Buy Me a Coffee is a web platform for creators to accept audience support, offer memberships, sell items, and publish content. Supporters can make a one-time payment and leave a message without creating an account. Creators can offer monthly or yearly memberships with exclusive content and perks, and sell digital or physical items such as ebooks, services, and art commissions. Publishing can be free or exclusive and includes audio formats. The site says creators can send unlimited emails to fans for free, and it connects with hundreds of other apps through Zapier. Stream alerts can be connected to OBS, Streamlabs, or StreamElements. In supported regions, payment options include major credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Cash App. Buy Me a Coffee says creators own and can export supporter lists, and that the platform does not email supporters. The free plan includes all features and has no monthly fee, but charges a 5% platform fee per transaction; Stripe processing fees may also apply. The company is headquartered in San Francisco and began designing the platform in 2017.
Who it is for
It suits creators with an audience who want to collect one-time support, run memberships, sell items, or publish free and exclusive content. The FAQ names creators including YouTubers, musicians, podcasters, writers, programmers, nonprofits, and cosplayers.
What is good
- Supporters can pay and leave a message without an account.
- Memberships can be monthly or yearly.
- Creators can sell digital and physical items.
- Unlimited emails to fans are listed as free.
- Supporter lists can be exported by creators.
What to know first
- A 5% platform fee applies per transaction.
- Payment processing fees may also apply.
- Some payment methods are available only in supported regions.
Verdict
Buy Me a Coffee combines audience payments with memberships, sales, and publishing on a free-to-use plan. Creators should factor in the per-transaction platform fee and any payment processing fees.
Get started with Buy Me a Coffee
- Open the Buy Me a Coffee website in a web browser.
- Set up a creator page to offer support, memberships, shop items, or content.
- Choose whether to offer monthly or yearly memberships.
- Connect stream alerts to OBS, Streamlabs, or StreamElements if needed.
- Use the free plan, which has no monthly fee and charges a 5% platform fee per transaction.
What the free plan stops at
The free plan has no monthly fee and includes all features, but charges a 5% platform fee per transaction. Payment processing fees may also apply.
Questions about Buy Me a Coffee
How much does Buy Me a Coffee cost?
The free plan has no monthly fee and charges a 5% platform fee per transaction. Payment processing fees may also apply.
What can creators offer?
Creators can accept one-time support, offer monthly or yearly memberships, sell digital or physical items, and publish free or exclusive content, including audio.
Do supporters need an account to make a one-time payment?
No. Supporters can make a one-time payment and leave a message without creating an account.
What payment methods are supported?
In supported regions, payments can use major credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Cash App.
Can Buy Me a Coffee connect to other apps?
Yes. It connects with hundreds of other apps through Zapier, and stream alerts can connect to OBS, Streamlabs, or StreamElements.
Who makes Buy Me a Coffee?
Buy Me a Coffee makes the platform. The company is headquartered in San Francisco and was founded in 2017.
Buy Me a Coffee plans and pricing
All plansCompared on membership site platforms
- Free plan
- Yes
- Content gating
- post
- Subscription billing
- both
- Transaction fee
- 5% platform fee per transaction; Stripe processing fees may also apply
