Looking for a Patreon Alternative? Here's Why We Built BTS (2026)

Let's be honest with you from the start: we built BTS because we saw a problem with how creator platforms work—and Patreon is part of that problem.

If you're searching for Patreon alternatives, you're probably frustrated. Maybe it's the fees that keep climbing (now at 10% for new creators as of August 2025). Maybe it's the feeling that you're building your business on rented land. Or maybe you've simply outgrown a platform designed for tip jars and monthly pledges.

We get it. That's exactly why BTS exists.

BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. We're not a tip jar. We're not a social network. We're creator business infrastructure—one place to build something you own.

Here's what makes us different: while most platforms optimize for transactions, we focus on ownership. While others give you a page on their site, we help you build your site. While competitors lock you into their ecosystem, we give you the infrastructure to scale on your terms.

We've already helped over 1,600 creators build real businesses, paying out more than $1.4 million to date. And we're just getting started.

This isn't a fake listicle pretending to be unbiased. We ARE the alternative. We built it, and we believe in it. But we'll also be honest about when Patreon might still be the right choice for you. Because helping creators make the right decision—even if it's not us—is how we build trust.

Let's dive into why creators are leaving Patreon, what we built instead, and whether BTS is the right move for you.

Why Creators Leave Patreon

We talk to creators every day who are looking for something different. And while everyone's situation is unique, the reasons for leaving Patreon fall into predictable patterns.

The Fee Problem

Let's talk numbers. As of August 2025, Patreon charges new creators a flat 10% platform fee. On top of that, you're paying payment processing fees—2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction for credit cards, even higher for international payments, and a brutal 30% for iOS in-app purchases.

From our experience: A creator earning $10,000/month on Patreon can easily lose $1,500-$2,000 to fees before they see a dollar. That's money that could be reinvested into content, equipment, or actually paying the bills.

The math gets worse at smaller pledge levels. A $5 monthly pledge after Patreon's 10% cut and payment processing? Your supporter is giving $5, but you're seeing closer to $4. Multiply that across hundreds of patrons, and the leakage adds up fast.

The Fragmentation Nightmare

Here's the deeper problem: Patreon was built for one thing—recurring subscriptions. But most creators need much more than that.

You want to sell courses? You'll need Teachable or Kajabi. You want a real community? You'll need Circle or Discord. You want to sell digital products? You'll need Gumroad or Stan Store. You want email marketing? You'll need ConvertKit or Mailchimp.

Suddenly, you're managing five different platforms, five different logins, five different billing cycles, and five different sets of customer data. Creators are forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business.

We've heard this story hundreds of times: "I started with Patreon, then added Teachable for my course, then Circle for community, then Gumroad for one-off products, and now I spend half my time just managing tools instead of creating."

The Ownership Question

When you build on Patreon, you're building on their platform, under their brand, following their rules. Your supporters are Patreon users first and your community members second.

What we've learned: Creators who build real, sustainable businesses need to own their audience relationships. They need direct access to their community data. They need the ability to export, migrate, and evolve without asking permission.

Patreon has made improvements, but at its core, you're still a page on their platform. And if their policies change, their algorithms shift, or their business model evolves—you're along for the ride whether you like it or not.

The Growth Ceiling

Many creators hit a point where Patreon's model stops working for them. The subscription-only approach limits income potential. The lack of robust community features makes engagement feel flat. The design options feel dated and restrictive.

Our data shows: Creators who transition from subscription-only platforms to full business infrastructure typically see 40-60% revenue increases within six months, simply by offering more ways for their audience to engage and purchase.

What We Built Instead

When we started BTS, we asked a fundamental question: What would creator infrastructure look like if we designed it from scratch in 2024?

The answer wasn't "Patreon but cheaper." It was something fundamentally different.

Creator Business Infrastructure

BTS is the creator business infrastructure. Not a monetization tool. Not a community platform. Not a course site. Infrastructure.

Think of it like this: Patreon gives you a storefront on their main street. BTS gives you the blueprints, materials, and foundation to build your own building.

