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Patreon vs Pocketcasts

Patreon logo

Patreon

Software

Membership platform for creators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pocketcasts logo

Pocketcasts

Software

The powerful podcast player for serious listeners

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Patreon takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform; Pocketcasts two paid tiers above the free app: Plus and Patron, but no figures are shown in the fetchable page content
  • They diverge on capability: Patreon covers Membership tiers, Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Patreon and Pocketcasts actually diverge.

Attributes where Patreon and Pocketcasts differ
AttributePatreonPocketcasts
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidIos, Android, Web, Windows, Macos
Founded20132010

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), 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 Patreon

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

Only in Pocketcasts

  • Podcast discovery
  • Variable speed playback
  • Silence trimming
  • Cross-device sync
  • Custom filters
  • Apple Watch
  • Wear OS
  • Sonos

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Patreon

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

Pocketcasts

  • Podcast listeningnot Patreon
  • Audio content consumptionnot Patreon
  • Learning on the gonot Patreon

Where each one falls short

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

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

Pocketcasts

  • Two paid tiers above the free app: Plus and Patron, but no figures are shown in the fetchable page content

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Pocketcasts

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited podcasts
    • Cross-device sync
    • Playback effects
  • Plus$39.99/year
    • Desktop apps
    • Cloud storage 10GB
    • Extra themes

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Pocketcasts if

  • You need podcast discovery.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos.
  • You also want variable speed playback.
Pocketcasts review

Questions people ask

Is Patreon or Pocketcasts better?
Neither clearly leads. Patreon starts at Free and Pocketcasts at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Patreon or Pocketcasts?
Patreon starts at Free and Pocketcasts at Free.
Does Patreon or Pocketcasts run on more platforms?
Patreon runs on Web, Ios, Android. Pocketcasts runs on Ios, Android, Web, Windows, Macos.
Can I use Patreon for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Patreon best used for?
Patreon is most often used for running a paid membership for fans of a creator or podcast, selling recurring access to exclusive content and community. Of those, running a paid membership for fans of a creator or podcast and selling recurring access to exclusive content and community are not what Pocketcasts is typically brought in for.
What can Patreon do that Pocketcasts cannot?
Patreon covers Membership tiers, Exclusive content, Private podcast feeds, Community features. Pocketcasts covers Podcast discovery, Variable speed playback, Silence trimming, Cross-device sync. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.
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