Updated 23rd October, 2025

Why compare Passion and Uscreen for your creator business?

You've built great content. Your audience is engaged. But juggling Instagram DMs, Facebook groups, Zoom links, and Stripe checkout pages is burning you out.

The question isn't whether you need a better platform. It's which platform actually delivers on the promise of owned audience, predictable revenue, and less chaos.

What creators need from a platform

Online coaches and course creators need three things working in sync:

• Content delivery: A way to deliver content that people actually complete
• Owned community: A community they control, not Facebook
• Payment systems: Payment systems that don't eat their margins

Most "all-in-one" platforms give you a website and course hosting. That's table stakes. What matters is whether your members open the app, finish your programs, and renew their subscriptions.

Passion built a no-code app builder designed for mobile-first engagement with push notifications and in-app community as core features. Uscreen focuses on video streaming, offering Netflix-style catalogs, live streaming, and OTT apps for TV platforms.

The core difference: mobile-first app vs. video streaming

Passion treats your branded mobile app (iOS, Android, web) as the main product. You drag in courses, challenges, community channels, and pricing plans. Push notifications reach members directly. Offline downloads work without wifi.

Uscreen specializes in video-on-demand (VOD) and live streaming infrastructure. If your business model is primarily video content with live classes and you want apps on Roku or Apple TV, Uscreen's video-centric architecture delivers powerful tools for that use case.

The trade-off: Passion offers broader content types and community features. Uscreen offers deeper video management and OTT distribution.

How do Passion and Uscreen pricing plans compare?

Pricing isn't just the monthly subscription. It's the total cost of ownership, including per-user fees, transaction costs, and overage charges that sneak up as you grow.

Passion pricing tiers and what's included

Passion offers four tiers with clear annual and monthly pricing.

• Launch Plan: $99/month (billed annually) or $119/month (monthly billing). This entry tier gives you a branded app on iOS, Android, and web with flexible pricing options (subscriptions, one-time purchases, freemium). You get the drag-and-drop builder, push notifications, community features, live streaming integrations, offline downloads, and analytics. The Launch plan supports 250 users with 25 paying customers according to Passion's pricing details.
• Scale Plan: $239/month (annual) or $299/month (monthly). This removes Passion branding, expands automation and community tools, and includes custom domain support. Push notification limits and subscriber caps increase.
• Expand Plan: $599/month (annual) or $699/month (monthly). This tier includes unlimited users, videos, communities, and push notifications, plus App Store Listing support where the Passion team helps submit your app to Apple and Google.
• Plus Plan: Custom pricing for done-for-you service with one-on-one success support, app migration, advanced analytics, and growth coaching.

All plans include Zapier integrations, PassionPayments for web checkout, and in-app purchase support for Apple/Google Pay.

Uscreen pricing tiers and what's included

Uscreen structures pricing around video storage and live streaming hours, with per-subscriber fees on top.

• Growth Plan: $149/month (annual) or $199/month (monthly). You get a Netflix-style video catalog, up to 100 hours of video storage, 1 hour of live streaming per month, one admin user, email support, and marketing automation. This plan charges an additional $1.99 per paid member per month.
• App Essentials (Pro) Plan: $449/month (annual) or $499/month (monthly). This includes 100-150 hours of video storage, 10 hours of live streaming, three admin users, a dedicated success manager, and native mobile apps. The per-subscriber fee is $1.49 per paid member per month.
• Plus Plan: Custom pricing. This tier provides full-featured mobile and TV streaming apps (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire), white-labeled branding, API access, and customer support handled by Uscreen. The per-subscriber fee drops to $0.50 per month. Some configurations include an additional $299/month for branded mobile apps.

All Uscreen plans integrate with Stripe and PayPal, support SVOD (subscription video on demand) and TVOD (transactional/one-time video sales), and include membership analytics.

Side-by-side plan comparison tables

Table 1: Base Plan Comparison

Table 2: Uscreen Plan Comparison

What are the platform and payment processing fees?

Monthly subscription costs are just the start. Transaction fees, per-subscriber charges, and payment gateway costs determine your actual take-home revenue.

Passion payment fees and options

Passion offers three payment pathways, each with different fee structures.

PassionPayments (web checkout):

When customers purchase through your web app or external links using PassionPayments, Passion charges a 3.9% platform fee. This is on top of standard Stripe processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction for domestic cards, plus 1.5% for international cards and 1% for currency conversion) as detailed in this comprehensive Stripe pricing guide.

