Platforms change pricing and features — verify on the provider’s official pages.
Choose FanBell if you want to charge for one-off fan interactions: no application, no follower minimum, $0 per month, and a 12% platform fee taken only when a fan pays, plus separate processing costs. Choose Passes if you want recurring memberships, paid DMs, 1:1 calls, and livestreams, and will complete its "Apply now" onboarding.
Sources and date. Every figure below comes from primary pages: FanBell's pricing and how it works pages, and, for Passes, its homepage, platform comparison page, Terms of Service, payout guide, and Community and Content Guidelines. Pricing, eligibility rules, and features change, so re-check those pages before relying on exact terms.
How do FanBell and Passes compare?
FanBell sells one-off paid interactions — private questions, personalized shoutouts, services, tips, project support, and brand inquiries — and charges a 12% platform fee only when a fan pays. Passes sells recurring memberships and gated content alongside paid DMs, 1:1 calls, livestreams, and group chats, and its published fee figures differ between its marketing pages and its Terms of Service.
FanBell’s Free plan costs $0 per month and charges a 12% platform fee per paid transaction, with payment-processing fees deducted separately from creator earnings, according to FanBell pricing. The same FanBell pricing page lists a $29-per-month Pro plan carrying a lower 8% platform fee, but states that Pro is not available yet and that every creator is on the Free plan during the beta. FanBell states that creator earnings equal the fan payment minus the platform fee minus the processing fee, that payments are processed by Stripe, and that creators connect a Stripe Express account to receive money.
FanBell documents a five-step setup — claim a free link, turn on offers, add the link to a bio, collect payment upfront, then deliver — with no application and no follower minimum. Fans on FanBell pay the full price upfront and check out as guests by card through Stripe, with no FanBell account to create and no app to install.
The Passes homepage states, “Passes takes just 10%. You keep 90% of everything you earn,” and the Passes platform comparison page lists Passes’ platform fee as “As low as 10% + $0.30/txn” against 20% for Fanfix and 10% for Patreon. That Passes comparison page footnotes its own figures as “based on publicly available data as of February 2026”. The advertised 10% is a floor rather than a guaranteed rate: the Passes Terms of Service state, “We take a 20% fee of all credit/debit Sales”.
The Passes Terms of Service set a bi-weekly payout cycle paid “within thirty (30) days of the end of each such bi-weekly period” to the creator’s bank account, require every payment to be at least $3 with no maximum payment threshold, accept payments in US dollars, and state that “All items are non-refundable”. The Passes payout guide sets a $50 minimum payout, a $50,000 daily maximum, and a limit of one payout every 24 hours, and states that automatic ACH payouts are free and arrive 3–5 business days after the scheduled date. The same Passes payout guide states that if a fan successfully disputes a charge, the disputed amount is automatically deducted from the creator’s earnings.
The Passes homepage reports platform scale figures of “10,000+ Creators on Passes,” “1.5M+ Fans on the platform,” and “9 Figures Paid to creators,” and routes prospective creators through an “Apply now” call to action.
| Dimension | FanBell | Passes |
|---|---|---|
| Core model | One-off paid interactions: private questions, personalized shoutouts, creator services, tips, project support, and brand inquiries | Recurring memberships and gated content, plus paid DMs, 1:1 calls, livestreams, group chats, and a merch or digital shop |
| Published platform fee | 12%, charged only when a fan pays | Marketing pages advertise “as low as 10% + $0.30/txn” (Passes; comparison page), but the Passes Terms of Service state a flat 20% fee on all credit/debit sales |
| Cost to start | Free plan costs $0 per month; a $29/month Pro plan with an 8% fee is listed as not yet available during the beta | The Passes homepage and comparison page publish no monthly subscription price for creators (Passes; comparison page) |
| Audience requirement | No follower minimum | The Passes homepage FAQ lists “Is there a minimum follower count to join?” without publishing a numeric threshold on the page |
| Joining process | No application | The Passes homepage directs prospective creators through “Apply now” |
| Interaction format | Text-based private questions and asynchronous personalized shoutouts, alongside tips and creator services | Paid DMs, live 1:1 calls, livestreams, group chats, memberships, and gated content (Passes) |
| Revenue shape | One-time, per-interaction payments collected upfront | Recurring subscription revenue plus paid DMs, calls, livestreams, and merch or digital sales (Passes) |
| Payout mechanics | Payments are processed by Stripe and creators connect a Stripe Express account, which sets the payout schedule (pricing; how it works) | $50 minimum payout, $50,000 daily maximum, one payout every 24 hours; free automatic ACH payouts arrive 3–5 business days after the scheduled date (Passes payout guide) |
