As a digital creator or online business owner, you’ve likely considered platforms like Podia and Patreon. They’re popular, easy to start with, and offer basic tools for selling content.
But Podia requires costly upgrades to unlock essential features, while Patreon takes a cut of your earnings and limits how you can package and sell your offerings.
If you're selling courses or digital downloads, the last thing you want is to be boxed in by platform limits that weren’t made with your long-term goals in mind.
You need a platform that gives you flexibility, ownership, and room to grow without switching systems or sacrificing margins.
In this guide, you’ll get a side-by-side comparison of Podia vs Patreon, from branding and product options to pricing and business control.
Plus, we’ll introduce you to a powerful alternative that combines everything you need to launch, grow, and manage your digital business.
What Is Podia?
Podia is an all-in-one platform where you can sell online courses, digital products, and memberships directly through your own website.
Podia’s key features include a customizable website and landing page builder, built-in course and product hosting, and integrated email marketing. Creators can upload videos, PDFs, and other content to create rich courses or resource libraries.
Podia also supports community engagement by letting you host discussion communities for your members or students.
What Is Patreon?
Patreon is a membership platform that lets you earn recurring income directly from your fans. In essence, Patreon enables a creator’s audience to become paying “patrons” who subscribe for exclusive content, community access, or perks.
Patreon provides the tools for creators to set up membership tiers with monthly (or per-creation) payments, deliver exclusive updates, and interact with supporters via a patrons-only feed.
The key features of Patreon are community and content delivery for subscribers. Creators can create multiple membership levels (tiers) with different pricing and benefits.
Unlike Podia, Patreon does not offer a full website or product storefront for one-off sales—it’s focused on ongoing memberships. It also operates on a revenue-sharing model and takes a percentage of the creator’s earnings as its fee.
CustomerHub: From First Sale to Full Scale
CustomerHub is the best alternative to Podia and Patreon for monetizing your expertise. It is designed to support coaches, course creators, and membership-based businesses with an easy-to-use, plug-and-play solution.
The platform aims to give creators one place to sell everything, from online courses to digital downloads, while avoiding the technical headaches and limitations found in other platforms.
In terms of features, CustomerHub offers a comprehensive toolkit for creators:
- Host video courses, sell one-off digital products (like e-books or templates), and run subscription memberships
- Connect your own domain, customize the look of your course pages or membership site, and even implement full white-labeling
- Drag-and-drop page builders and pre-designed templates for sales pages so you can create a professional, branded experience without coding
- Includes a private community feed where members can see updates and interact, plus member profiles and direct messaging between member
- Provides high-converting sales pages and a simplified checkout process to help you sell more
- Connects with over 7,000 apps via Zapier and has direct integrations with popular tools
- Offers a single monthly plan with all features included and no transaction fees
If Podia and Patreon represent two ends of a spectrum (one focusing on product sales, the other on fan memberships), CustomerHub combines the best of both: rich product offerings, full brand ownership, and strong community engagement without taking a cut of your revenue.
Start your free 14-day trial with CustomerHub today!
Feature Comparison: Patreon vs Podia
Before choosing a platform, it’s important to understand what kinds of products or services you can offer. Some platforms are built around selling structured courses and digital downloads, while others focus on community-driven memberships.
We’ll explore how Podia and Patreon differ in the types of content they support:
Types of Products and Services Offered
The types of content you can sell or share influence which platform is best for you. Some creators focus on digital products or courses, while others rely on memberships or fan support.
Podia
Podia offers a wide variety of product types. You can sell online courses, digital downloads, coaching services, webinars, and membership subscriptions.
This makes it possible for a creator to bundle different offerings, like selling a course and upselling a coaching package or running a membership that includes access to courses and downloads.
Patreon
Patreon is designed mainly around the paid subscription model. Its core strength is helping creators build income through ongoing support from fans.
However, it doesn’t support one-time purchases or structured courses like other online course platforms do. While you can sell merch or extra content using integrations, it’s not built to sell standalone products.
Customization and Brand Control
Branding is important if you want to present a professional image. You can use your own domain name and remove platform branding to make your business feel more professional and polished.
Podia
Podia provides moderate brand customization. You get a hosted storefront and website that you can customize with your logo, brand colors, images, and page content.
You can use a custom domain and create pages like sales pages or a blog. However, the platform's design flexibility is somewhat limited to the templates and options it provides.
Advanced branding elements like removing all Podia branding or deeply customizing page layouts with code are not supported on Podia’s standard plans.
