Patreon vs Whop
Patreon and Whop are both creator monetization tools. Patreon is aimed at creators, while Whop is aimed at creators and E-commerce. Both have a free plan.
Memberships for creators
Platform to sell memberships, courses, communities and software access
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Creators | Creators, E-commerce, Small businesses |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2013 | US · 2021 |
| Rating | — | — |
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).
Choose Whop if
Creators, coaches and indie software sellers who want to monetize communities and digital products with no upfront cost.
- No monthly fee, so it costs nothing until you make sales
- Sells many product types from a single storefront
- Fast setup for Discord and Telegram paid communities
Look elsewhere if: Brands wanting a polished, premium course and email platform or a flat-fee community (Kajabi, Skool, Circle).
Patreon vs Whop pricing
Patreon
- Free to start$0Create a page and offer free membership
- Platform fee10%/of earningsPlus payment processing, conversion, payout fees
Whop
- Free to start$0No monthly fee; you pay only when you sell
- Card processing2.7% + $0.30/transactionDomestic cards; +1.5% international, +1% currency conversion
- Payouts$2.50/payoutNext-day US ACH; bank wire $23, instant 4% + $2.50
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
Whop · Key features
- Branded whop hubs bundling courses, chat, files and events
- Automatic Discord and Telegram role access for paying members
- Software license keys and app access for SaaS and tool sellers
- Checkout with cards, ACH, wallets and buy-now-pay-later
- Affiliate program and promo codes built in
- Content Rewards campaigns that pay creators per view
Cons
- Add-on, international and payout fees push effective rates higher
- Marketplace includes many low-quality hype offers
- Community and course tools are less refined than Skool or Kajabi
Patreon vs Whop: FAQ
Do Patreon and Whop have a free plan?
Yes, both Patreon and Whop have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.
Which is better for small businesses, Patreon or Whop?
Whop lists small businesses as a core audience, while Patreon is aimed more at creators.