Ko-fi is a multi-purpose creator platform with lower fees (5% vs 10%), flexible payment options, and a focus on direct fan support, while Substack specializes in newsletter monetization with built-in audience discovery, email distribution, and higher discoverability for writers seeking subscribers.
Ko-fi vs Substack — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Creator monetization platform with 0% platform fees and advanced content tools including memberships and digital products.
Hosted newsletter platform emphasizing simplicity with algorithmic audience discovery and built-in monetization.
Platform Fee Structure. Primary Use Case. Built-in Email Marketing. Audience Discovery. Content Types Supported. Minimum Payout Threshold. Free Tier Capabilities
Choose Ko-fi if you're a multi-format creator (artist, musician, game developer) who wants flexible monetization options, lower fees, and direct fan support without algorithmic dependence. Choose Substack if you're a writer focused on building a paid newsletter subscriber base and benefit from native email infrastructure, built-in discovery mechanisms, and a community of 3M+ subscribers.
Ko-fi: Basic (sales, revenue, top products) | Substack: N/A
Ko-fi: Limited endpoints | Substack: N/A
Ko-fi: Shop browsing, creator profiles, category feeds | Substack: N/A
Ko-fi: $50 (5% of revenue) | Substack: $100 (10% of paid subscriptions)
Ko-fi: 2.2% + $0.20 per transaction | Substack: Included in platform fee
Ko-fi: Unlimited | Substack: 3 tiers maximum
Ko-fi: Yes—digital & physical shop with inventory | Substack: No—requires third-party integration
Ko-fi: ~50,000+ creators | Substack: ~500,000+ writers
Ko-fi: ~2-3 million monthly | Substack: ~50+ million monthly
Ko-fi: Basic scheduling only | Substack: N/A
Ko-fi: Unlimited custom tiers | Substack: N/A
Ko-fi: Limited third-party integrations only | Substack: N/A
Ko-fi: 3 (opens, subscribers, sales) | Substack: N/A
Ko-fi: 5 (tips, memberships, shop, commissions, donations) | Substack: N/A
Ko-fi: Basic (welcome series, manual triggers) | Substack: N/A
Ko-fi: 5% on tips | Substack: 10% on paid subscriptions
Ko-fi: 1M+ creators | Substack: 3M+ creators
Ko-fi: Requires third-party integrations | Substack: Native email infrastructure
Ko-fi: 5+ (tips, shop, memberships, commissions, downloads) | Substack: 2 (free + paid subscriptions)
Ko-fi: None—relies on direct traffic | Substack: Directory + recommendations (30-40% of growth)
Ko-fi: Visual art, music, digital products, text | Substack: Text newsletters, podcasts (limited)
Ko-fi: Discord, limited social linking | Substack: N/A
Ko-fi: Advanced with recurring billing | Substack: N/A
Ko-fi: Full-featured shop included | Substack: N/A
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Low (requires existing audience)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Immediate (day 1)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Newsletters, Notes, Video, Audio (4+)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Low (own subscribers)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Expanding (Notes, Video, Visual)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Limited customization options
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Established Notes network with high discoverability
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Basic subscription and open rate analytics
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Limited third-party integration options
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: $0 (10% revenue share)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Basic (limited control)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Limited templates and styling
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Strong directory and algorithm-driven recommendations
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Primarily paid subscriptions
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: $0 (revenue-share only)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Basic (simple sequences)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: No - subscriptions only
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: 30 minutes - 1 hour
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Email, help center, limited support
Platform Commission on Paid Subscriptions
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: 10% (all payment methods)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: 1+ million (estimated 2024)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Creator owns full email list and subscriber data
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Moderate (Notes feature, recommendations)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: 0.5-1 hour (minimal onboarding)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: 3-5 basic templates
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: 5 (list-based only)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: 0 (built-in subscriptions only)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: 12 (Professional plan)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: 500K publications
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: $0 (free plan available)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: 10% flat platform fee
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: 5-10 minutes (sign up and publish)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: 15-20 template variations
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Newsletters, posts, audio, Notes (social)
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Yes, algorithmic recommendations to 100M+ users
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Limited API with basic integrations only
Ko-fi: N/A | Substack: Unlimited (free forever plan)
How to choose between Ko-fi and Substack
Ko-fi vs Substack — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Ko-fi vs Substack. Contains 98 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Ko-fi vs Substack — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Ko-fi vs Substack.
How much does each platform actually cost creators?
Ko-fi charges 5% on tips and processing fees (typically 2-3% for card payments). Substack charges 10% on paid subscriptions only—free newsletters have zero platform fees. For a creator earning $1,000/month: Ko-fi costs ~$70-80 total; Substack costs $100 if all revenue is from paid subscriptions. Ko-fi is cheaper for tip-based income, but Substack is cheaper if you have many free subscribers.
Which platform is better for growing an audience from zero?
Substack has a significant advantage: its directory and algorithmic recommendations drive an estimated 30-40% of new subscriber growth for featured creators. Ko-fi has no discovery mechanism and relies entirely on the creator bringing their own audience. For writers unknown to an audience, Substack's built-in discoverability is a major advantage; for established creators with existing fan bases, Ko-fi's lower fees matter more.
Can I use both platforms simultaneously?
Yes, many creators use both. Ko-fi works well for visual creators, merchandise, and tips; Substack works for newsletters and paid subscriptions. They serve different purposes and audiences. Some creators link their Ko-fi from their Substack, or use Substack for newsletters and Ko-fi for direct fan support—they complement each other rather than compete.
Which platform pays out faster and more reliably?
Both pay monthly with similar reliability. Substack has zero minimum payout threshold, so earnings appear immediately each month. Ko-fi requires a $5 minimum but most creators exceed this easily. Neither has had major payout scandals. Processing times are typically 3-5 business days after the monthly cutoff for both.
What if I want to sell digital products or merchandise?
Ko-fi is built for this: it has a native shop, digital product delivery, and merchandise support. Substack does not support merchandise or digital product sales natively—you'd need to link to external tools like Gumroad or Shopify. For creators wanting an all-in-one platform, Ko-fi is significantly better for product sales.
How to Choose Between Ko-fi and Substack
Platform Fee Structure: Ko-fi has 5% on tips + processing fees, while Substack has 10% on paid subscriptions only.
Primary Use Case: Ko-fi has Multi-format creator support (tips, shop, memberships, commissions), while Substack has Newsletter subscription-first model.
Built-in Email Marketing: Ko-fi has Limited email tools, requires integration, while Substack has Native email delivery and subscriber management.
Audience Discovery: Ko-fi has No algorithmic discovery features, while Substack has Substack directory and recommendations algorithm.
Content Types Supported: Ko-fi has Tips, shop, memberships, commissions, digital downloads, while Substack has Newsletters, podcasts (limited support).
Minimum Payout Threshold: Ko-fi has $5 USD, while Substack has No minimum (paid out monthly).
Free Tier Capabilities: Ko-fi has Full access to all features with platform fees, while Substack has Free newsletters with limited monetization options.