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Patreon vs Squadcast

Patreon logo

Patreon

Software

Membership platform for creators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Squadcast logo

Squadcast

Software

Professional remote recording for podcasters

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Patreon has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Patreon takes 10% of the income a creator earns on the platform; Squadcast free plan limited to 1 recording hour per editor per month and exports capped at 720p with watermarks
  • They diverge on capability: Patreon covers Membership tiers, Squadcast covers Local recording.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Patreon and Squadcast actually diverge.

Attributes where Patreon and Squadcast differ
AttributePatreonSquadcast
Starting priceFree$12/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Desktop
Founded20132017

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 Patreon

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

Only in Squadcast

  • Local recording
  • Progressive upload
  • Video recording
  • Screen sharing
  • Dolby audio
  • Cloud storage
  • Descript
  • Dropbox

Both cover

  • Web 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 Squadcast
  • Selling recurring access to exclusive content and communitynot Squadcast

Squadcast

  • Remote podcast recording with per-editor hour-based billingnot 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

Squadcast

  • Free plan limited to 1 recording hour per editor per month and exports capped at 720p with watermarks
  • Hobbyist plan monthly price of $24 per person rises to $35 per person if paid monthly instead of annually
  • Recording hour rollover is capped at twice the plan's monthly hour allotment

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

Squadcast

$12/month
  • Indie$12/month
    • 5 hours recording
    • Audio only
    • Up to 3 guests
  • Creator$20/month
    • 10 hours recording
    • Audio + Video
    • Up to 5 guests
  • Studio$44/month
    • 25 hours recording
    • All features
    • Up to 9 guests

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 Squadcast if

  • You need local recording.
  • You work on Web, Desktop.
  • You also want progressive upload.
Squadcast review

Questions people ask

Is Patreon or Squadcast better?
Neither clearly leads. Patreon starts at Free and Squadcast at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Patreon or Squadcast?
Patreon has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Patreon and $12/month for Squadcast.
Does Patreon or Squadcast run on more platforms?
Patreon runs on Web, Ios, Android. Squadcast runs on Web, Desktop.
Can I use Patreon for free?
Yes. Patreon has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Squadcast starts at $12/month.
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 Squadcast is typically brought in for.
What can Patreon do that Squadcast cannot?
Patreon covers Membership tiers, Exclusive content, Private podcast feeds, Community features. Squadcast covers Local recording, Progressive upload, Video recording, Screen sharing. Both handle Web support.
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