51ÂÒÂ×

Running a membership business is about how much control you have over your content, pricing, and audience. That’s where the choice between 51ÂÒÂ× and Patreon gets interesting.

If you've ever wondered whether to own your platform or leverage an existing community, this comparison will clear things up. Patreon is built for creators who want quick and easy fan support, while 51ÂÒÂ× offers a full suite of tools to build, brand, and grow your business on your terms.

The right choice depends on what you're building and how far you want to take it. Let’s break down the differences so you can decide with confidence.

51ÂÒÂ× Overview

51ÂÒÂ× is an all-in-one platform designed for entrepreneurs, coaches, and content creators who want to build and scale their online businesses. It allows users to create, market, and sell digital products such as online courses, membership sites, coaching programs, and digital downloads. 

One of 51ÂÒÂ×’s standout features is its seamless integration of website hosting, email marketing, automation, and sales funnels, eliminating the need for third-party tools. 

With a user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder, customizable themes, and an intuitive interface, 51ÂÒÂ× allows creators to design professional-looking websites without requiring advanced technical skills. The platform also includes robust analytics tools, enabling users to track customer behavior, sales performance, and engagement metrics to optimize their marketing strategies. 

Additionally, 51ÂÒÂ× supports different pricing models, such as one-time payments, subscriptions, and payment plans, making it a flexible choice for monetizing digital content. While it is a premium platform with higher pricing compared to some alternatives, it offers a comprehensive solution for those looking to centralize their business operations under one roof.

Patreon Overview

is a creator-focused membership platform designed to help artists, podcasters, writers, and other digital creators earn recurring income from their fans. Instead of building an entire website or managing complex sales funnels, Patreon lets you set up a page, offer exclusive content, and get paid through monthly subscriptions. 

It’s particularly popular among artists, podcasters, musicians, writers, and other creatives who produce exclusive content for their supporters. 

Unlike traditional monetization methods that rely on advertisements or product sales, Patreon allows fans to contribute a recurring amount in exchange for perks, such as early access to content, behind-the-scenes updates, exclusive community access, or personalized rewards. 

The platform operates on a tiered membership system, allowing creators to offer different benefits depending on the level of financial support. Patreon also integrates with platforms like Discord and YouTube, enhancing community engagement and content distribution. 

While it provides a straightforward way for creators to earn predictable, recurring income, Patreon takes a percentage of earnings as a platform fee, and its dependence on audience loyalty means that creators need to engage and deliver value to maintain subscriptions consistently.

Is 51ÂÒÂ× Really A Good Patreon Alternative?

When you’re researching the best membership site for your knowledge business, it can be confusing. Sometimes, the features look so similar, it’s hard to know which platform is going to work best for you and your business.

From our experience working with thousands of knowledge entrepreneurs, these are the features that can make it easy to build your business or complicate your life so much, you feel like giving up:

1. Monthly cost
2. Design customizations and templates
3. Integrations vs. all-in-one
4. Ease of getting started
5. Content security and access
6. Analytics and reporting
7. Customer service and support
8. Community growth
9. Membership site scalability

Ready to see how each platform measures up? Let’s get started.

1. 51ÂÒÂ× Vs. Patreon: Monthly Cost

One of the biggest differences between 51ÂÒÂ× and Patreon is how they charge you. 51ÂÒÂ× has a fixed monthly fee, while Patreon takes a percentage of your earnings. This difference affects how much you actually keep from what you earn.

51ÂÒÂ× works on a straightforward subscription model. You pay a set fee each month (or annually for a discount) and get full access to all the tools you need to run a membership business. Unlike Patreon, 51ÂÒÂ× doesn’t take a percentage of your earnings, meaning you keep everything you make.

Here’s what you pay for 51ÂÒÂ×, depending on the features you need:

• Kickstarter ($71/month billed annually or $89/month billed monthly): 1 product, 1 community, 250 contacts, and 7,500 marketing emails.
• Basic ($119/month billed annually or $149/month billed monthly): 3 products, 10,000 contacts, unlimited marketing emails, and third-party integrations.
• Growth ($159/month billed annually or $199/month billed monthly): 15 products, 25,000 contacts, affiliate programs, and 24/7 support.
• Pro ($319/month billed annually or $399/month billed monthly): 100 products, 100,000 contacts, multiple admin users, and webhooks.

Regardless of the plan, you get unlimited landing pages, unlimited marketing emails, and complete control over branding. Since there’s no revenue sharing, the more you earn, the more you keep.

Patreon takes a different approach. Instead of charging you a fixed fee, they take a percentage of everything you make. This means that while you don’t pay anything upfront, Patreon makes money by keeping a portion of your earnings every month.

The percentage Patreon takes depends on the plan you choose:

• Lite (5% cut from your earnings): Basic membership page with simple tools.
• Pro (8% cut from your earnings): Membership tiers, analytics, and special promotions.
• Premium (12% cut from your earnings): Includes a dedicated account manager and advanced tools.

On top of that, Patreon also charges processing fees (usually around 5% + $0.10 per transaction) and may apply currency conversion fees if your audience pays in different currencies. These small deductions add up quickly, especially as your earnings grow.

The best option depends on how much control you want and how much money you expect to make.

• 51ÂÒÂ× is better if you want to keep 100% of your revenu