Best Ko-fi alternative
for selling digital products
Ko-fi's free plan charges 5% on shop sales. TinyVendor charges 2% — and adds product variants, 2GB file delivery, installment options, and a link that works anywhere (SMS, QR at a zine fair, newsletter). But Ko-fi's 0% tips and community features are genuinely unbeatable — this isn't an either/or.
This isn't a full replacement for Ko-fi
Ko-fi's 0% tips are genuinely unbeatable — TinyVendor is not a tipping or donation tool. Keep Ko-fi for tips, supporter posts, and Discord-role memberships. Use TinyVendor for the selling half: when you have an actual product with a price and want to keep more of each sale.
What you keep on digital product sales
Ko-fi free plan: 5% on shop sales + payment processing. Ko-fi Gold ($12/mo): 0% + processing. TinyVendor Basic: 2% + processing. Tips on Ko-fi are always 0% and this comparison doesn't apply to them.
| Monthly shop sales | Ko-fi free (5%) | Ko-fi Gold ($12/mo, 0%) | TinyVendor (2%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $5 | $12 (Gold sub) | $2 |
| $200 | $10 | $12 (Gold sub) | $4 |
| $240 (Gold break-even) | $12 | $12 | $4.80 |
| $500 | $25 | $12 (Gold sub) | $10 |
| $1,000 | $50 | $12 (Gold sub) | $20 |
| $5,000 | $250 | $12 (Gold sub) | $100 |
Ko-fi pricing sourced from knowyourcut.com. Ko-fi Gold at $240/month in sales breaks even exactly — above that, Gold is cheaper than the 5% free fee. TinyVendor 2% applies to Basic tier. Payment processor fees (~2.9% + $0.30) apply to all platforms.
Ko-fi Gold note: At $12/month (or $8/month billed annually), Ko-fi Gold removes all platform fees. It pays for itself at $240/month in shop sales — if you consistently sell above that, Gold may be the right move to stay in the Ko-fi ecosystem. TinyVendor's 2% becomes cheaper than Ko-fi's 5% at any sales level, but cheaper than Ko-fi Gold only if you factor in the $12/month subscription cost.
What each platform offers
| Feature | Ko-fi (free plan) | TinyVendor |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | None (Gold: $12/mo) | None |
| Fee on tips / donations | 0% always | N/A — not a tipping tool |
| Fee on shop sales | 5% (free) / 0% (Gold) | 2% (Basic) / 1% (Pro) |
| Digital file delivery | Yes | Yes (up to 2GB) |
| Product variants | — | Yes (sizes, colors, add-ons) |
| Installment plans | No | Yes |
| Custom domain | Gold only | Pro tier (1%) |
| Link works via SMS/QR/newsletter | Via Ko-fi page | Yes — any link placement |
| Native mobile app | No (browser only) | No (browser only) |
| Tips / "Buy me a coffee" | Yes — 0% fee | No |
| Supporter memberships | Yes | No |
| Commissions (custom work) | Yes | No |
| Discord role integration | Yes | No |
| Goal / fundraiser tracking | Yes | No |
| Payout | Stripe/PayPal rolling | Stripe rolling 2-day |
Where each platform wins
TinyVendor wins for selling
- 2% fee vs Ko-fi's 5% on shop sales — you keep more of each product sale.
- Product variants built in: sell a print in three sizes with different prices, or a zine with a "signed copy" add-on. TinyVendor option groups let buyers choose before checkout.
- 2GB file delivery per product — larger digital files (audio files, high-res print packs, video presets) land with buyers automatically.
- Installment plans for higher-priced products: let buyers split a $120 photography preset pack into three monthly payments.
- A link that works anywhere — SMS, QR code at a market table, embedded in a Substack post. No Ko-fi page required.
Ko-fi wins for community
- 0% tips — always free, no exceptions. For illustrators and musicians who rely on fan donations, this is genuinely unbeatable.
