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Media & Entertainment · head to head

Kodi vs Patreon

Kodi logo

Kodi

Media & Entertainment

The ultimate entertainment center

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Patreon logo

Patreon

Podcast & Audio Publishing

Membership platform for creators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Kodi licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition; Patreon takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • They diverge on capability: Kodi covers Media playback, Patreon covers Membership tiers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kodi and Patreon actually diverge.

Attributes where Kodi and Patreon differ
AttributeKodiPatreon
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tvWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryMedia & EntertainmentPodcast & Audio Publishing
Founded20032013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Kodi

  • Media playback
  • Library management
  • Add-ons
  • Customization
  • Remote control
  • Smart home
  • Streaming services
  • Add-ons

Only in Patreon

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

Both cover

  • Android support
  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Kodi

  • Media centernot Patreon
  • Home entertainmentnot Patreon

Patreon

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

Where each one falls short

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

Kodi

  • Licensed under GPLv2, entirely free and open source with no commercial edition

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

Kodi

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Open source
    • All features
    • Add-ons

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 Kodi if

  • You need media playback.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv.
  • You also want library management.
Kodi 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 Kodi or Patreon better?
Neither clearly leads. Kodi starts at Free and Patreon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kodi or Patreon?
Kodi starts at Free and Patreon at Free.
Does Kodi or Patreon run on more platforms?
Kodi runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, Ios, Smart-tv. Patreon runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Kodi for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Kodi best used for?
Kodi is most often used for media center, home entertainment. Of those, media center and home entertainment are not what Patreon is typically brought in for.
What can Kodi do that Patreon cannot?
Kodi covers Media playback, Library management, Add-ons, Customization. Patreon covers Membership tiers, Exclusive content, Private podcast feeds, Community features. Both handle Android support, Ios support.
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