Patreon vs. Indiegogo: Which One Better?

As the need for Patreon alternatives grows, new platforms are rising everyday other day. This is surely good news for the creators, and indeed, all of us. Now, there's something for everyone in the market for platforms to grow and monetize their subscriber base.

In this article, I will compare the two very famous platforms online in the following aspects:

• Introduction: Patreon vs Indiegogo
• Platform Fees: Both Take a Cut-off on Overall Donations
• Features and Tools: Different in Nature and Cater Different Users
• Funding Model: Subscription-based v.s. One-time Payment
• Content Delivery: Both Offer Great Freedom to Creators

1. Introduction: Patreon vs Indiegogo

Patreon: Patreon is an American membership platform in 2013 that provides business tools for content creators such as Youtube videographers, webcomic artists and writers etc. to run a subscription service. Basically, it allows creators to monetize their work and develop a recurring income stream.

Indiegogo: Indiegogo is one of the world's largest crowdfunding platform, assists individuals, groups, and non-profits in raising funds online to bring their ideas to life. Every project is produced separately on a platform where members of the public can contribute funds in exchange for awards or the finished product. This reward-based crowdfunding approach can be traced all the way back to the beginnings of the internet.

2. Platform fees: Both takes a cut-off fee on overall donation

3. Features and Tools: Different in Nature and Cater Different Users

Patreon: All-rounded supporting tools and integration

Creators with a Patreon account can gain insight into and manage their campaign from a single dashboard. Data provided is linked to Google Analytics, so you can even see info on where your new patrons are coming from. The public-facing page has a place for your campaign description, reward tiers, private or public posts, and community interactions.

Example of Patreon dashboard

Discord integration is another highlighted feature of Patreon. Many creators discovered that their fans/followers like gathering in a shared area to share ideas, hang out, and encourage one another. With Patreon's Discord integration, you can provide reward tiers access to a private Discord server. For example, at the $3/mo and higher level, you might offer access to all patrons.

Example of Patreon Discord

Indiegogo: Less In-built Tools But Keep Good Track of Statistics

Through the User Dashboard (with Google Analytics) on Indiegogo, you can keep track of what is happening with the campaign once a campaign goes live. You can receive up-to-date statistics, including general traffic sources and more.

Indiegogo's dashboard

Further, the “Perk” tab of the dashboard allows you to have a clearer view of who has received their stuff and who hasn’t, your individual supporters’ contribution numbers, transactions dates, amounts and fulfilled perks and contact information. You can also organize your “perks” or rewards offered to your supporters.

Indiegogo's "Perk" tab

Referrals dashboard is another useful tool of Indiegogo. You can keep track of who is sharing your campaign, information on who has referred people to your campaign and how many donations have come from those referrals.

Indiegogo's referral tab

4. Funding Model: Subscription-based v.s. One-time Payment

Patreon: Subscription-based Platform and Ongoing Support

For Patreon, supporters, usually named Patrons, pledge a monthly fee to view the content you have created. As a creator, you can therefore generate a recurring, periodic supply of funds.

Indiegogo: One-time Payment

Unlike Patreon that has a subscription-based payment system, Indiegogo operates on a reward-based system that lets backers raise funds for startups, ideas, products, and charities. In addition, as distinct from most crowdfunding platforms which only allow you to collect the amount of money you have raised once a certain fundraising goal, Indiegogo’s flexible funding model can be all-or-nothing or keep-what-you-raise based. Thus, it is entirely up to you when you receive the funds, as long as you meet the fundraising minimum $500 to run a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.

5. Content Delivery: Both Offer Great Freedom to Creators

Unlike traditional content platforms like Youtube which contains stricter content guidelines and policy, creators usually enjoy more freedom on paid membership platforms. Yet, there are still restrictions in terms of content delivery on these platforms.

Patreon: Generally liberal

For patreon, creators basically a great extent of freedom:

Indiegogo: Diverse Base and Generally Liberal

Indiegogo is a general-purpose crowdfunding platform that accepts all types of campaigns. On the platform, all types of projects are welcomed for fundraising. That means the regulations about who’s on the site are very lax, which can be good or it can mean lots of competition for the attention of donors.

Full community guidelines of Patreon: here

Full community guidelines of Indiegogo: here

Key takeaways

To be short, with its all-rounded supporting tools, Patreon would be a viable choice for content creators who create regularly. Its constant funding model for newer endeavours taken up by creative professionals was made possible and easier by Patreon and its subscription-based fundraising model. On the other hand, Indiegogo gives you the option of launching a Patreon-like continuous crowdfunding campaign after succeeding with your initial campaign.

Nevertheless, whichever crowdfunding site a company decides to use. It's critical to understand that a successful crowdfunding campaign should be part of a larger company strategy. Hope this article enable you to make the best choice for yourself!

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