Stan vs Beacons
Verdict. Beacons is the better pick for most creators. Fees are a tie. Stan's Creator plan costs $29 and Beacons Creator Plus $30, both at 0%, and our math puts both at about $235 on $5,000 a month. The difference is control. Beacons pays into your own Stripe or PayPal account, offers a custom domain from its $10 plan and includes unlimited email sends on Creator Plus. Stan has no custom domain, manages your Stripe account for you and keeps email tools behind its $99 plan. Beacons also lets you start free at 9%.
Pick Stan if
you sell coaching calls and courses to a social following and want the quickest phone-first setup, with calendar booking built in.
Pick Beacons if
you mix brand deals with product sales and want a media kit next to your store, or you want to start free and upgrade once sales pass about $333 a month.
Side by side
| Compared | Stan | Beacons |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 6.7 / 10 | 7.7 / 10 |
| Best for | Instagram and TikTok creators selling coaching and courses | Social creators who mix product sales with brand deals |
| What it costs | You pay $29 or $99 a month and Stan takes 0% of sales, but Stripe or PayPal processing still applies. | Beacons takes 9% of sales on the Free and $10 Creator plans and 0% on the $30 Creator Plus and $100 Creator Max plans, plus Stripe or PayPal processing. |
| Keep from $1,000 | $912 (Creator) | $911 (Creator Plus) |
| Plans from | $29/month | Free |
| Payouts | Sales go to a Stripe account that Stan creates and manages, or to PayPal. US sales clear in 2 to 7 business days, international ones in up to 7. You cash out the full available balance from Stan, $10 minimum, and it arrives in 24 to 48 hours. US instant payouts open up after 30 days and $2,000 cashed out. | Money from direct sales goes straight into your connected Stripe or PayPal account at checkout, so Beacons holds nothing. You withdraw to your bank on Stripe's or PayPal's schedule. Affiliate commissions pay out through PayPal only, within 5 to 7 business days. |
| Who can join | You must be 18 or older. Stan's managed Stripe accounts cover about 40 countries, mostly in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Elsewhere you need PayPal. | Free for anyone to sign up. Selling needs a Stripe or PayPal account in your country. Beacons notes extra restrictions in countries such as Mexico, India, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand and Brazil, where a paid plan may be required. |
| Founded | 2020 | 2019 |
Scorecards
| Criterion | Possible | Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Fees$88 on $1,000 a month | 3.0 | 2.28 |
| FeaturesDepth for its category | 2.0 | 1.40 |
| EaseSignup to first sale | 1.5 | 1.35 |
| OwnershipExport, domain, own payments | 2.0 | 0.80 |
| PayoutsSpeed, methods, countries | 1.5 | 0.90 |
| Total | 10.0 | 6.7 |
| Criterion | Possible | Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Fees$89 on $1,000 a month | 3.0 | 2.28 |
| FeaturesDepth for its category | 2.0 | 1.60 |
| EaseSignup to first sale | 1.5 | 1.20 |
| OwnershipExport, domain, own payments | 2.0 | 1.40 |
| PayoutsSpeed, methods, countries | 1.5 | 1.20 |
| Total | 10.0 | 7.7 |
Where Stan falls short
- No free plan, so you pay $29 a month before your first sale.
- No custom domain. Your store lives at stan.store/yourname.
- Stan creates and manages your Stripe account. You can't connect an existing one.
- Email marketing, discount codes and payment plans need the $99 Creator Pro plan.
- No marketplace to bring you new buyers.
Where Beacons falls short
- 9% on Free and Creator is steep, $90 on every $1,000 of sales.
- Pricing page shows Creator Max at $100 while the help center still says $90.
- Memberships and video-hosted courses need the $30 Creator Plus plan.
- Free plan caps email at 50 sends a month.
- AI features run on daily credits that are tight on lower plans.
Still deciding? See every option in digital product and link-in-bio stores.