MemberPress vs Patreon: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between MemberPress and Patreon comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Patreon is our overall pick for membership sites workflows. Pick MemberPress if you need its specific feature set.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
MemberPress
Sell memberships, courses, and downloads on WordPress
Best for you if:
- • MemberPress is a powerful WordPress plugin for creating and managing membership sites, selling online courses, and building communities.
- • It offers extensive content restriction, flexible payment options, and tools for increasing average order value and member engagement.
Patreon
Build membership income with established creator patronage
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • Patreon is a membership platform for creators to earn from their audience
- • It enables subscription-based support with tiered rewards
| At a Glance |  MemberPress |  Patreon |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $199.50/year/moLaunch | 10%/of earningsCreator |
Best For | Membership Sites | Membership Sites |
Rating | - | - |
Choose MemberPress or Patreon?
Choose MemberPress if
Sell memberships, courses, and downloads on WordPress
- Comprehensive suite of features for membership, courses, coaching, and community building within WordPress.
- Easy setup and user-friendly interface with tools like ReadyLaunch™ and a Setup Wizard, requiring no coding skills.
- Extensive content access control (paywalling) for various content types, including posts, pages, and custom post types.
Choose Patreon if
Build membership income with established creator patronage
- Best for creators
- Membership tiers
- Good tools
| Feature | MemberPress | Patreon |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.7/5 641 reviews | ★3.8/5 64 reviews |
| Categories | Membership SitesE-commerce | Membership SitesCreator Platforms |
In-Depth Analysis
MemberPress
Sell memberships, courses, and downloads on WordPress
Strengths
- +Comprehensive suite of features for membership, courses, coaching, and community building within WordPress.
- +Easy setup and user-friendly interface with tools like ReadyLaunch™ and a Setup Wizard, requiring no coding skills.
- +Extensive content access control (paywalling) for various content types, including posts, pages, and custom post types.
- +Supports a wide range of payment gateways, including credit cards, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Wallet), PayPal, Square, and Authorize.net.
- +Includes advanced features like content dripping, customizable coupons, order bumps, and bulk membership sales (Corporate Accounts).
Weaknesses
- -Transaction fees are applied to the lowest-tier plan (Launch), which can reduce profit margins.
- -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).
- -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
Strengths
- +Best for creators
- +Membership tiers
- +Good tools
- +Large creator base
- +Payment handling
Weaknesses
- -Platform fees
- -Payment processing fees
- -Limited customization
- -Payout delays
- -Competition from alternatives
Key features
Pricing: MemberPress vs Patreon
| Plan | MemberPress | Patreon |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $199.50/year Launch | 10% of earnings Creator |
| Tier 2 | $349.50/year Growth | N/A |
| Tier 3 | $499.50/year Scale | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on MemberPress pricing and Patreon pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Patreon has a free tier. MemberPress is paid only.
Go with: Patreon
Want the highest-rated option?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: MemberPress
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Patreon
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
MemberPress is paid. Patreon is freemium. Patreon lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are membership sites tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Key Takeaways
Patreon
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
MemberPress
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 3.8/5
- Larger review base (641 reviews)
The Bottom Line
Patreon is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MemberPress or Patreon better?
Patreon is rated in our evaluation. MemberPress is paid and Patreon is freemium.
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 is a paid tool. Patreon is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.