Buy Me a Coffee Pricing in 2025: Plan Comparison, Transaction Fees and Cheaper Alternatives

Buy Me a Coffee is one of the most popular “creator support” platforms out there, giving fans an easy way to show appreciation and creators a simple way to monetize without building a full online store.

What does Buy Me a Coffee cost in 2025? Are there any hidden fees? And are there cheaper alternatives that might be better depending on your needs?

In this article, we’ll discuss the Buy Me a Coffee pricing structure in 2025, how its fees work, the differences between it and platforms like Ko-fi or Patreon and cheaper alternatives if it isn’t the right fit for you.

By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of whether Buy Me a Coffee is the right choice for your creator journey or if you should try another platform.

Unlike many platforms with multiple pricing plans, Buy Me a Coffee keeps things very simple with one flat pricing plan:

Yes, that’s it. There are no paid upgrades, no premium tiers, and no subscriptions to unlock advanced features. Everyone uses the same free plan, and Buy Me a Coffee makes money by taking a 5% cut of every sale, donation, or membership.

Buy Me a Coffee Free Plan

The Free Plan is the only plan on Buy Me a Coffee.

• Price: $0/month
• Transaction Fees: 5% on everything (plus payment processor fees)

This makes it incredibly accessible. You can start accepting tips and payments instantly without worrying about upfront costs.

What’s Included in the Free Plan?

Buy Me a Coffee gives you quite a lot even without a paid plan:

• Accept one-time donations/tips from fans
• Offer memberships and recurring support options
• Sell digital downloads and extras (like commissions or custom work)
• Build a customizable page with your branding
• Connect PayPal or Stripe for payouts
• Add goal meters (e.g., raising funds for a project)
• Share posts and updates with supporters (similar to a mini blog)
• Simple embed tools for your website or social profiles

Essentially, you get everything you need to start monetizing right away.

Who is the Free Plan Best For?

• Creators just starting out who want to accept small tips
• Writers, artists, musicians, and streamers with loyal fans
• Anyone who wants a simple, low-maintenance way to monetize without building a store
• Part-time creators who don’t want to commit to monthly software costs

Are There Any Hidden Fees?

Buy Me a Coffee’s model is transparent:

• Platform Fee: 5% on every transaction
• Payment Processor Fees: ~2.9% + $0.30 via Stripe, or ~3.49% + fixed fee with PayPal (varies by country)

Example:

• You get a $5 donation, Buy Me a Coffee takes 5% ($0.25), Stripe/PayPal takes ~$0.45, You keep around $4.30.
• On a $100 membership payment, they take $5, Stripe/PayPal take ~$3, You keep around $92.

So while there’s no monthly cost, the percentage-based fee can add up quickly if you earn a lot.

Which Creators Should Use Buy Me a Coffee?

Buy Me a Coffee is best for:

• Casual creators: If you’re not making consistent income, the free plan is perfect.
• Donation-based support: It’s ideal for people whose audience likes giving one-off tips.
• Simple sellers: If you only have a few products or want to take commissions without building a storefront.

But if you’re earning $500+ per month, the 5% cut can start to feel heavy. That’s when platforms with 0% transaction fees (like Ko-fi Gold or Payhip’s paid plan) may be better.

Buy Me a Coffee Transaction Fees

This is the most important thing to understand about Buy Me a Coffee:

• 5% fee on everything: Tips, donations, memberships, and product sales
• Payment processing fees: Additional Stripe/PayPal costs

Unlike Ko-fi (which charges 0% on donations even on the free plan), Buy Me a Coffee charges 5% across the board.

For hobbyists, this is fine. But for professional creators, these fees cut into profits quickly.

Cheaper Alternatives to Buy Me a Coffee

Buy Me a Coffee is simple and user-friendly, but if you’re looking for lower fees or more features, here are some alternatives in 2025:

1. SchoolMaker: Starts at $29/month, zero fees

• Price: Starts at $29/month (with 0% fee)
• Best For: Course creators who want to make more sales and keep more of their revenue
• Why It’s Good: You can sell courses, coaching, community and consultations.

2. Ko-fi: 5% fee or $12/month/0% fee

• Price: Free (5% on sales) or $12/month for Ko-fi Gold (0% fees)
• Best For: Creators who want more control and lower fees once they start earning
• Why It’s Good: Donations are 0% even on the free plan, and the Gold upgrade removes fees entirely.

3. Payhip: 5% fee

• Price: Free with 5% fee, or $29/month for 0% fee
• Best For: Creators selling digital products, coaching, or memberships
• Why It’s Good: Comes with a built-in storefront, email marketing, and VAT handling.

4. Gumroad: 10% fee

• Price: $0/month but 10% transaction fee
• Best For: Small creators who don’t want to pay upfront
• Why It’s Good: Extremely easy to use, though its fees are even higher than BMC.

5. Patreon: 10% fee

• Price: Free to start, but platform fees range from 5%–12% depending on tier
• Best For: Creators focused on memberships and community
• Why It’s Good: Strong community features, but higher fees than Ko-fi or Payhip.

6. Podia: Starts at $39/month + 5% fee

• Price: $39/month with 5% fee, or $75/month for 0% fee
• Best For: Course creators, coaches, or entrepreneurs
• Why It’s Good: More advanced features like email marketing, websites, and course hosting.

Buy Me a Coffee vs Ko-fi

These two are the most direct competitors. Here’s how they compare:

Bottom line:

• Ko-fi is cheaper for donations (0% even on the free plan).
• Ko-fi Gold is cheaper for sales if you’re earning more than $2050/month.
• Buy Me a Coffee is simpler if you don’t want multiple pricing options.

Is Buy Me a Coffee Worth It in 2025?

That depends on your needs:

• If you’re a hobbyist or part-time creator, it is fantastic. No upfront costs, easy setup, and great for donations.
• If you’re a professional creator making consistent sales, the 5% fee is expensive. Ko-fi Gold or Payhip will save you money long-term.
• If you want advanced tools like course hosting, coaching or community building, platforms like SchoolMaker are better.

Buy Me a Coffee is a great entry point into monetization, but it’s not the most cost-effective once your earnings grow.

Conclusion

Buy Me a Coffee in 2025 is one of the simplest platforms for creators to start making money online.

• It has no monthly cost and only one plan: free.
• The trade-off is a 5% fee on every transaction, which can add up as you grow.
• For small creators and hobbyists, it’s perfect. For professionals, Ko-fi Gold, Payhip, or SchoolMaker may be cheaper alternatives in the long run.

If your main goal is to make it easy for fans to tip you, Buy Me a Coffee is worth it. But if you plan to sell consistently, upgrading to a platform with zero fees will help you keep more of your earnings.