Patreon’s 3 million supporters are good news for independent creators

In 2019, the company is expected to pass $1 billion in paid contributions since 2013.

Patreon has had one clear goal since it launched in 2013: to help artists, influencers and internet creators make money by letting them offer membership services directly to their fans. And that effort seems to be paying off. Today, Patreon announced there are now over three million people supporting creators on its site, of which there are more than 100,000 to date. What's also notable is that the company was able to accomplish this milestone in a rapid manner, going from two to three million supporters (aka patrons) worldwide in just one year.

In addition to that major growth in patrons, Patreon says this year it will pass $1 billion in paid contributions since 2013, and in 2019 alone it expects to send creators over half a billion dollars to fund their membership offerings. This all bodes well for artists, illustrators, musicians, DIYers and other independent creators who depend on financial contributions from their audience, with Patreon proving to be a reliable platform for them to earn revenue.

With the algorithms and advertising guidelines often changing on sites like YouTube, which make it harder for creators to earn money from their content, people are becoming more dependent on Patreon and similar membership services. Jack Conte, Patreon co-founder and CEO, told Engadget in an interview that what his company has been able to accomplish is "unimaginable." But, at the same time, he isn't surprised that creators and their fans are turning to Patron to create "a connection" they both benefit from. As a patron, for example, you can get exclusive content based on your donation to your favorite creators.