Step-by-Step Guide: Building a Patreon Clone with Adalo

This comprehensive guide will walk you through building a creator membership platform similar to Patreon using Adalo's no-code builder. You'll learn how to set up subscription tiers, process recurring payments, gate exclusive content, and create a complete ecosystem for creators and their supporters—all without writing a single line of code.

What Is a Patreon Clone and Why Build One with a No-Code App Builder

A Patreon clone is a membership platform that enables creators—artists, podcasters, educators, writers—to monetize their work through recurring subscriptions. Supporters (patrons) pay monthly fees to access exclusive content, community features, and direct creator interaction at different membership tiers.

Building this type of app traditionally required months of development and significant technical expertise. No-code platforms have changed that landscape dramatically, enabling significantly faster development compared to traditional coding approaches.

Core Features Every Patreon-Style App Needs

Your membership platform should include:

• Tiered subscription system with multiple membership levels
• Recurring payment processing through secure payment gateways
• Content gating that restricts access based on membership tier
• Creator profiles showcasing their work and offerings
• Patron dashboard displaying subscribed content and benefits
• Community features like comments, direct messaging, and updates
• Analytics dashboard tracking revenue and patron engagement

When No-Code Makes Sense for Subscription Apps

No-code app builders work exceptionally well for creator platforms because:

1. Speed to market: Launch your MVP quickly to test demand
2. Cost efficiency: Affordable pricing for small deployments
3. Iteration flexibility: Update features based on creator and patron feedback
4. No technical debt: Focus on community building rather than code maintenance

First-time no-code builders demonstrate strong success building functional apps for entrepreneurs without technical backgrounds.

Planning Your Patreon Clone: Database Structure and User Roles

Proper database architecture is the foundation of your membership platform. Adalo's built-in relational database supports the complex relationships needed for subscription apps.

Setting Up Collections for Creators, Patrons, and Tiers

Your app needs these core collections:

Users Collection (built-in):

• Full Name
• Email (authentication)
• Password (authentication)
• Profile Image
• Bio (multiline text)
• User Role (text: "Creator" or "Patron")
• Stripe Customer ID (for payment tracking)
• Total Earnings (number, for creators)
• Member Since (date & time)

Membership Tiers Collection:

• Tier Name (text)
• Description (multiline text)
• Price (number)
• Billing Cycle (text: "Monthly" or "Yearly")
• Benefits List (multiline text)
• Max Member Count (number, optional)
• Created Date (date & time)

Content Collection:

• Title (text)
• Description (multiline text)
• Content Type (text: "Post", "Video", "Audio", "File")
• Content Body (multiline text or file)
• Thumbnail (image)
• Published Date (date & time)
• Is Public (true/false)

Subscriptions Collection:

• Subscription Status (text: "Active", "Cancelled", "Paused", "Past Due")
• Start Date (date & time)
• Next Billing Date (date & time)
• Stripe Subscription ID (text)
• Cancel Reason (text, optional)

Defining Relationships Between Users and Content

Set up these critical relationships:

1. Membership Tiers → Users (Creator): One-to-Many

• Each tier belongs to one creator
• Each creator can have multiple tiers

2. Subscriptions → Users (Patron): Many-to-One

• Each subscription belongs to one patron
• Each patron can have multiple subscriptions

3. Subscriptions → Membership Tiers: Many-to-One

• Each subscription is for one tier
• Each tier can have many subscriptions

4. Content → Users (Creator): Many-to-One

• Each content piece belongs to one creator

5. Content → Membership Tiers: Many-to-Many

• Content can be available to multiple tiers
• Each tier grants access to multiple content pieces

This relational structure enables sophisticated access control without external tools.

Setting Up Your Adalo Account and Choosing the Right Plan

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account

1. Visit Adalo.com
2. Click "Get Started Free"
3. Enter your email and create a password
4. Verify your email address
5. Complete the onboarding questionnaire

Free vs Paid Plans: What You Need for a Subscription App

Review Adalo's pricing page for current plan features and costs. Key considerations for subscription apps:

Free Plan:

• Perfect for building and testing your database structure
• Web publishing on an Adalo subdomain is included; custom domains require a paid plan (Starter or higher).
• Check current record limits

Starter Plan:

• Custom domain for web apps and eligibility to publish to the Apple App Store/Google Play; ideal for launching your MVP.

