Supporting MythicHub - Introducing Patreon

Hey everyone, it's Mateusz again. Today I want to share something personal about MythicHub's journey and where we're headed next.

When I made my first commit to MythicHub on March 30, 2023, after several failed attempts that never saw the light of day, I had no idea how much this project would grow. It's been over a year since launch, and thanks to your incredible feedback and support, MythicHub has evolved into something I'm really proud of.

But I need to be honest with you. Running MythicHub while juggling a full-time job, a growing family, and a dog means every hour I spend coding is precious. And while I've tried to keep costs down through affiliate links, I'll be blunt: they've generated exactly $0. Zero dollars. Not even enough for a coffee.

So today, I'm doing something I've thought about for a while - launching a Patreon to help support MythicHub. Let me explain why, and what it means for you.

➡️ Visit MythicHub on Patreon ⬅️

What We've Built Together

First, let me take a moment to appreciate what we've accomplished over the past year. Your feedback has been incredible, and it's directly shaped these improvements:

Enhanced collection management with better binder organization and tracking
Improved deck builder with cheapest printing finder, collection status integration, and export options
Market trends and price tracking across multiple marketplaces with custom search capabilities
cEDH metagame analysis powered by tournament data from TopDeck.gg
Collection import from multiple platforms (Moxfield, Deckbox, ManaBox, MTGO, MTGArena Pro)
Secret Lair tracking and comprehensive card database
Artist pages celebrating the incredible artwork of Magic

None of this would exist without your input. You've helped shape MythicHub into a tool that actually solves real problems for Magic players.

Why MythicHub Will Always Be Free (and Ad-Free)

Let me be clear about something that will never change: MythicHub will always be free to use, and it will never have ads.

I genuinely believe that ads are the wrong way to run a hobby project. They're annoying, they ruin the user experience, and honestly, they're not even a sustainable business model for a niche tool like this. MythicHub exists because I love Magic and I love building things that help people. Cluttering it with flashy banners and pop-ups would betray that mission entirely.

The affiliate links I added were supposed to help cover server costs without being intrusive. But here's the reality: after over a year, they've made $0. That's not sustainable as MythicHub grows and server costs increase.

The Reality of Running MythicHub

I do this because I love it. There's something incredibly satisfying about building a tool that people actually use and find helpful. Every time someone sends feedback saying they finally organized their collection or built their dream deck, it makes those late nights worth it.

But as MythicHub grows, so do the costs. Server hosting and database storage. And the features I want to build next will increase those costs even more.

What Support Helps With

I have a long list of things I want to keep improving: collection workflows, deck tools, market views, imports, search, and general polish across the app.

The important part is that this Patreon is not a paid product plan. The current supporter benefits are about optional support and cosmetic recognition, not locking the main MythicHub tools behind a paywall.

Why Patreon?

I've thought a lot about how to sustain MythicHub, and Patreon feels like the right approach because:

It's optional - You choose to support if MythicHub provides value to you
It's transparent - I can be honest about costs and what your support enables
It keeps MythicHub clean - No ads, no sponsored content, no compromises
It helps my family - Offsetting server and development costs makes a real difference
It's fair - Supporters get cosmetic perks and recognition, but the main tools are not locked away

The money goes directly to infrastructure costs and development. It won't make me rich, but it will help me justify the time I spend on MythicHub and maybe even allow me to dedicate more hours to building the features you've been requesting.

Introducing Supporter Tiers

Because this is a Magic tool, I wanted the supporter tiers to feel thematic. I've modeled them after Magic The Gathering rarities, and each tier gives you visual customization options and recognition for your support:

⚪ Common Tier - $3/month

Your support helps keep the servers running, and you get:

Red border for your avatar (toggle on/off)
Gray supporter badge on your profile
Simple, classic recognition

This tier is perfect if you want to help offset server costs without breaking the bank.

🥈 Uncommon Tier - $5/month

Show your support with a bit of personal style:

Choose any custom color for your avatar border (any hex color!)
Silver supporter badge
Express yourself with your favorite color

Great for supporters who want to add some personal flair to their profile.

🥇 Rare Tier - $10/month

Stand out with stunning visual effects:

Two-color gradient border for your avatar
Gold supporter badge
Create beautiful gradient combinations

Perfect for dedicated supporters who want to really make their profile pop.

💎 Mythic Tier - $15/month

The ultimate supporter experience with maximum customization:

Full gradient border with two colors
Username text glow effect in any color you choose
Mythic supporter badge (the ultimate flex!)
Complete creative control over your visual presence

For the most dedicated supporters who want all the bells and whistles.

All tiers include:

Immediate activation of benefits (as soon as you pledge!)
Self-service customization in Settings → Avatar & Supporter Settings
Visible recognition on your profile
7-day grace period if you need to cancel (life happens, no hard feelings!)

What Supporters Get Right Now

Supporter tiers are intentionally cosmetic. You get visible recognition on your profile and avatar customization based on your tier, while the core MythicHub experience stays free and ad-free.

How to Become a Supporter

If you'd like to support MythicHub, here's how:

Visit patreon.com/mythichub
Choose your tier and complete the pledge
Your benefits activate automatically (make sure your Patreon email matches your MythicHub email!)
Go to Settings → Avatar & Supporter Settings to customize your look

If your Patreon email doesn't match your MythicHub account, just reach out and I'll link them manually.

A Personal Note

This is entirely voluntary. Free users will keep getting the main MythicHub tools; paid support is a way to help the project continue while getting cosmetic recognition.

I built MythicHub because I love Magic and I love solving problems. Asking for financial support feels a bit uncomfortable, honestly. But the reality is that server costs are real, development time is limited, and offsetting some of those costs would genuinely help me and my family.

Whether you support through Patreon or just by using and sharing MythicHub, I'm grateful. Every piece of feedback, every bug report, every "hey this is cool" message keeps me motivated to make this better.

Your input has shaped everything MythicHub has become, and I'm excited to keep building this together.

Thank You

Thank you for being part of this journey. Thank you for your patience as I continue to build and improve MythicHub. Thank you for the feedback, the bug reports, and the encouragement.

MythicHub wouldn't exist without the Magic community, and I'm committed to making it the best tool possible for managing your collection and building great decks.

If you have questions, feedback, or just want to say hi, you can reach me at matt(at)mythichub.com or through our feedback form.

And if you decide to become a supporter - thank you. It means the world to me.

You can connect with MythicHub on Facebook and Instagram for updates and announcements.

Happy collecting and happy brewing!

—Mateusz