Best Online Tip Jars for Content Creators

The best online tip jar depends on your priorities: Ko-fi and Streamlabs charge 0% platform fees on one-time tips, Buy Me a Coffee charges 5%, and Brillay charges 5% while combining tips with paid interactions. TikTok and Instagram offer native gifting, but those gifts stay inside each platform rather than a creator-controlled link. Tips let followers send a one-time thank-you, with nothing for you to deliver and no membership for them to join.

If you have not decided how you want to accept tips, start with how to accept tips online as a creator. This comparison focuses on fees, features, eligibility, and use cases.

What differs between online tip jar tools?

Platform fees on one-time tips range from 0% (Ko-fi's free plan and Streamlabs) to 5% (Buy Me a Coffee and Brillay, which bundles Tips with Paid Questions, Personalized Videos, Custom Work, and Goals on one link) — see the fee sources cited in the table below. Beyond fees, tip jar tools differ in included features, cost to join, and where supporters pay. The important differences are:

• Platform fee on one-time tips. This is what the tip jar company keeps; separate payment-processing, withdrawal, and currency-conversion fees may also apply.
• Included creator tools. Some products focus on tips, while others include memberships, shops, paid requests, or livestream alerts.
• Cost to join. The tools compared here offer a free way to start, although upgrades can change fees or unlock additional features.
• Where supporters pay. Brillay, Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee, and Streamlabs provide shareable links; TikTok and Instagram gifting works inside those social platforms. A Brillay link sits in that same bio and works from your first follower, with no threshold to clear and no application to pass before the tip button turns on, and supporters pay by card as guests at the amounts you suggest.

The percentages below are platform fees on one-time tips only, not necessarily the creator’s all-in cost. Payment processors and other transaction charges are excluded unless stated otherwise.

Sources: Brillay pricing · Ko-fi pricing · Buy Me a Coffee — how charges are calculated · Streamlabs — Stripe tipping FAQs · TikTok LIVE Gifts · Instagram Gifts. Figures checked September 10, 2026; fees and eligibility rules can change, so confirm them on the linked official pages.

When is Brillay the best tip jar for creators?

Brillay charges a 5% platform fee on Tips, with no monthly fee or follower minimum; Tips are one-time thank-yous with nothing to deliver. Supporters can pay without creating an account, and creators can receive payouts in 41 countries. It fits when you do not want a separate link for tips, paid questions, commissions, and Goals.

A Tips payment is a one-time thank-you from a supporter, with nothing to deliver in return. You can show suggested amounts, and the supporter can choose one or enter a custom amount. That distinguishes Tips from Paid Questions, Personalized Videos, and Custom Work, where the supporter is purchasing a response or defined outcome. The same link can also offer Paid Questions, Personalized Videos, Custom Work, and Goals alongside Tips.

Stripe payment processing is separate from Brillay’s 8% platform fee on paid work and 5% platform fee on tips and goals. Stripe’s published standard price for US card payments is typically around 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe pricing), although the applicable rate can depend on the payment method and transaction.

If you are deciding between voluntary support and paid deliverables, see tips vs. donations vs. paid requests.

When is Ko-fi the best tip jar for creators?

Ko-fi charges a 0% platform fee on one-time tips through its free plan, rising to 5% on memberships, shop sales, and commissions. It is a strong fit when one-time tips are the main priority.

PayPal and Stripe processing fees apply in addition to Ko-fi’s 0–5% platform fee; Ko-fi’s own pricing page describes that platform-fee range as covering tips, memberships, shop sales, and commissions. Where that range covers commissions rather than tips, the shape differs: a Ko-fi commission is agreed in messages before anyone pays, while a custom request on Brillay arrives already scoped and paid at the price, delivery window and exclusions you published on the listing.

Ko-fi Gold costs $12 per month and removes Ko-fi’s 5% platform fee on memberships, shop sales, and commissions (Ko-fi Gold). The free plan suits a creator who only accepts one-time tips, since it already carries a 0% platform fee on tips.

Ko-fi’s published signup and pricing information does not specify a follower minimum for opening a page and accepting support.

When is Buy Me a Coffee the best tip jar for creators?

Buy Me a Coffee charges a flat 5% platform fee on every transaction type — one-time “coffee” payments, memberships, and shop sales alike. That fits creators who prefer one consistent fee rather than different rates per feature.

Standard Stripe or PayPal processing charges apply in addition to that 5% platform fee (Buy Me a Coffee — how charges are calculated).

There is no monthly cost to join, and the company’s published setup and fee documentation does not list a follower minimum for accepting payments (Buy Me a Coffee charge calculation).

When is Streamlabs the best tip jar for creators?