Professional Plan:

• Available on paid plans. Stripe payments are supported on Starter and above; publishing requires a paid plan.
• External Collections (Airtable/Xano/REST) available on Professional+; Adalo Collections API requires Team or Business.
• Recommended minimum for subscription apps

Team Plan:

• Multiple published apps
• Additional editors
• Priority support

Business Plan:

• Enterprise features
• Advanced scaling options

Estimating Total App Development Cost with Adalo

For a functional Patreon clone, budget for:

• Adalo subscription: Check current pricing (Professional plan minimum recommended)
• Apple Developer: $99/year (if publishing to iOS)
• Google Play: $25 one-time fee (if publishing to Android)
• Stripe fees: In the U.S., Stripe’s standard online card processing starts at 2.9% + $0.30 per successful online card charge (rates vary by country and payment method). 
• Domain name: $10-45/year

This represents significant cost savings compared to hiring developers or building from scratch.

Building the Creator Dashboard: Screens and Navigation

Step 2: Set Up Your App Foundation

1. Click "Create New App" in your Adalo dashboard
2. Select "Mobile App" (works for web too with responsive design)
3. Name your app (e.g., "CreatorHub")
4. Choose "Start from Scratch"
5. Select your brand colors and fonts
6. Click "Continue" to enter the builder

Step 3: Create the Welcome & Authentication Flow

Welcome Screen:

1. Add your logo image at the top
2. Add headline text: "Support Creators You Love"
3. Add subheading: "Get exclusive content and connect directly with your favorite creators"
4. Add two buttons:
   
   • "Sign Up" → Links to Sign Up screen
   • "Log In" → Links to Login screen

Sign Up Screen:

1. Add Form component connected to Users collection
2. Include fields:
   
   • Email (email input)
   • Password (password input)
   • Full Name (text input)
   • Profile Image (image picker)
3. Add dropdown for "I am a":
   
   • Creator
   • Patron
4. Submit button text: "Create Account"
5. Action on submit:
   
   • Create User
   • If User Role = "Creator" → Navigate to Creator Setup
   • If User Role = "Patron" → Navigate to Patron Home

Login Screen:

1. Add Form with Email and Password inputs
2. Login action redirects based on User Role
3. Add "Forgot Password?" link

Designing Screens for Patron Management

Creator Dashboard Screen (for creators):

1. Add welcome text: "Welcome, [Logged In User → Full Name]"
2. Add stats section with three cards:
   
   • Total Patrons (count of active subscriptions)
   • Monthly Revenue (sum of active subscription prices)
   • Content Posts (count of creator's content)
3. Add List of Recent Patrons:
   
   • Filter: Subscriptions where Creator = Logged In User, Status = "Active"
   • Sort by: Start Date (newest first)
   • Display: Patron name, tier, join date
4. Add navigation buttons:
   
   • "Create Content" → Content Editor
   • "Manage Tiers" → Tier Management
   • "View Analytics" → Analytics Dashboard

Learn more by starting from Adalo’s official Feature Templates (e.g., analytics/dashboard patterns). 

Implementing Subscription Tiers and Payment Processing

Step 4: Build the Tier Management Screen

Create/Edit Tier Screen (creators only):

1. Add Form connected to Membership Tiers collection
2. Include fields:
   
   • Tier Name (text input)
   • Description (text area)
   • Price (number input with $ prefix)
   • Billing Cycle (dropdown: Monthly/Yearly)
   • Benefits (text area with placeholder: "List benefits, one per line")
3. Add visibility condition: Only show if Logged In User → User Role = "Creator"
4. Submit creates new tier or updates existing

Integrating Stripe for Recurring Payments

Critical Setup Requirement: For creator payouts, you need Stripe Connect—standard Stripe payments alone don't route funds to your users. See Stripe Connect documentation for marketplace and connected account payouts.

Step 5: Install Payment Component

1. Go to Adalo Marketplace
2. Search "Stripe"
3. Install the Stripe Payment component
4. Check current pricing for plan requirements

Step 6: Configure Stripe Integration

1. Create a Stripe account at stripe.com
2. In Stripe dashboard, get your API keys:
   
   • Publishable key
   • Secret key
3. In Adalo Settings → Integrations:
   
   • Add Stripe credentials
   • Enable test mode during development

Step 7: Build the Subscribe Flow

Tier Browse Screen (patrons):

1. Add List of Membership Tiers
2. Filter: Creator = Selected Creator
3. Sort by: Price (low to high)
4. For each tier, display:
   
   • Tier name and price
   • Description
   • Benefits list
   • "Subscribe" button

Payment Screen:

1. Add Stripe Payment component
2. Configure payment settings with your tiers
3. Note: Full subscription management (including proration and mid-cycle changes) typically involves Stripe Billing and webhooks. Verify current Adalo component capabilities for subscription support.
4. Add payment form fields:
   
