Ko-fi vs Teachable
Side-by-side comparison of Ko-fi and Teachable for content creators.
Accept tips and memberships without platform fees
Sell courses and coaching without technical headaches
What they are
Ko-fi
Ko-fi is a monetization platform where creators accept one-time donations, sell digital products, and offer paid memberships directly from their audience. It suits artists, writers, podcasters, and indie developers who want a lightweight income layer without surrendering a cut of every transaction. Free to use with no monthly fee. Ko-fi takes 0% on tips and donations, and 5% on shop sales, memberships, and commissions. Ko-fi Gold removes the 5% fee, although payment processors still take their standard slice. The trade-off is a thinner feature set compared to dedicated membership or course platforms.
Teachable
Teachable is a hosted course platform where creators build, market, and sell online courses, coaching programs, and digital downloads. It handles payment processing, student management, and course delivery in one place, making it a practical choice for solo educators and small teams. The tradeoff is that transaction fees apply on lower-tier plans, which quietly erodes revenue until you upgrade.
Which to choose
Full editorial comparison coming soon. For now, check the side-by-side data above and read the individual reviews for Ko-fi and Teachable.