchases made in the Patreon iOS app. Patreon adds no extra processing fee there, and its platform fee still applies.
