YouTube Memberships or Patreon: Which is Better for YouTube Earnings?

So, you're looking to monetize your YouTube channel more seriously. You've probably heard the buzz about YouTube Memberships and Patreon as ways to build a paid community around your content. Both platforms promise the chance to earn a stable income, but which one should you go for?

We know how hard it can be to decide between these two, especially when you’re already juggling the many hats of being a creator. That’s why we're diving deep into each option to give you the lowdown on what each can offer.

YouTube Memberships: The Convenience Factor

YouTube Memberships are great for creators who want quick and simple access to paid subscribers. It’s already built into YouTube, which means no extra platforms to manage. Fans can sign up, pay, and get exclusive content right on the platform they’re already using.

The benefits also include:

#1. Easy Setup

YouTube keeps things simple. Your subscribers don’t need to leave YouTube to sign up for memberships. It's easy to set up, and you don’t need to worry about directing your fans to another platform. They just click the JOIN button.

#2. Streamlined Management

All of your membership management happens directly in YouTube’s control panel. You won’t need to split your attention between different platforms, which can be a nightmare, especially as your community grows.

#3. More Exposure

YouTube’s got a massive audience, and it’s easy to get noticed by offering exclusive YouTube membership perks, such as members-only videos.

But what about the drawbacks?

• 30% Cut. Yep, if you want to know how much YouTube takes from membership, the answer is 30% of your earnings. Pretty steep compared to other platforms.
• YouTube Membership Requirements. You need to be part of the YouTube Partner Program, be 18 years or older, and have at least 1,000 subscribers. So, if you’re a smaller creator, this might not be an option.

Still, despite these fees and requirements, YouTube’s membership system can be a huge boost for many creators. But how do you manage the payments from YouTube Channel Memberships? Let’s talk about MilX.

Why MilX Can Help

YouTube Memberships come with a built-in payout delay – your revenue often takes weeks to appear in your bank account.

With MilX, you can get your money any day. You can also unlock up to six months of future earnings through Active Funds, which means you can reinvest in your channel whenever you need to. 40+ currencies, 10+ payment methods, including crypto – we make sure you can get paid how you want, when you want. No waiting, no drama. 

Download MilX today and access your YouTube Memberships revenue instantly.

Patreon: A More Flexible, Yet Tricky Platform

Now, let’s talk about Patreon. If YouTube Memberships are like the easy, reliable option, Patreon is your flexible, customizable, but slightly more complicated alternative.

Patreon doesn’t come with YouTube’s built-in audience, but it gives you way more flexibility when it comes to offering perks. You can set up multiple subscription tiers with different benefits, and offer everything from exclusive videos to physical merch. 

The benefits include:

#1. No Minimums

Unlike YouTube, Patreon allows creators of any size to start monetizing right away. Whether you have 100 or 100,000 followers, you can start earning from your audience. This is great for newer creators.

#2. Cross-Platform Potential

Patreon isn’t restricted to YouTube. You can integrate it across other platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, which means you can monetize audiences from multiple places. If you’re a creator with a presence beyond YouTube, Patreon can consolidate all of your income into one place.

But that doesn’t mean it’s the easiest option. Here are the drawbacks:

• You Drive Traffic. You’re responsible for driving traffic to your Patreon page from YouTube and other platforms. This means more marketing and more effort.
• Payment Processing Fees. While the cut is lower (5%-12%), it still adds payment processing fees, which can eat into your Patreon income.
• No MilX Access. Unfortunately, MilX doesn’t support payments or revenue tracking for Patreon. This means that while MilX can help you manage your YouTube Memberships earnings, it won’t help with Patreon’s payment processing or tracking.

Yes, Patreon’s membership cost is much less than YouTube's. But then there are also payment processing fees to think about. 

YouTube Memberships, Paid Instantly

Get access to your YouTube earnings with MilX. No more waiting for the monthly payout – reinvest your income when you need it. Download MilX for free.

YouTube Membership vs Patreon – Use Both?

Here’s a comparison cheat sheet if you want to make a quick decision and pick one thing:

But you don’t have to choose. Not really. You can use both YouTube Memberships and Patreon to maximize your income. Think of YouTube Memberships as the platform for quick, easy access, and Patreon as the place where you offer extra perks for your most hardcore fans.

For example, your YouTube Memberships could give fans access to things like live streams, badges, or emojis, while your Patreon could offer behind-the-scenes content, merchandise, or private Q&As. 

You can even use one to drive traffic to the other, giving your fans a little taste of what they can get if they support you more deeply.

MilX: Your One-Stop-Shop for Cash Flow

Whether you go with YouTube Memberships or Patreon, managing your earnings is hard. But with MilX, you don’t have to wait for your monthly payouts from AdSense.

You can access your earnings daily and get paid through 10+ methods, including crypto.

No more waiting weeks for a payout. With MilX, you have the flexibility to use your earnings whenever you want. Need to reinvest in your channel or pay for new gear? Done. 

MilX even allows you to unlock up to six months of your future earnings with Active Funds, giving you the financial freedom you need to keep your channel growing.

So, what’s the right move for you? That's for you to decide – but with MilX, you’ll always have a way to make it work easier on YouTube. Try the free MilX app today.