Starts atFree, 10% + $0.50/sale
- Free option listed
Head-to-head
Gumroad vs Ko-fi: where should a creator sell and get tips?
At a glance
Starts atFree; Gold $12/mo
- Free plan
Ko-fi is cheaper for tips and memberships: 0% on one-time tips and 5% on memberships on the free plan, or 0% with Gold at $12/month. Gumroad is built for selling digital products. It has no monthly fee, takes 10% + $0.50 per sale, and handles sales tax as merchant of record. Ko-fi pays you straight to your own payment account.
Quick verdict
Side-by-side comparison
| Detail | Ko-fi | Gumroad |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Free. Gold: $12/mo | None |
| Fee on tips | 0% (free plan) | 10% + $0.50 per sale |
| Fee on memberships | 5% free plan, 0% on Gold | 10% + $0.50 per sale |
| Marketplace fee | Not applicable | 30% on Discover sales |
| Sales tax | Not covered in our check | Gumroad collects and remits as merchant of record |
| Payouts | Direct to your payment method | Direct deposit or PayPal, by country |
| Processing fees | Standard PayPal or Stripe processor fees apply on top of Ko-fi's 0 to 5% fee | Standard processor fees apply |
| Best for | Tips and memberships | Digital products and downloads |
What a creator keeps
Say you sell 20 copies of a $15 Lightroom preset pack, $300 in total.
- Gumroad direct sales: 10% of $300 is $30, plus $0.50 x 20 = $10. That is $40 in fees.
- Gumroad Discover: 30% is $90.
- Ko-fi: shop sale fees were not on the page we read, so we can't give a figure. Tips from your TikTok or YouTube bio carry 0%.
How to choose
- Mostly tips? Ko-fi free plan.
- Memberships over $240 a month? Ko-fi Gold ($12 vs 5%).
- Selling to many countries and don't want to handle tax? Gumroad.
- Avoid relying on Gumroad Discover if margins are thin, at 30%.
Common questions
Is Ko-fi cheaper than Gumroad?
For tips and memberships, yes. 0% on tips vs 10% + $0.50 per sale on Gumroad.
Does Gumroad charge a monthly fee?
No. It takes 10% + $0.50 per direct sale.
Does Ko-fi take a cut of donations?
Not on one-time tips on the free plan. Payment processor fees still apply.
Related: Beacons vs Gumroad, Ko-fi vs Patreon, Buy Me a Coffee vs Ko-fi, tools to sell digital products.
Sources: gumroad.com/pricing, ko-fi.com/pricing. ko-fi.com did not load when we checked, so Ko-fi fees are from our 15 October 2026 check of its pricing page. Checked on 16 October 2026. Based on published plans and terms, not a hands-on test.