Ko-fi Earnings Calculator
Estimate your revenue from Ko-fi tips and optional monthly memberships.
Your Ko-fi stats
Table of Contents
Comprehensive Ko-fi Earnings Guide
What is Ko-fi?
Ko-fi is a platform that lets creators receive one-time tips (donations) and optionally offer monthly memberships. Unlike Patreon, Ko-fi does not take a platform fee on tips—you keep 100% minus payment processing. For memberships and optional features (Ko-fi Gold), fees may apply. It's popular among artists, streamers, writers, and developers as a tip jar or alongside other platforms like Twitch and YouTube. You can add a Ko-fi button to your streams, videos, or social profiles so fans can support you with a one-time payment or recurring membership.
How Ko-fi Payouts Work
Tips are paid out according to your payout schedule (e.g. when you hit a minimum, or weekly/monthly). Members are charged each month; Ko-fi may take a percentage on membership revenue depending on your plan (e.g. Ko-fi Gold). You can receive funds via PayPal, bank transfer, or other methods depending on region. No platform fee on tips means tips flow through with only payment processing deducted. Payout minimums and timing vary by method and country.
- Tips: One-time payments from supporters; typically 0% platform fee (payment processing only).
- Members: Recurring monthly supporters; fee may apply depending on Ko-fi Gold or plan.
- Ko-fi Gold: Optional subscription for creators with extra features (e.g. shop, remove Ko-fi branding); may include a fee on membership revenue.
- Commission / Shop: Some creators sell commissions or products via Ko-fi; fees can apply.
Tips vs. Memberships
Tips (one-time)
- No platform fee (you keep 100% minus payment processing)
- Variable income; depends on audience and promotion
- Easy for supporters—no commitment
- Ideal for streamers, artists, one-off support
Memberships (recurring)
- Recurring revenue each month
- Fee may apply (e.g. Ko-fi Gold); check current terms
- More predictable than tips alone
- Can offer tiers and rewards
Benefits of Using Ko-fi
- No fee on tips: Unlike many platforms, Ko-fi does not take a cut of one-time tips (only payment processing).
- Flexible: Use it as a tip jar only, or add memberships, shop, and commissions.
- Low barrier: Supporters can pay once without subscribing; good for casual fans.
- Integration: Widgets and links for Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, and websites.
Limitations and Considerations
- Tips are unpredictable; revenue can vary a lot month to month.
- Membership fees (if any) and payment processing still reduce net revenue.
- Discovery is limited compared to large platforms; you need to bring your own audience.
- Ko-fi's fee structure (e.g. Gold) can change; check current terms.
Revenue estimates are indicative only. Actual earnings depend on tips volume, member count, churn, and current fee policy. Payment processing (e.g. PayPal, Stripe) is additional. Always check Ko-fi's latest fee and payout information.
Ko-fi is well-suited for creators who want a simple tip jar with optional recurring support. Use this calculator with your average monthly tips and membership stats to estimate total earnings. Combine with Patreon, Substack, or ad revenue for a full picture of your creator income.
Ko-fi Fees & Payouts
Ko-fi typically charges 0% on tips; payment processing (e.g. PayPal, Stripe) is deducted. For memberships and Ko-fi Gold, fees may apply. Payout frequency and minimums depend on your payout method and country.
| Item | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Platform fee on tips | 0% |
| Platform fee on memberships | 0% or varies (e.g. Ko-fi Gold) |
| Payment processing | PayPal / Stripe fees apply |
| Payout methods | PayPal, bank transfer, etc. (varies by region) |
Factors That Affect Earnings
Several factors influence your total Ko-fi income. The table below summarizes the main ones.
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Tips volume | Driven by audience size, engagement, and promotion |
| Members & churn | More members and lower churn increase recurring revenue |
| Membership tiers | Higher-tier members raise average pledge |
| Cross-promotion | Linking from Twitch, YouTube, etc. boosts tips and signups |
- Tips volume: Driven by audience size, engagement, and how often you share your Ko-fi link.
- Members and churn: More members and lower churn increase recurring revenue.
- Membership tiers: Higher-tier members increase average pledge.
- Cross-promotion: Linking Ko-fi from Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, etc. can boost tips and signups.
Tips to Maximize Revenue
- Promote your Ko-fi: Add the link to your Twitch panels, YouTube descriptions, Twitter bio, and streams so fans can find it easily.
- Offer value for members: Exclusive content, early access, or Discord roles can justify a monthly membership.
- Use goals: Ko-fi goals (e.g. "Next goal: new microphone") can encourage one-time tips.
- Thank supporters: Shout-outs and thanks can encourage repeat tips and loyalty.
- Combine with other platforms: Use Ko-fi for tips alongside Patreon for tiers or Substack for newsletters.
Alternatives to Ko-fi
Other platforms offer similar or complementary ways to receive support from fans.
| Platform | Notes |
|---|---|
| Patreon | Membership-focused; platform fee on all revenue |
| Buy Me a Coffee | One-time support and memberships; simple setup |
| GitHub Sponsors | For developers; low or no fee |
| Streamlabs / StreamElements | Donations and tips for streamers |
Ko-fi Earnings Formula
Total monthly earnings (tips + membership after fee):
Tips are typically not subject to a platform fee; the fee applies to membership revenue only.
Practical Example
$150 tips, 50 members at $5/month, 0% fee on memberships
Monthly tips: $150
Members: 50
Avg membership: $5
Fee: 0%
Membership = 50 × 5 × 1 = $250
Total = 150 + 250 = $400 per month
Per year: $400 × 12 = $4,800