Patreon is a subscription service that can be set up by independent artists.
One of the best ways to support your favorite creators is by becoming one of their Patreon subscribers.
Patreon gives artists a way to make a steady income, which allows them to devote more time to their craft.
Is Patreon Safe?
Yes, Patreon is completely safe.
It can be difficult to trust such a new concept, but Patreon has allowed thousands of artists to make a career and a living off of what they do best.
For a subscriber, Patreon is perfectly safe to use.
This is a trusted, professional company that is motivated to help artists and other creatives to be able to afford to focus on their projects.
Subscribers get to choose between three levels of subscription.
The lowest-priced tier will be your basic subscription.
As the prices of the tiers rise, they will have more benefits.
You can also set how many months you want to be subscribed to an artist.
Some artists have options for their subscribers to pay per product.
For example, if you’ve subscribed to an artist and you only want to see their how-to videos, you can pay per video.
Other creators offer personalized products for their subscribers.
For a creator, Patreon is just as safe as it is for consumers.
Patreon is more than just a safe move for artists.
It’s a smart move.
This subscription service allows you to get paid for your art and lets you give fans of your work exactly what they want.
The flexibility of Patreon’s services can be applied to any project you’re working on.
Musicians, artists, bloggers, game developers, and many more independent creators can find the perfect payment options for themselves and their audiences.
Patreon has been used and trusted since it started in 2013.
However, it can still be nerve-wracking to enter your credit card information on a website.
You don’t want to fall victim to a scam or endless credit card charges.
Here are 10 reasons why you can trust Patreon.
1. Uses Encryption And Authentication
The first way to prove that Patreon is safe is by checking the URL.
The uniform resource locator, most commonly known as the URL, can tell us a lot about a website.
To gain certain parts of a URL, websites and their owners must get proper certification.
The first part of the URL to evaluate is the scheme, which either looks like “http://” or “https://”.
This part of the URL is also known as the origin.
Websites with the origin “https://” have their Secure Sockets Layer certificate, which is often abbreviated to SSL certificate.
This certification ensures the identity of the website and encrypts the information that you put into the website.
When you look at the fully extended URL for Patreon, their origin ends in an “s”.
This proves that Patreon has its Secure Sockets Layer certification.
There is no way another party can access your information while you are using Patreon because of the data encryption that the website uses.
There is no way that Patreon can use your card unless you’ve given them permission.
Another clue to whether or not a website is safe is whether the domain name is spelled correctly.
Scam sites that are trying to mimic real sites will often have misspelled subdomains.
The subdomain for Patreon’s website is “patreon”, which is the proper spelling of the company’s name.
This means that Patreon’s uniform resource locator checks out as safe.
2. Trusted Privacy Policy
Although it is easy to get bored or overwhelmed, you should always read through the privacy policy of a website.
This can show you that the website owners understand the laws that they have to follow in order for you not to take them to court.
The privacy policy also lets you know exactly what a company plans on doing with the information they are able to gather from you.
Patreon offers its privacy policy from the home page.
It can be found by clicking “Privacy” at the bottom of the page.
In its privacy policy, Patreon explains that your card information goes through its payment processors, not directly through Patreon.
Patreon uses PayPal, Stripe, and Checkout as their payment processors.
All three of these payment processors are trusted and approved by different organizations.
In the Privacy agreement, Patreon also informs patrons of any information they’re taking from you, where they’re getting it from, and what they use it for.
Trustworthy companies and websites are transparent about their intentions.
By making an account with Patreon, you are giving them your first and last name, email address, the username and password for your Patreon account, and the state and county that you live in.
By signing up for Patreon through Facebook or Google, you are giving Patreon the name, email address, and profile picture of your Facebook or Google account.
In another act of transparency, Patreon also lets potential users know how to revoke Patreon’s access to that information, which can be done at any time.
This is another sign that Patreon is safe to use.
3. Website Is Up To Date
Not all websites are created equal.
An online business isn’t going to have an outdated website.
Patreon’s entire business model relies on their website, so they’re going to put a lot of their focus and budget into making their website as appealing as possible.
Cheap websites like those made with WordPress tend to be less secure than other websites.
One study found that more than a million websites made with WordPress were vulnerable to malware.
