TL;DR:
- Locals.com is a creator membership platform owned by Rumble (acquired 2021). Like Patreon for political + alternative media creators.
- Set monthly tier ($3-$50). Locals takes ~5% + payment processing.
- Top Locals creators (Russell Brand, Glenn Greenwald, Bret Weinstein) earn $50K-$500K+/month.
What Is Locals.com?
- Founded by Dave Rubin in 2019.
- Acquired by Rumble in 2021.
- Membership platform for creators (Patreon-style).
- Heavy political / alternative media presence.
- Includes free content + paid premium tiers.
Locals vs Patreon
| Feature | Locals | Patreon |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | ~5% | 5-12% |
| Audience | Right-leaning, alternative media | Diverse, mainstream |
| Content focus | Politics, free speech, alternative media | All creator types |
| Branding | "Community" feel | "Patron" feel |
| Discord-like community | Yes (built-in) | Limited (need separate Discord) |
| Connected to YouTube alt | Yes (Rumble integration) | No |
| Best for | Political / alternative media | Most creators |
How Locals Works
Creators set up a "Community":
- Free tier — public posts.
- Paid tiers ($3-$50/mo) — premium posts, video, podcasts.
- Members chat in community feed (Discord-like).
- Creator hosts livestreams + Q&A.
How to Set Up a Locals Community
- Sign up at locals.com/creator.
- Apply for creator status (Locals approves).
- Set up community: name, description, tier prices.
- Connect Rumble account.
- Connect Stripe for payments.
- Promote to YouTube / Rumble / Twitter audiences.
Top Locals Creators (Estimated Income)
| Creator | Estimated Locals income |
|---|---|
| Russell Brand (Stay Free) | ~$500K/month (50K+ subs at $5-$15) |
| Glenn Greenwald | ~$100K/month |
| Bret Weinstein (DarkHorse) | ~$150K/month |
| Dave Rubin | ~$100K/month (founder) |
| Top non-celebrity creators | $5K-$50K/month |
Pricing Tiers (Typical)
| Tier name | Monthly price | Common rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Supporter | $3-$5 | Premium feed access |
| Insider | $10-$15 | Member-only podcast / videos |
| VIP | $20-$30 | Live Q&A access, Discord |
| Patron | $50 | Personal videos, signed merch |
Locals Best Practices
- Free tier as funnel — give 30% of content free.
- Daily free posts to keep community alive.
- Premium content 3-5x/week.
- Monthly Q&A or livestream for paid members.
- Cross-promote from YouTube + Rumble + Twitter.
- Engage in comments — community feel matters.
Why Creators Choose Locals over Patreon
- Lower fee (~5% vs Patreon 5-12%).
- Built-in community feed (Discord-like).
- Rumble integration (cross-promotion).
- Less risk of "deplatforming" for political content.
- Audience already on Rumble migrates easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Locals free?
Free for viewers. Free for creators to set up. Locals takes ~5% of paid subscription revenue.
Who owns Locals?
Rumble (acquired 2021). Owned by parent company Rumble Inc.
Can I move from Patreon to Locals?
Yes — export Patreon subscriber list, invite to Locals. Expect 30-50% retention typical.
Does Locals have a community feature?
Yes — built-in community feed where members chat (similar to Discord). Major selling point.
How do I get approved as a Locals creator?
Apply at locals.com/creator. Locals reviews. Established creators with audience get approved fastest.
Key Takeaways
- Locals = Patreon alternative owned by Rumble.
- ~5% fee (lower than Patreon's 5-12%).
- Built-in community feed.
- Best for political + alternative media creators.
- Top creators earn $50K-$500K+/month.
Drive subscribers to Locals from one link
Add a UniLink URL to your bios — features Locals, Rumble, YouTube, podcast. Free.