Ko-fi vs Patreon
Ko-fi and Patreon both help creators earn from their audience, but they lean in different directions: Ko-fi centers on one-off tips, a simple shop and light memberships, while Patreon is built around recurring paid membership tiers. Choosing between them comes down to whether your income is occasional support or a steady subscription.
Quick answer
Ko-fi is the better pick if you want quick tips, a simple shop and low fees, since it takes no cut on donations on its free plan. Patreon suits creators building recurring membership income with tiered perks, though its platform fees and processing add up. If you'd rather sell products, run memberships and get paid from one link while keeping 100% of your sales, OneSol is a free all-in-one alternative that pays straight into your own Stripe account.
Ko-fi vs Patreon at a glance
| Feature | Ko-fi | Patreon |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Recurring memberships | Yes | Core feature |
| Cut on earnings | 0% on tips | Platform fee |
| Sell products / downloads | Yes | Limited |
| Payments to your account | PayPal / Stripe | Via processor |
| Email capture | Limited | Limited |
| Ease of use | Simple | Moderate |
Competitor features and pricing can change — check their current plans before deciding.
1. Who Ko-fi suits best
Ko-fi is ideal for creators who want a frictionless way to accept tips, sell the odd digital download or take commissions without committing to a subscription model. Its free plan takes no fee on donations, and payments land in your own PayPal or Stripe account. If your support is occasional rather than recurring, Ko-fi keeps things simple and cheap.
2. Who Patreon suits best
Patreon shines for creators with a loyal following who want predictable monthly income through tiered memberships and gated perks. Its tools for managing members, posts and tiers are more mature than Ko-fi's. The trade-off is added complexity and fees, so it pays off most when recurring support is your main revenue.
3. The cost that's easy to miss
Patreon's headline plan fee doesn't include payment processing, and those percentages compound on every pledge, so your real take-home is lower than the sticker rate suggests. Ko-fi is cheaper on tips but nudges you toward its paid Gold tier for extras like lower shop fees and custom branding. Read each fee schedule before you commit.
The verdict
If your goal is steady subscription income, Patreon still leads on membership depth; for quick, low-fee tips and a light shop, Ko-fi wins. But if you want to sell, book and get paid from a single link while keeping 100% of every sale, OneSol brings products, forms, tickets, memberships and a digital card together for free — with money going straight to your own Stripe.
FAQ
Does Ko-fi or Patreon take a bigger cut?
Ko-fi charges no platform fee on donations on its free plan, while Patreon charges a platform fee plus payment processing on every pledge. Always check each site's current pricing, as plans change.
Can I run memberships on Ko-fi?
Yes, Ko-fi supports monthly memberships alongside tips and a shop, though Patreon's membership tools and tiers are more advanced for larger creator businesses.
Do I get paid directly?
Both route money to you, but Ko-fi lets you connect your own PayPal or Stripe for faster payouts, while Patreon pays out on its own schedule through connected processors.
Is there a free option that keeps 100% of my sales?
Yes — OneSol is a free all-in-one platform where you sell products, run memberships, take bookings and collect emails from one link, with payments going straight to your own Stripe and no platform cut on sales.