Substack vs Patreon, and a third option.
Substack is a publishing platform for newsletters, podcasts and video. Patreon is a membership platform for creators and their fans. Here they are on price, fees and features, with Sherpo next to them.
- Substack and Patreon, side by side
- A year of platform cost
- Sherpo as a third option
- 0% of your sales on Sherpo
- Substack$3,000 a year
- Patreon$3,000 a year
- Sherpo Pro$588 a year
Substack is free to start and charges 10% of paid subscriptions. Patreon is free to start and charges 10% of sales. For a business earning $2,500 a month in $50 orders, Substack and Patreon both cost $3,000 a year. Sherpo is a flat $19 or $49 a month and takes 0% of sales.
- Substack
- Free, 10% of paid subscriptions
- Patreon
- Free, 10% of sales
- Sherpo
- From $19 a month, 0% of sales
- At $2,500 a month
- $3,000 a year, each
Substack, Patreon and Sherpo, side by side.
Each platform’s entry plan. Features that need a higher plan or another tool are marked.
| Feature | Substack | Patreon | Sherpo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Free | Free | Lite $19 · Pro $49 |
| Fees on your sales | 10% of paid subscriptions | 10% of your sales | 0% of your sales |
| Your brand | |||
| Your own domain | IncludedOne-time $50 | Included | IncludedPro |
| White-label | Not offered | Not offered | IncludedPro |
| Site builder | IncludedPreset layouts | LimitedA creator page only | Included |
| Export your customer list | Included | Included | Included |
| What you can sell | |||
| Online courses | Not offered | Not offered | Included |
| Quizzes | Not offered | Not offered | IncludedPro |
| Certificates | Not offered | Not offered | IncludedPro |
| Blog with a paywall | Included | Included | Included |
| Files and downloads | LimitedAttachments inside posts | Included | Included |
| Live portfolio | Not offered | Not offered | Included |
| Tips | LimitedFounding member tier only | Not offered | Included |
| Buyers’ AI access to every product (MCP) | Not offered | Not offered | Included |
| How you sell | |||
| Membership tiers | LimitedTwo fixed levels | Included | Included |
| Coupons | IncludedOffer links | Included | Included |
| Affiliates with commission | LimitedReferrals, no commission | Not offered | Included |
| Built in | |||
| Video hosting | Included | Included100 hours a month | IncludedNo bandwidth fees |
| AI subtitles | Included | Included | IncludedOn Sherpo Pro |
| For developers and AI | |||
| API for your own front-end | LimitedRead-only | LimitedRead-only | IncludedYour own codebase, on Pro |
| Run your store from your AI | LimitedRead-only, bestsellers only | Not offered | IncludedEvery plan |
| Included | 7 of 19plus 6 with a limit | 8 of 19plus 2 with a limit | 19 of 19 |
- Included
- Included with a limit, or through another tool
- Not offered
A year on Substack, on Patreon, and on Sherpo.
For a business earning $2,500 a month in $50 orders, Substack and Patreon both cost $3,000 a year. Sherpo Pro costs $588 and Sherpo Lite $228.
The Substack figure is 10% of paid subscriptions. The Patreon figure is 10% of what members and buyers pay. Card processing is charged by the payment provider on all three. Sherpo prices here are billed monthly. Competitor prices are from each platform’s own pages and published price trackers, checked in October 2026.
Put in your own numbers| Substack | Patreon | Sherpo Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price a month | $0 | $0 | $49 |
| Transaction fee | 10% | 10% | 0% |
| Plan price a year | $0 | $0 | $588 |
| Fees on $30,000 of sales | $3,000 | $3,000 | $0 |
| Total a year | $3,000 | $3,000 | $588 |
| Difference | Sherpo Pro costs $2,412 less | ||
What each is known for, and where Sherpo fits.
Substack is known for its reader network and its app. Patreon is known for native video, livestreams and podcasts, and discovery inside the Patreon app. Sherpo is the option for selling under your own brand, at a flat price.
One flat price
Sherpo is $19 or $49 a month and takes 0% of your sales, whatever you sell.
Your brand, your domain
On Pro your site runs on your own domain, with no Sherpo branding.
Every format in one account
Courses, paid blogs, files, live portfolios and memberships, with one login and one customer list.
Switching from Substack or Patreon?
Contact us and tell us what you are moving. Our team handles the move with you, content and customers included.
Substack vs Patreon: common questions.
Still curious? Talk to us
What is the difference between Substack and Patreon?
Substack is a publishing platform for newsletters, podcasts and video, known for its reader network and its app. Patreon is a membership platform for creators and their fans, known for native video, livestreams and podcasts, and discovery inside the Patreon app.
Which is cheaper, Substack or Patreon?
They cost the same. For a business earning $2,500 a month in $50 orders, Substack and Patreon both cost $3,000 a year. Sherpo costs less than both: $588 a year on Pro and $228 on Lite.
Does Substack take a cut of sales?
Substack charges 10% of paid subscriptions. Card processing is charged separately by the payment provider. Sherpo takes 0% on every plan.
Does Patreon take a cut of sales?
Patreon charges 10% of what members and buyers pay on pages launched after August 4, 2025. Older pages keep their earlier rate. Card processing is charged separately by the payment provider. Sherpo takes 0% on every plan.
Can I use my own domain on Substack, Patreon and Sherpo?
On Sherpo Pro, your site runs on your own domain, with no Sherpo branding. Patreon also supports custom domains. Substack charges a one-time $50 for a custom domain.
Can AI run my store on Substack, Patreon or Sherpo?
On Sherpo, yes: the Merchant MCP is on every plan, so Claude and other assistants can create products, prices and coupons in your account. Substack has a read-only MCP server, for bestseller publications only. Patreon does not have an official MCP server.
Is there an alternative to Substack and Patreon?
Yes, Sherpo. It charges a flat $19 or $49 a month and takes 0% of sales. It sells courses, paid blogs, files, live portfolios and memberships from one account. On Pro, it runs under your own brand and domain.
What does Sherpo offer that Substack and Patreon do not?
Neither Substack nor Patreon offers a white-label option, online courses, quizzes, certificates, live portfolios or buyers’ AI access to every product through MCP. Sherpo includes them.
Can I switch from Substack or Patreon to Sherpo?
Yes. Contact us and tell us what you are moving. Our team handles the move with you, content and customers included.
Can I try Sherpo before I leave Substack or Patreon?
Yes. Lite and Pro start with a 14-day free trial, and your Sherpo site can stay offline until you launch. You can set everything up while your current account keeps running.
See what you would keep.
Start your free trial, or put your own numbers into the fee calculator.
- 14-day free trial
- Sherpo takes 0% of your sales
- Help moving over