Buy Me a Coffee vs Patreon
Which is better for monetization in 2026? Here's our side-by-side comparison.
Our Pick: Patreon
Editor's PickIndustry standard for creator memberships. Best discovery and fan trust.
Pricing Comparison
How Buy Me a Coffee and Patreon pricing stacks up — green highlights the better value.
| Free Tier | Free to use. 5% platform fee on transactions. Payment processing extra. | Free to create. Patreon takes 5% (Lite), 8% (Pro), or 12% (Premium) of earnings. |
| Starter Price | — | — |
| Pro Price | — | — |
| Per-User Pricing | No (flat rate) | No (flat rate) |
| Annual Discount | — | — |
Feature Comparison
What each tool brings to the table.
| Feature | Buy Me a Coffee | Patreon |
|---|---|---|
| One-time tips | ||
| Extra membership tier | ||
| Goals and milestones |
Pros & Cons
Strengths and weaknesses of each tool, side by side.
Buy Me a Coffee
Pros
- Very simple
- Low 5% fee
- Quick setup
The Bottom Line
Which tool should you choose?
Ready to get started?
Try either tool and see which one fits your workflow.
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