   • Card number
   • Expiry date
   • CVC
   • Billing ZIP
5. On successful payment:
   
   • Create Subscription record
   • Set Status = "Active"
   • Set Next Billing Date = 1 month from today
   • Save Stripe Subscription ID
   • Navigate to Success screen

Creating Upgrade and Downgrade Flows

Manage Subscription Screen:

1. Show current subscription details:
   
   • Tier name and price
   • Next billing date
   • Status
2. Add action buttons:
   
   • "Upgrade Tier" → Show available higher tiers
   • "Downgrade Tier" → Show available lower tiers
   • "Cancel Subscription" → Cancellation flow
3. For tier changes:
   
   • Enable proration in Stripe to handle automatic calculations via Stripe Billing
   • Update Stripe subscription via API/webhooks
   • Update Subscription record

For creator payouts (marketplace model), use Stripe Connect rather than standard Stripe; Connect handles routing funds to creators.

Content Gating: Restricting Access Based on Membership Level

Step 8: Build the Content Creation Flow

Create Content Screen (creators only):

1. Add Form connected to Content collection
2. Include fields:
   
   • Title (text input)
   • Description (text area)
   • Content Type (dropdown: Post, Video, Audio, File)
   • Content Body (text area or file upload)
   • Thumbnail (image picker)
   • Required Tier (relationship picker to Membership Tiers)
3. Add visibility: Only creators see this screen
4. Submit button:
   
   • Creates Content record
   • Sets Published Date to now
   • Links to creator's tiers

Setting Up Visibility Rules for Premium Content

Content Feed Screen (all users):

1. Add List of Content items
2. Apply filters:
   
   • Creator = Selected Creator
   • Published Date is not empty
3. Critical visibility logic for each item:
   
   • If Logged In User has active subscription to creator AND subscription tier is in Content → Required Tiers:
     
     • Show full content
   • Else:
     
     • Show title and description only
     • Show lock icon
     • Add "Subscribe to View" button

Content Detail Screen:

1. Show full content IF user has access
2. Conditional visibility on content sections:
   
   • Condition: Logged In User → Subscriptions → Status = "Active" AND Subscriptions → Membership Tier is Content → Required Tiers
3. For non-subscribers:
   
   • Show preview/teaser
   • Display upgrade prompt
   • Show tier pricing

Building Upgrade Prompts for Non-Members

Locked Content Component:

1. Create a reusable component showing:
   
   • Lock icon
   • Text: "This content is for [Tier Name] members"
   • Current tier price
   • "Unlock for $X/month" button
2. Button action:
   
   • Navigate to Subscribe screen
   • Pass tier as parameter
   • Pre-fill payment form

This approach leverages Adalo's conditional visibility without external integrations.

Adding Community Features: Comments, Messages, and Updates

Step 9: Build Creator Update Feed

Create Update Screen (creators):

1. Add simple form:
   
   • Update text (text area)
   • Attach image (optional)
   • Post visibility (all patrons or specific tier)
2. Submit creates new Content item with type = "Update"

Updates Feed Screen (patrons):

1. Add List of Updates
2. Filter: Creator subscriptions where Status = "Active"
3. Sort by: Published Date (newest first)
4. Display:
   
   • Creator name and avatar
   • Update text
   • Timestamp
   • Like/comment counts

Enabling Patron-to-Creator Messaging

Step 10: Set Up Messages Collection

1. Create new collection: Messages
2. Add properties:
   
   • Message Text (multiline text)
   • Sent Date (date & time, automatic)
   • Is Read (true/false)
3. Add relationships:
   
   • Sender (Many-to-One with Users)
   • Recipient (Many-to-One with Users)
   • Related Subscription (Many-to-One with Subscriptions)

Inbox Screen:

1. Add List of Messages
2. Filter: Recipient = Logged In User
3. Sort by: Sent Date (newest first)
4. Show:
   
   • Sender name and avatar
   • Message preview (first 50 characters)
   • Unread indicator
5. Click action → Navigate to Message Thread

Message Thread Screen:

1. Add List of Messages
2. Filter: (Sender = Logged In User AND Recipient = Selected User) OR (Sender = Selected User AND Recipient = Logged In User)
3. Add new message form at bottom
4. Submit creates Message record

Browse community templates for ready-made messaging components.

