Ko-fi Fee Calculator
The fee depends entirely on what kind of payment it is, which is why a single percentage is the wrong way to think about Ko-fi.
Tips are free, everything else is not
On Ko-fi's free plan, tips carry a 0% platform fee. Memberships, shop sales and commissions carry 5%. On the paid Gold plan the platform takes 5% on everything, including tips.
That means the answer to "what does Ko-fi take" is either 0%, 5%, or 5% of a different base, depending on which button the supporter pressed.
Payment processing is the part people forget
Ko-fi passes payments through your own payment processor, so their fees apply on top of Ko-fi's. A typical card rate is around 2.9% plus a fixed amount, which on a $5 tip is roughly 9% of the payment.
The calculator lets you set your own processor rate, because it depends on your country and provider. Leaving it at the default is fine for a rough estimate, but check your actual statement before pricing.
When Gold pays for itself
Gold costs a monthly fee and takes 5% on tips. On a $25 tip, the 5% is $1.25. If you receive enough tips per month for that 5% to exceed the Gold subscription, the plan is worth it; below that, the free plan keeps more.
Gold also unlocks supporter-only posts and scheduled content, which matter more for membership businesses than for one-off tips.
The fixed processor fee is the real cost on small payments
A $3 tip with a 2.9% + $0.30 processor costs about $0.39 to process, which is 13% before Ko-fi takes anything. Small tips are structurally expensive to accept, regardless of platform.
FAQ
- Does Ko-fi take a cut of tips?
- On the free plan, no. Tips are 0% platform fee. On Gold, 5% applies to all payments.
- Who processes the payment?
- You connect your own payment method, so your processor's fees apply in addition to Ko-fi's.
- Is there a monthly fee?
- Only for Gold. The free plan has no monthly charge.
- Does Ko-fi hold my money?
- No. Payments go directly to your connected payment account.