Mighty Networks vs Patreon (2026): Which Pays Better?
Both are popular membership & community platforms. Here is how Mighty Networks and Patreon stack up on requirements, what you keep, payout terms, strengths and weaknesses, and which one we would pick.
Mighty Networks
Community and course platform with native apps and paid memberships, from $41 a month.
7.8 /10
Pricing: Paid from $41/mo
Pros
- Branded mobile apps on higher plans
- Courses, events and memberships together
Cons
- Transaction fees on top of the subscription
- Interface can feel busy
Patreon
The best-known membership platform for creators: tiers, posts, community and merch, at 8-12% plus fees.
8.3 /10
Pricing: Free
Pros
- Members already know how it works; strong discovery and app
- Handles tax, chargebacks, tiers, posts, DMs and merch fulfilment
Cons
- 10%+ effective fee with payment processing
- Limited control over member data and design; Apple in-app fee on iOS sign-ups
Mighty Networks vs Patreon at a glance
| Mighty Networks | Patreon | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 7.8 / 10 | 8.3 / 10 |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free |
| Starting price | $41/mo | Free |
| Web rank | #61k | #735 |
| Minimum traffic | None | None |
| Revenue share / fee | From $41/mo; 2-3% transaction fee by plan plus Stripe | 8% (Pro) or 12% (Premium) of earnings plus payment fees |
| Commission | – | – |
| Payout | Via Stripe | Monthly, or on demand |
| Methods served | memberships subscriptions, online courses, paid webinars events | memberships subscriptions, donations tips, digital products |
| Niches accepted | General, Tech & SaaS, Finance & Insurance, Health & Supplements, Gaming & Esports, E-commerce & Retail | General, Tech & SaaS, Finance & Insurance, Health & Supplements, Gaming & Esports, E-commerce & Retail |
| Reader upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Best for | community, courses, mobile app | membership, patrons, tiers |
Our pick
Patreon edges it with a score of 8.3 versus 7.8. Patreon is the better fit if you value: members already know how it works; strong discovery and app, handles tax, chargebacks, tiers, posts, dms and merch fulfilment. Choose Mighty Networks instead if you need: branded mobile apps on higher plans, courses, events and memberships together.
Other membership & community platforms to consider
Full ranking →Circle 🧰 PlatformPaid
Community platform with paid memberships, courses, events and live streams, from $89 a month.
Memberful 🧰 PlatformFreemium
Membership billing that plugs into your own site, newsletter and Discord; Patreon's more customisable sibling.
Skool 🧰 PlatformPaid
Simple paid community platform with courses and gamification, $99 a month flat and 2.9% on payments.
Outseta 🧰 PlatformPaid
Billing, CRM, email and member login in one tool for membership sites and small SaaS, from $37 a month.