Years after becoming a desirable revenue stream for creators, podcasts are continuing to flourish on Patreon. The monetization platform has announced that revenue generated by its podcast library reached $629 million in 2025. That sum represents a year-over-year increase of 33%.
Through Patreon, creators can host, distribute, and monetize their audiovisual shows. That setup has attracted an eclectic array of high-profile users, ranging from the filmmaker Quentin Tarantino to the hip-hop pundit Joe Budden to the creator duo Dan and Phil.
Those stars form the top end of Patreon’s annual podcast revenue tally. On his own, Budden rakes in $1 million per month from his patrons, making him one of Patreon’s highest earners.
Subscribe to get the latest creator news
At the same time, a long tail is adding to Patreon’s eye-popping numbers. The platform has talked for years about its ability to reach niche consumers in categories in gaming, and podcasts are one of the most useful vehicles for any creator who is looking to add to their bottom line. More than 47,000 podcasters now earn income from their patrons, and Patreon’s podcasting category counts 7.6 million paid memberships in all.
Patreon is hardly the only entity trying to partner with that growing class of independent podcasters. Newsletter hub beehiiv recently announced a move into the podcast distribution space, and it’s hoping to offer a screaming deal by charging partners a flat fee instead of taking a cut of their podcast revenue. Patreon typically takes 10% of the podcast earnings generated through its platform.
Corporate media is also challenging Patreon. Tech giants like OpenAI are buying out top podcasts, and deep-pocketed venture capital firms are getting in on the spending spree as well. George Soros‘ Soros Fund Management recently announced that it is investing in MeidasTouch, a left-leaning podcast network with a big presence on YouTube.
As the podcasting field gets more crowded, Patreon is honing its approach to make sure it still claims a significant piece of the pie. A Spotify integration, for example, has helped Patreon creators reach more listeners and convert them into paying customers. Patreon Chief Operating Officer Paige Fitzgerald told Variety that 15% of Spotify users who visit a creator’s Patreon page end up buying paid memberships.
Since its inception in 2013, Patreon has been laser-focused on supporting the needs of creators and working alongside them to reduce reliance on Big Tech platforms. Its plan to counteract Apple’s App Store fees, for example, positioned it as an ally of independent voices.
“Our business model aligns with creators,” Fitzgerald told Variety. “We only make money when creators make money. Every decision we make is about, ‘How we do enable our creators’ businesses to grow?'”
In 2025, that approach paid off in a big way. Patreon is an indispensable partner for thousands of podcasters, and everyone from film buffs to rap critics is tuning in.
