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Podcasting · head to head

Fireside vs Patreon

Fireside logo

Fireside

Podcasting

Podcast hosting with community features

From
$20/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Patreon logo

Patreon

Podcasting

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: Fireside starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month; Patreon takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • They diverge on capability: Fireside covers Unlimited hosting, Patreon covers Membership tiers.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fireside and Patreon actually diverge.

Attributes where Fireside and Patreon differ
AttributeFiresidePatreon
Starting price$20/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionusage-based
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20182013

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

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 Fireside

  • Unlimited hosting
  • Distribution
  • Listener engagement
  • Monetization
  • All podcast platforms
  • Email services

Only in Patreon

  • Membership tiers
  • Exclusive content
  • Private podcast feeds
  • Payment processing
  • Discord
  • Podcast apps
  • Zapier
  • Email platforms

Both cover

  • Community features
  • Analytics
  • Social media
  • Content protection
  • Privacy controls
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Fireside

  • Hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast websitenot Patreon
  • Running several shows as a podcast network from one accountnot Patreon
  • Tracking episode download metrics and link clicksnot Patreon

Patreon

  • Creator monetizationnot Fireside
  • Content creation platformsnot Fireside
  • Fan support modelsnot Fireside
  • Membership communitiesnot Fireside

Where each one falls short

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

Fireside

  • Starter plan at $9 per month allows one podcast and 5 episodes per month
  • Custom domain with SSL requires the $19 per month Standard plan; Starter sites sit on a Fireside subdomain
  • Additional podcasts beyond the one included on Standard cost $8 per month each
  • Bandwidth is capped at 1TB per month on Standard and 5TB per month on Professional
  • Advanced download metrics and click tracking require the $49 per month Professional plan

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

Fireside

$20/month
  • Creator$20/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Community features
    • Distribution
  • Network$50/month
    • Multiple shows
    • Team management
    • Advanced analytics

Patreon

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Patreon review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Fireside if

  • You need unlimited hosting.
  • You also want distribution.
Fireside 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 Fireside or Patreon better?
Neither clearly leads. Fireside starts at $20/month and Patreon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fireside or Patreon?
Patreon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $20/month for Fireside and Free for Patreon.
Does Fireside or Patreon run on more platforms?
Fireside 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. Fireside starts at $20/month.
What is Fireside best used for?
Fireside is most often used for hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast website, running several shows as a podcast network from one account, tracking episode download metrics and link clicks. Of those, hosting a podcast together with a customisable podcast website and running several shows as a podcast network from one account are not what Patreon is typically brought in for.
What can Fireside do that Patreon cannot?
Fireside covers Unlimited hosting, Distribution, Listener engagement, Monetization. Patreon covers Membership tiers, Exclusive content, Private podcast feeds, Payment processing. Both handle Community features, Analytics, Social media, Content protection.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Patreon: How much does it cost to start a Patreon?

Starting a Patreon is completely free. Creators can share their work immediately without any upfront costs or subscription fees. Patreon only charges when creators begin earning money from supporters on the platform.

Source
Patreon: How does Patreon's pricing model work?

Patreon charges a 10% platform fee on all income earned, plus payment processing, currency conversion, and payout fees along with applicable taxes. Creators earn through monthly subscriptions, membership tiers, and one-time payments from supporters, with Patreon handling all payment infrastructure and fraud protection.

Source
Patreon: What features are included in all Patreon creator accounts?

All creator accounts include content creation tools for audio, images, video, and livestreaming, plus community features like chats, direct messages, and comments. Creators also get access to analytics, email newsletters, and podcast management capabilities at no additional tier cost beyond the 10% platform fee.

Source
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