| Payout cadence | Stripe handles the creator’s payout schedule | Bi-weekly by default, paid “within thirty (30) days of the end of each such bi-weekly period” (Passes Terms of Service), though the comparison page advertises “Instant Payouts” |
| Payment-processing costs | Payment-processing fees are deducted separately from creator earnings, on top of the 12% platform fee | Every payment must be at least $3, with no maximum payment threshold and payments accepted in US dollars (Passes Terms of Service) |
| Refunds and chargebacks | Refunds are supported and may reverse the payment, the transfer, and the 12% platform fee depending on the transaction’s status | “All items are non-refundable” (Passes Terms of Service); a successfully disputed charge is automatically deducted from the creator’s earnings |
| Checkout for fans | Fans check out as guests by card through Stripe, with no account to create and no app to install, paying the full price upfront | Every payment must be at least $3 and payments are accepted in US dollars (Passes Terms of Service) |
| Content restrictions | Check the current product and platform terms before offering content or services | The Passes Community and Content Guidelines prohibit content that is “hateful, fraudulent, defamatory, illegal, discriminatory, menacing, or promotes violence” |
| Age and eligibility rules | No follower minimum or creator application is required, but creators should check the current platform and payment-account terms for other eligibility rules | Creator accounts must be held by someone at least 18 years old, “regardless of whether you are authorized by a parent or guardian” (Passes Terms of Service) |
| Published scale | FanBell does not publish creator or fan counts on its pricing or how it works pages | “10,000+ Creators on Passes,” “1.5M+ Fans on the platform,” and “9 Figures Paid to creators” |
What does each platform keep on a $100 fan payment?
On a $100 fan payment, FanBell's published 12% platform fee is $12, leaving $88 before payment-processing fees. Passes' Terms of Service rate of 20% is $20, leaving $80; its advertised floor of 10% + $0.30 per transaction is $10.30, leaving $89.70. All figures are arithmetic applied to each company's published rates.
| $100 fan payment | Published rate | Platform fee | Creator keeps before processing fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| FanBell | 12% | $12.00 | $88.00 |
| Passes, Terms of Service rate | 20% of credit/debit sales (Terms of Service) | $20.00 | $80.00 |
| Passes, advertised floor | "As low as 10% + $0.30/txn" (comparison page) | $10.30 | $89.70 |
These are calculations from published rates, not quotes from either company, and they exclude payment-processing fees, which FanBell states are deducted separately from creator earnings. Because the two Passes figures come from Passes' own marketing page and its own Terms of Service and conflict with each other, confirm the contracted rate that applies to your Passes account rather than assuming a blended number.
Who is FanBell best for?
FanBell fits creators who want to charge for the interactions fans already send without running a membership business. FanBell’s Free plan costs $0 per month, its 12% platform fee applies only when a fan pays, and its documented setup requires no application and no follower minimum (FanBell pricing; FanBell how it works).
Paid Private Questions converts questions into paid, private text exchanges that creators can answer on their own schedule. Tips lets fans provide support without requiring a reply. FanBell’s documented offer set also covers personalized shoutouts, creator services, project support, and brand inquiries from the same link.
FanBell is the lower-commitment option for testing direct fan revenue: there is no monthly cost on the Free plan and no fee at all until a fan pays, at which point FanBell takes 12% and payment-processing fees come out separately. FanBell also states that refunds are supported and may reverse the payment, the transfer, and the platform fee depending on the transaction’s status, so a declined request does not have to leave a creator holding money they do not want.
FanBell interactions are asynchronous by design: creators answer questions by text and deliver shoutouts or services as recordings or files within a turnaround they set, with no live video calls or appointments to schedule.
Who is Passes best for?
Passes fits creators building recurring revenue from memberships and gated content, plus paid DMs, 1:1 calls, livestreams, group chats, and a merch or digital shop. The Passes Terms of Service take “a 20% fee of all credit/debit Sales,” while the Passes comparison page advertises fees “As low as 10% + $0.30/txn”.
Passes’ two published fee figures conflict: the Passes comparison page advertises “As low as 10% + $0.30/txn” while the Passes Terms of Service state, “We take a 20% fee of all credit/debit Sales”. Neither number can be assumed to apply to a given account, and the comparison page footnotes its fee table as “based on publicly available data as of February 2026,” so ask Passes to confirm your contracted rate in writing before publishing a price.
