# Best Creator Platforms

> Independent rankings of creator platforms and creator marketplaces, scored on fees, features, ease, audience ownership and payouts. Fully independent and unpaid. No sponsors, no paid placements, no affiliate links. Site: creatormarketplaces.com. Fees last checked 2026-10-20 against each platform's official pricing pages.

## Independence and funding

Best Creator Platforms is fully independent. No creator platform, marketplace, brand or sponsor owns us, funds us or pays us, and none has any say in what we publish. All of our research is unpaid and nothing on this site is sponsored: no paid placements, no sponsored reviews and no affiliate links. Every fee and figure is verified against the platform's own pricing and help pages, dated, and linked so you can check it yourself.
Rules: https://creatormarketplaces.com/editorial-policy/

There is no single best creator platform. It depends on what you sell. Our 2026 picks by job:

- Best for recurring fan support: Ko-fi (7.9/10). Artists and streamers who mostly take tips and commissions. https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/ko-fi/
- Best for paid newsletters: Kit (7.9/10). Creators who sell products and need serious email automation. https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/kit/
- Best for selling downloads and links: Beacons (7.7/10). Social creators who mix product sales with brand deals. https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/beacons/
- Best for courses and paid communities: Podia (6.6/10). Creators selling several small products from one storefront. https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/podia/
- Best for brand deals and sponsorships: Passionfroot (7.0/10). B2B newsletter and LinkedIn creators selling sponsorships. https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/passionfroot/
- Lowest fees on $1,000/month at $10 per sale: Whop, about $57 including card processing.

Scores are out of 10: fees 30%, features 20%, ownership 20%, ease 15%, payouts 15%. Fee scores for creator-side platforms are calculated from published pricing; brand marketplace fee scores are editorial.

## Rankings
- [Membership platforms](https://creatormarketplaces.com/best/membership-platforms/): Membership platforms charge your fans a monthly price for posts, perks or access. They differ most in what they take per payment and whether you keep your members if you leave.
- [Newsletter platforms](https://creatormarketplaces.com/best/newsletter-platforms/): Newsletter platforms send your writing by email and can charge readers for it. The big split is a percentage of paid subscriptions versus a flat monthly bill.
- [Digital product and link-in-bio stores](https://creatormarketplaces.com/best/digital-product-platforms/): These stores sell ebooks, presets, templates and other files, often from a link-in-bio page. Fees range from zero on paid plans to 10% plus a per-sale charge.
- [Course and community platforms](https://creatormarketplaces.com/best/course-and-community-platforms/): Course and community platforms host lessons, cohorts and member forums. Most charge a monthly plan, and the cheaper plans often add a transaction fee on every sale.
- [Creator marketplaces for brand deals](https://creatormarketplaces.com/best/creator-marketplaces/): Creator marketplaces connect brands with creators for sponsored posts, UGC videos and ambassador programs. Some are run by the social apps themselves, others are independent.