For a $100 sale, you'd pay roughly $3.90 to Passion, $2.90 to Stripe, and $0.30 fixed fee, netting around $92.90 before taxes.

In-App Purchases (IAP):

When customers buy subscriptions or content inside your iOS or Android app using Apple Pay or Google Pay, the app stores process the payment. Apple and Google charge 15% for businesses earning under $1 million annually in in-app revenue, and 30% above that threshold. Passion charges 0% platform fee on IAP transactions.

For a $100 in-app purchase under the Small Business Program, Apple or Google takes $15, leaving you with $85.

External checkouts:

On higher-tier plans (Expand/Plus), you can integrate external checkout services like ThriveCart or SamCart via Zapier. Passion charges 0% platform fee for external checkouts. You only pay the fees of your chosen payment processor.

Developer program fees:

To list your app on the Apple App Store, you need an Apple Developer Program account at $99/year. Google Play charges a one-time $25 fee. Both fees are standard requirements for publishing mobile apps.

Uscreen payment fees and options

Uscreen's fee structure includes per-subscriber charges, potential transaction fees, and overage costs for storage and streaming.

Per-subscriber fees:

This is Uscreen's most significant ongoing cost beyond the base plan. With 200 subscribers on the Growth plan, you'd pay an additional $398 monthly in per-subscriber fees at $1.99 per member.

Transaction fees on one-time purchases (TVOD):

Recent information for Uscreen's Growth and App Essentials plans indicates a 0% platform fee on one-time video purchases. Older documentation mentioned a 5% fee. Verify the current TVOD fee structure directly with Uscreen sales, as this significantly impacts profitability for one-time video sales.

Stripe processing fees:

When Uscreen integrates with Stripe, you pay standard Stripe fees (2.9% + $0.30 for domestic cards, plus international and currency conversion fees). Stripe Billing adds 0.7% for recurring subscriptions and 0.4% for one-time invoices.

Overage charges:

• Video storage: Exceeding your plan's storage incurs $99/month for each additional 100 hours
• Live streaming: Overage is billed at $15 per hour, charged in full-hour increments even for partial usage

Developer program fees:

Same as Passion—$99/year for Apple, $25 one-time for Google if you're publishing under your own developer accounts.

Fee comparison: Passion vs. Uscreen

Which platform offers better value for your creator business?

Value isn't the lowest price. It's the ratio of features, support, and outcomes to total cost—including hidden fees that compound as you grow.

Value for mobile-first engagement and community

If your business model centers on coaching programs, challenges, or interactive communities, Passion's mobile-first architecture delivers measurable engagement lifts. Creators using push-driven challenges see improved completion rates compared to email-only reminders.

"What I love about Passion is that it's not just a platform to create your own app – it also provides invaluable training on how to build and sell your course. It's more than just the tech; it's the know-how. The guidance on course creation and marketing is a game-changer." — Mathilde N. on Customer Review on G2

Uscreen's community features are more limited, focusing primarily on video comments and basic member interactions. If your members need daily check-ins, peer accountability, or structured cohort experiences, Passion's tools are purpose-built for that.

For a fitness coach running a 30-day challenge with 100 members, Passion's Launch plan ($99-119/mo) plus PassionPayments fees on a $97 program nets strong margins. Uscreen's Growth plan ($149/mo) plus $199 in per-subscriber fees ($1.99 × 100) totals $348/mo before any transaction fees—nearly triple the base cost.

Value for monetization flexibility and ownership

Passion's 0% platform fee on external checkouts gives you maximum flexibility. Sell high-ticket programs ($997+) via ThriveCart or SamCart, pay only the payment processor's fee, and avoid both Passion's 3.9% and app store's 15-30% cuts.

This is a massive advantage for business coaches or premium wellness programs where a single sale covers your annual platform cost.

Uscreen locks monetization primarily to Stripe and PayPal via its native checkout. While you can integrate external tools on higher-tier plans with Zapier support, the per-subscriber fees still apply to your active members.

Value for speed to launch and support

Both platforms offer onboarding, but the scope differs.

Passion includes business training programs that teach not just the tech, but how to structure offers, price subscriptions, and launch campaigns. Multiple reviewers credit this training with actual revenue outcomes.