Patreon
Patreon is very limited in terms of branding. Your page resides on patreon.com (e.g., patreon.com/YourName).
You can upload a profile picture and cover image and write your description, but you cannot control the overall layout or remove Patreon’s branding and navigation.
All Patreon pages have the same structure. So, if you're looking for strong brand control, you will find this platform lacking, and your page will always look and feel like Patreon, not like your own website.
Checkout Experience and Payment Processing
A smooth checkout process doesn’t just improve user experience but also impacts how much you earn. You want a payment system that’s easy to use, fast, and trustworthy for your customers.
Podia
Podia uses a standard e-commerce style checkout for all purchases. When someone buys a course or digital product from your site, they go through a checkout page to enter their payment.
The checkout flow is optimized and fairly simple, and Podia recently added features like upsells and coupons to help increase sales. However, some advanced e-commerce features are limited.
One-click post-purchase upsells and order bumps are not as sophisticated on Podia. It does support payment plans and subscriptions for products, which is useful for high-ticket courses or memberships.
You will receive payouts directly to your Stripe/PayPal accounts as transactions occur. Notably, Podia’s checkout can be embedded on external sites if you’re using the Shaker plan.
Patreon
The “checkout” on Patreon is essentially the pledge process. Patrons sign up and enter payment info once, and then Patreon charges them either monthly or per creation, depending on the creator’s settings.
The platform handles all payment processing internally and then pays out net earnings to creators, typically once a month. The experience is smooth for recurring support, but Patreon is not optimized for one-time purchases or traditional cart checkout.
Patreon batches also charge on the first of each month, which can sometimes lead to billing issues or delays for new patrons.
Built-In Email Tools
Email remains one of the most effective ways to market your products and drive repeat sales. Some platforms offer built-in email tools, while others require third-party services.
Podia
Podia includes built-in email marketing capabilities on all paid plans. This is a benefit for creators who want to manage their email lists and send newsletters or drip campaigns right from the platform.
The platform's email tool lets you send one-off broadcasts and set up automated email sequences to your subscribers. You can segment your audience based on products purchased or other criteria.
That said, Podia’s email features, while convenient, are basic compared to dedicated email marketing services. The automation is not advanced in terms of complex triggers, and if you have a large list, Podia charges extra for subscriber tiers beyond the first 100 included.
Patreon
Patreon does not provide traditional email marketing tools. You can message your patrons through the platform's interface and, when needed, export patron emails to use in external email services.
But Patreon itself doesn’t have a newsletter or campaign feature. All communication is intended to happen on-platform via posts, updates, and Patreon’s notification system.
So, if you want to build an email list of your fans outside of Patreon, you’ll need a separate strategy. Many creators ask patrons for their email or use integration tools to add patrons to an email list.
Community Building and Audience Engagement
Building an online community can help boost retention and long-term income. Engaging spaces give fans a reason to stick around and keep supporting your work.
Podia
Podia provides a community feature that allows you to host discussions and make posts with which your audience can interact. This is useful for course creators who want to add a community element or membership site owners who want to facilitate member discussions.
However, Podia’s community tools are relatively basic, essentially text posts, comments, and file sharing. It may lack advanced engagement options like real-time chat or user profiles.
The community area on Podia is closed to only your members, which can be great for private interaction, but it doesn’t have the network feel that Patreon has on its platform.
Patreon
Patreon fosters community by virtue of its platform design. Patreon’s entire model is about the creator-fan relationship. It includes features like a content feed with comments for patrons, and creators can send messages or create patron-only polls.
While Patreon itself didn’t traditionally have real-time forums or group chats, many creators integrate the platform with Discord to take advantage of live community chat.
Recently, Patreon has introduced its own native chat feature for patron groups, enabling more immediate interaction among patrons and creators. The sense of community on the platform is strong because patrons feel they’re part of a club supporting the creator.
That said, the community is somewhat siloed per creator, and there isn’t a large cross-creator forum.
Affiliate Programs and Referral Options
Affiliate marketing allows you to grow your reach by rewarding others for promoting their products or memberships. However, not all platforms offer built-in tools for managing affiliates or tracking referrals.
Podia
Podia supports affiliate marketing, but only on its higher-tier plan, Shaker. You can invite people to become your affiliates and give them tracking links to promote your courses or products.
The platform will track referrals and sales so you can manage payouts to affiliates. This is a great way to expand your reach by incentivizing partners or happy students to refer others.
Patreon
Patreon does not have a built-in affiliate program for creators and sometimes runs referral programs for creators to bring in other creators.
