Starts atFree, 5% fee
- Free option listed
Head-to-head
Buy Me a Coffee vs Patreon: which keeps more of your fan money?
At a glance
Starts atFree, 10% fee
- Free plan
Both are free to join. Buy Me a Coffee takes a flat 5% transaction fee, so you keep 95%. Patreon takes 10% on new creator plans, plus payment processing, currency conversion and payout fees. Buy Me a Coffee is cheaper. Patreon gives members more to do inside the app.
Quick verdict
- Choose Buy Me a Coffee if you want tips and simple memberships with one 5% fee and no monthly charge.
- Choose Patreon if you want a full membership home with video, livestreams, chats and newsletters, and accept the 10% fee.
Side-by-side comparison
| Detail | Buy Me a Coffee | Patreon |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to start | Free, no monthly fee | Free, you pay when you earn |
| Platform fee | 5% of what you earn | 10% on new creator plans |
| Other fees | Not stated in the Buy Me a Coffee FAQ (checked 16 Oct 2026) | Payment processing, currency conversion, payout fees and taxes |
| Paid upgrade | None. All features, including publishing and emails, are free | None |
| Payouts | Directly to your bank account, in 44 countries | Not covered in our check |
| Member features | Publishing and emails included | Chats, DMs, comments, newsletters, native video and livestreams |
| Best for | Tip jar link in a bio | Paid communities with regular exclusive posts |
What you keep on $500 a month
On Buy Me a Coffee, 5% is $25, so you keep $475 before processing. On Patreon, 10% is $50, so you keep $450 before processing and payout fees. The gap grows with your income: at $2,000 a month it is $100.
Which one for Shorts, TikTok and Reels?
- Tip link in your TikTok or Shorts bio: Buy Me a Coffee. Fans can pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Cash App with no account to manage.
- Paid behind-the-scenes posts and long videos: Patreon, which has native video and livestreams.
- Small, growing audience: Buy Me a Coffee, since the lower fee matters most when amounts are small.
How to choose
- Decide if fans pay you once (tips) or every month (memberships).
- For mostly tips, start with Buy Me a Coffee and its 5% fee.
- For memberships, list what members get. If they need video, chat and livestreams in one app, Patreon earns its 10%.
- Work out the fee at your expected monthly income on both before you move your audience.
Common questions
Is Buy Me a Coffee cheaper than Patreon?
Yes. Buy Me a Coffee takes 5%. Patreon takes 10% on new creator plans, plus processing and payout fees.
Does Buy Me a Coffee have memberships?
Yes. It supports tips, memberships and a small shop, all under the same 5% fee.
Can I use Buy Me a Coffee and Patreon together?
Yes. Some creators put a Buy Me a Coffee tip link in their bio and keep Patreon for paying members.
Related: Buy Me a Coffee vs Ko-fi, Ko-fi vs Patreon, tips and fan support tools.
Sources: buymeacoffee.com/faq, patreon.com/pricing. Patreon blocked our check today, so its fees come from our 15 October 2026 copy of its pricing page. Checked on 16 October 2026. Based on published plans and terms, not a hands-on test.