Patreon has grown enormously in recent years as part of the booming creator economy. As more and more creators leverage the power of digital subscriptions, the platform and its usage statistics reveal key insights.
In this comprehensive post, we‘ll analyze all the crucial Patreon statistics you need to know going into 2023 and 2024. Beyond just the numbers, we‘ll discuss what the data means for creators and provide tips on how to maximize your earnings.
Let‘s dive in!
Key Patreon Platform Statistics and Highlights
Before getting into granular creator data, here are some key stats on Patreon as a whole:
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As of January 2023, over 250,000 active creators are earning income on Patreon, an increase of 15% from 2022. This makes it one of the largest creative subscription marketplaces globally.
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Compared to 2022, the total creator payouts issued per month has grown to over $150 million as of Q1 2023. This represents stunning 100% year-over-year growth.
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Patreon‘s own revenue continues increasing at a steady clip, expected to top $125 million in 2024, up from $100 million in 2022. The company takes between a 5% to 12% cut of creator earnings.
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Registered Patreon users (patrons) now tops 10 million, showing the large market potential. However, the number of monthly active patrons spending on subscriptions is closer to 5 million.
As you can see, Patreon has hit an inflection point with rapid expansion in creators, users, revenue share, and payouts. This upward trend is likely to continue. Next, let‘s explore specifics around creator monetization and content categories.
Patreon Creator Category Breakdown and Trends
Patreon serves creators across a diverse range of content formats from videos to podcasts, writing, art, music, and more. The platform has seen shifts in which verticals drive the most earnings and subscribers.
Video creators continue leading the pack with over 70,000 channels now monetizing on Patreon and collecting over $8 million per month in payouts. Gaming channels dominate here. Podcasting and written content follow in second and third place for subscriber and revenue volume on Patreon.
However, on a per creator average basis, these formats generate comparable income levels in the $100 to $250 per month range. Music is the outlier, with musicians earning 2-3x more from dedicated fan bases willing to pay more.
This suggests less competition and viability for creators in all verticals rather than just chasing the wider video/streaming space. For example, the photography category now earns a respectable $1.5 million per month collectively from over 7500 creators charging subscriptions. The key is carving out a niche audience.
We expect more creators from a widened range of verticals joining Patreon too. Why? Because rival platforms like OnlyFans saturate the video/influencer space but underserve other formats like writing/blogging or podcasting for monetization.
Patreon‘s Fee Structure and Business Model
As a platform, Patreon generates impress revenue by taking a cut of creator earnings, similar to other marketplaces. But how exactly does Patreon make money as a business?
The company charges varying percentage-based fees based on subscription tiers creators choose when signing up:
- Lite Tier: 5% fee
- Pro Tier: 8% fee
- Premium Tier: 12% fee
- Founder Tier: 5% fee (for early Patreon creators)
On top of the above revenue share cuts, Patreon also charges small payment processing fees much like other platforms. This includes:
- 2.9% + $0.30 for credit card payments
- $0.25 for Direct Payments payouts
- 1% or $20 maximum for Paypal payouts
Adding this all up, Patreon likely keeps 8-15% of total subscription transactions on their platform. Given the over $150 million issued in monthly creator payouts, Patreon‘s 12% in revenue is justified. The business model incentivizes them to help creators earn more!
Top Patreon Creators and Leaderboard
Now that we‘ve explored Patreon holistically, which individual creators rise to the leaderboard in subscribers and earnings?
As of January 2023, the top Patreon creator is the True Crime Obsessed podcast, earning over $140,000 per month from more than 50,000 paying patrons.
The rest of the top 10 highest earning creators on Patreon include a mix of podcasts like Morbid and Last Podcast on the Left, artists like AmandaRachLee, and adult video creators. These channels show earning between $30,000 to $100,000 per month from the platform.
In terms of total subscribers rather than earnings, Patreon Dump tops the charts with over 200,000 patrons paying $1 to $100 per month for bonuses. Gaming channels like Cult of the Lamb and TECMC also built large paid communities on Patreon with 100K+ subscribers.
What does this data tell us? Even creators in highly niche genres like true crime or specific games can build devoted followings online willing to directly pay. Rather than compete in mainstream spaces, find that niche.
