Patreon vs Ko-fi vs Buy Me a Coffee Fee Comparison for 2026
Compare your net payout side by side on Patreon, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee for the same monthly revenue, based on each platform's current 2026 fee structure.
How the 3-Way Fee Comparison Is Calculated
Each platform charges a different mix of platform fee and payment processing fee. This tool applies each platform's current published rates to the same gross monthly revenue so you can compare net payout side by side.
Patreon's flat 10% platform fee applies to creators who joined on or after August 4, 2025; legacy creators keep their old Lite (5%), Pro (8%), or Premium (12%) tier. Ko-fi charges 0% on donations and 5% on shop/subscription sales (0% with the $6/month Gold plan). Buy Me a Coffee charges a flat 5% on all transactions. All three add standard card processing of roughly 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
How to Use the Fee Comparison Calculator
Enter your monthly gross revenue
Total from memberships, tips, or shop sales you'd process through any of these platforms.
Enter your monthly transaction count
Used to calculate the fixed $0.30 per-transaction processing fee accurately.
Toggle Ko-fi Gold
See the difference Ko-fi's $6/month Gold plan makes by removing its 5% shop/subscription fee.
Toggle legacy Patreon plan
Compare the new flat 10% fee against a legacy Lite/Pro/Premium tier if you have one.
Review your results
See net payout and effective fee percentage for all three platforms side by side.
Real-World Scenario Example
"A creator processes $2,000/month across 200 transactions, comparing the current flat-rate Patreon plan against Ko-fi (no Gold) and Buy Me a Coffee."
Inputs
Result
Patreon nets about $1,682, Ko-fi nets about $1,742, and Buy Me a Coffee nets about $1,802 — Buy Me a Coffee keeps the most of this revenue mix.
Important Disclaimer
These estimates are for educational purposes only. Platform fees change over time and can vary by region, payment method, and account history. Always confirm current rates directly on each platform before making a migration decision.
Related Calculators
Patreon Alternative Platform Calculator
Compare Patreon alternatives for creators including Substack, Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee, Memberful, and Ghost. Calculate net payout after platform fees and payment processing for each platform based on your subscriber count and pricing.
Ko-fi Creator Earnings Calculator
Calculate your Ko-fi net earnings from donations, shop sales, and subscriptions after platform and processing fees.
Buy Me a Coffee Net Earnings Calculator
Calculate your real net earnings from Buy Me a Coffee after platform fees, Stripe processing, and international transaction costs. Know exactly what you keep per support.