Patreon Fees Explained (2026): What You Actually Keep
Patreon doesn't hide its fees — but it layers them, and the layering is what catches creators off guard. A flat platform percentage sits on top of payment processing, payout fees, and sometimes currency conversion. Here's the complete 2026 picture: every layer, what it costs, and exactly what lands in your bank.
The 30-second version:
- Platform fee: 10% of all earnings (new creators since Aug 2025). Legacy plans: 5%, 8%, or 12%.
- Payment processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per pledge (standard); 5% + $0.10 for pledges under $3.
- Payout: $0.25 per US bank transfer (monthly); 1% for PayPal, capped at $20.
- Currency conversion: 2.5% when patron's currency differs from yours.
- All of this comes off before you see the money.
1. The platform fee: 10% flat (new plan since August 2025)
Patreon simplified its pricing in August 2025. Previously, creators chose between three tiers — Lite (5%), Pro (8%), or Premium (12% + $300/month minimum). As of August 4, 2025, all new creators are placed on a single plan: 10% of all earnings, covering memberships and shop sales.
Creators who were already on Patreon before that date are grandfathered on their original plan rate. If you joined after August 2025, you're paying 10%, period. There's no lower-fee plan to pick.
2. Payment processing: the second layer
After the platform fee, Patreon charges payment processing for every individual patron charge:
| Pledge amount | Processing fee |
|---|---|
| $3.00 or more | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Under $3.00 | 5% + $0.10 |
This is a Stripe-equivalent rate applied to the gross amount charged to the patron. It applies per transaction — so if you have 100 patrons each paying monthly, you're paying 100 processing fees. A $10 pledge loses $0.29 + $0.30 = $0.59 to processing. The fixed $0.30 per charge is the main reason low-dollar tiers are disproportionately expensive.
3. Worked examples: what you actually keep
Same calculation at three common pledge sizes under the new 10% plan:
| Patron pays | Platform fee (10%) | Processing | You keep | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00 | $0.30 | $0.24 (5% + $0.10) | $2.46 | 18% |
| $5.00 | $0.50 | $0.45 (2.9% + $0.30) | $4.05 | 19% |
| $10.00 | $1.00 | $0.59 (2.9% + $0.30) | $8.41 | 15.9% |
| $25.00 | $2.50 | $1.03 (2.9% + $0.30) | $21.47 | 14.1% |
| $100.00 | $10.00 | $3.20 (2.9% + $0.30) | $86.80 | 13.2% |
Processing rate for $3+ pledges is 2.9% + $0.30. Under-$3 rate is 5% + $0.10. Payout fees ($0.25 US bank) excluded. Run your own numbers in the Patreon Fee Calculator.
4. Payout fees: the third (smaller) layer
When you withdraw your Patreon balance, there's a small additional fee:
- US direct deposit (ACH): $0.25 flat per monthly payout.
- PayPal: 1% of the payout, capped at $20.
- International bank transfers: higher variable rates depending on currency and country.
Patreon pays out once a month. At small volumes, the $0.25 ACH fee is negligible. At very high volumes, PayPal's 1% can add up — the $20 cap kicks in around $2,000/month, after which it's flat. US creators on direct deposit are best served.
5. Currency conversion: 2.5% when currencies differ
If a patron pays in a currency different from your payout currency, Patreon charges a 2.5% currency conversion fee. For US creators with mostly US patrons this is usually irrelevant. For creators with a globally distributed audience — common for English-language podcasters, YouTubers, and writers — it can meaningfully add to total friction.
6. The iOS Apple fee: a hidden complexity
When patrons join or manage their membership through the Patreon iOS app, Apple takes 30% of the transaction (dropping to 15% after 12 consecutive months of subscription). To offset this, Patreon automatically inflates iOS prices by roughly 43% — so supporters on iPhone either pay more or you earn less. This is an Apple policy Patreon has to navigate, not a Patreon choice.
7. How the old plans (legacy) compared
| Plan | Platform fee | Processing | Monthly minimum | Available to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | 5% | 2.9% + $0.30 | None | Pre-Aug 2025 only |
| Pro | 8% | 2.9% + $0.30 | None | Pre-Aug 2025 only |
| Premium | 12% | 2.9% + $0.30 | $300/mo | Pre-Aug 2025 only |
| New flat plan | 10% | 2.9% + $0.30 | None | All new creators |
Lite creators (5%) still have the best deal available on Patreon — they're grandfathered and the plan is closed to new signups. If you're a new creator, you'll pay 10%. The platform fee difference between old Lite (5%) and new flat (10%) is significant at scale.
FAQ
What percentage does Patreon take in 2026?
For creators who joined after August 4, 2025, Patreon charges a flat 10% platform fee on all earnings. On top of that, payment processing adds roughly 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for pledges over $3, or 5% + $0.10 for micropayments under $3. Combined, the typical effective take is around 12–14% of revenue depending on average pledge size.
What were Patreon's old plan fees (Lite, Pro, Premium)?
Legacy plans: Lite charged 5% of creator earnings, Pro charged 8%, and Premium charged 12% plus a $300/month platform minimum. Creators who subscribed before August 4, 2025 remain on their original plan rate. New creators all start on the 10% flat plan.
Does Patreon take a cut from every patron payment?
Yes. Patreon deducts both the platform fee and payment processing from each charge. The platform fee (10% for new creators) is applied to pledge revenue. Payment processing (2.9% + $0.30 for standard pledges) is applied to the gross charge. Both come off before your payout.
Are there payout fees on Patreon?
Yes, small ones. US creators pay $0.25 per monthly bank transfer. PayPal payouts cost 1% capped at $20. International bank transfers have higher fees that vary by currency. Patreon also charges a 2.5% currency conversion fee when a patron pays in a different currency from the creator's.
Why is my effective Patreon fee higher than 10%?
Because the payment processing fee (2.9% + $0.30) stacks on top of the 10% platform fee. On a $5 pledge, you'd lose $0.50 in platform fees plus about $0.45 in processing, keeping roughly $4.05 — an effective rate of about 19%. On a $100 pledge, the effective rate drops closer to 13%. Larger pledges dilute the fixed $0.30 component.
The bottom line
Patreon's 2026 fees for new creators are: 10% platform + 2.9% + $0.30 processing + $0.25 payout (US). On a typical $10 pledge the effective rate is about 16%. The fixed processing component makes low-dollar tiers disproportionately expensive. To understand where your fees are heaviest, plug your own numbers into the free PatreonCalc calculator. For what the alternatives look like, see our Patreon vs Ko-fi vs Substack comparison.