If you’re a content creator who wants to monetize their podcasts, you’re probably also facing the same dilemma about choosing the right platform: Buy Me a Coffee vs. Patreon.
Subscribing to a membership platform like Buy Me a Coffee and Patreon is highly recommended for podcasters. However, you must first learn how they differ to choose one that will fit your objectives.
In this blog, we’ll explore each platform in detail so that you can pick the best tool for your goals.
TL;DR – Buy Me a Coffee vs. Patreon
Confused between Patreon vs. Buy Me a Coffee? Here’s a summary of the similarities and differences between the two in case you want a quick comparison:
| Buy Me a Coffee | Patreon |
|---|---|
| Similarities | |
| Allows creators to earn via memberships Creators funded by followers Payments are safe and secure | Allows creators to earn via memberships Creators funded by patrons Payments are safe and secure |
| Advanced analytics | Advanced analytics |
| Differences | |
| Charges a 5% flat fee Basic community engagement tools Easy to use One-time payment options Integrates with Discord and Zapier Basic analytics tools | Charges an 8-12% fee Advanced community tools (live streams, personal messaging, etc.) A bit complex for beginners Tiered membership options Integrations with Mailchimp, Convertkit, WordPress, etc. Advanced analytics tools |
| Best For | Best For |
| Best for small creators with basic requirements | Best for professional creators who need more flexibility |
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What is Buy Me a Coffee?
Buy Me a Coffee (BMC) is a platform where you (creators) can get direct financial support from your audience through one-time donations.
The platform currently hosts over 300,000 content creators and millions of paid subscribers.
How Does Buy Me a Coffee Work?
First, you must sign up for a free Buy Me A Coffee account, then personalize your page with attractive profiles and click-worthy content descriptions.
Supporters can interact with you by visiting your page and selecting to either “buy a coffee” (a one-time donation), become a member with monthly payments, or buy any further digital goodies you offer.
Regarding payout methods, Buy Me A Coffee provides secure payment processing with Stripe. You can withdraw your revenue once you’ve hit the $10 mark.
Note: Your first payment happens only after the platform approves your profile after review.
Is Buy Me A Coffee Safe?
Yes, Buy Me a Coffee prioritizes security to protect authors and supporters from malicious third parties.
Here’s how:
- Safe Payment Processing: The platform never stores your credit card information on its systems, thanks to its partnerships with Stripe (PCI Compliance Level 1).
- Reliable Infrastructure: Buy Me a Coffee’s platform is built on Amazon’s infrastructure with Cloudflare’s additional safety layer.
- Data Protection: User data is protected by regular backups and enforced SSL encryption.
- Bug Bounty Program: Buy Me a Coffee sets the bar for security higher with ethical reporting and responds quickly to any newfound vulnerabilities.
Overall, Buy Me A Coffee ticks all the right boxes for being a safe and secure platform for everyone.
How Much Does Buy Me a Coffee Take?
Buy Me a Coffee’s fee structure is actually straightforward: all transactions are subject to a 5% platform fee, i.e., content creators can withdraw 95% of what they’re earning on the platform.
Here’s the best part! You aren’t liable for any additional fees or hidden costs.
Is Buy Me A Coffee Anonymous?
Yes, your supporters can choose between anonymous donations or publicly showing their names. You can view your supporters’ contact information (unless they’ve chosen to donate privately), respond with thank you messages, or offer special membership benefits.
What is Patreon?
Patreon is a leading paid membership platform where different types of content creators (podcast creators, gamers, music artists, photographers, etc.) earn recurring income.
It connects you with your online community or fans, also known as “patrons” on the platforms. Patrons choose to support their favorite creators like you by subscribing to monthly plans, which allows creators to secure funding for their creative ventures.
In return, you’ll be giving them access to exclusive content, gifts, and maybe an opportunity to communicate directly with you.
How Does Patreon Work?
On Patreon, you can create membership tiers, each with its own pricing point and features, like pre-release content access, unique digital downloads, behind-the-scenes news, and even personalized experiences.
Your Patrons select the membership level that closely matches their budget and areas of interest; they subscribe to the creator’s page and offer payment details. Once their subscription is active, patrons are billed monthly by the platform.
How Much Does Patreon Take?
Patreon has two pricing models – one for digital sales and one for memberships. You’ll be charged 5% of your income for all digital sales. However, the pricing structure for membership sales is based on your platform plan. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
- For Founders plan, you’ll be charged 5% of your income (for people who joined Patreon before May 2019)
- For Pro memberships, you’ll be charged 8% of your income
- For Premium memberships, you’ll be charged 12% of your income
You’ll also have to pay certain other charges, such as payment processing fees, currency conversion, and applicable taxes.
What is Patreon Used For?
