MemberPress vs Patreon: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for MemberPress and Patreon side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, MemberPress leads on higher user rating; Patreon leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
MemberPress
Sell memberships, courses, and downloads on WordPress
Best for you if:
- • You want comprehensive suite of features for membership, courses, coaching, and community building within WordPress
Patreon
Build membership income with established creator patronage
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | MemberPress | Patreon |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $16.63/mo, billed yearly Launch plan | Free plan |
Category | Membership Sites E-commerce | Membership Sites Creator Platforms |
Rating | 4.7/5 Capterra 4.8 · G2 4.6 644 reviews | 4.3/5 G2 4.2 · Capterra 4.4 91 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Currency conversion: 2.5% fee when patron currency differs from payout currency |
Choose MemberPress or Patreon?
Choose MemberPress if
- You want comprehensive suite of features for membership, courses, coaching, and community building within WordPress
- You want easy setup and user-friendly interface with tools like ReadyLaunch™ and a Setup Wizard, requiring no coding skills
Choose Patreon if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want best for creators
- You want membership tiers
In-Depth Analysis
MemberPress
Sell memberships, courses, and downloads on WordPress
MemberPress offers a tiered pricing structure that, while initially appearing high, provides significant value for dedicated membership site owners.
Strengths
- Pro: Comprehensive suite of features for membership, courses, coaching, and community building within WordPress.
- Pro: Easy setup and user-friendly interface with tools like ReadyLaunch™ and a Setup Wizard, requiring no coding skills.
- Pro: Extensive content access control (paywalling) for various content types, including posts, pages, and custom post types.
- Pro: Supports a wide range of payment gateways, including credit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Wallet), PayPal, Square, and Authorize.net.
- Pro: Includes advanced features like content dripping, customizable coupons, order bumps, and bulk membership sales (Corporate Accounts).
Weaknesses
- Con: Transaction fees are applied to the lowest-tier plan (Launch), which can reduce profit margins.
- Con: Some advanced features like the complete Easy Affiliate™ Platform, full API access, and Amazon S3 integration are only available on the highest-tier plan (Scale).
- Con: While offering extensive features, the sheer number of options might present a learning curve for absolute beginners despite the ease-of-use claims.
Key features
Patreon
Build membership income with established creator patronage
Patreon charges a flat 10% platform fee (as of August 2025) plus payment processing fees that bring the real cost to 12-15% of gross revenue.
Watch out
Currency conversion: 2.5% fee when patron currency differs from payout currency
Strengths
- Pro: Best for creators
- Pro: Membership tiers
- Pro: Good tools
- Pro: Large creator base
- Pro: Payment handling
Weaknesses
- Con: Platform fees
- Con: Payment processing fees
- Con: Limited customization
- Con: Payout delays
- Con: Competition from alternatives
Key features
Plans and prices: MemberPress vs Patreon
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| MemberPress |
| memberpress.comread Oct 3, 2026 |
| Patreon |
| patreon.com/pricingread Sep 28, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on MemberPress pricing and Patreon pricing.
Key Takeaways
MemberPress
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.3/5
Patreon
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, MemberPress leads on higher user rating; Patreon leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- MemberPress has the higher user rating (4.7/5 from 644 reviews for MemberPress, 4.3/5 from 91 reviews for Patreon).
- MemberPress starts at $16.63/mo, billed yearly; Patreon has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Patreon has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do MemberPress and Patreon compare in 2026?
On the data below, MemberPress leads on higher user rating; Patreon leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. MemberPress has the higher user rating (4.7/5 from 644 reviews for MemberPress, 4.3/5 from 91 reviews for Patreon). MemberPress starts at $16.63/mo, billed yearly; Patreon has no public paid plan price on file. Only Patreon has a free plan.
What are MemberPress and Patreon used for?
MemberPress: Sell memberships, courses, and downloads on WordPress. Patreon: Build membership income with established creator patronage.
What does MemberPress cost vs Patreon?
MemberPress's cheapest paid plan is Launch at $16.63/mo, billed yearly. Patreon has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 3, 2026.
What's the main difference between MemberPress and Patreon?
MemberPress's main strength: comprehensive suite of features for membership, courses, coaching, and community building within WordPress. Patreon's main strength: best for creators.