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MUBI vs Patreon

MUBI logo

MUBI

Software

Discover extraordinary cinema

From
$7.99/month
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: MUBI curated, rotating catalogue - films leave the service on a schedule rather than staying permanently available; Patreon takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform
  • They diverge on capability: MUBI covers Curated films, Patreon covers Membership tiers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MUBI and Patreon actually diverge.

Attributes where MUBI and Patreon differ
AttributeMUBIPatreon
Starting price$7.99/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
Founded20072013

Identical on both: platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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 MUBI

  • Curated films
  • World cinema
  • Documentaries
  • Classics
  • New releases
  • Smart TVs
  • Streaming devices
  • Account security

Only in Patreon

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

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

MUBI

  • Watching curated arthouse, independent, and classic international cinemanot Patreon
  • Discovering festival and awards-circuit films not on mainstream platformsnot Patreon
  • Getting a free weekly theatrical ticket via MUBI GO in eligible citiesnot Patreon
  • Reading editorial film notes and curation alongside streamingnot Patreon

Patreon

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

Where each one falls short

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

MUBI

  • Curated, rotating catalogue - films leave the service on a schedule rather than staying permanently available
  • No live TV or broad back-catalogue - deliberately small, curated library rather than a comprehensive on-demand one
  • MUBI GO (free theater ticket plus streaming) is limited to select cities

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

MUBI

$7.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the MUBI 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 MUBI if

  • You need curated films.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want world cinema.
MUBI 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 MUBI or Patreon better?
Neither clearly leads. MUBI starts at $7.99/month and Patreon at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MUBI or Patreon?
Patreon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $7.99/month for MUBI and Free for Patreon.
Does MUBI or Patreon run on more platforms?
MUBI runs on Web, iOS, Android. 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. MUBI starts at $7.99/month.
What is MUBI best used for?
MUBI is most often used for watching curated arthouse, independent, and classic international cinema, discovering festival and awards-circuit films not on mainstream platforms, getting a free weekly theatrical ticket via mubi go in eligible cities, reading editorial film notes and curation alongside streaming. Of those, watching curated arthouse, independent, and classic international cinema and discovering festival and awards-circuit films not on mainstream platforms are not what Patreon is typically brought in for.
What can MUBI do that Patreon cannot?
MUBI covers Curated films, World cinema, Documentaries, Classics. Patreon covers Membership tiers, Exclusive content, Private podcast feeds, Community features. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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