Patreon offers a flexible platform for multiple content creators, including:
- Podcasters who can provide additional episodes, expanded interviews, or ad-free versions of their podcasts and add more value for their audience
- Independent musicians who can share unreleased tracks and behind-the-scenes footage in their studio sessions or offer 1:1 private classes on the basics of music production
- Vloggers who can share bloopers, raw footage, or live Q&A sessions
The list keeps going on. Whatever the field, you can always set up these accounts to seek support from your followers.
Relevant Characteristics Between Patreon and Buy Me a Coffee
Here’s a quick overview of the characteristics between the two platforms for you to make a quicker decision:
| Patreon | Buy Me a Cofee | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee Structure | 5% flat fee on all income | 8-12% fee on all income + payment processing fees |
| Community Engagement Tools | Message boards, public posts | Live streams, direct messaging, rewards |
| Ease of Use | Suitable for beginners/small creators | Best for advanced creators/bigger influencers |
| Integrations | Zapier, Discord | Vimeo, Discord, Mailchimp, Convertkit, etc. |
| Flexibility in Offerings | One-time payments, memberships, digital sales | Tiered memberships, digital sales |
| Analytics and Reporting | Basic tools | Advanced metrics and tools |
As we can see, Buy Me A Coffee is more suitable for beginners.
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Similarities and Differences
Now, let’s continue to learn about the core differences and similarities between Buy Me a Coffee vs. Patreon in detail.
Buy Me a Coffee and Patreon Differences
Both platforms will help you receive direct support from your fans. However, their core elements and techniques differ in many ways:
Fee Structure
- Buy Me a Coffee: All payments are subject to a flat 5% processing fee, making it easier to budget.
- Patreon: Variable costs according to the chosen membership tier.
Ease of Use
- Buy Me a Coffee: It’s extremely easy to use and set up. Plus, your supporters can donate or join without having to sign up.
- Patreon: It’s slightly more complex to use. You’ll need technical knowledge to open and set up your profile.
Integrations
- Buy Me a Coffee: You can easily integrate apps like Discord and Zapier with your creator account, which makes your work easier.
- Patreon: You’ll have access to various advanced integrations and tools like MailChimp, Google Analytics, WordPress, and more.
Flexibility in Offerings
- Buy Me a Coffee: It’s ideal for one-time donations, subscriptions, and digital product purchases.
- Patreon: It’s ideal for creators with more flexibility to set up tiers with unique benefits and access levels.
Analytics and Reporting
- Buy Me a Coffee: You can get surface-level data with basic analytics and reporting tools.
- Patreon: You can explore more detailed metrics, e.g., patron retention, total earnings, etc., to support your decisions.
Patreon and Buy Me a Coffee Similarities
Despite such a vast list of differences, Buy Me A Coffee and Patreon also have multiple similarities, such as:
Fan-Powered Funding
Thanks to Patreon and Buy Me a Coffee, fans can directly support you if they love your work.
Safe and Easy Payments
Both platforms heavily stress on safety and convenience. Therefore, they both come with built-in PayPal and Stripe integrations, making online payments secure and easy.
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Bottom Line – Patreon vs Buy Me a Coffee
For artists with ongoing projects, a clear reward system, and a sought-after plan to build a strong online community, we couldn’t recommend a better platform than Patreon.
On the other hand, if you’re a creator looking for a flexible release schedule, want to experiment with audio, or want to offer different types of content, Buy Me a Coffee is a perfect option.
Alternatively, you can use Patreon for main subscriptions and Buy Me a Coffee for extra donations/digital sales.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Patreon vs. Buy Me a Coffee:
Which Platform Is Better for Small Creators?
Buy Me a Coffee and Patreon both benefit smaller creators, but which is “better” depends on what you’re looking for. In general, Buy Me a Coffee is better because of its simplicity and low entry cost. It’s perfect if you want a fast setup, one-time contributions, and casual support.
Can You Offer Exclusive Content on Both Buy Me a Coffee and Patreon?
Yes, you can use both platforms to offer exclusive content for your sponsors or Patrons to diversify your income stream.
How User-Friendly Are Buy Me a Coffee and Patreon for Supporters?
In terms of simplicity, Buy Me a Coffee wins.
It focuses on fast, single donations, making it ideal for supporters who wish to show their thanks in a “tip jar” method. Patreon’s membership tiers, on the other hand, can be complex for new users.
What Are the Integration Options for Buy Me a Coffee and Patreon?
Buy Me a Coffee easily integrates with Discord, Zapier, etc.
Patreon has higher integrations, including Mailchimp, WordPress, Convertkit, etc.
How Do Buy Me a Coffee and Patreon Support Creative Communities?
Both platforms create communities, just differently. BMC encourages a relaxed, appreciative community, which is ideal for feeling supported and encouraged by many people.
Patreon, in contrast, builds a more loyal, invested community where supporters feel actively invested in your journey.
