Starts atFree, 5% fee
- Free option listed
Head-to-head
Buy Me a Coffee vs Ko-fi: where should a creator take tips?
At a glance
Starts atFree; Gold $12/mo
- Free plan
Both are free to set up with no monthly fee. Buy Me a Coffee takes a 5% transaction fee, so you keep 95%. Ko-fi takes 0% on tips and 5% on memberships, shop sales and commissions. Ko-fi Gold costs $12/month and drops the service fee to 0%. If you mostly get one-time tips, Ko-fi keeps more of your money.
Quick verdict
- Choose Ko-fi if most of your income is tips, or you sell enough to make $12/month Gold worth it.
- Choose Buy Me a Coffee if you want one simple 5% fee with publishing and emails included free.
Side-by-side comparison
| Detail | Buy Me a Coffee | Ko-fi |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | None | None on the free plan |
| Fee on tips | 5% | 0% (free plan) |
| Fee on memberships and shop | 5% | 5% on free plan; 0% on Gold |
| Paid upgrade | None. All features free for everyone | Gold: $12/month, 0% service fee |
| Payment processing | Stripe and Wise. Extra fees not stated in Buy Me a Coffee's FAQ (checked 16 Oct 2026) | Standard payment processor fees also apply |
| Payouts | To your bank account, in 44 countries | Paid directly to your own payment method. Ko-fi never holds your money |
What you keep on $100 of tips
On Buy Me a Coffee, the 5% fee is $5, so you keep $95 before processing fees. On Ko-fi's free plan, one-time tips have a 0% service fee, so you keep $100 before processing fees. If you sell $300 a month in memberships on Ko-fi, the 5% fee is $15. Gold at $12 would cost less.
Which one for a Shorts creator?
- Tip link in your TikTok or YouTube bio: Ko-fi free.
- Growing memberships or a shop: Ko-fi Gold once 5% of your sales passes $12 a month.
- Want everything free and one flat fee: Buy Me a Coffee.
Common questions
Does Buy Me a Coffee have a free plan?
Yes. Buy Me a Coffee pricing: Free, 5% fee. Prices change, so check the official site.
Does Ko-fi have a free plan?
Yes. Ko-fi pricing: Free; Gold $12/mo. Prices change, so check the official site.
Which is better, Buy Me a Coffee or Ko-fi?
Pick Ko-fi if most of your income is tips, or you sell enough to make $12/month Gold worth it. Pick Buy Me a Coffee if you want one simple 5% fee with publishing and emails included free.
Related: tips and fan support tools, Linktree vs Stan Store, Beacons vs Stan Store.
Sources: buymeacoffee.com/faq, ko-fi.com/pricing (from our saved copy; the live page blocked our check). Checked on 15 October 2026. Based on published fees, not a hands-on test.