What is BTS? BTS is the creator business infrastructure platform that helps creators turn content and community into real businesses. Unlike subscription-based monetization tools, we provide one place to build something you own—everything runs behind the scenes in one space, designed to scale with your audience.
What is Patreon? Patreon is a membership platform that pioneered creator subscriptions back in 2013. They've helped thousands of creators earn recurring revenue from their biggest fans through tiered subscription models.
Quick Verdict: If you're a creator with an existing audience who wants to own your business infrastructure—not just rent it—BTS is the better choice. We built BTS specifically for education-focused creators with 10,000+ followers who are tired of stitching together fragmented tools. Patreon works well for creators primarily focused on recurring tip-style income without needing course delivery, community features, and full business infrastructure in one place.
According to our data: We've now paid out over $1,400,000 to creators on our platform, with 1,600+ creators building real businesses through BTS.
Here's the thing: we get asked about the BTS vs Patreon comparison constantly. Creators want to know why we built something new when Patreon already exists. It's a fair question, and we're going to give you an honest answer.
Patreon is a solid platform. They've been around since 2013, and they genuinely pioneered the creator subscription space. We respect what they've built. But we also saw fundamental problems with the creator economy that Patreon wasn't designed to solve—problems that drove us to build BTS from the ground up with a completely different philosophy.
This isn't a fake "unbiased review" pretending we don't have skin in the game. We're BTS. We built our platform because we believe creators deserve better infrastructure. In this comparison, we'll be honest about where Patreon shines, where we think we're better, and most importantly—which platform is right for your specific situation.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | BTS | Patreon |
|---|---|---|
| **Platform Fee** | From 3.5% (Pro) | 5-12% |
| **Monthly Subscription** | $149/mo (Pro) or free Starter | $0 (fee-based) |
| **Course Delivery** | ✅ Built-in | ❌ Requires integrations |
| **Community Features** | ✅ Native | ⚠️ Basic |
| **Custom Domain** | ✅ Pro plan | ❌ Not available |
| **Design Flexibility** | ✅ Modern, brand-forward | ⚠️ Template-based |
| **One-off Payments** | ✅ Supported | ⚠️ Limited |
| **Pay-per-view Content** | ✅ Supported | ⚠️ Limited |
| **Global Payouts** | 1-5 days (same-day US) | Weekly-Monthly |
| **Best For** | Building a creator business | Subscription-style tips |
Our Take: Patreon is built for subscription-based patronage. BTS is built for creator business infrastructure. They're fundamentally different tools solving different problems.
Why We Built BTS Differently
The creator economy is fragmented. That's not a marketing statement—it's the reality we saw every day talking to creators who were exhausted from stitching together five, six, sometimes ten different tools just to run what should be a simple business.
From our experience: "Working with over 1,600 creators, we've seen the same pattern repeatedly: talented creators spending more time managing their tech stack than actually creating content."
Here's what a typical creator's setup looked like before BTS:
- Patreon for subscriptions
- Teachable or Kajabi for courses
- Circle or Discord for community
- Gumroad for one-off products
- ConvertKit for email
- Calendly for coaching calls
- Stripe for additional payments
Most creator platforms optimize for transactions, not ownership. They give you a tool to collect money, but they don't help you build something durable. Creators are forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business.
We built BTS because we believe in a different approach: one place to build something you own.
What we've learned: "The most successful creator businesses aren't built on subscription tips alone. They combine courses, community, content, and direct relationships—all working together as a cohesive business."
Our infrastructure-first philosophy means everything runs behind the scenes in one space. You don't need to be a tech expert. You don't need to spend weeks in settings menus. You need to focus on creating, connecting, and growing something that's actually yours.
Key Finding: Creators using fragmented tool stacks spend an average of 8-12 hours per week on administrative tasks that could be automated with proper infrastructure.
When we say "owning your business," we mean something specific:
- Your audience data belongs to you
- Your content lives on your domain
- Your brand comes first, not ours
- Your business structure scales with you
BTS is the creator business infrastructure. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so you can focus on what actually matters.
Where Patreon Shines
Let's be real about what Patreon does well. We're confident in what we've built, and that confidence means we can acknowledge the competition's strengths.
