Patreon vs Square Online
A side-by-side look at Patreon and Square Online. On our scoring, Square Online comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 3.8/5 | 4.1/5 |
| User rating | 4 | 4 |
| Reviews | 1,480 | 1,320 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | no monthly fee, percentage of income | free plan + processing fees |
| Transaction fees | 8–12% of monthly income (plus processing) | 2.9% + 30¢ online |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Fully hosted (SaaS) | Fully hosted (SaaS) |
| Free trial | Free to start | Free plan available |
| Staff accounts | Team access | Role-based |
| Product limit | N/A (membership tiers) | Unlimited |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Patreon-managed (cards, PayPal) | Square (primary) |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Creator page styling | Template-based |
| App marketplace | Apps & integrations | Square App Marketplace |
| Multi-currency | Yes | No |
| Multi-language | No | No |
| POS included | No | Yes |
| Abandoned cart recovery | No | Yes |
| Built-in blog | Yes | No |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | Yes |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Support channels | Help center, email, creator support | Phone & chat (business hours), 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 Square Online?
Square Online is the obvious add-on for businesses already running Square POS in the real world. The free plan is genuinely usable, though serious online-first brands will outgrow its lighter feature set.
Best for: Retail & restaurants already using Square
Read the full Square Online review