- Ko-fi Free versus Standard: two ways to be charged
- Ko-fi's 5% service fee by payment type
- PayPal and Stripe fees on top of Ko-fi
- Ko-fi Gold and the 0% option
- What a Ko-fi supporter payment is worth after fees
- How fast Ko-fi pays you
- Ko-fi fees compared with similar tip platforms
- Ko-fi creator checklist
- Frequently asked questions
Ko-fi takes 0% on one-time tips on its Free option and a flat 5% service fee on everything else, such as memberships, monthly tips, shop items and commissions. On Standard mode, the 5% also applies to one-time tips. PayPal or Stripe then take their own processing fees, usually around 3% + thirty cents, according to Ko-fi's help centre.
Ko-fi has a reputation as the creator platform that doesn't take a cut of tips, and for one-off tips that's still true. The full answer depends on what you sell and which option you've switched on, so here's how Ko-fi's own help centre lays it out.
Ko-fi Free versus Standard: two ways to be charged
Ko-fi says it keeps things simple with two options, both free to join and neither with a monthly cost:
- Ko-fi Free: 0% on one-time tips. A flat 5% service fee applies to anything else, such as shop items, memberships, monthly tips and commissions.
- Standard: still no monthly cost, but a flat 5% applies to one-time tips as well as shop sales, commissions, monthly tips and memberships. In return, you get extras such as supporter-only content, scheduled posts and custom branding.
Ko-fi says you can switch Standard mode on or off any time from Settings, then Payment. New creators start with everything switched on from day one, so if you only want tip-jar style support and want those tips fee-free, it's worth checking which mode you're in.
Ko-fi's 5% service fee by payment type
Here's how the help centre's breakdown looks, payment type by payment type:
| Payment type | Ko-fi Free | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| One-off tips | 0% | 5% |
| Crowdfunding Goals | 0% | 5% |
| Monthly tips | 5% | 5% |
| Membership tiers | 5% | 5% |
| Commission sales | 5% | 5% |
| Shop sales | 5% | 5% |
So the 0% headline is about one-off tips and Goals on the Free option. Anything recurring, and anything you sell, carries the 5% whichever mode you choose. If you see an Application Fee in Stripe or a Partner Fee in PayPal, Ko-fi says those are just different names for the same 5% service fee.
PayPal and Stripe fees on top of Ko-fi
Ko-fi doesn't hold your money. Every payment goes straight into your own PayPal or Stripe account, and those providers take their normal transaction fees. Ko-fi says these vary with account type, location and currency, but they're usually around 3% + thirty cents.
Currency matters here too. Ko-fi's tip is to set your Ko-fi currency to match the one most of your supporters pay in, because only payments in a different currency get converted, and PayPal and Stripe usually add a small percentage for conversion.
That fixed thirty cents or so per payment also means a very small tip loses a bigger share to processing than a larger one. If most of your supporters send one coffee at a time, consider setting a slightly higher coffee price.
Ko-fi Gold and the 0% option
Ko-fi Gold is still around for creators who'd rather pay a fixed monthly sum than a percentage. The help centre says Gold is now available for 12 US dollars a month for new users, on a monthly plan only.
There are a couple of wrinkles. Ko-fi says that when you join Gold, it can't update the fees on memberships taken through Stripe before you switched, so you'll keep paying the 5% on those. And if you cancel Gold later, you become a Contributor, keep the Gold features, and future transactions carry the 5% fee instead, apart from memberships started while you were on Gold.
Whether Gold makes sense comes down to simple maths: compare 12 US dollars a month with 5% of your monthly sales. If your recurring income is small, the percentage usually works out lighter.
What a Ko-fi supporter payment is worth after fees
Let's put the layers in order for one payment. A supporter sends a one-off tip while you're on Ko-fi Free: Ko-fi takes nothing, and PayPal or Stripe take their usual processing fee, usually around 3% + thirty cents. The same supporter joins a membership tier instead: Ko-fi's 5% service fee comes off, then the processor's fee. If they pay in a different currency from yours, the processor may add a conversion charge on top.
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Ko-fi doesn't publish what a typical creator makes, so guesses you read online aren't worth much. The figure that matters is your own. Open a recent payment in PayPal or Stripe and you'll see the gross amount, Ko-fi's fee listed as an Application Fee or Partner Fee, the processor's charge, and what landed in your account. Do that for a few payments and you'll know your real take-home rate.
How fast Ko-fi pays you
This is where Ko-fi differs from many platforms. Its help centre says getting paid is instant, with no minimum balance and no waiting around. Whenever someone supports you, the funds go directly into your own PayPal or Stripe account.
From there, PayPal or Stripe's own rules decide how quickly you can move it to your bank. Ko-fi notes that PayPal funds can sometimes be held, so if a payment looks stuck, check your PayPal account first.
Ko-fi fees compared with similar tip platforms
Ko-fi and Buy Me a Coffee are often weighed up side by side. If you're deciding between them, my look at what Buy Me a Coffee charges creators sets out its fee stack so you can compare like with like.
Neither platform will build an audience for you, though. Your Ko-fi link works best when people already know your work. If you're growing on visual platforms, my guide to what Pinterest pays creators explains how reach there can feed support elsewhere.
Ko-fi creator checklist
- Check whether Standard mode is on if you want fee-free one-off tips.
- Expect 5% on memberships, monthly tips, shop and commission sales.
- Budget for PayPal or Stripe fees on every payment.
- Match your Ko-fi currency to where most supporters live.
- Compare Gold's monthly cost with 5% of your recurring sales.
- Keep records for tax, and ask an accountant how to report supporter income.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ko-fi take a cut of tips?
Not on one-time tips if you're on Ko-fi Free, which charges 0%. On Standard mode, a 5% fee applies to one-time tips too. PayPal or Stripe processing fees still apply either way.
What is Ko-fi's fee on memberships?
Ko-fi charges a flat 5% service fee on membership tiers and monthly tips on both the Free and Standard options.
How much is Ko-fi Gold?
Ko-fi's help centre says Gold is available for 12 US dollars a month for new users, on a monthly plan only.
Does Ko-fi hold my money?
No. Ko-fi says payments go directly into your own PayPal or Stripe account, with no minimum balance and no waiting.
What are PayPal and Stripe fees on Ko-fi?
Ko-fi says they vary by account type, location and currency but are usually around 3% + thirty cents per payment.