## Reviews
- [Kit review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/kit/): 7.9/10. Kit charges 3.5% + 30¢ per sale on every plan with card processing included, and paid plans start at $39 a month billed monthly for 1,000 subscribers.
- [Ko-fi review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/ko-fi/): 7.9/10. Ko-fi Free charges 0% on one-time tips and 5% on memberships, shop sales, commissions and monthly tips, while Ko-fi Gold costs $12 a month for 0% on everything, with PayPal or Stripe processing on top.
- [Ghost review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/ghost/): 7.8/10. Ghost takes 0% of subscription revenue, so you pay a flat Ghost(Pro) fee from $35 a month billed monthly for paid features, or nothing for self-hosting, plus Stripe's card fees.
- [Beacons review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/beacons/): 7.7/10. 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.
- [Payhip review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/payhip/): 7.6/10. Payhip takes 5% of sales on the free plan, 2% on Plus at $29 a month and 0% on Pro at $99 a month, plus Stripe or PayPal processing.
- [beehiiv review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/beehiiv/): 7.5/10. beehiiv takes 0% of paid subscriptions and digital products, so you pay the plan price, $59 a month billed monthly for Lite at 1,000 subscribers, plus Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
- [Whop review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/whop/): 7.3/10. You pay Whop 2.7% + 30¢ per domestic card sale with processing included, no monthly fee, plus payout fees from $2.50 per withdrawal.
- [Passionfroot review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/passionfroot/): 7.0/10. Creators pay nothing on deals they bring in, brands pay a 5% platform fee on those, and Passionfroot takes 15% from creators on deals its network sources.
- [Fourthwall review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/fourthwall/): 6.8/10. Memberships cost 5% plus 2.9% + $0.30 US card processing, digital products cost 5% on Free or 0% on Pro at $19 a month, and merch earns you the sale price minus a fixed base cost.
- [Stan review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/stan/): 6.7/10. You pay $29 or $99 a month and Stan takes 0% of sales, but Stripe or PayPal processing still applies.
- [Billo review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/billo/): 6.6/10. Brands prepay packs and pay from $99 per video with creator pay and platform fees included, no subscription, and creators keep the full listed payout.
- [Memberful review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/memberful/): 6.6/10. Memberful costs $49 a month plus 4.9% of every charge, and Stripe adds its own processing fee, typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
- [Podia review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/podia/): 6.6/10. Plans cost $49 to $179 a month billed monthly, Mover takes 5% of each sale, Shaker and Earthquaker take 0%, and Stripe or PayPal charge about 2.9% + 30¢ on top.
- [Teachable review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/teachable/): 6.6/10. Plans cost $39 to $189 a month billed monthly, Starter takes 7.5% of each sale, Builder and Growth take 0% on Teachable Payments, and US cards cost 2.9% + 30¢ to process.
- [GRIN review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/grin/): 6.5/10. Brands pay $0 to $1,500 a month plus a 5% to 20% management fee on wallet deposits, and GRIN takes nothing from creator earnings.
- [Buy Me a Coffee review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/buy-me-a-coffee/): 6.4/10. You pay a 5% platform fee on every payment, plus Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30, a 0.5% payout fee, 1% extra on non-US payments and 0.5% extra on subscriptions.
- [Thinkific review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/thinkific/): 6.3/10. Public plans cost $109 to $499 a month billed monthly, Thinkific takes 0% on Thinkific Payments at 2.9% + 30¢ per US card, and using Stripe adds 0.5% to 2%.
- [TikTok One review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/tiktok-one/): 6.2/10. Brands pay no access fee and face no minimum ad spend for creator campaigns, and TikTok says creators paid through TikTok One Pay keep 100% of the deal.
- [Circle review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/circle/): 6.1/10. Plans cost $99 to $419 a month billed monthly, Circle takes 2% of sales on Professional and 1% on Business and Scale, and Stripe charges from 2.9% + 30¢ on top.
- [Patreon review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/patreon/): 6.1/10. New creators pay a 10% platform fee plus 2.9% + $0.30 card processing per payment, a 2.5% currency conversion fee when fans pay in another currency, and a small payout fee.
- [Substack review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/substack/): 6.1/10. Publishing is free, and on paid subscriptions Substack keeps 10% while Stripe adds 2.9% + $0.30 per US card payment and 0.7% on recurring charges.
- [Meta Creator Marketing Hub review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/meta-creator-marketing-hub/): 5.8/10. Meta lists no fee for discovery or messaging, so brands pay creators a negotiated fee directly and pay normal Meta ad rates to run partnership ads.
- [Skool review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/skool/): 5.8/10. Hobby costs $9 a month plus 10% + 30¢ per sale, and Pro costs $99 a month plus 2.9% + 30¢, with card processing included in both. If Growth Boost brings you a member, Skool also takes 30% of that member's charges, renewals included, and Growth Boost is on by default.
- [YouTube Creator Partnerships review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/youtube-creator-partnerships/): 5.7/10. YouTube lists no fee for either side, so brands pay you a negotiated rate directly, plus normal Google Ads spend if they boost the video.
- [Collabstr review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/collabstr/): 5.6/10. Brands pay $0, $299 or $399 a month plus a 10% hiring fee per order, or 5% on Premium, and creators give up 15% of each sale.
- [Aspire review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/aspire/): 5.4/10. Brand subscriptions are quote-only after a demo, brands pay a 2% handling fee on creator payment budgets plus processing fees, and creators keep 100%.
- [Insense review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/insense/): 5.4/10. Brands pay from $500 a month billed quarterly, or $650 for a one-month trial, plus a 7% to 20% marketplace fee on creator payments, and creators keep their full fee.
- [Kajabi review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/kajabi/): 5.4/10. Plans cost $179 to $499 a month billed monthly, Kajabi takes no cut of sales, and Kajabi Payments charges 2.7% to 2.9% plus 30¢ per US card sale.
- [Gumroad review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/gumroad/): 5.3/10. You pay 10% + 50¢ per direct sale plus 2.9% + 30¢ card processing, or a flat 30% with processing included on Discover marketplace sales.
- [Amazon Creator Connections review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/amazon-creator-connections/): 4.9/10. Brands set a bonus commission of at least 10% and a budget of at least $5,000, pay only for qualifying sales, and creators keep their standard Amazon commission on top.
- [YouTube channel memberships review](https://creatormarketplaces.com/platforms/youtube-channel-memberships/): 3.5/10. You keep 70% of membership revenue after taxes and fees, YouTube keeps 30%, and YouTube covers card processing.