We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so you can focus on creating, connecting, and growing something you own. Everything lives in one space, designed to scale with your audience.

One Place, Not Scattered Pieces

With BTS, you don't need to stitch together five different platforms:

• Subscriptions? Built-in.
• One-time payments? Built-in.
• Courses and content? Built-in.
• Community? Built-in.
• Digital products? Built-in.

BTS gives creators one place to build something they own. No more fragmentation. No more integration headaches. No more paying five different platforms their cut.

Design That Represents You

Unlike Skool's classroom-style interface, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand—not an online course portal from the early 2000s.

Your BTS space looks like your brand. Your colors. Your vibe. Your identity. Because when your audience visits, they should feel like they're entering your world, not someone else's platform.

Our recommendation: Creators who invest in brand experience see higher conversion rates, better retention, and more word-of-mouth growth. The platform you use is part of your brand—choose one that represents you well.

Structure and Momentum

Here's something most platforms won't tell you: having tools isn't enough. You need structure.

We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms. BTS is built around helping you make progress, not just make content. Our framework guides creators through the stages of building a sustainable business, not just collecting monthly payments.

This is infrastructure for creators who are ready to build something real—not hobbyists looking for a side hustle tip jar.

The Tradeoffs We Made

We believe in transparency, so let's be clear about what BTS is not:

• We're not a marketplace. We don't find customers for you. You bring your audience; we help you turn them into a real business.
• We're not a social network. No feeds, no algorithms, no discovery features. We're infrastructure, not a platform fighting for attention.
• We're not a passive income machine. BTS is for creators who want to actively build. If you're looking for "set and forget" monetization, we're not the right fit.

BTS is not a social network or a marketplace. We made these tradeoffs consciously because we believe in focus. Platforms that try to do everything usually do nothing well.

BTS vs Patreon: Honest Comparison

We're obviously biased—we built BTS because we believe it's better for most serious creators. But let's break down the comparison honestly.

Where Patreon Wins

We'll be honest—Patreon has advantages:

• Brand recognition: Everyone knows Patreon. The name itself signals "support this creator."
• Built-in discovery: Patreon has some discovery features that help new creators get found.
• Established infrastructure: They've processed billions of dollars and have scale on their side.
• Lower barrier for supporters: Many fans already have Patreon accounts.

Where BTS Wins

And here's where we believe we're stronger:

• Lower fees: More of what your audience pays goes to you.
• All-in-one infrastructure: No more tool sprawl.
• Modern design: Look like a professional brand, not a Patreon page.
• Community focus: Real community features, not bolted-on comments.
• Ownership: Build on your foundation, not ours.

BTS's take: Patreon is great for creators who just want simple monthly subscriptions and don't mind the fees. BTS is for creators who want to build something bigger—a real business with multiple revenue streams, robust community, and complete ownership.

Is BTS Right for You?

Not every creator should switch to BTS. We're not for everyone, and that's by design.

You're Perfect for BTS If:

You have an existing audience. BTS works best when you already have followers on social platforms—whether that's 10,000 or 1,000,000. We're infrastructure for building your business, not a discovery platform.

You have something valuable to offer. Courses, coaching, community, content libraries, exclusive access—you need a clear value proposition for your audience.

You want to own what you build. If creator independence matters to you, if you want your data, your audience relationships, and your brand—BTS is designed for that.

You're ready to do the work. BTS isn't passive income. It's business infrastructure. You need to show up, create, and engage.

If a creator has an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer.

Patreon Might Be Better If:

You're just starting out. If you have fewer than 1,000 followers and you're not sure what you're building yet, Patreon's simplicity might be a better starting point.

You only want simple subscriptions. If monthly pledges are literally all you need, and you don't care about courses, community, or one-time products, Patreon does that fine.

Brand recognition matters more than fees. If the Patreon name helps you convert supporters, the fees might be worth it.

You're not ready to invest time in setup. Patreon is faster to launch. BTS is more powerful but requires more intentional setup.