Passes suits creators who can clear its payout thresholds: the Passes payout guide sets a $50 minimum payout and a $50,000 daily maximum, allows one payout every 24 hours, and offers free automatic ACH payouts that arrive 3–5 business days after the scheduled date. The same Passes payout guide states that a successfully disputed charge is automatically deducted from the creator’s earnings, and the Passes Terms of Service state that “All items are non-refundable”.
Passes gates entry through an application: the Passes homepage addresses creators “whether you’re just starting or an established creator ready to scale,” yet its onboarding call to action is “Apply now,” and its FAQ lists “Is there a minimum follower count to join?” without publishing a numeric threshold on the page. The same Passes homepage reports “10,000+ Creators on Passes” and “1.5M+ Fans on the platform”.
Passes has also run a new-creator incentive: the Passes launch bonus post states that creators who reach their first 90 days on the platform earn a 10% bonus on all net earnings from that period, paid out within two weeks of the 90-day window ending. Confirm directly with Passes whether that offer is still active before counting on it.
What is the short answer?
Pick FanBell to charge for individual fan interactions with no application, no follower minimum, $0 per month, and a 12% fee taken only when a fan pays. Pick Passes to run recurring memberships and live formats, accepting an application step and a fee published between 10% and 20% depending on the source.
- Choose FanBell for one-off paid interactions: Its Free plan costs $0 per month, it charges 12% only when a fan pays, and it requires no follower minimum or application (FanBell pricing; FanBell how it works).
- Choose Passes for recurring memberships: It combines subscriptions and gated content with paid DMs, live 1:1 calls, livestreams, group chats, and a merch or digital shop, and reports “10,000+ Creators on Passes”.
- Compare complete transaction terms before deciding: The Passes Terms of Service take 20% of all credit/debit sales while the Passes comparison page advertises “As low as 10% + $0.30/txn,” whereas FanBell publishes one 12% platform fee plus separate processing costs.
- Check payout thresholds before committing: Passes requires a $50 minimum payout, caps payouts at $50,000 per day, and allows one payout every 24 hours, while FanBell routes payouts through a creator’s connected Stripe Express account.
- Consider using both for separate purposes: A recurring membership and a one-off paid-interaction page can serve different fan requests.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a large following to use FanBell or Passes?
No. FanBell has no follower minimum and requires no application. The Passes homepage lists “Is there a minimum follower count to join?” in its FAQ without publishing a numeric threshold, addresses creators “whether you’re just starting or an established creator ready to scale,” and routes them through an “Apply now” flow.
How do FanBell’s and Passes’ fees compare?
FanBell charges a 12% platform fee only when a fan pays, on a Free plan costing $0 per month, with payment-processing fees deducted separately. Passes publishes two different numbers: “Passes takes just 10%. You keep 90% of everything you earn” on its homepage and “As low as 10% + $0.30/txn” on its comparison page, against “a 20% fee of all credit/debit Sales” in its Terms of Service.
When does each platform pay creators out?
FanBell processes payments through Stripe and creators connect a Stripe Express account, which handles the payout schedule. Passes sets a $50 minimum payout, a $50,000 daily maximum, and one payout every 24 hours, with free automatic ACH payouts arriving 3–5 business days after the scheduled date. By default, the Passes Terms of Service pay bi-weekly “within thirty (30) days of the end of each such bi-weekly period”.
Can I run subscriptions or live events through FanBell?
No. FanBell’s published product flow covers one-off offers — private questions, asynchronous shoutouts, tips, creator services, project support, and brand inquiries — and states there are no live video calls or appointments to schedule. Passes is the better match for subscriptions, live 1:1 calls, livestreams, and group chats, which are part of its advertised product set.
Can I use FanBell and Passes at the same time?
Yes. The products serve different transaction types: Passes handles recurring membership access, while FanBell handles a specific one-time question, shoutout, service, tip, or project contribution. Refund terms differ, so check both — the Passes Terms of Service state “All items are non-refundable,” while FanBell states refunds are supported and may reverse the payment, transfer, and platform fee depending on the transaction’s status.
How can I start with FanBell?
Claim a FanBell link, turn on the offers you want, and share it — the Free plan costs $0 per month and FanBell takes 12% only when a fan pays, with no application and no follower minimum (FanBell pricing; FanBell how it works).
If you want to get paid for the questions, shout-outs, and tips fans already send you — without an application, a follower minimum, or committing to run a subscription business — set up your free FanBell link and turn on the offers that fit how your audience already reaches out. For the full range of what a paid fan interaction page can cover, see the paid fan interaction overview. If your goal shifts toward building a membership business, that's the point at which a platform like Passes becomes worth evaluating on its own terms.