But as a creator, you don’t have a way to let fans or friends refer new patrons with tracked commissions. If you wanted to set up an affiliate system to get more patrons, you’d have to do it manually or using external tools.
For creators who rely on affiliate marketing as a growth strategy, this is a shortcoming of Patreon compared to Podia or other platforms.
Platform Extensions and Integrations
No platform works in isolation. Many creators rely on tools like email marketing services, CRMs, payment gateways, or analytics platforms to run their businesses.
Podia
Podia offers integrations primarily through Zapier and a few native connections. It can connect to external tools like Google Analytics for ad tracking and email providers via integration settings.
The Podia API/Zapier integration allows it to work with over 1,000+ apps. You can automate tasks like adding a customer to your CRM when they purchase or sending a Slack notification about a sale.
While Podia’s not as extensible as an open-source solution, it covers most of the integration needs of an online business.
Patreon
Patreon has a robust API and several popular integrations. Many creators use its official integrations, such as Discord and WordPress, to gate content on this site for patrons only.
You can also use Zapier to connect with email platforms and spreadsheets. Many creators use these tools to extend what Patreon can do, especially since it lacks its own built-in marketing tools.
Pricing and Plans: Which Platform Offers the Best Value?
One of the most important factors in choosing a platform is cost. Let’s break down Podia and Patreon pricing structures and see how they compare.
Podia
Podia’s pricing is based on a fixed monthly cost. If you’re just starting, $39/month with a 5% fee is a low barrier.
- Mover ($39/month): This is the entry-level plan, which includes all core Podia features like a website builder, community feature, and email marketing. However, Podia charges a 5% transaction fee on all your sales.
- Shaker ($89/month): This is Podia’s higher-tier plan, geared toward established or scaling creators. It has 0% transaction fees, so you keep all your sales revenue (only the payment processor fees apply).
If you have a decent sales volume, avoiding the 5% fee will get you to pay for the higher subscription cost. Most serious course sellers or membership site owners on Podia will be on Shaker for the no-fee benefit and affiliate feature.
Patreon Pricing (Fees)
Patreon has no monthly subscription cost for creators. Instead, it makes money by taking a percentage of the creator’s earnings. The platform offers two main plans:
- Pro (8% of your income): Includes monthly or annual memberships, custom membership tiers, community tools, and analytics
- Premium (12% of your income): Includes everything in Pro, plus extra support from Patreon’s team, team account access, and merch tools
For a new creator with low earnings, Patreon’s cut might be reasonable and involve less risk since you’re not paying out of pocket; you pay when you make money.
However, as your earnings grow, Patreon’s revenue share can become impactful. At $1,000 per month income on Patreon Pro, $80 goes to Patreon (plus processing). Compare that to CustomerHub’s $79 flat price; beyond a certain point, Patreon can cost more than other platforms in absolute terms.
Ultimately, Patreon’s value is best if you prioritize not having upfront costs and are comfortable with the percentage model. Just be aware that you’re always sharing a slice of your revenue, which, for some creators, might feel like a heavy toll over time.
CustomerHub Offers Better Pricing Value!
CustomerHub’s pricing is simple: a fixed monthly price of $79 per month with unlimited products, users, multimedia and more.
If you’re comparing pure cost vs. benefits, CustomerHub offers the best value once you’re ready to monetize seriously.
CustomerHub's advanced features and no fees can easily equal or beat Podia’s value. This community platform also gives you more capabilities, and you don’t have to upgrade plans constantly.
For creators who want to sell digital products online and build a long-term business, that peace of mind and cost savings can make a big difference.
Stop Losing Revenue to Podia and Patreon—Try CustomerHub!
If you're looking for a platform that offers full flexibility, brand ownership, and better long-term value, CustomerHub stands out as the smarter, more scalable solution. Here's why it’s a better alternative to Podia and Patreon across key areas:
More Flexible Product Options
CustomerHub lets you sell courses, memberships, and digital downloads side by side. You have the flexibility to offer multiple product types from one dashboard.
Unlike Patreon, you're not limited to a single recurring payment model. CustomerHub supports one-time sales, subscriptions, and even bundles. If you need a platform that grows with your business, it clearly stands out.
Full Branding and Customization
CustomerHub offers extensive customization and full white labeling. It lets you connect your own domain and completely remove CustomerHub branding, giving the appearance of a self-built website to your users.
Its page builder allows drag-and-drop customization of sales pages, course pages, and member dashboards so you can tailor layouts beyond a cookie-cutter template. This is a step up from Podia’s flexibility.