The reason WordPress is free is that it only offers outdated plug-ins.
The plug-ins used on professional websites are vastly safer thanks to the coding and technology innovations that have been developed in recent years.
Patreon’s website is extremely clean and polished.
It is easy to navigate, and each page looks just as professional as the last.
The fact that the website is compatible with payment processors like PayPal or Checkout is also a great indicator that Patreon keeps its website up-to-date.
4. Clear Contact Information
Before you put your card number on a website, you should always make sure you know how to contact the business if something goes wrong.
You should be able to find how to communicate with the company and where they are located.
A business with nothing to hide will let you know where they are located.
By knowing the location of the business, you can also confirm that you are on the correct website.
Most businesses will provide the locations of their main headquarters and any international branches.
By scrolling to the bottom of Patreon’s homepage, you can find exactly where they are located.
According to their website, Patreon is operating from San Francisco, California.
You even find their street address on their homepage.
Companies who want to ensure that their customers are satisfied will have their contact information somewhere on their website.
Patreon has multiple ways to contact them, such as email and phone.
You can call Patreon at (833)-972-8766.
5. No Malware
Most people who have been on the internet for a long time are able to recognize obvious malware, but scammers are getting sneakier.
Not only can malware steal your information, but it can also ruin your device, such as your smartphone or computer.
If a website has any sign of malware, do enter put any information into the website.
There are multiple types of malware you may notice on a vulnerable website.
While it is normal for a website to have a pop-up asking for your email if you want to join their alert system, you should be cautious of websites with suspicious pop-ups.
Suspicious pop-ups may include threatening messages or other forms of fear-mongering.
Websites that have advertisem*nts that seem fake or untrue should also be avoided.
Examples of these “malvertisem*nts” include miracle cures, unrelated celebrity stories that seem too wild to be reasonable, or realistic-looking ads that have nothing to do with your search history.
You should also avoid websites that try to redirect you to banking websites that look outdated or have misspellings.
You can also tell that it is a malicious redirection if features on the website seem to be nonfunctional.
Another way to spot a fake website is if the format seems stolen from another website.
It may seem like the website just plastered their logo and name onto another website’s theme and format.
Reviewing the Patreon website, you won’t find a single sign of malware.
As a matter of fact, Patreon’s website doesn’t even have any form of advertising.
Their website’s design is completely unique to them and is tailored to their aesthetic.
6. Safe Payment Processor
Those who are worried about their card’s information being stolen while making online payments should look into a payment processor, such as PayPal, Stripe, Checkout, Google Pay, or Apple Pay.
Applications like these were created to help online consumers make safe transactions and to offer a layer of protection that can ensure that your valuable information stays safe.
Payment Processors create virtual account numbers for each purchase you make.
They take the money you are giving to another vendor, plus a small fee to create each account.
These virtual accounts are in the companies’ names and the consumer bears no responsibility for them.
If a website is unable to accept payment from a payment processor, you can always buy a gift card to use on the website instead.
Although there is the hassle of going to the store to get the card, this extra effort can help keep your card information safe.
As stated in Patreon’s privacy policy, they use payment processors to receive any money that consumers send through the service.
Patreon cannot access your card information in order to make a transaction.
Patreon doesn’t take their cut of the money from the patron’s side of the business. Instead, Patreon takes a cut of the money that has gone through the payment processors on its way to the creator.
7. Excellent Reviews
Reviews can save you from making a regrettable or dangerous purchase.
Similar to the review sites for restaurants or movies, there are review sites for businesses and websites.
A good researcher checks multiple sources, so make sure to check a few review websites before making your decision.
Remember that review sites can be a bit harsh because most people only review something if they’ve deemed it bad.
One reliable review website for internet services is G2.
Their reviews are from the people who use the services, and the website is simple to understand.
On G2’s website, Patreon has four out of five stars.
Reviewers all seemed to echo the fact that they appreciated how straightforward Patreon is.
Another great place to check reviews is wherever you downloaded the Patreon app from, whether it be Google Play, Apple’s App Store, or another app marketplace.
The users of Google Play have given Patreon 4.2 out of five stars.
Even in the negative reviews, people’s biggest problem is with the application itself, not Patreon’s service.
