Ko-fi vs Buy Me a Coffee: which keeps you more?
Updated August 17, 2026
On fees, Ko-fi wins and it is not close: tips are 0% on Ko-fi's free plan versus a flat 5% on Buy Me a Coffee, and Ko-fi Gold ($12 a month) zeroes shop and membership fees that Buy Me a Coffee never waives. Buy Me a Coffee's case is its warmer page and slightly smoother supporter flow. Pick Ko-fi unless you have specifically tested that Buy Me a Coffee converts your audience better. Disclosure: we build a tip page ourselves, compared at the end.
The fee table decides most of this
| Ko-fi | Buy Me a Coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| Tips | 0% | 5% |
| Shop sales | 5% (0% with Gold) | 5% |
| Memberships | 5% (0% with Gold) | 5% |
| Paid tier | Gold, $12/mo, removes all platform fees | None |
| Payment processing | PayPal/Stripe, creator side | Creator side |
| Payouts | PayPal or Stripe | Bank or PayPal by region |
A creator taking $300 a month in tips keeps $15 more every month on Ko-fi, $180 a year, for an essentially identical feature. That is the whole argument in one number.
What each does better
- Ko-fi: the fee structure, commissions tooling for artists, and a gallery that suits portfolio creators.
- Buy Me a Coffee: onboarding polish and a supporter flow some audiences find friendlier; the brand phrase itself converts for blog and podcast audiences.
When neither is the right shape
Both put payment processing on your side of the tip and both lean on PayPal availability. If your audience tips mid-stream, if PayPal is weak in your country, or if you want the $10 gesture to arrive as $10, a supporter-pays page fits better: on Ouish (our product) the supporter covers the 6% processing fee on top, payouts run in 18 currencies including NGN, and the same handle carries a wishlist and storefront. Ko-fi keeps the edge if memberships are core to your model.
Or skip the coffee metaphor entirely
Ouish is a tip jar, wishlist and storefront for streamers and creators. Supporters cover the fee; tips arrive whole, in 18 currencies.
Create your free pageFrequently asked questions
Is Buy Me a Coffee or Ko-fi better?
Ko-fi on fees (0% tips versus 5%), with Gold zeroing everything else for $12 a month. Buy Me a Coffee competes on interface warmth, not price.
Is Buy Me a Coffee the same as Ko-fi?
Same category (support pages with tips, memberships and small shops) but different pricing: Ko-fi takes 0% on tips, Buy Me a Coffee takes 5% on everything.
Can I use both at once?
You can, but splitting support across two near-identical pages usually lowers totals. Pick one, link it everywhere.
Do supporters need an account on either?
No; both let supporters pay as guests, which is a big reason support pages outperform membership paywalls for casual audiences.