Beacons vs Patreon
Beacons and Patreon are both creator monetization tools aimed at creators. Both have a free plan.
| Pricing | Freemium · $10 | Free |
| Starting price | $10/mo | Not published |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Creators | Creators |
| Platforms | web | web, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2019 | US · 2013 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Beacons if
Creators monetizing audiences.
- All-in-one for creators
- Free start
- Brand deal tools
Look elsewhere if: Businesses.
Choose Patreon if
Creators with an existing audience who want a trusted membership platform without building infrastructure.
- Largest audience familiar with paying creators
- Handles payments and sales tax
- Discord and video features
Look elsewhere if: Creators who want to own the site and relationship (Ghost, Memberful) or minimal fees (Ko-fi).
Beacons vs Patreon pricing
Beacons
- Free$09% fee on sales
- Creator Pro$10/mo$8.33/mo billed annually; 9% fee on sales
- Store Pro$30/mo$25/mo billed annually; 0% transaction fee
- Business Pro$90/mo$75/mo billed annually; no Beacons branding
Patreon
- Free to start$0Create a page and offer free membership
- Platform fee10%/of earningsPlus payment processing, conversion, payout fees
Beacons · Key features
- Link in bio
- Digital store
- Email marketing
- Media kit
- Brand deal invoicing
- AI tools
Cons
- Fees on free
- Design limits
- Feature sprawl
Patreon · Key features
- Membership tiers with monthly or per-post billing
- Posts, audio, video, polls and community chats
- Discord integration for tier-based roles
- Digital product sales (Commerce)
- Analytics, payouts and tax handling
- Mobile apps and creator discovery
Cons
- Percentage fees are higher than alternatives
- Limited design and branding
- Platform controls the relationship
Beacons vs Patreon: FAQ
Do Beacons and Patreon have a free plan?
Yes, both Beacons and Patreon have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.