🎨Patreon Income Calculator
Calculate your potential Patreon income across multiple tiers. See net revenue after Patreon and payment processing fees.
🎯 Membership Tiers
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
💸 Fee Settings
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Patreon take from creators?
Patreon takes 5-12% depending on your plan: Lite Plan (5%): Basic features, no fee on first $1,000/month. Pro Plan (8%): Advanced analytics, special offers, unlimited tiers. Premium Plan (12%): Dedicated support, merch integration, priority review. PLUS payment processing fees: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (Stripe/PayPal). Total fees: 7.9-14.9% typically. Example: $10 patron on Lite plan → $0.50 Patreon fee + $0.59 processing = $1.09 total fees (10.9%). You receive $8.91. Most creators use Lite (5%) since Pro/Premium features aren't worth 3-7% extra. Patreon also offers Patreon Lite (no monthly membership features) at 5% for simple subscriptions.
How many patrons do I need to make $1000/month on Patreon?
Depends on your tier structure: AT $5/TIER: Need 200-220 patrons (after fees). 220 patrons × $5 = $1,100 gross → ~$1,000 net after 10% fees. AT $10/TIER: Need 110-120 patrons. 115 patrons × $10 = $1,150 gross → ~$1,035 net. AT $25/TIER: Need 45-50 patrons. 48 patrons × $25 = $1,200 gross → ~$1,080 net. MIXED TIERS (most common): 30 at $5 ($150) + 40 at $10 ($400) + 20 at $25 ($500) = $1,050 gross → ~$945 net. Need ~110 total patrons across tiers. Industry average: $7-12 per patron after fees. Most successful creators have 3-5 tiers with prices: $3-5 (basic), $10-15 (popular), $25-50 (premium), $100+ (VIP). The $10-15 tier typically has the most patrons (40-50% of total).
What are good Patreon tier prices and rewards?
Proven tier structure (4-tier system): TIER 1 ($3-5): Entry level, 40-50% of patrons. Rewards: Behind-the-scenes content, early access, Discord access, monthly thank-you. TIER 2 ($10-15): Sweet spot, 30-40% of patrons. Rewards: Everything in Tier 1 + bonus content, polls/voting, name in credits, monthly livestream Q&A. TIER 3 ($25-50): Serious fans, 10-15% of patrons. Rewards: Everything in Tier 2 + exclusive content, 1-on-1 access (monthly), merch/physical items, priority responses. TIER 4 ($100-500): Super fans, 1-5% of patrons. Rewards: Everything in Tier 3 + private calls, custom work, executive producer credit, major influence on content. Pricing psychology: Use $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 (not $7 or $13). Most revenue comes from middle tier ($10-25). Don't create too many tiers (3-5 max). Focus on digital rewards (scalable) vs physical (expensive to fulfill).
How do I grow my Patreon from 0 to 100 patrons?
8-step growth strategy: (1) BUILD AUDIENCE FIRST - Need 5,000-10,000 followers before launching Patreon. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, podcast. Can't monetize an audience you don't have. (2) LAUNCH WITH CLEAR VALUE - 3-4 tiers with specific rewards. Video explaining what patrons get. Show behind-the-scenes to prove exclusivity. (3) SOFT LAUNCH TO SUPERFANS - DM your top 20 fans personally. Offer founding member discount (20% off for 1 year). Get to 10-20 patrons before public launch. (4) PUBLIC LAUNCH - Announce across all platforms. Create hype video showing patron benefits. Offer launch bonus (extra content for early adopters). (5) CONSISTENT PROMOTION - Mention Patreon in every video/post. Show patron-only content teasers. Thank patrons publicly (with permission). (6) DELIVER VALUE - Post patron-only content 2-4x per week. Respond to messages within 24 hours. Make patrons feel special and appreciated. (7) ASK FOR UPGRADES - Show higher-tier benefits to lower-tier patrons. Offer limited-time upgrade bonuses. Create FOMO around premium tiers. (8) RETENTION > ACQUISITION - 5-10% monthly churn is normal. Exit surveys for canceled patrons. Improve based on feedback. Timeline: Month 1-2: 10-25 patrons (superfans). Month 3-6: 25-50 patrons (1-2% of audience). Month 6-12: 50-100 patrons (steady growth). Realistic conversion: 1-3% of engaged audience becomes patrons.
Should I use Patreon or create my own membership site?
PATREON PROS: ✓ Easy setup (30 minutes). ✓ Built-in payment processing. ✓ Mobile app for patrons. ✓ Trusted platform. ✓ Discovery (minimal but exists). ✓ Low-risk ($0 upfront). PATREON CONS: ✗ 5-12% fees (vs 2-3% on own site). ✗ Limited customization. ✗ You don't own the platform. ✗ Can be banned/suspended. ✗ Limited analytics. OWN SITE (WordPress + MemberPress/Patreon alternative): PROS: ✓ Own your data and customers. ✓ Lower fees (2.9% Stripe only). ✓ Full control and branding. ✓ Better analytics. ✓ Can sell other products. CONS: ✗ Setup complexity (days/weeks). ✗ Maintenance required. ✗ Need to market yourself. ✗ $20-50/month hosting. ✗ Tech support needed. VERDICT: Start with Patreon if: Under 100 patrons, testing monetization, non-technical, want ease of use. Build own site if: 200+ patrons (fees add up), technical skills, want full control, making $3,000+/month (ROI of building/maintaining own site). Many creators start on Patreon, then migrate to own site once hitting $5K-10K/month (saves 3-7% in fees = $150-700/month).
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Financial Disclaimer
This calculator is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The results are estimates based on the information you provide and should not be considered as financial, legal, or tax advice.
Actual results may vary based on your specific circumstances, market conditions, and other factors. Always consult with qualified financial, legal, and tax professionals before making any financial decisions.
We make no guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the calculations. Use this tool at your own risk.