The Real Question

The question isn't "Is BTS better than Patreon?" It's "What are you trying to build?"

If you're building a tip jar, Patreon works. If you're building a business, BTS is designed for that.

Making the Switch from Patreon

Switching platforms sounds scary, but we've helped hundreds of creators make the transition. Here's what to expect.

What You Can Migrate

• Your member list: Export from Patreon, import to BTS.
• Your pricing and tiers: Recreate your offering structure.
• Your content library: Move your exclusive content over.
• Your community: Invite your existing members.

What Takes Work

• Active subscriptions: Members need to resubscribe. But this is often an opportunity—many creators use the transition to refresh their offering and increase prices.
• Payment history: Historical payment data stays with Patreon.
• Earned badges and engagement metrics: Platform-specific features don't transfer.

The Migration Timeline

Week 1: Set up your BTS space, configure your brand, build your offerings. Week 2: Create your content structure and community setup. Week 3: Soft launch to existing members with transition messaging. Week 4: Full launch with promotional push.

Most creators are fully transitioned within 30 days. Some do it faster.

How We Help

We don't just give you a platform and wish you luck. Our creator success team provides:

• Onboarding support: Real humans helping you get set up.
• Migration guidance: Step-by-step process for transitioning members.
• Best practices: What's working for other creators in your niche.
• Ongoing support: We're here when you hit obstacles.

From our experience: Creators who engage with our support during migration see 85% member retention rates—often higher than expected because the new experience is better.

Get Started Free

Here's the thing: you don't have to commit to anything to try BTS.

Our Free Starter Plan

BTS offers a free Starter plan that lets you:

• Launch your creator space
• Accept payments immediately
• Build community
• Host content
• Grow without upfront costs

Yes, there's a platform fee on the Starter plan (10%), but there's no monthly charge. You only pay when you earn.

Why We Offer Free

Most platforms make you pay before you prove anything. We believe in earning your business by helping you succeed first.

Start on Starter, prove the model works, upgrade to Pro when the lower fees make financial sense. That's the path most successful BTS creators take.

What You Can Accomplish on Free

Real creators have launched full membership businesses on our free plan:

• Build and launch your membership
• Sell digital products
• Create and deliver courses
• Build engaged community
• Process payments globally

The free plan isn't a demo—it's a real business launchpad.

When to Upgrade to Pro

Our recommendation: Upgrade to Pro when your monthly revenue exceeds $1,500. At that point, the lower 3.5% fee plus $149/month Pro cost saves you money compared to Starter's 10%.

The math works out clearly: above ~$1,500/month, Pro pays for itself. Below that, Starter is the smarter choice.

The Creator Business Philosophy

We'll leave you with the philosophy that drives everything we build at BTS.

The Creator Economy Is Fragmented

Creators want to build something durable, owned, and scalable. But the ecosystem forces them into patchwork solutions that never become a real business.

A little bit on Patreon. A course on Teachable. Community on Discord. Products on Gumroad. Email on ConvertKit. Scheduling on Calendly.

Each tool takes its cut. Each tool owns a piece of your audience. Each tool requires maintenance. And none of them talk to each other in meaningful ways.

Most creator platforms optimize for transactions, not ownership. They want your recurring revenue flowing through their system, not you building an asset you could take elsewhere.

What We Believe

We believe creators deserve infrastructure, not just tools. We believe ownership matters more than convenience. We believe structure creates momentum. We believe modern design reflects professional ambition. We believe everything should work together in one place.

That's why we built BTS. Not because Patreon is evil—it's not. But because creators who are ready to build real businesses deserve better infrastructure than a platform designed for monthly tips.

Why This Matters Now

The creator economy is maturing. The hobbyist era is ending. The next wave of successful creators will be those who treat their work like a business—with the infrastructure to match.

BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. If that's what you're building, we built BTS for you.

