How much do you really keep from Patreon? This free calculator shows your exact monthly take‑home after Patreon's platform cut (5%, 8% or 12%) AND payment processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per pledge). No signup, instant results, updated for 2026's fee structure.
Patreon is not 'set and forget' money. A creator earning $2,000/month in gross pledges on Patreon Pro (8%) keeps roughly $1,750 after all fees — that's $250/month or $3,000/year disappearing into platform + processing costs. Across 5 years that's $15,000 in fees on a single $2k/month tier.
The biggest hidden cost is the $0.30 per‑transaction fee. If you have 200 patrons at $1/month, processing alone eats 30% of revenue ($60). The same $200 from 10 patrons at $20/month costs only $3 in per‑transaction fees. This is why low‑priced tiers can be a trap — concentrate fans on $5+ tiers to maximize what reaches your bank.
Real example: 100 patrons at $5 + 40 at $15 + 10 at $50 = $1,600 gross. On Pro plan: $128 Patreon fee + ~$92 processing = $220 total fees (13.7%). Net: $1,380/month or $16,560/year. Switch the same fans to Patreon Premium (12%) and you lose another $64/month — the extra features only pay off above ~$5,000/month gross.
Patreon takes 5% (Lite), 8% (Pro) or 12% (Premium) of gross pledges, PLUS payment processing of 2.9% + $0.30 per pledge. Total fees usually land between 8–18% depending on plan and average pledge size.
After all fees, creators keep 82–92% of gross. Median active Patreon creator earns ~$500/month net. Top 10% earn $8,000+, top 1% earn $100,000+/month — but the long tail is the reality for most.
Yes if you have a recurring audience of 50+ true fans who'll pay $5+/month. Below that, fees and tax overhead can swallow most of the income. The calculator shows your break‑even instantly.
Pro (8%) gives core tools, analytics, and merch. Premium (12%) adds dedicated partner support and team accounts. Premium only pays for itself above roughly $5,000/month gross.
Yes — tips and one‑time charges incur the same platform fee + payment processing as recurring pledges.
Patreon income is self‑employment income. Expect ~15.3% self‑employment tax + your federal/state income tax bracket. Patreon issues a 1099‑K at $5,000+ in 2026 (was $20,000 pre‑2024).