## Comparisons
- [Patreon vs Ko-fi](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/patreon-vs-ko-fi/): Ko-fi is the better pick for most creators, and the fee gap decides it.
- [Patreon vs Buy Me a Coffee](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/patreon-vs-buy-me-a-coffee/): Buy Me a Coffee wins for most people because it takes 5% where Patreon takes 10%.
- [Ko-fi vs Buy Me a Coffee](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/ko-fi-vs-buy-me-a-coffee/): Pick Ko-fi.
- [Patreon vs Memberful](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/patreon-vs-memberful/): Memberful is the better choice for most creators who already have an audience, because members pay into your own Stripe account on your own site.
- [Patreon vs Fourthwall](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/patreon-vs-fourthwall/): Fourthwall is the better pick for most creators, and the reason is its 5% membership fee against Patreon's 10%.
- [Patreon vs YouTube channel memberships](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/patreon-vs-youtube-channel-memberships/): Patreon wins for most YouTubers.
- [Patreon vs Substack](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/patreon-vs-substack/): The fees are nearly identical.
- [Substack vs beehiiv](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/substack-vs-beehiiv/): beehiiv is the better pick for most newsletters that already make money.
- [Substack vs Ghost](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/substack-vs-ghost/): Ghost is the better pick for most paid newsletters.
- [beehiiv vs Kit](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/beehiiv-vs-kit/): Kit is the better pick for most creators, because its free plan covers 10,000 subscribers and still lets you sell.
- [Ghost vs beehiiv](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/ghost-vs-beehiiv/): Ghost edges it for most paid publications.
- [Gumroad vs Stan](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/gumroad-vs-stan/): Stan is the better pick for anyone with steady sales.
- [Stan vs Beacons](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/stan-vs-beacons/): Beacons is the better pick for most creators.
- [Gumroad vs Payhip](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/gumroad-vs-payhip/): Payhip wins, and it isn't close for anyone who sells every month.
- [Gumroad vs Whop](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/gumroad-vs-whop/): Whop is cheaper for nearly everyone.
- [Kajabi vs Teachable](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/kajabi-vs-teachable/): Teachable is the better pick for most course sellers, because Builder at $89 a month takes 0% and Kajabi's cheapest plan costs $179.
- [Teachable vs Thinkific](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/teachable-vs-thinkific/): Teachable wins for most solo course creators on price.
- [Kajabi vs Podia](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/kajabi-vs-podia/): Podia is the better pick for most creators selling a mix of smaller products.
- [Skool vs Circle](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/skool-vs-circle/): Skool is cheaper at every volume we modeled, $57 against $134 at $300 a month and $304 against $439 at $5,000.
- [TikTok One vs YouTube Creator Partnerships](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/tiktok-one-vs-youtube-creator-partnerships/): TikTok One is the better pick for most creators, because TikTok holds the brand's money.
- [Collabstr vs Insense](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/collabstr-vs-insense/): Collabstr is the better pick for most small brands, because you can hire a creator today without a subscription.
- [GRIN vs Aspire](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/grin-vs-aspire/): GRIN is the better pick for most Shopify brands, because you can see the price before you talk to anyone.
- [Insense vs Billo](https://creatormarketplaces.com/compare/insense-vs-billo/): Billo is the better pick for most brands that want UGC ad videos.

## Guides
- [App store fees for creators](https://creatormarketplaces.com/guides/app-store-fees-for-creators/): How Apple's in-app purchase cut hits creators on Patreon, Substack and YouTube channel memberships, and how to send fans to cheaper web checkout.
- [Creator platform fees explained](https://creatormarketplaces.com/guides/creator-platform-fees-explained/): How percentage cuts, flat plans, per-sale fees, card processing and app store fees add up, with real platform costs from $300 to $20,000 a month.
- [How to choose a creator platform](https://creatormarketplaces.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-creator-platform/): Choose a creator platform by what you sell, who pays you, how much you earn each month and if you need to own your email list and billing.
- [How to switch creator platforms](https://creatormarketplaces.com/guides/how-to-switch-creator-platforms/): Which creator platforms let you export emails and keep your own Stripe account, what breaks when you move, and the steps to switch without losing fans.
- [What is a creator marketplace?](https://creatormarketplaces.com/guides/what-is-a-creator-marketplace/): Creator marketplaces match brands with creators for paid content. See what TikTok One, Collabstr, GRIN and others charge each side and who can join.

## Tools
- [Fee calculator](https://creatormarketplaces.com/fees/): what each platform takes from your monthly sales, at any revenue and average sale size.

## About
- [Methodology](https://creatormarketplaces.com/methodology/): how scores and fee estimates are calculated.
- [Editorial policy](https://creatormarketplaces.com/editorial-policy/): independence, corrections and affiliate rules.
- [About](https://creatormarketplaces.com/about/) and [contact](https://creatormarketplaces.com/contact/): hello@creatormarketplaces.com

## Optional
- [Full data in plain text](https://creatormarketplaces.com/llms-full.txt): every platform's fees, plans, pros, cons and sources.