- Supporter memberships with Discord role integration: if your community is on Discord, Ko-fi connects supporter tiers directly to roles.
- Commissions: Ko-fi's commission system lets buyers request custom work with structured terms. TinyVendor has no commission workflow.
- Goal tracking / fundraisers: visible progress bars for funding a project, equipment, or event that build community momentum.
- Trusted community brand: Ko-fi has a strong following among illustrators, indie musicians, and zine makers — being on Ko-fi signals something to that audience.
Who should choose which
Keep Ko-fi for: tips, supporter posts, Discord memberships, commissions, and fundraising goals. Ko-fi's 0% tip fee is genuinely unmatched — TinyVendor doesn't do tipping at all.
Use TinyVendor for: actual products with a defined price — a zine, a print, an ebook, a preset pack. You'll pay 2% instead of Ko-fi's 5%, you can add variants (sizes, signed editions, bundles), upload up to 2GB, and share the link anywhere rather than sending people to your Ko-fi page.
Ko-fi Gold note: At $12/month, Ko-fi Gold removes all fees. If you consistently sell $240/month or more through Ko-fi's shop and want to stay in the Ko-fi ecosystem, Gold pays for itself. TinyVendor is the better move if you want to share product links anywhere — not just from a Ko-fi profile.
Also relevant for "Buy Me a Coffee" searches: Buy Me a Coffee charges a flat 5% fee with no paid path to reduce it, and has no product variants. The same split applies — use BMC for tips and support, TinyVendor for products with options and order management.
Common questions
+Is there a free Ko-fi alternative for artists?
TinyVendor is free to start for selling products — no monthly fee, 2% per sale only when you make one. It's aimed squarely at illustrators, zine makers, and indie creators who want a better checkout experience for actual product sales. For tips and donations, Ko-fi remains the best free option (0% fee always).
+Can I use TinyVendor alongside Ko-fi?
Yes, and many creators do. Keep Ko-fi for your tip jar, supporter tiers, and Discord roles. Use TinyVendor when you have a specific product to sell — a new zine issue, a print run, a sound pack. The two serve genuinely different parts of a creator's income.
+Does Ko-fi Gold make more sense than switching to TinyVendor?
It depends. Ko-fi Gold ($12/month) breaks even at $240/month in shop sales — if you sell more than that consistently through Ko-fi's shop, Gold removes fees. TinyVendor's 2% is cheaper per dollar sold than Ko-fi's 5%, but to compare fairly you need to factor in Ko-fi Gold's $12/month. At $500/month in sales: Ko-fi Gold costs you $12 (the subscription); TinyVendor costs you $10 (2%). They're similar at that volume.
+Does TinyVendor work as a Ko-fi shop alternative for selling at zine fairs?
Yes. Generate a QR code from your TinyVendor product link and put it on your table. Buyers scan, pay through Stripe or PayPal, and get an auto-delivered download. No app download required, no Ko-fi page needed. The QR code itself is just a printed link; buyers need a data connection to complete payment.
+Does TinyVendor support tips like Ko-fi?
No. TinyVendor is designed for selling products with a defined price, not open-ended tips. If you want to accept tips or donations, Ko-fi's 0% tip structure is the right choice.
+What about Buy Me a Coffee — is TinyVendor a Buy Me a Coffee alternative?
For selling products, yes. Buy Me a Coffee charges a flat 5% platform fee with no paid tier to reduce it, and has limited product variant support. TinyVendor's 2% fee plus variants, 2GB delivery, and installment options makes it a stronger choice for creators who want to sell things with options. For donations and community support, Buy Me a Coffee and Ko-fi serve that use case better than TinyVendor does.
Keep Ko-fi for tips.
Use TinyVendor to sell.
Free to start. 2% per sale. Variants, 2GB file delivery, and a link that works anywhere — SMS, QR, newsletter, or embedded on your site.