"I like that there's an easy to follow system to not only build your App but also you Business. It makes you think about the fundamentals of your business so that you can create an app that's suited for your clients' needs." — Emmely C. on Customer Review on G2

Uscreen provides a dedicated success manager on Pro/Plus plans and migration support to move content from other platforms. For video-heavy creators with large libraries, this white-glove service saves weeks of manual uploads.

App Store submission is smoother on Passion's Expand plan, where the team handles iOS/Android listing support. On lower tiers, you submit yourself using their checklists. Uscreen includes app submission on App Essentials and Plus plans.

Understanding the total cost of ownership (TCO)

Let's model TCO for two creator scenarios over 12 months.

Scenario 1: Fitness coach with 200 subscribers at $29/month

Annual revenue: $69,600

Passion (Scale plan):

• Platform: $2,868/year ($239 × 12)
• PassionPayments (3.9%): $2,714
• Stripe (2.9% + $0.30): ~$2,738
• Total fees: $8,320 (12% of revenue)

Uscreen (Growth plan):

• Platform: $1,788/year ($149 × 12)
• Per-subscriber: $4,776/year ($1.99 × 200 × 12)
• Stripe (2.9% + 0.7%): ~$3,227
• Total fees: $9,791 (14% of revenue)

For this fitness coach scenario, Passion saves $1,471 annually while offering stronger community features and push-driven completion tools that directly impact the business model.

Scenario 2: Business coach with 50 high-ticket clients at $497/quarter

Annual revenue: $99,400

Passion (Expand plan):

• Platform: $7,188/year ($599 × 12)
• External checkout (0% fee): $0
• Stripe (2.9% + $0.30): ~$3,090
• Total fees: $10,278 (10% of revenue)

Uscreen (App Essentials plan):

• Platform: $5,388/year ($449 × 12)
• Per-subscriber: $891/year ($1.49 × 50 × 12)
• Stripe (2.9% + 0.4%): ~$3,350
• Total fees: $9,629 (9.7% of revenue)

In the second scenario, Uscreen edges out by $649/year. However, for high-ticket coaching businesses, Passion's external checkout flexibility and comprehensive community features often better align with the interactive, relationship-driven model these coaches use.

App Store submission delays

• The risk: Apple and Google reviews can take 1–3 weeks, with rejections adding 1–2 more weeks.
• Your mitigation: Passion’s Expand and Plus plans include full submission support, so you can focus on your launch without delays. Start with your web app immediately to onboard members while app store listings finalize. Uscreen also offers submission assistance on its App Essentials and Plus plans, but Passion streamlines the process as part of the plan.

For DIY submissions on lower tiers, budget 4–8 weeks from build completion to live app stores. Use that time to run a pre-launch web cohort and collect testimonials.

Unexpected fees and plan limits

• The risk: Reaching subscriber or video caps mid-launch can trigger expensive upgrades.
• Your mitigation: Passion’s plans are transparent and generous. For example, the Launch plan supports 250 users with 25 paying customers—no hidden fees or per-subscriber charges. Ask Passion sales for explicit quota numbers to ensure your launch scales smoothly.

By contrast, Uscreen’s per-subscriber fees compound quickly. A Growth plan with 500 members costs $149 base + $995 in subscriber fees ($1.99 × 500) = $1,144/month—nearly 8× the base cost. Overages for storage ($99/100 hours) or live streaming ($15/hour) can add up quickly. Passion avoids these unexpected costs, letting you focus on growth rather than fee management.

Creator success stories and proof

Real outcomes matter more than feature lists.

Passion case studies

Passion showcases creators across fitness, arts, spirituality, and business coaching niches, with examples of six-figure months and mid-five-figure MRR. The recurring theme in reviews is the combination of no-code app builder plus go-to-market training shortens time-to-revenue.

"Passion team always answers my emails and questions. Running an app as a computer illiterate creator isn't easy but passion makes it simple! Thank you!" — Dana Martin on Customer Review on Trustpilot

"I am so grateful for my Passion App! The building app education is clear, step by step, pedagogical guidance in a nudging way with a humorous touch - love it! It is easy to build with this guidance and the support team is just fabulous, every step of the way!" — Åsa Lindstedt on Customer Review on Trustpilot

Uscreen success examples

Uscreen serves creators building video libraries and live streaming businesses. Creators praise the platform's upsell, downsell, abandoned cart, and referral features for driving growth. The detailed analytics function helps creators understand customer behavior and make data-driven decisions.

