Side by side
Buy Me a Coffee vs WP-Members
Both stand on membership site platforms. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Web
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.
Visit Buy Me a Coffee Free plan Self-hostedWeb
WP-Members provides a free foundation for post gating, inline member forms, and login. Paid extensions and support broaden its controls, integrations, and maintenance options.
Visit WP-MembersThe facts
| Buy Me a Coffee | WP-Members | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Web | Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | See the plans |
| Plans published | 1 | 8 |
| Maker | Buy Me a Coffee | Not published |
| Website | buymeacoffee.com | rocketgeek.com |
| On membership site platforms | #29 of 85 | #33 of 85 |
Buy Me a Coffee: what it does well
- 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.
WP-Members: what it does well
- Free plan restricts selected post content
- Inline registration matches the site theme
- Works without theme modifications
- Offers security and anti-spam controls
- Lists multiple optional extensions
What to know first
- Advanced features require paid extensions
- Support plans are separate purchases
- Customization may require WordPress knowledge
- Self-hosted WordPress only
Alternatives to Buy Me a Coffee Alternatives to WP-Members The whole list