Patreon’s latest fan engagement tool comes in the form of live video

For creators who want to forge deeper fan connections and establish stronger revenue streams, Patreon has a plan: Go live. The monetization platform has started testing a Live Video product that will give users a way to launch broadcasts without leaving the Patreon app.

Patreon users could already integrate live streams from other platforms, but the new product will make that process seamless while opening up new opportunities along the way. Features embedded into Patreon streams will help convert “free” patrons (who subscribe to a creator without financially supporting them) into paying customers.

In its recent State of Create report, Patreon argued that having authentic interactions with fans is more valuable to creators than reaching arbitrary viewership benchmarks. 81% of creators surveyed for that report said they desire a channel for direct communications with fans.

On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, live video offers that kind of channel. TikTok Live has proved to be a dependable moneymaker for creators; it is projected to haul in $77 billion of annual sales by 2027. Instagram has updated its own live video product to facilitate direct communications between creators and their core supporters.

Patreon introduced native video in 2022. In the years since, the company led by CEO Jack Conte has introduced a number of features that make the video experience on Patreon look more like Twitch. Gifted subscriptions arrived in 2024, and a sitewide Explore tab dropped later that year. Long-form creators — especially podcasters — have benefitted from those perks to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Native live video on Patreon will continue to draw influence from Twitch. There will be a chat window where fans can offer input, and a robust suite of monetization tools will moderate those discussions. Integrations will third-party products like OBS and Streamlabs will be available. There’s one key part of Patreon Live Video that is distinct from Twitch: It will be an ad-free experience.

A Patreon spokesperson told The Verge that “thousands of creators” are currently testing Live Video ahead of a wider rollout planned for the summer. The spokesperson said that feedback from the trial group of creators will be incorporated into the product moving forward.