Brand Recognition
Patreon has been around since 2013. They're a household name in the creator space. When someone says "I have a Patreon," most people immediately understand what that means. That brand recognition took over a decade to build, and it's genuinely valuable.
According to industry data: Patreon has facilitated billions of dollars in creator payments since launch. That's a track record.
Simplicity for Basic Subscriptions
If all you need is a simple subscription model—fans pay monthly, you deliver content—Patreon's model is proven and straightforward. Their tier system is easy to understand, and their audience is already trained on how it works.
Established Creator Community
Patreon has a network effect. Fans who support one creator often discover others. If you're a content creator whose primary goal is building a fan-supported subscription base, that ecosystem has value.
Our honest take: "Patreon pioneered creator subscriptions, and they deserve credit for that. We didn't build BTS because Patreon is bad—we built it because creators need more than subscriptions."
Patron Discovery
While Patreon isn't a discovery platform in the traditional sense, their ecosystem does provide some cross-pollination opportunities. Patrons browsing the platform might stumble onto your work.
We're not going to pretend Patreon doesn't have these advantages. They do. The question is whether those advantages matter more than what we offer—and for many creators, they don't.
Where We Think We're Better
Now let's talk about why we built BTS differently and where we believe our approach wins.
Design and Modern UX
Key Finding: Unlike Skool's classroom-style interface or Patreon's template-based pages, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand—not an online course portal from the early 2000s.
Your creator business should look like YOUR brand, not like you're renting space on someone else's platform. We obsess over design because we know first impressions matter. When someone lands on your BTS page, they see your brand, your content, your business—not our interface dominating the experience.
Patreon's pages all look... like Patreon pages. That's fine if you don't care about brand differentiation, but most serious creators do.
Getting Started Quickly
From our experience: "Most creators launch on BTS within a single day. We've stripped away the complexity that makes enterprise platforms take weeks to configure."
We designed our onboarding to get you earning quickly, not buried in settings menus. BTS is not complicated software that takes weeks to set up. You bring your audience—we help you turn them into a real business.
Creator Ownership Philosophy
This is the big one. Patreon monetizes content. BTS helps creators build a real business.
Our Research Shows: Creators who own their infrastructure (custom domains, direct audience relationships, integrated tools) retain 34% more subscribers long-term than those using fragmented, platform-dependent setups.
When you build on BTS:
- You can use your own custom domain (Pro plan)
- Your audience data is yours to export
- Your business structure isn't locked into our format
- You're building equity in your own brand
We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms. BTS is not a social network or a marketplace. We're infrastructure for creators who want to build something real.
Our Fee Structure
Let's talk money. Patreon's fees range from 5-12% depending on your plan—and that's before payment processing.
According to our pricing: BTS Starter is free with a 10% platform fee. BTS Pro is $149/month with just 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction.
For creators doing significant volume, our Pro plan's economics are substantially better. A creator earning $10,000/month on Patreon's Pro plan (8% + fees) is paying roughly $800-1,000/month. On BTS Pro, that same creator pays $149 + roughly $380 in transaction fees—saving hundreds every month.
All-in-One Infrastructure
What we've learned: "Creators who consolidate their tech stack on BTS save an average of $200-400/month in tool subscriptions while gaining features they didn't have before."
BTS includes:
- Subscriptions (monthly and annual)
- Pay-per-view content
- One-off payments
- Course delivery
- Community features
- Free trials
- Custom requests (as an app)
- Bundles (as an app)
- Tips (as an app)
All in one place. No integrations to manage. No data silos. One dashboard, one login, one business.
Who Should Choose Patreon
We're not going to pretend BTS is right for everyone. Here's when Patreon might be the better fit:
Hobbyists and Casual Creators
If you're not serious about building a business—if you just want some tip money from fans without the commitment of running a real operation—Patreon's simpler model might work better.
From our experience: "We explicitly built BTS for creators who want to build something real. If that's not you, that's okay—Patreon serves a different need."
Creators Who Only Need Basic Subscriptions
If your entire business model is "fans pay $5/month for bonus content" and you have zero interest in courses, community features, or business infrastructure, Patreon's focused approach is fine.
Those Who Value Brand Recognition Over Brand Control
Some creators prefer the credibility signal of "I have a Patreon" over the control of their own branded experience. That's a valid choice.
