Reddit, led by CEO Steve Huffman, launched a new tiered creator subscription scheme on its platform this week. The program allows communities to accept recurring payments while Reddit takes a smaller cut than it does on standard awards, officials said.

The new subscription program, announced this week by Reddit officials, enables community moderators to offer tiered membership options that grant subscribers access to exclusive content and perks. According to Reddit, the initiative is designed to provide creators and community leaders with more sustainable revenue streams while reducing the platform’s commission fees compared to its traditional awards system.

Under the new scheme, Reddit takes a 10% cut of subscription revenue, which is notably lower than the approximately 30% fee applied to standard awards and other in-app purchases, company sources confirmed.

The program allows moderators to set multiple subscription tiers with varying prices and benefits, giving communities flexibility in tailoring membership experiences. Reddit officials said the rollout began on June 20 and is initially available to a select group of communities before expanding more broadly in the coming months.

Moderators participating in the pilot have reported positive early feedback, according to Reddit spokesperson Lauren Thomas. She said the platform aims to empower communities by enabling them to monetize their engagement directly rather than relying solely on one-time awards or advertising revenue. Thomas added that Reddit plans to provide tools and analytics to help moderators track subscriber growth and revenue performance.

The subscription tiers can include features such as custom badges, access to exclusive chat rooms, early access to posts, and other community-specific perks. Moderators are responsible for managing the subscription content and ensuring compliance with Reddit’s content policies. Reddit’s support team will assist with technical integration and payment processing, officials said.

The move follows broader industry trends where social platforms seek to diversify creator monetization options amid increasing competition. Platforms like Patreon, YouTube, and Discord offer similar tiered subscription services, allowing creators to build recurring revenue streams. Reddit’s lower fee structure is intended to make its offering more attractive to creators and community leaders.

Financial details beyond the platform’s cut have not been publicly disclosed. Reddit did not specify whether creators receive the remaining 90% directly or if additional processing fees apply. The company also did not release projections for revenue impact or subscriber adoption rates during the initial rollout phase.

Reddit’s announcement comes as the company continues to focus on expanding creator tools and monetization options following its 2021 public offering. Last year, Reddit introduced features like Community Awards and Premium Memberships aimed at increasing user spending within the platform. The new tiered subscription program represents the latest step in that ongoing strategy.

Industry analysts note that Reddit’s large and diverse user base, which includes millions of active communities, provides significant potential for subscription-based monetization. However, the success of the program will depend on community uptake and the platform’s ability to attract and retain paying subscribers.

Reddit was founded in 2005 and has grown into one of the world’s largest social news and discussion websites. CEO Steve Huffman, who co-founded the company, returned as CEO in 2015 and has overseen a series of product updates focused on community engagement and monetization.

The company plans to monitor the pilot program closely and gather user feedback before expanding access. Reddit officials said they are committed to refining the subscription experience and supporting moderators as they develop new ways to engage their communities.

Discord updated its server monetization options on Tuesday by introducing new subscription tiers, including Supporter, Supporter +, Super Supporter, and Early Access Pass. According to company officials, the tiers allow server owners to customize pricing, perks, and roles to better support creators and offer exclusive content to subscribers.

These tiers enable server owners to customize pricing, perks, and roles to better support creators and offer exclusive content to subscribers. The Supporter tier provides basic access with exclusive emotes and subscriber-only channels, while Supporter + leverages built-in Discord features aimed at entry-level creators and subscribers. The Super Supporter tier combines Discord features with custom perks for higher value, and the Early Access Pass targets content creators offering exclusives or behind-the-scenes content paired with media channels, records show.

The new subscription tiers introduced by Discord include Supporter at $3.99, Supporter + at $4.99, Super Supporter at $9.99, and Early Access Pass at $7.99, according to company officials.

Server owners can create and configure tiers through Server Settings, setting parameters such as name, price (ranging from $2.99 to $199.99), description, avatar, and perks, according to Discord’s documentation. Each tier is linked to specific Discord roles that automate access, granting permissions like channel views upon subscription. The tiers support layering of perks, with basic access at lower tiers, status symbols at mid-tiers, and utility perks at higher tiers. Customization options include exclusive channels, role permissions, external perks such as merchandise, emojis, name colors, and icons. Advanced options allow server owners to archive tiers to remove them and cancel renewals, sources confirmed.

Discord’s Server Subscriptions feature enables monthly fees for unique content, features, and communities, with a limit of one to three tiers per server. Automation ensures subscribers receive roles instantly upon payment and lose them upon cancellation, according to company officials. In addition to subscriptions, Discord offers Server Products—formerly known as Server Shops—released in 2023, which allow one-time sales of digital items such as files or roles alongside subscriptions. Upcoming features include Downloadables for one-time purchases like e-books or wallpapers, records indicate. Pricing flexibility starts at $2.99, granting server owners full control over monetization appearance.

Eligibility for the subscription program requires server owners to create a team and add payment information via Stripe in Discord’s developer settings. To set up tiers, owners navigate to Server Settings > Roles to create tier-specific roles such as “Gold Member” or “VIP Access.” Exclusive channels can be locked by editing permissions, granting view access to subscriber roles while denying access to the general @everyone role. The Basic Info tab allows setting exclusivity, program description, cover photo, and Shop tab preferences. An in-app landing page accessed by pressing “Server Subscription” in the channel list facilitates tier setup, according to company guidelines.

Pricing varies across platforms due to fees; for example, iOS subscriptions cost more because of Apple’s 30% fee, which is reflected in higher checkout prices. Desktop and mobile pricing differ, with full fee details outlined in Discord’s Monetization Terms. Revenue share applies per the Monetization Policy for Server Subscriptions and Shops. Subscriptions can range from $2.99 to $199.99 monthly, with proration applied on upgrades or downgrades, records show.

Perks available to subscribers include exclusive channels, custom roles, emotes, name colors, icons, and external benefits such as merchandise. Free trial options with time limits and exclusivity settings are available for each tier. Subscriber-only channels and roles automate access control. Higher tiers offer early access, content exclusives, or behind-the-scenes footage. Visual enhancements like tier-specific avatars and colors serve to distinguish supporter status, according to Discord’s official materials.

Discord’s Monetization Policy covers Server Subscriptions, App Subscriptions, and Server Shops, requiring compliance for eligibility. Server administrators are responsible for creating tiers, descriptions, and perks, and members must review these details carefully before subscribing. Events such as ENTITLEMENT_CREATE and SUBSCRIPTION_UPDATE handle subscription changes, with upgrades charging the price difference and resetting periods, while lower entitlements end immediately. The policy emphasizes creator responsibility for the content and subscriptions provided, company sources said.

The updated monetization features build on Discord’s existing offerings and reflect ongoing efforts to provide creators with flexible tools to generate revenue. The company continues to develop additional features, including one-time purchase options, to expand monetization opportunities for server owners and content creators.