Smarter Checkout Experience
CustomerHub provides a simplified checkout with built-in advanced sales features. Like Podia, it integrates with payment gateways to accept payments, including both one-time payments and recurring billing for memberships.
But the difference is in the optimization. CustomerHub’s checkout is designed to maximize conversions, offering features such as one-click upsells and order bumps right in the flow.
If someone buys a course, you can automatically offer an extra bonus or an upgrade, and they can add it with one click without re-entering info.
Podia does not support this level of upsell natively. CustomerHub also supports multiple payment options for your products. You can set up subscriptions, one-time purchases, or installment payment plans as needed.
All of this occurs with no transaction fees taken by CustomerHub, so you get the full amount.
Built-In Tools for Engagement
CustomerHub does not have a built-in email broadcast system, but it integrates well with leading email marketing platforms and provides automation hooks for engagement.
Through Zapier or direct integrations, you can connect the platform with services like ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, or Keap. When someone purchases or joins, they can be added to your email list or trigger an email sequence.
Also, CustomerHub helps you build your own online community with its built-in customer engagement tools, such as the private community feed and in-app notifications.
Reliable, Human-Centered Customer Support
CustomerHub doesn’t just offer support but also prioritizes it. Every creator has access to responsive, real-human assistance via unlimited live chat.
If you need extra help setting up your courses, community, or automation, the platform’s Done-for-You services are available through CustomerHub’s success team. This hands-on, concierge-style support is a huge step above platforms that use a ticket-based system and will leave you sifting through self-help articles.
High-Converting, Easy-to-Use Sales Pages
CustomerHub gives you customizable sales page templates that are optimized for conversions.
Built with drag-and-drop editing and block-based layouts, you can build and launch pages for digital products, coaching services, or memberships without hiring a designer. Each sales page is designed to highlight your offer and drive urgency in the buying process.
Stronger Integrations and Future Flexibility
CustomerHub emphasizes integrations as a strength, with its compatibility with over 7,000 apps through Zapier. It also has direct integration partnerships with certain platforms like Keap and HubSpot for deeper data syncing.
Transparent, Cost-Effective Pricing
While many platforms lure you in with lower entry costs only to add fees or force upgrades later, CustomerHub offers a single monthly rate with all features included and zero revenue-based fees.
CustomerHub costs $79/month without transaction fees and limitations based on how many members or products you sell.
Unlike Patreon, which takes 5% to 12% of your income (plus payment fees), CustomerHub doesn't take a cut of your revenue. Every dollar you earn from your members or product sales goes directly to you, minus the standard Stripe processing fee.
Build Your Digital Business Without Limits—Start With CustomerHub!
Choosing between Podia and Patreon can feel like picking the lesser of two compromises. Podia limits key features unless you upgrade. Patreon takes a percentage of your income and locks you into a membership-only model.
If you're trying to run a scalable, branded digital business, these compromises only slow you down.
CustomerHub gives you a single, powerful platform to sell online courses and digital products or manage memberships without switching between tools or sacrificing control.
You can create high-converting sales pages and build your own branded online community that strengthens engagement. With a single monthly fee and zero platform commissions, CustomerHub is designed to support creators and business owners who want to keep more of what they earn.
If you’re ready to stop working around platform limits and start growing on your own terms, CustomerHub is the smarter choice. Start your free 14-day trial today!
FAQs About Podia vs Patreon
Is there a better option than Patreon?
CustomerHub is a strong alternative if you want more control and better features. Patreon mainly focuses on memberships, but CustomerHub lets you sell courses, downloads, coaching, and more.
You also keep 100% of your earnings, and with marketing tools built into your workflow through integrations, you have more control over your business growth.
Why are people leaving Patreon?
Many creators leave Patreon because of the fees, limited features, and lack of control. You can’t fully brand your page, and it doesn’t support selling courses or one-time products easily.
Some users also find the support slow or the rules unclear. Platforms like CustomerHub give you more freedom and better tools to grow.
What is better than Podia?
CustomerHub is often seen as a better option than Podia, especially if you need advanced tools without extra fees. Podia is beginner-friendly but holds back features like affiliate marketing and embedded checkout unless you upgrade.
CustomerHub includes these tools in one plan and also gives you more control over customization and community. You can even offer early access to content or products with ease.
What is the Patreon controversy?
Patreon has faced criticism for changing fees without much notice, removing some creators from the platform, and for slow customer support.
These issues made many creators worry about relying on Patreon. Tools like CustomerHub give you more control, so you’re not at risk of sudden changes.
