Ko-fi
UK creator platform for tips, memberships, commissions and shop sales
Quick Overview
| Company | Ko-fi Labs Limited |
|---|---|
| Category | Digital Product Sales Platforms |
| Headquarters | Letchworth Garden City, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2017 |
| EU Presence | Yes - United Kingdom (UK, outside the EU) |
| Data Location | Not stated on the pages we read |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Tips, memberships, commissions, shop sales of products |
| Pricing | Fee rates not stated in the terms we read; see website |
| Best For | Artists and writers who want tips and a small shop on one page |
| Replaces | Gumroad, Patreon-style tipping |
Detailed Review
Ko-fi is a creator platform operated by Ko-fi Labs Limited, a company incorporated on 29 November 2017 with its registered office in Letchworth Garden City, England.
Ko-fi covers tips, memberships, commissions and shop sales. The Ko-fi terms are governed by English law.
Ko-fi shop sales among other income types
Ko-fi lets creators sell products in a shop next to tips and memberships. The Ko-fi terms list tips, memberships, commissions and shop sales as the income types.
Ko-fi therefore suits creators who want several income types on one page.
Ko-fi fees
The Ko-fi terms say service fees for these income types are deducted automatically by a third-party payment provider, at fees listed on Ko-fi from time to time.
We could not read the fee rates, because the help page returned an error.
Ko-fi jurisdiction
Ko-fi Labs Limited is registered in England, and the Ko-fi terms give the English courts exclusive jurisdiction. The United Kingdom is outside the EU.
The terms refer to the Ko-fi privacy policy for data handling.
Limitations to Consider
The Ko-fi terms do not publish fee rates, so the cost per sale could not be checked. Ko-fi is built mainly around tips and memberships, so digital product sales are a secondary function, which is an inference. Ko-fi Labs Limited is a UK company, and the data location is not stated in the terms.
Who Should Use Ko-fi
Creators who earn from tips and memberships and sell a few products on the side. Sellers focused on product sales may prefer Payhip.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Tips, memberships and shop on one page
- Commissions supported
- English law and UK company
- Simple for individual creators
Cons
- Fee rates not in the terms we read
- Product sales are a secondary function
- UK company, outside the EU
- Data location not stated in the terms
Alternatives to Ko-fi
Other European digital product sales platforms worth comparing before you decide:
Payhip
United Kingdom · Sell downloads, courses and memberships with a free plan
Sellfy
Lithuania · Online store for digital products with 0% transaction fees
Digistore24
Ireland · Sales platform with affiliate marketplace and no monthly fee
Systeme.io
Ireland · Funnels, email and courses with a free plan and 0% fees
See all European digital product sales platforms or compare them directly against Gumroad on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Ko-fi terms list shop sales of products next to tips, memberships and commissions.
The Ko-fi terms refer to fees listed on Ko-fi from time to time and do not give a rate. We could not read the fee page.
Ko-fi Labs Limited is registered in England, so Ko-fi is British and outside the EU.