Ko-fi
Accept donations, memberships, and shop sales — 0% fee
membershipFree planSetup: simple
7.8
Visit Ko-fi →AppAdvize
Score / 10
Overview
Ko-fi is a lightweight creator monetization platform with a key selling point: Ko-fi takes 0% of donations and shop sales (only Stripe and PayPal payment processing fees apply). Creators set up a public page where fans can make one-time donations (buy a 'coffee'), subscribe for monthly memberships, purchase digital or physical products, or commission custom work. Ko-fi Gold (paid) adds a custom domain and additional features. Popular with artists, illustrators, writers, and gaming content creators.
Pros & Cons
What we like
- ✓0% platform fee — you keep everything minus payment processor fees
- ✓Accepts one-time tips, monthly memberships, digital products, and commissions
- ✓Instant setup — live in minutes
- ✓Works alongside any other platform (no exclusivity)
Watch out for
- ✕Less discovery than Patreon — your audience needs to find you first
- ✕Limited customization and analytics
- ✕Not a full membership community platform — basic fan support tool
Best for
- Artists, illustrators, and creators wanting a tip jar with 0% fees
- Creators supplementing another platform with a low-friction support link
Not ideal for
- Creators wanting built-in community features (Circle or Mighty Networks)
- Course sellers (Kajabi or Teachable offer full course infrastructure)
Alternatives
AppAdvize Scores
Ease of Use9/10
Value for Money9.5/10
Support Quality7/10
Integrations6.5/10
Scalability7/10
Overall7.8/10
Pricing
✓Free plan available
Free — Free — 0% Ko-fi fee on donations and shop sales
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 2012
- Users
- 7M+ creators
- Setup time
- ~10 min
- Complexity
- simple
- Maturity
- established
Last verified: 2026-03-01