Patreon Fees Calculator

Patreon fee breakdown

Patreon lists several fee categories. Not every fee applies to every transaction, but the platform fee rarely tells the whole story.

Patreon’s creator fees overview is the source of record for plan, processing, conversion, payout, and iOS details. Rates differ for non-USD payout currencies, so use the listed rate for your payout currency rather than converting the USD example.

The iOS fee needs separate treatment

For eligible purchases made through Apple’s in-app purchase system in the Patreon iOS app, Apple applies a 30% App Store fee. Patreon says this replaces its normal payment processing fee for that transaction, while the Patreon platform fee still applies.

Creators can increase iOS prices or absorb Apple’s fee. Patreon’s default price adjustment is roughly 43%, which is the increase needed for a 30% fee to leave the same amount before Patreon’s platform fee. US fans have the option to use Patreon’s mobile web checkout instead, where the Apple fee does not apply. Read Patreon’s iOS purchase guide before forecasting iOS revenue.

Do not simply add 30% to the web processing rate. The processing treatment and sale price are different for an iOS in-app transaction.

Currency conversion and payout caveats

Patreon charges a 2.5% currency conversion fee when the member pays in a currency different from your payout currency. Patreon calculates that fee on the full processed amount, including tax. No conversion fee applies when the member pays in your payout currency.

Payout fees are separate. Patreon deducts them when money moves from your creator balance to your bank, PayPal, or Payoneer. The amount depends on the payout currency, country, and method, and an outside provider may charge its own withdrawal or conversion fee. A calculator result is therefore an estimate of transaction-level take-home, not a promise of the exact amount that will reach your bank.

Standard pricing versus legacy Patreon plans

The 10% standard plan is the useful baseline for a new Patreon page. It is not accurate for every existing creator.

Patreon currently lists these legacy platform rates:

• Founders: 5%
• Pro: 8%
• Pro + Merch: 11%

Legacy status has conditions. Patreon says a legacy creator who unpublishes and later republishes may move to the standard 10% plan. Processing rules also differ. Confirm the plan shown in your Patreon account before using the calculator for a revenue decision.

Compare the fee with an owned membership site

A percentage platform fee is easy to tolerate while revenue is small, but the cost rises with every new member. At $5,000 in monthly member revenue, Patreon’s 10% platform fee alone is $500 before processing and the other possible charges.

Beamly uses flat subscription pricing and charges 0% Beamly platform fees on memberships, subscriptions, and digital products. Standard Stripe processing fees still apply. Podcasters can run paid tiers, private RSS feeds, public episode pages, videos, posts, courses, and downloads on their own domain.

Read the broader Patreon alternatives guide to compare business models, or see the direct Patreon and Beamly comparison for feature and ownership differences.

Patreon fees FAQ

What percentage does Patreon take?

Patreon’s standard plan takes a 10% platform fee from successfully processed payments. Payment processing and other applicable charges come on top. Legacy creator pages may have a 5%, 8%, or 11% platform fee.

Does Patreon take 10% or more?

For a new standard-plan creator, Patreon takes 10% as the platform fee. The total cost is higher after payment processing. Currency conversion, payout fees, taxes on creator fees, or an eligible iOS App Store purchase can increase it further.

How much does Patreon take from a $5 membership?

On the standard 10% plan with USD card processing, the estimated fees are $0.50 for the platform and about $0.45 for processing. The estimated take-home is $4.06 before other applicable charges.

Does Patreon charge less for small payments?

Not on the current standard 10% plan. Patreon applies the standard processing rate to all payment amounts on that plan. Some legacy plans use micropayment rates for tiers at $3 or less.

Does Patreon charge the 30% Apple fee on every membership?

No. The Apple fee applies to eligible purchases completed through Apple’s in-app purchase system in the Patreon iOS app. It does not apply to web or Android checkout. The Patreon platform fee still applies to an iOS in-app sale, but Patreon does not add its normal payment processing fee.

Are payout fees included in this calculator?

Payout fees depend on where and how you withdraw funds. Treat the calculator as a transaction estimate and check Patreon’s current payout table for the final withdrawal cost.