Patreon vs Spreadshop
A side-by-side look at Patreon and Spreadshop. On our scoring, Spreadshop comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 3.8/5 | 3.8/5 |
| User rating | 4 | 3.9 |
| Reviews | 1,480 | 580 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | no monthly fee, percentage of income | free shop, commission-based earnings |
| Transaction fees | 8–12% of monthly income (plus processing) | Built into base price (you set margin) |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Fully hosted (SaaS) | Fully hosted + embeddable |
| Free trial | Free to start | Free to use |
| Staff accounts | Team access | Single account |
| Product limit | N/A (membership tiers) | Catalog-based |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Patreon-managed (cards, PayPal) | Spreadshirt-managed |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Creator page styling | Shop customization |
| App marketplace | Apps & integrations | Embeds & integrations |
| Multi-currency | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-language | No | Yes |
| POS included | No | No |
| Abandoned cart recovery | No | No |
| Built-in blog | Yes | No |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | No |
| API access | Yes | No |
| Mobile app | Yes | No |
| Support channels | Help center, email, creator support | Email & phone support |
| 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 Spreadshop?
Spreadshop hands creators a fully free, ready-made merch shop where Spreadshirt handles printing, payments, and support end to end. The hands-off model is its strength and its ceiling, since you control little beyond designs and margin.
Best for: Creators who want a hands-off free merch shop
Read the full Spreadshop review