Ko-fi

Ko-fi is a popular low-pressure creator support platform that lets readers "buy you a coffee" — a framing that feels more natural and less transactional than traditional donation platforms. Authors use Ko-fi for one-time tips, recurring monthly memberships, project-specific crowdfunding goals, and selling ebooks or digital extras in the built-in shop.

• Best for: Authors who want a no-commitment tip jar or lightweight crowdfunding goal alongside their newsletter or social presence
• Key features: Crowdfunding goal tracker, digital product shop, monthly memberships, request-based payouts, zero fee on one-time tips
• Pricing: Free plan with 0% on tips and 5% on shop, memberships, and commissions; Ko-fi Gold at $12/month drops all platform fees to 0%. Payment processing (Stripe ~2.9% + $0.30, PayPal ~3.49%) applies on every plan
• Heads-up on Contributor status: New accounts now default to "Contributor" mode, which shares 5% of one-time tip income with Ko-fi in exchange for perks (supporter-only posts, custom branding, scheduled posts). You can switch it off anytime in Settings → Payment to restore 0% on tips
• Budget appeal: With Gold's 0% platform fee on all revenue types, it's still among the most economical creator platforms — Gold pays for itself once you clear roughly $240/month in shop or membership sales at the 5% free-plan rate
• Why authors love it: Low-pressure alternative to Patreon; readers can support without committing to a subscription; easy to set up in minutes

Pricing note (June 2026): Ko-fi Gold rose from $6 to $12/month and annual plans are no longer offered to new creators; existing Gold subscribers are grandfathered at their prior rate.