Tmbr vs Patreon: own your members instead of renting an audience.
The short version: Patreon makes creator memberships easy but takes a percentage of every pledge and keeps your members inside its platform, while Tmbr runs memberships on your own website and CRM for a flat monthly fee — so you own the relationship and keep more of the revenue. If you want a turnkey audience, Patreon is convenient; if you want to own your members, that''s the case for Tmbr.
Patreon lowered the barrier to recurring support, and that''s real. The cost is structural: a percentage of every pledge, plus an audience that lives on Patreon''s terms rather than yours.
Key takeaways
- Patreon takes a percentage of pledges; Tmbr is a flat monthly fee with payments through your own Stripe account.
- On Tmbr, members live in your own website and CRM — not on a platform that owns the relationship.
- Tmbr adds a website, events (flat $1 per paid ticket, free events free), and a newsletter around your memberships.
- Tmbr starts at $39/month; Patreon''s percentage grows with your success.
Where does Patreon shine?
Patreon is simple to start and has a built-in audience and discovery. For a creator who wants the least setup and doesn''t mind the cut, it is convenient.
Where does Tmbr go further?
Tmbr puts memberships on your own site, billed through your own Stripe account, with no platform percentage on the pledge. Your members are contacts in your CRM and names on your newsletter — yours to keep if you ever move. Around the membership you also get a website, events, and a shop.
| Patreon | Tmbr |
|---|---|
| Percentage of every pledge | Flat monthly fee, your own Stripe |
| Members on Patreon | Members in your site + CRM |
| Memberships-focused | Memberships + website + events + shop |
| Built-in discovery | Your own audience to keep |
If you value Patreon''s built-in audience, it has a place. If you would rather own your members and keep the percentage, Tmbr is built for that.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tmbr take a percentage of memberships like Patreon?
No. Tmbr is a flat monthly fee and memberships bill through your own Stripe account, with no platform cut of the pledge beyond Stripe''s standard processing.
Do I own my members on Tmbr?
Yes. Members are contacts in your own CRM and newsletter, on your own website.
Does Patreon have discovery that Tmbr doesn''t?
Yes — Patreon has a built-in audience and discovery network, which Tmbr does not replicate. You bring your own audience to Tmbr.
What else do I get beyond memberships?
A website, events with flat-$1 paid ticketing, a shop, and a newsletter, all in one place.
What does it cost?
Tmbr starts at $39/month, with two months free when you pay annually.