Launchsub vs Patreon for Discord Memberships: Fees, Control, and Features
Many creators first monetize their Discord through Patreon: supporters pledge on Patreon, and the Patreon Discord integration hands them a role. It works, but Patreon is a full creator platform where Discord is one integration among many. Launchsub takes the opposite approach: Discord is the product.
Patreon fee information comes from Patreon's own announcement of its pricing change, as of November 6, 2026.
Quick comparison
| Launchsub | Patreon | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Paid Discord communities | Creators publishing content (posts, video, audio) |
| Platform fee | Free: 10%, Pro: €29/mo + 4%, Scale: €49/mo + 2% | 10% for new creators since August 4, 2025 |
| Payment processing | Stripe fees, on top | Patreon processing fees, on top |
| Where the money goes | Directly to your Stripe account | Your Patreon balance, then paid out to you |
| Customer relationship | Your members, in your Stripe account | Patrons pay through Patreon's platform |
| Discord roles | Core feature, per product | Via the Patreon Discord integration, per tier |
| Billing periods | Daily to yearly, one-time, lifetime | Mostly monthly or annual memberships |
| Content hosting and discovery | ❌ (your content lives in Discord) | ✅ Posts, media, app, some discovery |
Fees: what you keep
Patreon's pricing changed in 2025. Creators who launched their page on or before August 4, 2025 kept their existing plan (for example, Pro at 8%). Creators who launched after that date pay a 10% platform fee. Payment processing fees come on top in both cases.
Launchsub's fees go down as you grow:
| Monthly revenue | Launchsub (best plan) | Patreon (10%) | Patreon legacy (8%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 30 (Free) | 30 | 24 |
| 1,000 | 69 (Pro or Scale) | 100 | 80 |
| 3,000 | 109 (Scale) | 300 | 240 |
| 10,000 | 249 (Scale) | 1,000 | 800 |
Platform fees only. Processing fees apply on top with both. Launchsub prices are in euros.
At small revenue, the two are close. Once a community passes about 500 per month, Launchsub's Pro plan already costs less than Patreon's 10%, and the gap keeps growing: at 3,000 per month, the difference is around 190 per month.
Control: your Stripe account vs a platform balance
With Launchsub, every payment lands in your own Stripe account. You see each customer, you control refunds, and payouts follow your normal Stripe schedule. If you ever leave, your customer and payment history stays in Stripe.
With Patreon, patrons pay Patreon, and money builds up in your Patreon balance before you withdraw it. Patreon handles more for you, such as being the seller your patrons deal with, but the relationship runs through Patreon's platform.
Neither model is wrong. It comes down to whether you'd rather own the payment relationship or hand it to a platform.
Discord experience
Patreon's Discord integration links a patron's Patreon account to their Discord account and gives them the role tied to their tier. Members need a Patreon account and need to connect it to Discord.
Launchsub is designed around that one flow:
- A checkout page for your server at launchsub.com/your-name, with your logo, colors, description, and FAQ
- Members sign in with Discord and pay. The role is granted the moment payment succeeds.
- Roles are removed automatically after a cancellation or an unpaid renewal.
- Discord webhooks post purchases, renewals, and failed payments to a channel of your choice.
Billing flexibility
Patreon is built around monthly (and annual) memberships. Launchsub lets you sell:
- Subscriptions billed daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or yearly
- One-time access, for example a six-week cohort
- Lifetime access
- Free trials, coupons, and optional setup fees
Where Patreon is the better choice
Patreon makes sense if:
- Your content lives outside Discord. If you publish videos, podcasts, articles, or downloads, Patreon hosts them and gives patrons a feed and an app.
- You want Patreon to handle the selling side. Patreon deals with patrons' payments for you, which can simplify things like sales tax in some countries.
- Your audience already uses Patreon. Supporters who already have a Patreon account may find it familiar.
Which should you choose?
Choose Launchsub if:
- Discord is where your community and your value live.
- You want payments in your own Stripe account and direct control over your members.
- You earn (or plan to earn) more than about 500 per month and want lower fees.
- You want billing options beyond monthly memberships.
Choose Patreon if:
- You publish content that needs hosting, and Discord is a bonus for patrons.
- You'd rather have a platform handle payments and patron accounts for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Patreon to give Discord roles?
Yes. Patreon's Discord integration gives each patron the role tied to their tier. Patrons need to connect their Patreon account to Discord.
How much does Patreon take?
For creators who launched their page after August 4, 2025, Patreon charges a 10% platform fee, plus payment processing fees. Creators who launched earlier kept their legacy plan.
Is Launchsub cheaper than Patreon?
At low revenue, the platform fees are similar. Above about 500 per month, Launchsub's Pro and Scale plans cost less than Patreon's 10% fee, and the gap widens as you grow.
Can I move my patrons from Patreon to Launchsub?
Yes, but plan it carefully. Create your products in Launchsub, export your patron list, import it as a CSV, and send patrons the link to continue. Give people a clear date and a reason to switch.
Keep reading
If Discord is your product, start selling with Launchsub for free.