Patreon vs Shopify
A side-by-side look at Patreon and Shopify. On our scoring, Shopify comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 3.8/5 | 4.7/5 |
| User rating | 4 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 1,480 | 5,421 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | $39/mo |
| Pricing model | no monthly fee, percentage of income | per month, billed monthly |
| Transaction fees | 8–12% of monthly income (plus processing) | 2.9% + 30¢ (0% with Shopify Payments) |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Fully hosted (SaaS) | Fully hosted (SaaS) |
| Free trial | Free to start | 3 days + $1/mo for 3 months |
| Staff accounts | Team access | 2–15 by plan |
| Product limit | N/A (membership tiers) | Unlimited |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Patreon-managed (cards, PayPal) | 100+ gateways + Shopify Payments |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Creator page styling | 12 free, 100+ paid |
| App marketplace | Apps & integrations | 8,000+ apps |
| Multi-currency | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-language | No | Yes |
| POS included | No | Yes |
| Abandoned cart recovery | No | Yes |
| Built-in blog | Yes | Yes |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | Yes |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Support channels | Help center, email, creator support | 24/7 live chat, phone callback, email |
| Actions | Read review | Read review |
Why pick Patreon?
Patreon is the default home for recurring fan memberships, with tiers, gated posts, and a community layer that keeps supporters engaged. Its fees plus payment processing take a real bite, and discovery on-platform is weak.
Best for: Creators building recurring membership income
Read the full Patreon reviewWhy pick Shopify?
Shopify remains the platform to beat. Its polished admin, best-in-class checkout, and enormous app ecosystem make it the safest choice for most merchants — provided you are comfortable using Shopify Payments to avoid extra transaction fees.
Best for: Growing brands that want everything in one place
Read the full Shopify review