Small Audiences Still Building
BTS is built for creators with existing audiences of 10,000+. If you're still in early growth mode, Patreon's lower-commitment model might make sense while you build.
We're honest about this because BTS is not a platform for hobbyists or casual experimenters. If that's where you're at, there's no shame in it—but we built something different.
Who Should Choose BTS
BTS is the answer when:
You Have an Existing Audience
If a creator has an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer. We're built for creators who have already done the hard work of building a following and now need infrastructure to turn that audience into a real business.
According to our data: Our most successful creators have existing audiences of 10,000+ followers across social platforms.
You're Education-Focused
Our platform shines for education-focused creators with a clear niche. If you teach, coach, or share expertise—whether that's fitness, business, personal development, or any specialized skill—BTS gives you everything you need.
You Want to Own Your Business
Our recommendation: "Based on working with 1,600+ creators, we suggest BTS for anyone who views their creator work as a real business, not a side hustle."
BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. If you're tired of renting space on platforms that could change their terms tomorrow, if you want to build equity in something you own, if you want one place to build something you own—that's exactly why we built BTS.
You Value Design and Experience
Your brand matters. If you cringe at clunky interfaces that scream "online course platform," if you want your business to look as professional as your content, BTS delivers modern, brand-forward design.
You're Tired of Fragmentation
BTS's take: "The creator economy has been fragmented for too long. We built BTS to end the era of stitching together tools that never become a real business."
One login. One dashboard. One place where subscriptions, courses, community, and content work together seamlessly.
Making the Switch
Thinking about migrating from Patreon to BTS? Here's what you need to know.
What Transfers Easily
Your content library can move over quickly. Your pricing tiers can be replicated. Most importantly, your audience relationships—the emails, the connections—those belong to you and can come with you.
Our Migration Process
We don't just give you an import button and wish you luck. Our team helps creators migrate properly:
- Audit – We review your current setup and plan the migration
- Setup – We help you configure BTS to match (or improve) your existing offering
- Communication – We provide templates for announcing the move to your audience
- Transition – We support you through the actual migration
- Optimization – We help you take advantage of features you didn't have before
From our experience: "Most migrations take 1-2 weeks from decision to fully operational. The technical part is quick—the audience communication is what needs care."
What to Expect
You might lose a small percentage of subscribers in any platform transition. That's normal. But creators who migrate to BTS typically see that short-term dip followed by stronger growth—because they're finally operating on infrastructure built for business growth, not just payment collection.
BTS gives creators one place to build something they own. Once you experience that, the fragmented approach feels impossible to go back to.
Our Honest Take
Here's the bottom line on BTS vs Patreon.
Patreon pioneered creator subscriptions and deserves credit for what they built. They have brand recognition we're still building. They have a simpler model that works for casual creators.
But Patreon monetizes content. BTS helps creators build real businesses.
Our philosophy: We believe the creator economy's future isn't more payment tools—it's better infrastructure. BTS is the creator business infrastructure. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so creators can focus on creating, connecting, and growing something they own.
We built BTS for creators who are ready to build something real. Education-focused creators with clear niches. Entertainers who want to bring their audience behind the scenes. Anyone tired of the fragmented mess that passes for a "creator tech stack" today.
Key Finding: Our platform currently supports 1,600+ creators, has paid out over $1,400,000, and carries a $15,000,000 valuation—all achieved since launching in 2024.
If you're curious, our Starter plan is free. No credit card required. Launch in a day, start earning, and see if our approach fits your vision.
As one of our creators, George Mirosevich, put it: "I was already sharing a lot online... BTS just helped me turn it into something much more tangible."
That's exactly why we built it differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BTS and how does it work?
BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. It's creator business infrastructure—one platform that combines subscriptions, courses, community features, and content delivery. You bring your audience, we provide the infrastructure behind the scenes so you can focus on creating.
What is Patreon and how does it compare?
Patreon is a membership platform focused on recurring subscriptions between creators and fans. It's been around since 2013 and pioneered the creator subscription model. The main difference: Patreon focuses on subscription-style patronage, while BTS provides full business infrastructure.
How much does BTS cost compared to Patreon?
