Effective take-rate table
| # | Platform | Creator keeps | Headline price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VewMe Pro | 90% (processing included) | $997/yr flat | Best above ~$1,000/mo. |
| 2 | VewMe Growth | 85% (processing included) | $397/yr flat | Best from ~$300/mo to ~$3,000/mo. |
| 3 | Ko-fi Gold | ~93% after processing | $8/mo | Low cost but limited features. |
| 4 | Skool | ~97% after $99/mo + 2.9% | $99/mo | Wins only at very high volume. |
| 5 | Patreon Lite | ~85–89% after processing | 8% + 2.9% + $0.30 | Baseline. |
The processing-included difference
Most Patreon alternatives quote a platform fee and then add 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction on top. VewMe bundles processing into a single flat annual fee, so your keep-rate is your real, in-your-pocket keep-rate.
When Patreon still wins
Patreon still wins if you value being inside their existing marketplace and don't want to build any of your own audience acquisition. Everyone else saves money on VewMe.
Real monthly scenarios, dollar for dollar
Headline percentages hide the truth, because per-transaction fees hit small payments hardest. Here is what a creator actually keeps at three common revenue levels, assuming an average $8 membership and standard card processing:
| Monthly revenue | Patreon Pro (10%) | VewMe Growth ($397/yr) | VewMe Pro ($997/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500/mo | ~$415 kept | ~$425 kept | ~$367 kept |
| $2,000/mo | ~$1,660 kept | ~$1,700 kept | ~$1,800 kept |
| $10,000/mo | ~$8,300 kept | ~$8,500 kept | ~$9,000 kept |
The crossover is clear: under roughly $300/month, percentage-only platforms are fine. Past that, a flat annual fee with processing included pulls ahead and keeps pulling further ahead every single month you grow.
How to switch platforms without losing subscribers
- Export your supporter email list before you announce anything. On VewMe that list is always exportable, so this is a one-time scramble, not a recurring one.
- Launch your new site with a founder's rate (existing supporters keep their current price for 12 months) so nobody feels punished for moving.
- Announce the move as an upgrade for them: your own domain, better content cadence, members-only perks they didn't have before.
- Run both platforms in parallel for one billing cycle, then close the old one with a final "last week to move" post and email.
- Expect 60 to 80 percent of paying supporters to follow you within 60 days when the offer is framed as an upgrade. Creators who keep their old price and add perks land at the top of that range.