For many content creators, finding the best way to make money online is a constant challenge. As your audience grows, so do your opportunities — but so does the pressure to choose the right tools. Two popular routes are subscription platforms like Patreon and one-off purchase tools such as Pay Links.
Both can help you earn, but they work very differently. And when it comes to keeping more of your income, Pay Links (especially through PUSH.fm) often come out on top.
Here’s a breakdown of how both options compare and why Pay Links can help you earn more with fewer barriers.
What Patreon offers creators
Patreon is a subscription-based platform where fans pay monthly for access to exclusive content. It’s widely known, creator-friendly, and offers tools for building a paid community.
What you get with Patreon:
- Monthly income through different membership tiers
- Community features
- Private posts, video uploads, and messaging
- Tools for managing perks and rewards
While Patreon works well for some creators, it also comes with limitations that affect your earnings.
The limitations of Patreon
Here’s what creators often struggle with:
1. Platform fees
Depending on your plan, Patreon takes between 5% and 12% of your monthly earnings — before payment processing fees.
Once everything is deducted, creators often lose 15–20% of their income.
2. A constant pressure to deliver monthly
Because Patreon relies on consistent exclusive content, creators feel obligated to produce new posts every month. This can quickly become overwhelming.
3. Paywalls that shrink your audience
Only paying members see your best content, meaning you’re relying on a tiny percentage of your followers to generate income.
4. Complexity for new creators
Membership tiers, reward structures, and ongoing commitments make Patreon harder to maintain for beginners or those with small audiences.
What Pay Links offer creators
Pay Links allow creators to sell individual items to fans — such as digital downloads, bonus content, presets, guides, artwork, behind-the-scenes material, and more.
On PUSH.fm, Pay Links are:
- completely free to use,
- easy to set up,
- and perfect for creators of any size.
There are no monthly fees and no percentages taken by PUSH.fm, so creators keep far more of what they earn.
Why Pay Links help creators earn more
1. No platform cuts
Unlike Patreon, PUSH.fm doesn’t take a percentage of your sales.
You keep 100% of your earnings (minus standard payment processing fees).
This alone makes Pay Links a more profitable option.
2. Sell what you want, when you want
There’s no pressure to publish monthly content.
You can create:
- one-off downloads
- exclusive videos
- digital artwork
- sample packs
- tutorials
- music
- e-books
- templates
You only produce something when you want to — and your fans pay for exactly what they’re getting.
3. Works for creators of all sizes
You don’t need a large fanbase to make money.
If even a small portion of your audience wants your download or bonus content, you earn instantly.
4. Ideal for multi-platform creators
Whether you’re on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, or Spotify, you can share your Pay Link anywhere:
- in bios
- in video descriptions
- in comments
- via Smart Links
- through newsletters
Fans don’t need an account — they just click, pay, and download.
5. No long-term commitment
Your content stays flexible.
You’re not tied into tiers, schedules, or ongoing promises.
Pay Links are perfect for creators who want freedom and control.
Which earns creators the most?
When you compare both options side-by-side, the answer is clear:
Patreon is great for ongoing monthly support, but it comes with fees, pressure, and a limited audience.
Pay Links through PUSH.fm let creators keep more money, sell more freely, and earn at any scale — with zero platform fees.
For most creators, especially beginners or those with unpredictable schedules, Pay Links will almost always earn more, because every sale counts, and you keep every pound you make.
Choosing how to monetise your content is a big decision, but it doesn’t need to be complicated. If you want flexibility, full ownership of your earnings, and a simple system that works across all your platforms, Pay Links through PUSH.fm are the strongest choice.
They’re free, fast to set up, and designed to help creators earn exactly what they deserve — without unnecessary fees or pressure.
