Verdict. Pick Buy Me a Coffee if you want a clean tip jar with memberships and a small shop, and you are happy with one flat 5% fee. It is quick to set up and lets you email and export your supporters. The catch is Stripe. Extra charges for non-US cards, subscriptions and payouts add up, and creators outside the 49 payout countries cannot get paid at all.
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, California, US
- Best for
- Writers and makers who want a simple tip jar
- Plans from
- Free
- You keep from $1,000
- $886 on Free
Who can join. Open to anyone 18+, or old enough to sign a contract where you live. Payouts need Stripe, which limits you to 49 supported countries.
Buy Me a Coffee pricing and fees
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.
| Plan | Price | Fee on sales | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | 5% of each payment | The only plan. Stripe processing and payout fees are extra. |
On $1,000 of monthly sales at $10 each, the cheapest option is the Free plan. You'd pay about $114 in platform and card fees, 11.4% of revenue, and keep $886. Compare that with every other platform.
Payment processing. Stripe handles payments at 2.9% + $0.30 per charge, plus 1% on non-US payments, 0.5% on subscription payments and 0.5% on payouts. You can change a setting so supporters cover the card fee.
Payouts. Payouts go through Stripe once your balance reaches $10. Your first request triggers a one-time manual review, so the first payout can take 7 to 14 days. After approval, money reaches your bank in a few business days depending on your Stripe account type.
What you get with Buy Me a Coffee
- One-time tips with messages
- Monthly and yearly memberships
- Lifetime memberships
- Free trials on membership levels
- Shop for digital items and services
- Free and members-only posts
- Unlimited emails to supporters
- Discord role integration
- Stream alerts
- Supporter list export
Buy Me a Coffee pros and cons
What we like
- One flat 5% fee and no monthly plan to think about.
- You can email supporters for free and export the list whenever you want.
- Setup is short. A page and a Stripe connection get you live.
- You can make supporters cover the card fee instead of eating it.
What gets in the way
- Non-US subscriptions pay 2.9% + $0.30 plus 1% international, 0.5% subscription and 0.5% payout fees.
- Payouts need $10 and a manual review first, so the first one can take two weeks.
- Stripe-only payouts shut out creators outside the 49 supported countries.
- The homepage promises instant payouts, but the help center says 3 to 5 business days.
Who should skip Buy Me a Coffee
If most of your income is one-time tips, Ko-fi Free charges 0% on those, and if you need your own branded site, look at Memberful.
Buy Me a Coffee alternatives
| Platform | Score | Keep from $1,000 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ko-fi | 7.9 | $929 | Artists and streamers who mostly take tips and commissions |
| Fourthwall | 6.8 | $891 | YouTubers and streamers selling merch alongside memberships |
| Memberful | 6.6 | $843 | Publishers and podcasters who want a fully branded membership |
| Patreon | 6.1 | $841 | Video creators, podcasters and artists with loyal fans |
Head to head: Patreon vs Buy Me a Coffee, Ko-fi vs Buy Me a Coffee.
See all 6 membership platforms ranked.
Buy Me a Coffee questions
How much does Buy Me a Coffee take?
Buy Me a Coffee takes 5% of every payment, so you keep 95% before processing. Stripe then charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, plus 1% on non-US payments, 0.5% on subscriptions and 0.5% on payouts. There is no monthly fee and no paid plan.
How do I get paid on Buy Me a Coffee?
Payouts go to your connected Stripe account once you have $10 or more. Your first request goes through a one-time human review against the content policy, and the first payout can take 7 to 14 days in total. Later payouts reach your bank in a few business days.
Does Buy Me a Coffee work in my country?
Only if it supports Stripe payouts there. Buy Me a Coffee lists 49 countries, 44 on Stripe Standard Connect and 5 on Stripe Express, which are India, Israel, the Philippines, South Korea and Türkiye. If your country is not on that list, you cannot withdraw your earnings.
Sources
We checked these pages on October 20, 2026. Platforms change fees often, so confirm on the official page before you commit.
- Buy Me a Coffee Help: How to calculate charges on your payment
- Buy Me a Coffee Help: Frequently asked questions
- Buy Me a Coffee Help: When are payouts processed?
- Buy Me a Coffee Help: Supported countries for payouts
- Buy Me a Coffee Help: Why can't I see my debit card as a withdrawal option?
- Buy Me a Coffee Help: How to eliminate the credit card fee from your earnings
- Buy Me a Coffee Help: Launching your membership
- Buy Me a Coffee homepage
- Buy Me a Coffee Terms
- Product Hunt: Buy Me a Coffee