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Podcasting · head to head

Patreon vs Spreaker

Patreon logo

Patreon

Podcasting

Membership platform for creators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spreaker logo

Spreaker

Podcasting

Podcast hosting with social network features

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; Spreaker free plan allows only one podcast and retains statistics for 6 months
  • They diverge on capability: Patreon covers Membership tiers, Spreaker covers Podcast hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Patreon and Spreaker actually diverge.

Attributes where Patreon and Spreaker differ
AttributePatreonSpreaker
Pricing modelusage-basedfreemium
Founded20132011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 Patreon

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

Only in Spreaker

  • Podcast hosting
  • Live streaming
  • Social network
  • Distribution
  • Audio editing
  • All podcast platforms
  • Payment processors

Both cover

  • Analytics
  • Social media
  • Content protection
  • Privacy controls
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Patreon

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

Spreaker

  • Hosting and distributing podcasts to Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeartRadionot Patreon
  • Monetising a show through programmatic ads, listener subscriptions or a supporters clubnot Patreon
  • Running a multi-show podcast network with collaboratorsnot 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

Spreaker

  • Free plan allows only one podcast and retains statistics for 6 months
  • Spreaker takes a 20 percent fee on Supporters Club listener payments on the free plan, dropping to 0 percent only on the $20 per month Broadcaster plan
  • Subscription monetisation and Apple Podcasts subscriptions require the $20 per month Broadcaster plan
  • Player colour customisation and collaborators require the $50 per month Anchorman plan
  • Selling and managing your own ad campaigns requires the $250 per month Publisher plan
  • Statistics retention is capped at 12 months below the Publisher plan, which extends it to 24 months

Pricing, plan by plan

Patreon

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Patreon review.

Spreaker

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 hours storage
    • Basic hosting
    • Social network access
  • Plus$5/month
    • 50 hours storage
    • Full distribution
    • Live streaming

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 Spreaker if

  • You need podcast hosting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want live streaming.
Spreaker review

Questions people ask

Is Patreon or Spreaker better?
Neither clearly leads. Patreon starts at Free and Spreaker at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Patreon or Spreaker?
Patreon starts at Free and Spreaker at Free.
Does Patreon or Spreaker run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 creator monetization, content creation platforms, fan support models, membership communities. Of those, creator monetization and content creation platforms are not what Spreaker is typically brought in for.
What can Patreon do that Spreaker cannot?
Patreon covers Membership tiers, Exclusive content, Private podcast feeds, Community features. Spreaker covers Podcast hosting, Live streaming, Social network, Distribution. Both handle Analytics, Social media, Content protection, Privacy controls.

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
Spreaker: Does Spreaker offer free podcast hosting?

Yes, Spreaker offers free podcast hosting. The homepage explicitly states 'Your Podcasts Free' and includes a call-to-action to 'Start Free Today' for Spreaker Create for Web.

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
Spreaker: What premium features does Spreaker offer beyond the free tier?

Spreaker provides additional features beyond free hosting, including monetization features through the Prime Network. However, specific premium plan names, prices, and feature details are not disclosed on the main homepage and require visiting additional pages or contacting Spreaker.

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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