MemberDrive, the Low-Cost Patreon Alternative
Why MemberDrive is a compelling alternative to Patreon
Introduction
MemberDrive and Patreon are both online fundraising platforms that allow people to support their projects.
Pricing
Note: all online fundraising platforms charge a standard 2.9% + $0.30 base fee for processing credit card payments (2.2% if that organization is a verified charity via Stripe), so the pricing here is anything in addition to that standard fee.
MemberDrive: 1%
Patreon: 5% (Lite) up to 12% (Premium)
Result: MemberDrive charges a fraction of the platform fee that Patreon does. Takeaway: you keep a much bigger chunk of your members' contributions when you use MemberDrive.
MemberDrive: 1%
Patreon: 5% (Lite) up to 12% (Premium)
Result: MemberDrive charges a fraction of the platform fee that Patreon does. Takeaway: you keep a much bigger chunk of your members' contributions when you use MemberDrive.
Best For
MemberDrive: Organization of all sizes, and individuals
Patreon: Individuals who want people to support their efforts.
Patreon: Individuals who want people to support their efforts.
Notable Features
MemberDrive: Leaderboard gamification, Pledges, Member Content Updates
Patreon: Member Content Updates
Result: Patreon's main focus is keeping members rewarded by providing content updates. That's a fantastic feature, and is also the core reason we created MemberDrive, so we offer this functionality as well, just at a much cheaper price.
Patreon: Member Content Updates
Result: Patreon's main focus is keeping members rewarded by providing content updates. That's a fantastic feature, and is also the core reason we created MemberDrive, so we offer this functionality as well, just at a much cheaper price.
Reviews and Ratings
MemberDrive: 100% 5 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot
Patreon: 1.3 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot
Result: MemberDrive has a smaller but devoted following of those who use its service.
Patreon has a terribly low score here, and with almost 500 different people rating it so poorly, it's a strong signal that quite a few users and creators on the platform are frustrated with it.
Reviewers indicate problems with being charged and not being able to cancel, with being charged but not gaining access to the membership content, with having no way to contact Patreon to stop them from continuing to charge them, and so on.
Overall reviewers of Patreon echo a terrible or nonexistent customer service experience.
Patreon: 1.3 out of 5 stars on TrustPilot
Result: MemberDrive has a smaller but devoted following of those who use its service.
Patreon has a terribly low score here, and with almost 500 different people rating it so poorly, it's a strong signal that quite a few users and creators on the platform are frustrated with it.
Reviewers indicate problems with being charged and not being able to cancel, with being charged but not gaining access to the membership content, with having no way to contact Patreon to stop them from continuing to charge them, and so on.
Overall reviewers of Patreon echo a terrible or nonexistent customer service experience.
Overall Value
Patreon takes a hefty platform fee, 5% to 12% depending on the tier chosen, and at the higher tiers provides more tools and variety of creators to stay in touch with members.
MemberDrive's best-in-class 1% platform fee means creators keep more of their members' contributions.
MemberDrive's best-in-class 1% platform fee means creators keep more of their members' contributions.
Patreon offers more features at the higher tiers but those features come at a higher, additional cost, so each creator needs to evaluate whether they plan to use those features or not, and if they do, whether they will translate into greatly increased growth that they would need to justify the cost.
SpiritusTV, a Catholic YouTube alternative, switched from Patreon to MemberDrive and are appreciating the benefits.
If you want to take advantage of that personalized onboarding, just sign up on MemberDrive and we will jump on a call with you.
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