Softwr

Software · head to head

Authorize.net vs Patreon

A

Authorize.net

Software

We help make it easy to get paid

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Patreon logo

Patreon

Software

Membership platform for creators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Patreon has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Authorize.net all-in-One plan charges a $25 monthly gateway fee plus 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction on top of it; Patreon takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Authorize.net and Patreon actually diverge.

Attributes where Authorize.net and Patreon differ
AttributeAuthorize.netPatreon
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
FoundedUnknown2013

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Authorize.net

Nothing recorded that Patreon does not also cover.

Only in Patreon

  • Membership tiers
  • Exclusive content
  • Private podcast feeds
  • Community features
  • Analytics
  • Payment processing
  • Discord
  • Podcast apps

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Authorize.net

No use cases recorded yet. See the Authorize.net review.

Patreon

  • Running a paid membership for fans of a creator or podcastnot Authorize.net
  • Selling recurring access to exclusive content and communitynot Authorize.net

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Authorize.net

  • All-in-One plan charges a $25 monthly gateway fee plus 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction on top of it
  • eCheck processing carries its own $10 monthly minimum fee separate from the card processing charges

Patreon

  • Takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • Payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees are charged on top of that 10% and are not quantified on the pricing page
  • The total deduction is therefore not calculable from the pricing page alone, and requires reading a separate support article

Pricing, plan by plan

Authorize.net

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Authorize.net review.

Patreon

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Free membership page
    • Basic features
    • Community tools
  • ProFree
    • All free features
    • Analytics dashboard
    • Priority support
  • PremiumFree
    • All Pro features
    • Dedicated partner manager
    • Custom onboarding

Which should you pick?

Choose Authorize.net if

Nothing in the data separates Authorize.net from Patreon on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Authorize.net review

Choose Patreon if

  • You need membership tiers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want exclusive content.
Patreon review

Questions people ask

Is Authorize.net or Patreon better?
Neither clearly leads. Authorize.net starts at On request and Patreon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Authorize.net or Patreon?
Patreon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Authorize.net and Free for Patreon.
Does Authorize.net or Patreon run on more platforms?
Authorize.net runs on Web. Patreon runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Patreon for free?
Yes. Patreon has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Authorize.net starts at On request.
What can Authorize.net do that Patreon cannot?
Patreon covers Membership tiers, Exclusive content, Private podcast feeds, Community features.
Share

Related pages

More on Authorize.net

More on Patreon

Keep looking

Other head to heads