Integrating External Tools with Zapier and APIs

Step 11: Connect Email Automation

Zapier Integration (check pricing plans for availability):

1. Install Zapier integration from Adalo
2. Create Zaps for:
   
   • New Subscription: Send welcome email via Mailchimp/ConvertKit
   • Subscription Cancelled: Trigger win-back campaign
   • New Content: Email patrons about new posts
   • Payment Failed: Alert creator and patron

Email Trigger Setup:

1. In Adalo, add Custom Action to trigger webhook
2. In Zapier:
   
   • Trigger: Webhook from Adalo
   • Action: Send email via your email tool
3. Pass data: Patron email, content title, creator name

Syncing Revenue Data to Analytics Platforms

API Integration for Analytics:

1. In Adalo Settings → Custom APIs
2. Add GET endpoint to fetch subscription data
3. Connect to Google Sheets, Airtable, or analytics tools
4. Track metrics:
   
   • Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)
   • Churn rate
   • Average revenue per user (ARPU)
   • Lifetime value (LTV)

For advanced backend needs, consider Xano integration for more complex data operations.

Testing Your Patreon Clone Before Launch

Step 12: Create Test Users and Scenarios

Test Data Setup:

1. Create 3-4 test creator accounts with different niches
2. Create 5-6 test patron accounts
3. Set up 2-3 membership tiers per creator
4. Add sample content across different tiers
5. Use Stripe test card numbers (see Stripe's testing documentation):
   
   • Success: 4242 4242 4242 4242
   • Decline: 4000 0000 0000 0002
   • Authentication required: 4000 0025 0000 3155

Validating Access Control and Payment Flows

Critical Test Scenarios:

1. Subscription Flow:

• Patron selects tier
• Payment processes successfully
• Subscription record creates
• Access to tier content unlocks immediately

2. Content Gating:

• Non-subscriber sees locked content
• Subscriber sees full content
• Tier-specific content shows only to correct tier members

3. Payment Failures:

• Test declined card
• Verify subscription status updates to "Past Due"
• Check retry logic and notification triggers

4. Cancellation:

• Patron cancels subscription
• Access continues until period end
• Content locks after final billing date

5. Tier Changes:

• Upgrade applies immediately
• Downgrade applies at next billing cycle
• Prorated charges calculate correctly via Stripe

Ensuring payment flows are clear and secure is crucial for subscription apps, making thorough testing essential.

Publishing Your App to Web, iOS, and Android

Step 13: Prepare for Launch

Pre-Launch Checklist:

1. Switch Stripe to live mode (production keys)
2. Test all payment flows with real card (small amount)
3. Add Terms of Service and Privacy Policy pages
4. Set up customer support email/system
5. Create help documentation for creators and patrons
6. Prepare marketing materials

Learn about publishing requirements for each platform.

Web Publishing: Custom Domains and Hosting

Step 14: Publish to Web

1. In Adalo, go to Settings → Publishing → Web App
2. Click "Publish"
3. For custom domain (check plan requirements):
   
   • Purchase domain from registrar
   • Add CNAME record pointing to Adalo
   • Add custom domain in Adalo settings
   • Wait for DNS propagation (24-48 hours)

Web App Features:

• Responsive design adapts to all screen sizes
• SEO considerations available; results depend on implementation. See Adalo's publishing documentation for current web capabilities.
• HTTPS/SSL is included for custom domains once DNS is configured (you can reset the SSL certificate if needed). 

Native App Publishing: App Store and Play Store Requirements

Step 15: Publish to iOS (App Store)

Requirements:

• Apple Developer Account ($99/year)
• You don’t need Xcode or a Mac to upload, Adalo pushes builds to App Store Connect using your App-Specific Password, but you must approve Apple 2FA on a trusted Apple device.
• App icon in all required sizes
• Screenshots (6.5", 5.5" displays)
• App description and keywords
• Privacy policy URL

Process:

1. In Adalo → Publishing → iOS
2. Upload required assets
3. Click "Generate Build"
4. Download .ipa file or use Adalo's App Store Connect integration
5. Submit for review (review times vary; allow several days or more)

Step 16: Publish to Android (Google Play)

Requirements:

• Google Play Developer Account ($25 one-time)
• App icon (512x512px)
• Feature graphic (1024x500px)
• Screenshots
• Content rating questionnaire

Process:

1. In Adalo → Publishing → Android
2. Upload required assets
3. Generate signed APK/App Bundle
4. Upload to Google Play Console
5. Submit for review (review times vary; allow several days or more)

Total Publishing Costs:

• First year: $99 (Apple Developer Program) + $25 (Google Play registration) = $124. 
• Subsequent years: $99/year (iOS only)

See examples of successful apps made in Adalo for inspiration.