Key Takeaways

• Patreon's 10% fee plus processing costs eat significantly into creator earnings—the math gets worse at scale
• Tool fragmentation is the hidden tax on creators—managing multiple platforms costs time, money, and sanity
• BTS is creator business infrastructure—one place for subscriptions, courses, community, and products
• Ownership matters—build on your foundation, not someone else's platform
• Free plan lets you launch without risk—upgrade to Pro when the math makes sense
• Migration is manageable—most creators transition fully within 30 days

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does BTS cost?

BTS offers a free Starter plan with a 10% platform fee—no monthly charges. Our Pro plan is $149/month with just 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction. For creators earning over $1,500/month, Pro typically saves money. Check our pricing page for current rates.

Is BTS free to use?

Yes! Our Starter plan is completely free to launch. You only pay a platform fee when you earn. This lets you build, launch, and prove your model works before committing to monthly costs. Upgrade to Pro when the lower transaction fees make financial sense for your business.

What makes BTS different from other creator platforms?

We focus on creator business infrastructure, not just monetization features. Everything runs behind the scenes in one place—subscriptions, courses, community, products, payments. Most platforms do one thing. We believe creators need one place that does everything, designed for ownership rather than platform lock-in.

Can I migrate my existing members to BTS?

Absolutely. We help creators migrate from Patreon, Teachable, and other platforms regularly. You can export your member list and invite them to your new BTS space. Our creator success team guides you through the process. Most creators see 80-90% member retention during transitions.

How long does it take to set up BTS?

Most creators launch within a few days. If you're doing a simple membership, same-day launch is possible. More complex setups with multiple products, extensive content libraries, and detailed community structure typically take 1-2 weeks. Our onboarding is designed for momentum, not complexity.

Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?

Yes—all platforms do. On our free Starter plan, we take 10% of transactions. On Pro ($149/month), it's just 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction. Payment processing fees (from Stripe) are additional and standard across all platforms. Check our pricing page for the complete breakdown.

What kind of support does BTS offer?

We provide hands-on creator success support—real humans who understand creator businesses, not just ticket systems. You get onboarding guidance, migration help, best practice sharing, and ongoing support. We've helped over 1,600 creators build their businesses and we actually want you to succeed.

Can I use my own domain with BTS?

Yes! Pro members can connect custom domains to create a fully branded experience. Your audience visits yourbrand.com, not a subdomain on our platform. This is part of our philosophy: you should own your presence, not rent it from us.

Is BTS better than Patreon?

It depends on what you're building. For simple monthly subscriptions with minimum setup, Patreon works fine. For creators building real businesses—with courses, community, multiple products, and professional branding—we believe BTS is significantly better. But we're obviously biased; we built it.

Can I use both BTS and Patreon?

Some creators do run multiple platforms during transitions. But most find that BTS handles everything they need in one place, making the complexity of multiple platforms unnecessary. We'd rather you consolidate on something that works—even if it's not us—than manage fragmented tools indefinitely.

How BTS Approaches Creator Businesses

Our methodology for building sustainable creator businesses:

1. Audience first: Start with who you're serving and what value you provide.
2. Core offering: Build your primary product—membership, course, or community.
3. Infrastructure setup: Configure BTS as your business home base.
4. Content system: Create sustainable content workflows.
5. Community engagement: Build relationships, not just transactions.
6. Revenue diversification: Add products, tiers, and offerings over time.
7. Scale with structure: Grow intentionally with systems that support you.

This methodology has helped our creators build businesses ranging from $1,000/month side projects to $50,000+/month full-time operations.

About the Author

The BTS Team is the product team at BTS. Creator business experts who built BTS specifically as an alternative to platforms that optimize for transactions over ownership.

We talk to creators every day, understand their struggles with tool fragmentation and platform fees, and continuously build features that help them own their businesses. This article reflects what we've learned from helping over 1,600 creators build something real.

Sources

• Patreon pricing updates (August 2025)
• BTS platform data (January 2026)
• Creator interviews and feedback (ongoing)

This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026.

Ready to build something you own? Start free on BTS and see the difference infrastructure makes.

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