creator
Ko-fi
FreeMonetization · Newsletters
Lets creators collect one-off tips, run memberships, and sell digital/physical products with 0% fee on tips.
Updated September 2026
Ko-fi vs Buy Me a Coffee (2026)
Ko-fi is best for creators who want free tipping plus optional low-fee shop and membership tools; Buy Me a Coffee is best for creators wanting a lightweight one-page tip jar plus memberships and a shop. Ko-fi starts at Free + 0% on tips (5% on shop/memberships) and Buy Me a Coffee at Free + 5% fee.
Buy Me a Coffee
FreeMonetization · Newsletters
Simple support platform for one-off tips, memberships, and a creator shop with a flat 5% platform fee.
| Ko-fi | Buy Me a Coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | creators who want free tipping plus optional low-fee shop and membership tools | creators wanting a lightweight one-page tip jar plus memberships and a shop |
| Starting price | Free + 0% on tips (5% on shop/memberships) | Free + 5% fee |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms | — | — |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Users | — | 2M+ creators (vendor claim) |
| Key features | Tip jar / donations, Memberships (tiers), Digital & physical shop, Commissions, Discord integration, Streamer alerts widget | One-tap tipping, Memberships, Shop for digital products, Posts, audio and email, Supporter export, No ads or gatekeeping |
| Integrations | PayPal, Stripe, Discord, Streamlabs, OBS | Stripe, PayPal, Zapier |
| Founded | 2017 | 2018 |
Questions people ask
+Is Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee cheaper?
Ko-fi starts at Free + 0% on tips (5% on shop/memberships); Buy Me a Coffee starts at Free + 5% fee.
+What does Ko-fi have that Buy Me a Coffee doesn't?
Tip jar / donations, Memberships (tiers), Digital & physical shop, Commissions, Discord integration, Streamer alerts widget.
+What does Buy Me a Coffee have that Ko-fi doesn't?
One-tap tipping, Memberships, Shop for digital products, Posts, audio and email, Supporter export, No ads or gatekeeping.