For video-first businesses, Uscreen's Netflix-style catalog and TV app distribution (Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV) open revenue streams beyond mobile.

Watch this Passion platform review for a walkthrough of the app builder and training approach, or see this Passion features comparison for detailed pricing analysis.

Make an informed decision for your branded app

If your business model prioritizes a mobile-first branded app with push-driven engagement, in-app community, and diverse content types (courses, challenges, PDFs, audio), Passion offers predictable costs as you scale. The 0% fee on external checkouts is unmatched for high-ticket programs.

If you're building a video streaming service with extensive live classes, a large video library, and you want OTT apps on TV platforms, Uscreen's specialized infrastructure justifies its per-subscriber fees—as long as you model those costs carefully and plan upgrades before hitting overage charges.

Both platforms require Apple and Google developer accounts ($99/year + $25 one-time). Both support subscriptions, one-time purchases, and Stripe/PayPal. The deciding factor is whether your content and engagement strategy leans mobile-app-first with community (Passion) or video-streaming-first with OTT (Uscreen).

Start by exploring Passion's current trial offer. Build your branded app, set up push notifications, and test subscriptions with a pilot group—verify current trial terms at signup.

For a personalized demo showing how creators in your niche launch in 4-8 weeks, reach out for a consultation with real case studies.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to launch an app with Passion?

Start with the Launch plan at $99/month (billed annually). Use PassionPayments for web checkout to avoid higher Apple/Google IAP fees on initial sales. Submit your own app to Apple and Google using Passion's checklists to save on Expand plan costs until you need submission support. Budget $99/year for Apple Developer and $25 one-time for Google Play.

Plan 2-3 weeks to build and launch your web app, then 3-6 weeks for app store approvals.

Does Passion charge transaction fees on all sales?

No. Passion charges 3.9% on sales processed through PassionPayments web checkout. In-app purchases via Apple/Google Pay incur 0% Passion fee (but Apple/Google take 15-30%). External checkouts via ThriveCart or SamCart on Expand/Plus plans also have 0% Passion fee.

How quickly can I migrate from tool sprawl to a single Passion app?

Most creators migrate core content in 2-3 weeks. Start by moving your 10-15 most popular lessons, set up your community channels, and connect your Stripe account. Launch the web app to existing members while your iOS/Android submissions process. Use the 30-day migration window to sunset Facebook groups and redirect Instagram links to your branded app.

How long does it take to get an app approved on Apple/Google with Passion?

Web apps launch in 1-2 weeks. App store submissions typically take 1-3 weeks for initial review. If Apple or Google requests clarifications (common for metadata or content policy), add another 1-2 weeks. Expand and Plus plans include submission support. Lower tiers require DIY submission using Passion's step-by-step guides.

What are Uscreen's per-subscriber fees, and do they apply to one-time purchases?

Uscreen charges $1.99/member/month on Growth, $1.49/member/month on App Essentials, and $0.50/member/month on Plus plans. These fees apply to active subscription members (SVOD). They do not directly apply to one-time TVOD purchases, which recent sources indicate may have 0% platform fees on Growth and Pro plans—verify with Uscreen sales for current TVOD policy.

Can I use Passion to build a video-heavy membership like Uscreen?

Yes. Passion supports video hosting, drip content, and live streaming integrations with YouTube or Zoom. However, if your entire business model is Netflix-style video-on-demand with TV apps (Roku, Apple TV), Uscreen's specialized video infrastructure may better serve your needs. Passion excels when video is part of a broader coaching program with community, challenges, and interactive content.

Key terminology glossary

Branded App: A mobile application (iOS, Android) and web app customized with your own logo, colors, and content, published under your business name.

IAP (In-App Purchase): Purchases made directly within a native mobile app, subject to Apple (15-30%) or Google (15-30%) commissions.

PassionPayments: Passion's integrated Stripe-powered payment processing for web checkouts, which charges a 3.9% platform fee plus standard Stripe fees.

SVOD (Subscription Video On Demand): Recurring subscription model where members pay monthly/annually for access to a video library.

TVOD (Transactional Video On Demand): One-time purchase model where customers buy or rent individual videos.

OTT (Over-The-Top): Content delivered directly to viewers over the internet, bypassing traditional cable or broadcast TV (e.g., Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV apps).

Tool Sprawl: The inefficiency of managing multiple disconnected platforms (social media, LMS, payment links, community groups) instead of a unified system.