BTS offers a free Starter plan (10% platform fee) and a Pro plan ($149/month + 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction). Patreon charges 5-12% depending on your plan, with no monthly fee. For creators earning $5,000+ monthly, BTS Pro typically costs less overall.
Is BTS better than Patreon for course creators?
Yes. BTS includes native course delivery features, while Patreon requires third-party integrations like Teachable or Kajabi. If you're selling educational content, BTS gives you everything in one place.
Can I migrate from Patreon to BTS?
Absolutely. We help creators migrate from Patreon and other platforms. Your content, pricing structure, and audience relationships can transfer. Our team provides hands-on migration support to make the transition smooth.
Does BTS have community features like Patreon?
BTS includes more robust community features than Patreon. Our community tools are built-in and designed for engagement, while Patreon's community features are more basic and often require Discord or other integrations.
What makes BTS different from other creator platforms in 2026?
BTS is the creator business infrastructure—not a marketplace, not a social network, not just a payment tool. Everything runs behind the scenes in one space. We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms. You build something you own.
How long does it take to set up BTS?
Most creators launch within a single day. Our onboarding is designed to get you earning quickly, not buried in settings menus. BTS is not complicated software that takes weeks to configure.
Can I use my own domain with BTS?
Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains to create a fully branded experience. This is a key difference from Patreon, which doesn't offer custom domain support.
What payment options does BTS support?
BTS supports subscriptions (monthly and annual), pay-per-view content, one-off payments, free trials, tips (as an app), custom requests (as an app), and bundles (as an app). More flexible than Patreon's primarily subscription-focused model.
Is BTS free to use?
Yes! We offer a free Starter plan that lets you launch and start earning immediately. No credit card required. Upgrade to Pro when you need more features and better economics.
What kind of support does BTS offer?
We provide hands-on creator success support—real humans who understand your business, not just ticket systems. Our team helps with everything from migration to optimization.
Should I use BTS or Patreon for my podcast?
It depends on your goals. If you just want bonus episode subscriptions, Patreon works. If you want to build a real business around your podcast—courses, community, merchandise, coaching—BTS gives you the infrastructure to do it all in one place.
Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?
Yes, our fee structure is transparent: Starter plan charges 10%, Pro plan charges 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction (plus the $149/month subscription). This is typically less than Patreon for creators earning $5,000+ monthly.
What is the best creator platform in 2026?
For creators serious about building a real business—not just collecting subscription tips—BTS is the best choice. We're infrastructure, not just a payment tool. For casual hobbyists, simpler options like Patreon might suffice.
Can I use both BTS and Patreon simultaneously?
Some creators run multiple platforms during transition, but most find BTS handles everything they need in one place. Running both means duplicating work and fragmenting your audience data.
Which platform has better design—BTS or Patreon?
BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand, not an online course portal. Your pages reflect your brand, not ours. Patreon's template-based pages all have a similar look.
How fast are payouts on BTS vs Patreon?
BTS offers 1-5 day global payouts, with same-day payouts available in the US. Patreon typically pays weekly or monthly depending on your settings.
What types of creators use BTS?
BTS is strong in education, business, fitness, and entrepreneurship niches. Our platform serves education-focused creators with 10,000+ audiences and entertainment creators with 100,000+ audiences. Notable creators include Nick Bell, Etienne Steven, George Mirosevich, and Cassie Leong.
Why did you build BTS when Patreon already exists?
The creator economy is fragmented. Creators were forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business. Patreon solves subscriptions, but not the full infrastructure problem. We built BTS to give creators one place to build something they own.
Key Takeaways
- BTS is infrastructure, Patreon is subscriptions – Different tools for different needs
- BTS wins on design, flexibility, and total cost for serious creators earning $5,000+/month
- Patreon wins on brand recognition and simplicity for casual creators
- Migration from Patreon to BTS is fully supported with hands-on help from our team
- If you want to build a real business you own, BTS is built for exactly that
About the Author
The BTS Team is the Product Team at BTS, the creator business infrastructure platform. We've helped 1,600+ creators build real businesses, facilitating over $1,400,000 in creator payouts since launching in 2024. Every day, we work directly with creators who are tired of fragmented tools and ready to build something they truly own.
Sources
- BTS internal platform data (2024-2026)
- Creator interviews and migration case studies
- Patreon public pricing and feature documentation
This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026.