Patreon, Ko-fi, or Buy Me a Coffee? A Comparison of Platforms for Supporting Creators

At what point can your community start actually supporting you? It’s not when you have 100k followers. It’s when you give them a simple way to thank you – for content, knowledge, emotions. And that’s where support platforms come in. But which one to choose, so you’re not eaten up by commissions, forms, and formalities?

In this post, we’ll figure out together how Patreon, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee work – behind the scenes. We’ll check not only who has lower commissions and nicer buttons, but also what happens with money, taxes, and your psyche when someone for the hundredth time asks “can I buy you a coffee?”

Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee or Patreon? Check where you really keep more in your pocket

You earn 1000 PLN in support from the community – but how much of that actually lands in your account? Contrary to appearances, this is not a detail. Differences in commissions between Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee, and Patreon can eat up even several hundred PLN per month.

Real life example:

• Ko-fi: 0% commission on the free plan (if you don’t use subscriptions)
  
• Buy Me a Coffee: 5% commission on each donation
  
• Patreon: from 8% to 12%, depending on the plan
  

And that’s just the beginning. There are also transaction fees (Stripe, PayPal), currency conversions, withdrawal limits. In practice – from the same 1000 PLN on Ko-fi you’ll end up with about 950 PLN, and on Patreon… maybe even 800 PLN. And that already changes the rules of the game.

If you’re at the stage of building rather than fully earning – low commissions + simple payout may be more important than an “advanced reward system”. That’s why Ko-fi often wins among those who want coins, not a system.

Buy Me a Coffee works psychologically – but does it translate to more support?

Not every viewer wants to become a “patron”. But “buy you a coffee”? Sure thing. That’s the biggest strength of Buy Me a Coffee – its branding and simplicity are so unobtrusive, they’re effective.

Why does it work?

• Does not require login or account on the supporter’s side
  
• Default amount is 5 USD – doesn’t hurt, but means something
  
• The psychology of a “symbolic coffee” instead of “paying for content”
  
• Easy, friendly interface – clean UX, zero barriers
  

Many creators say outright: “coffee” sells better than “support”. It’s the language of emotions, not payments. You don’t have to convince anyone to a subscription, promise exclusive content. Just a button and authenticity is enough.

But there’s another side: the model is less repeatable. You have fewer regular payments, more sporadic ones. It works great if you have a lot of viral content, but does not build stable income as well as, for example, Patreon.

Ko-fi is not just tips. You can run a shop, collect payments and… fulfill commissions

Ko-fi is the most underrated powerhouse for creators. Everyone thinks: “oh, it’s a nerdy version of Buy Me a Coffee” – but that’s not true. On Ko-fi you can sell e-books, checklists, PDFs, run a blog, accept commissions, and even crowdfund projects. And all of this in the free plan.

How you can use Ko-fi:

• digital products store (zero commission!),
  
• commission work – e.g., graphics, portraits, reviews,
  
• one-time and monthly goals collections,
  
• Own “content wall” with posts visible only to supporters.
  

That’s why creators choose Ko-fi who want to earn, not beg for a tip. It’s a great solution for educators, illustrators, those writing e-books, or creating print PDFs. And if you want to promote something of your own (e.g., products on RefSpace?) – you have the entire infrastructure for that. No coding, no hassle.

Patreon is a subscription powerhouse, but is it worth it from the start?

If you have a community that wants more – Patreon can handle that. But if you’re just starting, don’t count on the system alone to create a “paid fan club” for you. Patreon is rather a tool for those who already have devoted watchers and a concept for exclusive content.

Why does it work?

• Subscription model – regular monthly support (e.g., 10 zł, 20 zł, 50 zł per person).
  
• Ability to create support tiers with rewards.
  
• Closed community, special content, discounts, behind-the-scenes access.
  

But it also means:

• more work – you need to create content for patrons, maintain engagement,
  
• higher commissions – 8%–12% + transaction fees + VAT,
  
• lower conversion – it’s harder to convince people to provide ongoing support than to buy a “coffee”.
  

Patreon has powerful possibilities, but… you need to be ready for it. If your content naturally has potential for a “premium” version (e.g., making of, educational content, recorded live sessions) – then it’s worth it. But if you’re just testing,  it’s better to start with Ko-fi or BMaC, where you don’t promise anything in advance.

Watch out for taxes – what’s the difference between a donation and a sale and what about Ko-fi?

Many creators assume that if someone “buys them a coffee,” it doesn’t need to be accounted for. Sounds tempting, but unfortunately – it’s not quite how it works. For the tax office, every payment is income that must be taxed. Even if we call it a donation.

Key differences:

• donation from an individual – up to 5,733 zł annually from one person (Group I tax bracket), then tax applies,
  
• donation from a company – could be problematic, as it is not a “gift”, but a form of payment,
  
• sale of digital products – e-books, PDFs – this is simply sales revenue and is accounted for as such.
  

If you sell an e-book for 10 zł through Ko-fi or BMaC – you have a straightforward sale, which can be accounted for as unregistered activity or sole proprietorship. But if someone transfers 2000 zł to you as “support” – it’s better to have justification and documentation.

This is not about fear-mongering, but awareness. Most people won’t have an issue – but if 50 payments of 5 dollars each come through Ko-fi, it’s best to record it in a log. And convert using the NBP rate.

One platform – hundreds of transfers or one report? What will your accountant choose?

From a creator’s perspective – every złoty counts. But from an accountant’s perspective… time also counts. More precisely – whether you receive a monthly consolidated report from Patreon, or 87 individual payments from Ko-fi.

Why is this important?

• Patreon makes bulk payments and provides a monthly report (easy to account for).
  
• Ko-fi and Buy Me a Coffee – each supporter is a separate transfer, separate amount, separate currency.
  
• If you have a sole proprietorship (JDG) and full accounting – the cost of handling may rise if there are many small payments.
  

What can be done about this?

• If you operate as unregistered activity – you can keep simplified records and independently note dates, amounts, titles.
  
• If you have a company – it’s worth looking for platforms with accounting integration or those that generate CSV reports.
  

FAQ

Do I need a company to use Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee?

No. You can operate as unregistered activity – as long as you do not exceed the limit of 3499.50 zł gross monthly. But every payment is potential income – it’s worth recording it.

Is “buy me a coffee” a donation or a sale?

It depends on whether you give something in return. If you’re just thanking – it may be considered a donation (but is still taxable). If you provide an e-book or PDF – it’s a sale.

Can I have an account on several platforms at once?

Yes! Many creators combine, for example, Ko-fi for tips and e-books + Patreon for subscriptions. It’s only important to account for everything together in your tax return or as part of your self-employment tax documentation.

Do I need to have PayPal or Stripe?

Most platforms require them. Ko-fi and Buy Me a Coffee pay out via PayPal and Stripe, and sometimes via Wise. It’s worth setting up both accounts and linking them right away.

What about VAT?

If you sell digital products to clients in the EU – in theory, you’ll be dealing with VAT MOSS/VAT EU. However, if you operate as an individual under non-business activity – you generally don’t have to, unless you exceed the threshold. If you have a company – it’s worth discussing with an accountant.

Do platforms report my earnings to the authorities?

Increasingly, yes. Some platforms (e.g., Patreon) may report income in compliance with DAC7 directive. It’s better not to assume that “nobody will find out”.