Patreon vs WooCommerce
A side-by-side look at Patreon and WooCommerce. On our scoring, WooCommerce comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 3.8/5 | 4.2/5 |
| User rating | 4 | 4.4 |
| Reviews | 1,480 | 3,890 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | no monthly fee, percentage of income | free core + hosting & extensions |
| Transaction fees | 8–12% of monthly income (plus processing) | 0% (payment processor fees apply) |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Fully hosted (SaaS) | Self-hosted |
| Free trial | Free to start | Free core plugin |
| Staff accounts | Team access | Unlimited (role-based) |
| Product limit | N/A (membership tiers) | Unlimited |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Patreon-managed (cards, PayPal) | 100+ via extensions (Stripe, PayPal, etc.) |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Creator page styling | Thousands (WP ecosystem) |
| App marketplace | Apps & integrations | 900+ official extensions |
| Multi-currency | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-language | No | Yes |
| POS included | No | No |
| 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 | Docs, community forums, host/extension 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 WooCommerce?
WooCommerce gives you total ownership and zero platform fees, but you trade convenience for responsibility. If you already live in WordPress and have some technical comfort, it is unbeatable on flexibility and cost of goods.
Best for: WordPress users who want full control
Read the full WooCommerce review