There aren’t any complaints about card or information security.
Looking through the reviews of Patreon on the App Store, you will see reviews similar to the ones on Google Play.
Users seem to love the service and the ability to support small creators.
There doesn’t seem to be any talk of security problems.
Based on what people are saying in the reviews for the service and application, Patreon is a reliable way for fans to send money to their favorite creators in order to help them grow as artists and maintain themselves.
8. Virus Free
You don’t have to go through a website by yourself.
There are security features and tools that you can use in order to keep you safe while browsing the internet.
Some of them are even free of charge.
The first option that you have for internet security is Google Safe Browsing.
By having access to all of Google’s databases on countless websites, Google Safe Browsing searches through websites for malware, unwanted software, forms of phishing.
Phishing is when a website tricks a viewer into giving information they wouldn’t normally hand over if they knew the true identity of the website.
Phishing is a form of social engineering.
You can also use a VPN service to defend yourself from malicious attacks.
A virtual private network service keeps your internet connection completely encrypted so websites can’t get any information from you.
They will inform the user when there is a problem or if a VPN has any suspicions of malicious content hiding on the site.
There is also a website where you search files and websites for viruses called VirusTotal.
VirusTotal has over 70 different antivirus scanners.
They also have a database of known vulnerable websites.
In order to check a website, all you have to do is copy the URL of the website you want to check and paste it into their search bar.
Once you have plugged in the website address, VirusTotal will give the results from all of their antivirus scanners.
When plugging in Patreon’s website, it comes up completely clean.
VirusTotal also shows you the last time someone has checked this website, which in Patreon’s case was four days.
When accessing Patreon through NordVPN, the virtual private network didn’t show a single problem or concern with Patreon.
Google Safe Browsing doesn’t have an issue with Patreon either.
9. Secure Connection
There is one safety concern that can arise with Patreon or any other website that asks for your information.
You need to make sure that your connection is secure when giving your information to websites.
There are two ways to make sure that your connection is secure.
First, make sure that you are only putting your card information on a device that belongs to you.
Using a public computer at a library or lobby can leave you vulnerable to the next user of that device.
Even if you log out, there could be spyware that has been placed on that computer without anyone knowing.
Some forms of spyware remember the keystrokes that people have typed out.
Hackers are able to read through all the things that have been typed on that computer in order to find usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, account numbers, and other valuable information that you need to keep safe.
The second way to secure your connection when using Patreon is to only use your home Wi-Fi or a VPN.
Hackers can sneak their way into public Wi-Fi to see all the things that people are looking at on their screens and typing on their keyboards.
By using your own, private Wi-Fi, you are able to ensure that you are the only person connected to your Wi-Fi, as long as you have a password.
Having your Wi-Fi locked behind a password doesn’t just ensure faster connection speeds, but it is also a crucial element of your cybersecurity.
Once you have properly secured your connection to Patreon’s website, Patreon is as safe as shopping at your local grocery store.
10. Safe Billing Methods
Whenever trying out a new service, you should always start with a low-priced option to test the waters.
For example, try subscribing for one month on the lowest tier that your favorite artists have to offer.
Then, keep a close eye on your bank account in the following days.
Each type of payment plan is different.
For artists who charge their patrons per product, Patreon adds up each time an artist releases the content you want.
At the end of the month, this amount is totaled up and your account is charged for the entire month’s worth of products.
Monthly subscriptions are charged differently and separately from per product offers.
When you first sign up for the monthly subscription, you won’t be charged.
Patreon will not charge your account until the end of the month.
For those who choose to go with annual subscriptions, you will not be charged until the end of the year-long period you have subscribed for.
Remember that your annual subscription will renew itself automatically unless you cancel before the annual subscription ends.
After you have tested Patreon out and confirmed that what their billing website says is true, you’ll know for certain that Patreon is as safe as any other online commerce.
The fact that Patreon is so open about how they are going to bill those who pay artists through their service is another extremely trustworthy sign.
Patreon isn’t just a safe place to find new talent and support the talented people you already know.
It is what helps artists live off of their skills and hobbies.
Patreon’s goal from the very beginning was to help talented people live their life doing what they do best for others, and that mission has held true to this day.
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