Ko-fi vs Patreon
Ko-fi and Patreon are both creator monetization tools aimed at creators. Both have a free plan.
| Pricing | Freemium | Free |
| Starting price | Not published | Not published |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Built for | Creators | Creators |
| Platforms | web | web, ios, android |
| Country | GB · 2012 | US · 2013 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Ko-fi if
Creators who want low-fee support without a heavy platform.
- 0% fee on donations
- Gold removes all fees
- Simple to set up
Look elsewhere if: Creators needing robust membership community features (Patreon, Circle).
Choose Patreon if
Creators with an existing audience who want a trusted membership platform without building infrastructure.
- Largest audience familiar with paying creators
- Handles payments and sales tax
- Discord and video features
Look elsewhere if: Creators who want to own the site and relationship (Ghost, Memberful) or minimal fees (Ko-fi).
Ko-fi vs Patreon pricing
Ko-fi
Patreon
- Free to start$0Create a page and offer free membership
- Platform fee10%/of earningsPlus payment processing, conversion, payout fees
Ko-fi · Key features
- Tips and donations with 0% platform fee
- Memberships with tiers
- Shop for digital products and commissions
- Posts and gallery
- Discord role integration
- Direct payouts via PayPal/Stripe
Cons
- Less discovery than Patreon
- Limited customization
- Fewer community features
Patreon · Key features
- Membership tiers with monthly or per-post billing
- Posts, audio, video, polls and community chats
- Discord integration for tier-based roles
- Digital product sales (Commerce)
- Analytics, payouts and tax handling
- Mobile apps and creator discovery
Cons
- Percentage fees are higher than alternatives
- Limited design and branding
- Platform controls the relationship
Ko-fi vs Patreon: FAQ
Do Ko-fi and Patreon have a free plan?
Yes, both Ko-fi and Patreon have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.