Patreon is finally experimenting with native live streaming, a new feature that can attract more creators and help them make more money. Features have been rolled out this week to select a tester and will be widely available this summer.
Like other platforms, Patreon's new livestream feature comes with live chat, which allows fans to comment and interact with emoji reactions, and the ability to pre-schedule livestreams. Creators can also assign moderators to chat.
Patreon Creators have traditionally relied on third-party tools such as CrowdCast, YouTube, Obs (Open Broadcaster Software), and Vimeo to host LiveStreams. Pitch to creators for Patreon: Native live streaming allows you to avoid the crowded feed of distracting ads found on other platforms.
Now they can live directly within the Patreon Mobile app or on the web.
In particular, there is no time limit for the duration of the creators can stream. This means you can stream 24/7 if you wish. However, depending on which plan you have, there are certain videos that are allowed to upload.
This may be a more attractive option than Tiktok Live, which has a 60-minute limit. Twitch will implement a 48-hour limit for continuous streaming. YouTube allows for unlimited streaming, but limits users to around 10 separate streams each day.
Image credit: Patreon
Live video also opens up new monetization opportunities. Creators can choose to stream only to pay members to maximize revenue, or to offer free live streams to attract more audiences. Additionally, creators can share live stream recordings with their fans. This includes the option of placing the video as a one-time purchase behind the paywall.
However, one limitation is that there is no native co-hosting capabilities. Creators should use OBS or Streets integration for this.
Patreon did not disclose specific future plans for live video, but showed that creators are exploring new opportunities to make money during the live stream. A company spokesman pointed us to the direction of the membership gift feature, so we speculate that this could be added to the live stream in the future.