Managing Subscriptions: Handling Cancellations and Downgrades

Step 17: Build User-Friendly Cancellation Flows

Cancel Subscription Screen:

1. Show current subscription details
2. Add "Are you sure?" confirmation
3. Offer alternatives:
   
   • Pause subscription (1-3 months)
   • Downgrade to lower tier
   • Special retention offer (if applicable)
4. If user confirms:
   
   • Update Stripe subscription (cancel at period end)
   • Update Subscription record Status = "Cancelled"
   • Set Access End Date = Next Billing Date
   • Send confirmation email

Exit Survey (optional but recommended):

1. Add form asking cancellation reason:
   
   • Too expensive
   • Not enough content
   • Found alternative
   • Other (text field)
2. Store responses for analytics
3. Use data to improve retention

Implementing Retention Offers for Churning Patrons

Pause Subscription Feature:

1. Add "Pause Membership" option
2. Let patron select pause duration (1-3 months)
3. Update Stripe subscription status
4. Set resume date
5. Send reminder 7 days before resumption

Win-Back Campaign (via Zapier):

1. Trigger when subscription cancels
2. Wait 7 days
3. Send email highlighting new content
4. Offer special reactivation discount
5. Track reactivation rate

Review Adalo's Terms of Service for current billing and refund policies.

Scaling Your Patreon Clone: Performance and Growth Strategies

When to Upgrade Your Adalo Plan

Scaling Indicators:

Monitor these metrics to determine when to upgrade:

1. Storage usage approaching plan limits
2. Number of published apps needs (add more tiers/features as separate apps)
3. Editor seats limiting team collaboration
4. API calls approaching monthly limits
5. Custom domain needs for multiple brands

Upgrade Path:

• Check Adalo's pricing for current plan options and features
• Start with the plan that includes payment features
• Upgrade as your team and user base grows

Adalo's infrastructure supports real businesses at scale with high reliability.

Optimizing Database Queries for Thousands of Patrons

Performance Best Practices:

1. Filter Lists Efficiently:

• Always add filters to lists (don't show all records)
• Use indexed fields (IDs, dates) in filters
• Limit list items to 50-100 visible records

2. Optimize Relationships:

• Avoid deeply nested relationships (max 2-3 levels)
• Use counts instead of loading full lists when possible
• Cache calculated values (like total earnings)

3. Image Optimization:

• Compress images before upload
• Use appropriate sizes (don't upload 4K for thumbnails)
• Consider external storage (Cloudinary, AWS S3) for video

4. Data Archiving:

• Archive old subscriptions (>1 year inactive)
• Delete test data before launch
• Regularly clean up unused records

Monitoring Performance:

• Use Adalo's built-in analytics
• Track page load times
• Monitor user feedback for slowdowns
• Consider external monitoring (UptimeRobot)

For complex scaling needs beyond Adalo's built-in database, explore external collections with platforms like Xano or Airtable.

Why Adalo Is the Right Choice for Building Your Patreon Clone

Adalo stands out as the ideal platform for building creator membership apps for several compelling reasons:

True Visual Development: Unlike platforms requiring code snippets or complex configurations, Adalo's drag-and-drop interface means if you can make a slide deck, you can build this app. The large community proves the platform delivers on its accessibility promise.

Built-in Relational Database: Many no-code tools require external databases or complex integrations. Adalo includes a powerful relational database that handles the complex relationships between creators, patrons, tiers, and content—all within one platform. This eliminates technical complexity and additional costs.

Payment Integration Included: Plans with payment features include Stripe integration specifically designed for subscription apps. While setting up recurring payments and creator payouts requires attention to detail, you're working with tested, documented components rather than building payment infrastructure from scratch.

Cross-Platform Publishing: Build once, deploy everywhere. Your Patreon clone works as a responsive web app, native iOS app, and Android app from a single codebase. Adalo apps demonstrate strong real-world launch success.

Rapid Iteration: The average Adalo app launches in weeks—perfect for validating your creator platform idea before committing to months of traditional development. Make changes based on creator and patron feedback without expensive development cycles.

Proven Reliability: Adalo's infrastructure supports real businesses at scale. You're building on a platform trusted by thousands of entrepreneurs, not an experimental tool.

Cost Transparency: Affordable pricing offers predictable costs without hidden fees or usage-based surprises. This is significantly more accessible than the thousands required for traditional development or agency builds.

Ready to start building? Create your free Adalo account at adalo.com and launch your creator platform in weeks, not months.