How to Make Illustration Downloads Easier

A Little Context

With X's new subscription requirements—which now demand creators to have at least 2,000 Premium followers to offer exclusive content—many creators are turning to more user-friendly and practical alternatives for paid content.

Among these alternatives, Patreon and DeviantArt stand out.

Pros and Cons

Patreon is undoubtedly the most sophisticated and practical platform for managing your supporters. It offers an intuitive and organized environment to deliver rewards in exchange for financial support. However, its terms of use can be ambiguous when it comes to certain sensitive topics. This has led to creators seeing their accounts abruptly suspended without warning or recourse. If your work includes political themes or adult content, you’ll need to tread carefully.

On the other hand, DeviantArt also enforces strict guidelines but handles issues differently. If your post violates their rules, it will be removed, and you’ll receive a clear warning—no sudden account closures.

DeviantArt allows creators to provide rewards to their subscribers, much like Patreon. It also enables direct sales of individual works, either as exclusives or available for multiple buyers. (This feature deserves its own article!)

However, there’s a challenge: DeviantArt is a huge open gallery, which can feel like wading through an ocean of content to find visibility for your work. (Another article idea?)