01
Four ways to get paid for answers
Here's how each one works and what it keeps, from its own pages, read on 9 Nov 2026. Stripe's card rate is from a US search of its pricing page.
We make Hotly, so weigh that. Every other platform's details are from its own pages.
| Way | How it works | Who sets the price | What you keep | What the asker pays on top | When you're paid |
|---|
| Topmate | Booked calls, written questions and other services on your page | You, per service | 90% from your own link, 80% from Topmate's marketplace, less processing | A platform fee of up to 5 in their currency per booking | Within 7 business days of asking, for international payouts |
|---|
| Clarity | Phone calls on Clarity's line, billed by the minute | You, as an hourly rate | 85% | Nothing stated | Within 14 days of the call |
|---|
| A payment link | You send a link, they pay, you answer | You | About 94% on $10 US card payments | Nothing | Through Stripe to your bank |
|---|
| Hotly | Fans pay to write to you, once or every week | You, from $1 | 80% on Hosted, 90% on Hosted Plus, after the monthly price | Nothing | Once a month, no payout fee, from $1 |
|---|
Topmate, Clarity and Stripe details checked November 2026: Topmate fees, Topmate pricing, Topmate: add your services, Topmate payout guidelines, Topmate: session recordings, Topmate: no-shows, Clarity terms, Clarity: service fee, Clarity: rates, Clarity: payouts, Clarity: missed calls, Clarity: conference lines, Stripe pricing. Terms change - check them before you decide.
02
Who this is for
Creators and experts whose audience already asks. If people DM you for advice, recommendations or a second opinion, each answer has value, and you can charge for it. This isn't about answering-job sites, where you answer strangers for a company's rate.
Pick by how you like to answer. A booked call, a written reply on your own time, or a mix. The four ways below each suit a different one.
03
Topmate: calls and written questions on one page
What it is. A page of services you set up from templates: 1:1 calls, "Priority DMs" for written questions, digital products, packages and webinars. You price each service, and for advice you can "Set a minimum price to deter non-serious bookings" or let buyers pay what they want.
What it keeps. "Topmate takes 10% of a sale made through your own page or link. When a new buyer finds you through the Topmate marketplace or search, the commission on that sale is 20%." There's "No monthly plan and no fee to sign up." A payment processing charge comes off too, which Topmate's pages put between 2.6% plus 30 cents and 6% for international payments.
What askers pay. "Your price plus a platform fee", from nothing on small prices to 5 in their own currency: "a $40 session carries a $3 fee".
Know before you book calls. "Session recordings are turned on by default for the experts", with an AI bot joining the call. If a buyer reports that you didn't show and it isn't resolved within 72 hours, Topmate refunds them automatically.
Getting paid. "You can request your first payout once 7 days have passed since your first paid booking." International bank and PayPal payouts are "processed within 7 business days from the time of request."
04
Clarity: phone calls by the minute
What it is. Askers book a call with you, and it happens on Clarity's own phone line: "all Clarity calls must take place on our private conference lines." There's no video, and no screen sharing.
What it keeps. "We charge experts a 15% service fee for every call completed." You set an hourly rate, which is "automatically converted to a per-minute rate", and askers pay only for the minutes on the line.
When calls are missed. If you miss a call, the asker gets "a full automatic refund". If they miss it, "Experts will not be compensated for that call."
Getting paid. "All expert payments on Clarity.fm are processed within 14 days of the call date."
05
A payment link: the lowest fee, all by hand
What it is. You make a payment link with Stripe, send it to whoever asks, and answer once they've paid. Stripe's standard US rate is 2.9% plus 30 cents a card payment, so you keep about 94% of a $10 payment.
What it costs you instead. Time. You track who paid, chase who didn't, and keep the conversation in your DMs. Our guide to charging for DMs on Instagram compares this with a paid link in your bio.
06
Hotly: written answers, on your own time
What it is. Hotly is premium conversations. Fans pay your price to write to you, one note at a time or every week, and you reply when it suits you. There's no call to schedule and no one to chase: the note arrives paid.
What it costs. On Hosted you pay $5.99 a month and keep 80% of what fans pay. On Hosted Plus you pay $9.99 a month and keep 90%. That covers Stripe's card fees, hosting and upkeep, and fans pay your price with nothing added. The commission halves for every 5 creators you invite who join and pay, down to 5%. Your share is paid out once a month through Stripe to your bank, with no payout fee, from $1.
Where the others win. Topmate and Clarity have no monthly fee, so a quiet month costs nothing. Topmate pays out within about a week of asking, and both sell live calls, which Hotly doesn't yet. A payment link is the cheapest of all if you don't mind doing it by hand. More on Hotly for advice at paid advice.
07
What to charge for an answer
Price your time. Take what an hour of your time sells for and how long a good answer takes: 15 minutes at $100 an hour is $25.
Or price by length. Hotly's default is $5 for a few lines, $10 for a paragraph and $15 for a full letter, with an open price above that.
Raise it when your inbox fills. If you can't keep up with what's arriving, your price is too low.