Which Is Better for Creators?

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Creators tend to look for more than one way to make money off their content, and frequently, they’ll turn to subscription-based platforms. Patreon is a widely popular option, and Ko-fi is starting to prosper as well.

Patreon and Ko-fi are good options depending on what you are trying to achieve with your content and supporters. The real question, though, is which platform is better for creators?

What Are Patreon and Ko-fi?

Patreon and Ko-fi are websites that creators can use to set up ways to receive money from their supporters. Both companies are used by various creators, such as YouTubers, bloggers, artists, musicians, podcasters, and many more.

However, even though Patreon and Ko-fi allow creators to connect with their fanbase, they are fundamentally different in how they operate. Patreon is more limited, so the user couldn’t branch out into a feature other than subscriptions, whereas Ko-fi tends to be whatever the creator needs it to be to help them succeed.

What Are Their Similarities?

Patreon and Ko-fi’s most apparent similarity is the ability for users to create subscription-based memberships. These memberships are perks that the creator can offer within several tiers that they believe their supporters would be interested in. Patreon and Ko-fi memberships are incredibly easy to create and a great way to build community within your brand.

The two platforms also have the ability to assign Discord rewards. By connecting your Discord, you can add roles in Discord that will allow your supporters to be engaged with you and your work.

The last similarity between Patreon and Ko-fi is the ability to keep your followers involved with posts. You can write blog-like commentary, attach photos, and even upload videos for your supporters to view. Both Patreon and Ko-fi also have the ability to schedule posts, so you can organize your content.

What Does Ko-fi Have That Patreon Doesn’t?

Though Patreon does have a bit for creators to work with, it is limited in what it offers. On the other hand, Ko-fi has many more features that benefit creators.

Receive One-Time Donations

Ko-fi gives the option for your supporters to simply give you a donation. The cool thing about the platform, though, is it uses a more relaxed language.

The preset for a donation is to “Buy a Coffee.” This gives your supporters the feeling that they are buying you your next round of caffeine when bringing your work to a coffee shop. This verbiage can be changed, though.

Set Goals for Crowdfunding

Are you thinking about raising money for something? Ko-fi has a crowdfunding feature that will allow you to do just that.

Let’s say you’re in the market for new equipment to help your business. You can set a goal, add a description, add a target amount, and make the target amount public. People can follow in your progress with you, and everyone can celebrate when you reach your goal.

Sell Your Products in a Shop

One amazing advantage of using Ko-fi is the ability to open a shop. With no listing fees, you can sell anything you find joy in creating, whether that be digital items or physical merchandise.

If you do sell a digital item, Ko-fi will take care of the process of sending the link and a receipt to the recipient’s email, so you don’t have to lift a finger.

Accept Commissions and Requests

Many times, creators will offer to make original pieces for people who request them. This could be anything from a drawing of a pet to a special video message.

If you’re a creator trying to reach your audience through your art, taking commissions is a great way to start.

Ko-fi has a gallery tab available to upload pictures, artwork, graphics, or anything else that comes in an image format. There is also the option to create albums, so you can organize your gallery to allow for easier viewing.

Additionally, any image that you attach to a post will appear in the gallery. Ko-fi is good at doing the extra work, so you don’t have to.

Set Up Twitch and YouTube Live Alerts

You can use Ko-fi to set up stream alerts to place into your livestreams. These alerts can come in the form of goal overlays, text-to-speech announcements, and customizable animated overlays.

If you run your own livestream, using this feature is a great way to help drive traffic back to your Ko-fi profile and give your supporters more options to connect with you.

What About Fees?

On Patreon, there are three plans that a creator can sign up for: Lite, Pro, and Premium. Pro is the most popular plan that gives creators the ability to have membership tiers. For the Pro plan, Patreon will take an 8% fee from every purchase a supporter makes.

Ko-fi works a bit differently and gives more options for creators. The platform does not take a fee for one-time donations. For reoccurring monthly donations, memberships, commission sales, and shop sales, a 5% fee is taken.

There is a way around the fee on Ko-fi, though. If the creator pays for Ko-fi Gold, Ko-fi does not take a fee for anything. The price for Ko-fi Gold is $8/monthly or $72/annually. If you have several transactions rolling in, signing up for Ko-fi Gold could save you money in the long run.

How Is Payment Different?

On Patreon, your supporters pay directly to the platform. In turn, Patreon will pay you once a month after it has taken the required fees. Payments can either be sent to your bank account, Payoneer, or PayPal.

On Ko-fi, your supporters pay you directly and immediately—in other words, Ko-fi does not hold the funds. Fees, if any, are taken when the transaction occurs, and the funds are sent to Stripe or PayPal.

Which Is Better?

Both Patreon and Ko-fi have their value. Patreon does serve a purpose and is more popular. Your followers are more likely to understand what the platform is and what exactly you are trying to achieve on it. Additionally, they may trust the website more than one they have never heard of.

However, if you’re looking to save money on fees and have more freedom and options for your creative process, Ko-fi might be the right fit for you. If you’re worried about how your supporters will feel about the platform, simply explaining it to them and showing your excitement for it can go a long way.

Which Platform Would You Choose: Patreon or Ko-fi?

Now that you know what Patreon and Ko-fi can offer you, it’s time to make a decision that best fits your niche and how you want to connect to your supporters.

There’s no right or wrong answer here—however, it is important to consider what your future plans are as a creator. Make sure to pick the platform that best fits the big picture.

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