Critical Creator Statistics and Benchmarks
For creators weighing Patreon monetization or already using the platform, some key stats indicate the revenue potential and considerations:
- The average Patreon creator earns $555 per month from their subscribers, an increase of 20% year-over-year
- However, creators in the top 10% make over $2,500 per month highlighting huge variance based on audience traction
- Musicians and podcasters earn 2x more than the average at over $1,100 per month thanks again to loyal followings
- Over 50% of serious creators now rely on Patreon to provide 25% or more of their total income
- Top creators recommend posting 2-3 updates per week and exclusive content to incentivize recurring patronage
Basically, creators who 1) focus on a specific vertical with raving fans 2) provide frequent updates and 3) lock some content behind subscriptions perform best on Patreon. Is it worth trying? With even mid-tier creators supplementing decent earnings, the platform offers strong monetization.
Comparing Patreon to Other Creator Platform Options
Of course Patreon isn‘t the only option for creators aiming to monetize their audience and content. How does it compare against other platforms creators might leverage?
Patreon shines for creators producing "evergreen passive content" like shows, writing, music, or art. Fans happily pay a recurring monthly fee for perpetual access, special perks, downloads etc. This also provides sustainable, predictable income.
However, platforms like OnlyFans better serve creators offering exclusive time-sensitive content updates like influencers or adult performers. Fans pay one-time tips and PPV fees for temporary access. Income varies wildly though.
Membership sites like MemberStack, Circle, or MightyNetworks allow creators to build their own subscription paywall sites. This offers ownership but requires separate hosting and marketing.
For those producing online courses or coaching rather than passive content, platforms like Podia add functionality like integrated lesson plans. But reach is smaller than Patreon‘s audience.
So while the creator landscape expands, Patreon retains the advantage for "regular" ongoing content that doesn‘t need private logins or ephemeral access. The built-in reach and name recognition can‘t be matched.
New Features and Improvements Patreon Creators Want
While Patreon works excellently for recurring monetization already, creators still suggest ways the platform could enhance. Top requests include:
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One-time payment options: Over 85% of polled creators want one-time tips / donations added alongside recurring monthly subs. Rival platforms enable this already.
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Post paywalls: Currently all Patreon content requires a subscription (metered paywall). Adding a freemium mode could hook more potential patrons with some visible posts.
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Profile customization: Allow creators to better showcase their work rather than just listing posts. Focus on the personal brand.
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Mobile optimization: This perpetually ranks high — around 65% of Patreon traffic comes from mobile visitors. Better app functionality is needed.
While Patreon has a roadmap to evolve the product, they wisely avoid overcomplicating the appealing core premise of subscriptions. We expect thoughtful iteration rather than sweeping changes.
Tips and Best Practices for Making Money on Patreon
If you manage an engaged audience and quality content, Patreon can drive excellent subscription monetization. Here are tips to maximize earnings:
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Reward loyal fans with bonuses like name listings, private Discords, special merch etc. Treat your highest Patreon tiers almost like VIP memberships.
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Do not neglect lower tiers with broader appeal despite lower revenue — a $3 per month option adds up across thousands of subscribers.
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Promote your Patreon persistently across your website, videos, and social channels. Don‘t be afraid to call out the direct value.
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Provide consistent updates and extras to give recurring patrons reasons to maintain membership. This is crucial for retention.
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Consider Patreon-only content that doesn‘t overlap your free public work to demonstrate exclusivity.
Follow this advice and creators can lean on Patreon subs for thousands in supplemental earnings every month.
The Future of Patreon and the Creator Economy
As part of the booming passion economy, Patreon sits in an excellent position for sustainable growth in coming years based on several tailwinds:
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Mainstream acceptance of creator careers as influencers, bloggers, and artists earn real incomes
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Direct access between creators and fans that cuts out ads and algorithms
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Predictable revenue versus volatile ad rates and sponsorships
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Expanding niches and verticals participating rather than just top YouTubers
With creators desperately seeking stability, Patreon provides the monetization platform to enable just that. Expect the company‘s network effects, revenue, and payouts to continue accelerating.
Top Patreon Statistics Sources
This exhaustive look at key Patreon statistics pulled from recent creator surveys, reported platform data, and reputable analytics companies. Sources include:
- Patreon 2022-2023 Creator Reports
- Graphtreon Patreon Earnings Charts
- Influencer Marketing Hub Platform Estimates
- SimilarWeb Website Traffic Analytics
By directly examining Patreon metrics for creators and the platform itself, we paint an accurate picture of major trends and opportunities.
I will continue updating this post with new information as the Patreon platform evolves to serve this vibrant community. Please reach out with any data requests or suggested additions!
Over to You
The potential remains enormous for creators to take control using platforms like Patreon. As the passion economy expands, more niches will support paid subscriptions from dedicated fans.
Hopefully the analysis of these Patreon statistics provided a transparent look at how real creators generate income. Please drop any questions in comments below!