Streamlabs charges a 0% platform fee on credit-card tips, but Stripe processing adds roughly 2.9% + $0.30 plus a 0.5% withdrawal fee on payouts under $2,000. It is designed primarily for livestreamers who want tips connected to on-screen alerts and widgets.

That same Streamlabs FAQ page also lists a 2% currency-exchange fee when a supporter tips in a currency different from the creator’s configured currency.

Streamlabs’ documentation does not list a follower minimum for setting up its tip page. It is generally a better functional fit for creators already livestreaming on Twitch, YouTube, or Kick than for someone seeking only a general-purpose tip link. Brillay's own link works differently: it keeps taking payments before Affiliate status and while you're off-stream, and viewers pay as guests for a request or one-time support whenever they see it.

How do TikTok and Instagram native gifts compare?

TikTok Video Gifts requires at least 10,000 followers and a 30-day-old account (TikTok Video Gifts), while Instagram Gifts requires at least 500 followers and a Creator or Business account. Both work only on eligible content inside the app, unlike a creator-controlled link.

TikTok has separate LIVE Gifts and Video Gifts systems. TikTok’s gifting documentation says senders must be at least 18 years old, or 19 in South Korea, and that availability depends on region.

Instagram Gifts additionally requires an age of at least 18, an eligible country, and compliance with Instagram’s policies, on top of the 500-follower and account-type requirements above.

Native gifts cannot replace a creator-controlled tip link in a bio because they work only on eligible content inside the relevant app. Creators can still use native gifting alongside Brillay, Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee, or Streamlabs.

Which online tip jar fits each creator situation?

• Choose Brillay if you want Tips, Paid Questions, Personalized Videos, Custom Work, and Goals on one page. They can share one link; Brillay charges 8% when a follower pays for work and 5% on tips and goals, plus separate Stripe processing.
• Choose Ko-fi’s free plan if one-time tips are your primary goal and you want a 0% platform fee on those tips, with processor fees still applying.
• Choose Buy Me a Coffee if you prefer a consistent 5% platform fee across tips, memberships, and shop sales, plus separate processing charges.
• Choose Streamlabs if you livestream and want a 0% platform fee with integrated alerts, while accounting for processing, withdrawal, and possible currency-exchange fees.
• Use TikTok or Instagram Gifts as a complement if you meet their eligibility requirements and want supporters to support you without leaving the app.

These options are not mutually exclusive. A creator can use a link-based tip jar as the main destination while leaving eligible TikTok or Instagram gifting features enabled. Once you choose a tool, see how to add a tip link to your bio.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a minimum number of followers to use a tip jar?

Brillay has no follower minimum. The published setup and pricing pages for Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee, and Streamlabs also do not state a follower minimum.

Native programs can impose thresholds: TikTok Video Gifts requires at least 10,000 followers, while Instagram Gifts requires at least 500 followers.

Which tip jar tool has the lowest fee?

Ko-fi’s free plan and Streamlabs each charge a 0% platform fee on one-time tips (their respective pricing and fee pages). Payment-processing fees still apply, and Streamlabs also lists a 0.5% withdrawal fee under $2,000 plus a 2% fee for applicable currency exchange.

Buy Me a Coffee charges a 5% platform fee plus separate processing charges. Brillay charges 8% when a follower pays for work and 5% on tips and goals, plus separate Stripe processing; the same link can also offer Paid Questions, Personalized Videos, Custom Work, and Goals.

How much should I suggest for a tip?

Start with familiar amounts such as $3, $5, and $10, then let supporters choose a different amount if they want. Keep the ask tied to something concrete, such as helping you keep writing, drawing, streaming, or publishing free work.

The IRS treats tip income as part of the recipient's gross income, regardless of the app or link used (IRS — tip recordkeeping and reporting). Tax treatment can depend on your country, business, and the nature of the payment. Keep payment records and ask a qualified tax professional how one-time supporter payments apply to you.

How do I ask for tips without sounding like I am begging?

Keep it optional and explain what the support helps you continue making. A simple line such as “If this helped, you can leave a one-time tip” is clearer and less awkward than repeatedly asking for donations.

Can I switch tip jars or change where my tip link points?

Yes. Creators can change the destination linked from their profile or use a link-based tip jar alongside eligible TikTok and Instagram gifting. Before switching, compare platform fees, processor charges, payout terms, and any features connected to the existing page.

How can you set up a Brillay tip link?

Brillay is one option if you want tips and other paid requests from your followers on the same page; compare its 8% platform fee on paid work, 5% platform fee on tips and goals, and separate Stripe processing against the alternatives above before deciding.

If asking for support feels like begging, keep the choice low-pressure: turn on Tips, explain what the support helps you keep making, and start with familiar suggested amounts such as $3, $5, and $10. Supporters can choose a different amount, and nothing is owed back. For help picking the right numbers, see how much suggested tip amounts should be. (set up your free Brillay link)