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Ko-fi
by Ko-fi
What Ko-fi is
Ko-fi is a creator platform for receiving support and selling work through one account. Creators can accept one-time or monthly tips, offer memberships, sell digital or physical products, and take commissions. They connect their own PayPal or Stripe account, with payments sent directly to them rather than processed or held by Ko-fi. Creators choose prices and sale terms, handle delivery and refunds, communicate with supporters, and can download their data. Ko-fi supports supporter-only content and scheduled posts in Standard mode. Stream Alerts provide chat alerts, GIF reactions, and text-to-speech, with controls for color, sound, position, duration, and call-to-action. Widgets, embeds, and shareable links support websites, blogs, and social pages. Listed connections include YouTube, Twitch, Discord, WordPress, Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, Medium, and GitHub. Ko-fi runs on web, Android, and iOS. The free plan costs nothing, while Gold is $12 a month.
Who it suits
Ko-fi suits creators such as artists, streamers, writers, crafters, podcasters, video creators, musicians, and developers who want tips, memberships, sales, or commissions in one place.
What it does well
- Supports tips, memberships, products, and commissions
- Direct PayPal or Stripe payments
- Widgets, embeds, and shareable links
- Web, Android, and iOS access
- Stream alerts offer customizable settings
What to know first
- Free plan charges 5% on memberships, sales, commissions
- Payment processing fees apply to membership payments
- Creators handle delivery, refunds, and applicable taxes
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | $12 /month · 0% service fee | $12 a month |
| Standard | $0 /month · 5% service fee on all payment types · Unlocks extra tools such as supporter-only content, scheduled posts, and shorter page name | Free |
| Ko-fi Free | $0 /month · 0% service fee on tips · 5% service fee on Memberships, Shop sales, and Commissions · No advanced features | Free |
As ko-fi.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Ko-fi combines creator support, sales, memberships, and commissions with direct payment connections and broad sharing tools. The free plan has no tip service fee but charges 5% on several other activities, while Gold is listed at $12 a month.
Facts from Ko-fi's own pages
- Account security
- Ko-fi supports two-factor authentication by email or authenticator app, with SMS backup for app-based 2FA. · help.ko-fi.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Content gating
- post · ko-fi.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Creator audience
- Ko-fi describes its intended users as creators such as artists, streamers, writers, crafters, podcasters, video creators, musicians, and developers. · ko-fi.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Creator control
- Creators set their own prices and sale terms, manage delivery and refunds, communicate with supporters, and can download their data. · ko-fi.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Direct payments
- Creators connect their own PayPal or Stripe account and receive payments directly; Ko-fi says it does not process or hold those payments. · ko-fi.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2017 · ko-fi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · ko-fi.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, UK · ko-fi.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Ko-fi lists integrations or connections for YouTube, Twitch, Discord, WordPress, Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, Medium, and GitHub. · ko-fi.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Notable responsibility
- Creators are responsible for setting sales terms, managing delivery and refunds, and handling applicable taxes on their sales. · ko-fi.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Payments
- The pricing page lists PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo, Cash App, credit and debit cards, and popular local payment methods for supporters. · ko-fi.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy and data protection
- Ko-fi says it has security measures to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure and limits personal-data access to people with a business need to know. · more.ko-fi.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Ko-fi helps creators accept tips, offer memberships, take requests, and sell their work from one place. · ko-fi.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Streaming
- Ko-fi Stream Alerts include chat alerts, GIF reactions, and text-to-speech, with customizable color, sound, position, duration, and call-to-action. · ko-fi.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Subscription billing
- recurring · ko-fi.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Support
- Ko-fi directs users to its support team and Help Center for questions, guides, and resources. · ko-fi.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Transaction fee
- 5% service fee on membership payments, plus PayPal or Stripe processing fees · ko-fi.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Ways to earn
- Creators can receive one-time or monthly tips, offer memberships, sell digital or physical products, and take commissions. · ko-fi.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Website tools
- Ko-fi offers widgets, embeds, and shareable links for websites, blogs, and social media pages. · ko-fi.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where Ko-fi stands on Freedom251
- Membership Site Platforms#26 of 85