Ko Fi Revenue Calculator
Calculate Ko-fi income from one-time donations and monthly memberships with zero platform fees.
Formula
Net = Donations (0% fee) + Memberships (5% or 0% Gold) + Shop (5% or 0% Gold) - Processing Fees - Gold Cost
Ko-fi charges 0% on one-time donations, 5% on memberships and shop sales (waived with Gold at $6/month), and payment processing through PayPal or Stripe costs approximately 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Artist with Donations and Memberships
Problem: An artist receives 50 donations averaging $5 each, has 100 monthly members at $5, and makes 10 shop sales at $15 each. They use the free plan. Calculate net monthly income.
Solution: Donations: 50 x $5 = $250 gross, $0 platform fee\nProcessing: ($250 x 0.029) + (50 x $0.30) = $7.25 + $15 = $22.25\nNet donations = $250 - $22.25 = $227.75\n\nMemberships: 100 x $5 = $500 gross, 5% fee = $25\nProcessing: ($500 x 0.029) + (100 x $0.30) = $14.50 + $30 = $44.50\nNet memberships = $500 - $25 - $44.50 = $430.50\n\nShop: 10 x $15 = $150 gross, 5% fee = $7.50\nProcessing: ($150 x 0.029) + (10 x $0.30) = $4.35 + $3 = $7.35\nNet shop = $150 - $7.50 - $7.35 = $135.15\n\nTotal net = $227.75 + $430.50 + $135.15 = $793.40
Result: Total Net Monthly: $793.40 | Annual: $9,520.80 | Effective Rate: 88.2%
Example 2: Ko-fi Gold Savings Analysis
Problem: A creator earns $800/month from memberships and $200/month from shop sales. Compare free plan vs Gold ($6/month).
Solution: Free plan fees:\nMembership platform fee = $800 x 0.05 = $40\nShop platform fee = $200 x 0.05 = $10\nTotal platform fees = $50\n\nGold plan:\nMembership platform fee = $0\nShop platform fee = $0\nGold subscription = $6\nTotal fees = $6\n\nGold savings = $50 - $6 = $44/month = $528/year
Result: Free Plan Fees: $50/mo | Gold Cost: $6/mo | Gold Saves: $44/mo ($528/year)
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Ko-fi compare to Patreon for membership revenue?
Ko-fi and Patreon have fundamentally different fee structures for membership content. Patreon charges 5-12% platform fees depending on the plan (Lite 5%, Pro 8%, Premium 12%), plus payment processing fees. Ko-fi charges 5% on memberships (or 0% with Gold at $6/month), plus payment processing. For a creator with 100 members paying $5 each ($500/month), the comparison is striking. On Patreon Pro: $500 - $40 (8%) - $44.50 (processing) = $415.50 net. On Ko-fi free: $500 - $25 (5%) - $44.50 (processing) = $430.50 net. On Ko-fi Gold: $500 - $0 - $44.50 - $6 (Gold) = $449.50 net. Ko-fi Gold saves $34 per month compared to Patreon Pro in this scenario, though Patreon offers more sophisticated analytics and marketing tools.
How do I forecast revenue?
Bottom-up forecasting multiplies expected units sold by price. Top-down starts with market size and estimates market share. For existing businesses, use historical growth rates with adjustments. For SaaS: Forecast MRR = Current MRR + New MRR - Churned MRR + Expansion MRR. Always model best, expected, and worst case scenarios.
Can I share or bookmark my calculation?
You can bookmark the calculator page in your browser. Many calculators also display a shareable result summary you can copy. The page URL stays the same so returning to it will bring you back to the same tool.
How accurate are the results from Ko Fi Revenue Calculator?
All calculations use established mathematical formulas and are performed with high-precision arithmetic. Results are accurate to the precision shown. For critical decisions in finance, medicine, or engineering, always verify results with a qualified professional.
Is my data stored or sent to a server?
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No data you enter is ever transmitted to any server or stored anywhere. Your inputs remain completely private.
How do I interpret the result?
Results are displayed with a label and unit to help you understand the output. Many calculators include a short explanation or classification below the result (for example, a BMI category or risk level). Refer to the worked examples section on this page for real-world context.