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Megaphone vs Patreon

Megaphone logo

Megaphone

Software

Enterprise podcast hosting and monetization

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: Megaphone there is no free tier; the entry Professional plan starts at $99 per month; Patreon takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • They diverge on capability: Megaphone covers Enterprise hosting, Patreon covers Membership tiers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Megaphone and Patreon actually diverge.

Attributes where Megaphone and Patreon differ
AttributeMegaphonePatreon
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20152013

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 Megaphone

  • Enterprise hosting
  • Dynamic ad insertion
  • Targeted advertising
  • Advanced analytics
  • Network management
  • API access
  • Spotify
  • Advertising networks

Only in Patreon

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Megaphone

  • Enterprise podcast hosting and distribution for publishers and networksnot Patreon
  • Dynamic ad insertion and campaign management across a back cataloguenot Patreon
  • Podcast measurement and reporting for large teamsnot Patreon

Patreon

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

Where each one falls short

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

Megaphone

  • There is no free tier; the entry Professional plan starts at $99 per month
  • The Enterprise plan is custom priced and requires requesting a quote
  • Access to the Megaphone API and the Metrics Export Service is Enterprise only
  • Live chat support on the Professional plan is limited to 4am to 9pm Monday to Friday Eastern Time
  • Monetisation runs through the Spotify Audience Network rather than an open marketplace

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

Megaphone

On request
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited hosting
    • Dynamic ad insertion
    • Advanced analytics

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 Megaphone if

  • You need enterprise hosting.
  • You also want dynamic ad insertion.
Megaphone 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 Megaphone or Patreon better?
Neither clearly leads. Megaphone 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, Megaphone or Patreon?
Patreon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Megaphone and Free for Patreon.
Does Megaphone or Patreon run on more platforms?
Megaphone 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. Megaphone starts at On request.
What is Megaphone best used for?
Megaphone is most often used for enterprise podcast hosting and distribution for publishers and networks, dynamic ad insertion and campaign management across a back catalogue, podcast measurement and reporting for large teams. Of those, enterprise podcast hosting and distribution for publishers and networks and dynamic ad insertion and campaign management across a back catalogue are not what Patreon is typically brought in for.
What can Megaphone do that Patreon cannot?
Megaphone covers Enterprise hosting, Dynamic ad insertion, Targeted advertising, Advanced analytics. Patreon covers Membership tiers, Exclusive content, Private podcast feeds, Community features. Both handle Web support.
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