Ko-fi suits creators who want to keep more of each payment and get paid straight into their own PayPal or Stripe account: tips can carry no Ko-fi fee at all, and memberships, shop sales and commissions carry a 5% service fee. Patreon suits creators who want a full membership home with video, newsletters and community, and who want Patreon to handle tax, chargebacks and fraud: it takes 10% plus processing and payout fees. These numbers are as of October 2026.
Creators usually compare these two on fees first, so that's where I started. I read Ko-fi's home and Gold pages and Patreon's pricing and home pages, all fetched on 23 Oct 2026.
Ko-fi and Patreon fees and features
| Ko-fi | Patreon | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee on tips | None on Ko-fi Free | Part of the 10% on income |
| Fee on memberships and sales | 5% service fee | 10% of income earned |
| Other fees | Card processing fees apply | Processing, conversion and payout fees, plus taxes |
| Optional subscription | Ko-fi Gold: 0% service fee | Not listed on its pricing page |
| How you're paid | Straight to your PayPal or Stripe | Payouts from Patreon |
| Tax handling | You handle it | Patreon handles most collection and remittance |
| Built-in extras | Shop, commissions, stream alerts | Video, livestreams, newsletters, chats |
Why the payout route matters more than the percentage
The biggest difference isn't the fee, it's who holds your money. Ko-fi says it never processes or holds funds: supporters pay you directly and instantly into your own PayPal or Stripe account. Patreon works the other way round. It processes payments itself, handles chargebacks, disputes and fraud, takes care of most applicable tax collection and remittance, and pays out in 16+ supported currencies.
So the 10% versus 5% comparison isn't like for like. On Patreon, part of what you're paying for is the payment and tax admin you'd otherwise do yourself.
When Ko-fi makes more sense
Ko-fi is the lighter option. There's no monthly fee, simple tips can run on Ko-fi Free with no service fee, and if your sales grow you can switch to Ko-fi Gold, a fixed monthly subscription that drops the service fee to 0% on all payment options. It also covers a shop, commissions and stream alerts, so it works well as a tip jar plus storefront.
When Patreon makes more sense
Patreon is the fuller home for a paying community. It supports monthly and annual memberships, tiers, one-time payments and digital products, plus native video, livestreaming, email newsletters, chats and DMs, and podcast syncing with Spotify. If your members expect a place to watch, read and talk, Patreon gives you that in one app.
Questions to answer before you pick a platform
- Do your fans mostly tip, or do they subscribe every month?
- Do you want money to land in your own PayPal or Stripe straight away?
- Are you happy to handle sales tax yourself?
- Will you post video, livestreams or newsletters for members?
- Would a flat monthly subscription beat a percentage once you grow?
If you're weighing up other ways to run members-only content, this guide to tools for creating a membership site covers more options, and using Patreon in the UK explains the setup for UK creators.
The rules each platform sets for creators
Ko-fi's sign-up box says you must be 18 or over, and pages that break its terms are unpublished. Patreon says it's free to start and that you can share work with fans for free first, then switch on paid options when you're ready.
If a simple tip jar is all you need, read my Ko-fi tip jar comparison.
My advice on Ko-fi or Patreon
If you're starting out, mostly earning tips, or want every payment in your own account the moment it's made, start with Ko-fi. If you're building a paid community around video, posts and chat, and you'd rather not deal with tax and chargebacks yourself, Patreon is worth its larger cut. Check both pages again before you launch, because platform fees change.
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Frequently asked questions
What fee does Ko-fi take?
Ko-fi says it takes a 0-5% fee: simple tips on Ko-fi Free carry no service fee, and memberships, shop sales and commissions carry a 5% service fee. Card processing fees also apply. This is as of October 2026.
What fee does Patreon take?
Patreon's pricing page lists 10% of the income you earn, plus payment processing, conversion and payout fees, and applicable taxes, as of October 2026.
What is Ko-fi Gold?
A fixed monthly subscription that gives a 0% service fee on all payment options instead of the 5% fee.
Does Ko-fi hold my money?
No. Ko-fi says it never processes or holds funds; you're paid directly into your own PayPal or Stripe account.
Does Patreon handle tax for creators?
Patreon says it takes care of most applicable tax collection and remittance for you.
Can I use Ko-fi and Patreon together?
Yes. Nothing on either platform's pages stops you running both, for example Ko-fi for tips and Patreon for memberships.
How old do you need to be to use Ko-fi?
Ko-fi says you must be 18 or over to use it.
