Compare Ko-fi
Hotly vs Ko-fi
Ko-fi is built for one-way support: tips, memberships and a shop, with 0% fees on tips. Hotly is built for two-way conversation: fans pay per message and you reply from one inbox. If you want a free tip jar, Ko-fi is cheaper. If your DMs are already full of questions people would pay you to answer, Hotly charges for the reply.
Updated
Side by side
| Feature | Hotly | Ko-fi |
|---|---|---|
| What fans pay for | A message you answer | A tip, membership, shop item or commission |
| Paid messages | Yes - the core product. Fans pay $5–$20 per message. | No. Supporters can message after paying, but messages aren't sold. |
| Locked media | Yes. Send a locked photo, set the price. | No |
| Platform fee | Hosted: $5.99/mo + 20% commission, or $9.99/mo + 10% commission - servers, updates and backups included. Self-hosting the code: 0% commission, ~$430/mo to run. | 0% on tips. 5% on shop, memberships and commissions - 0% with Ko-fi Gold ($12/mo). |
| Payouts | Stripe, straight to your bank. | Instantly, to your own PayPal or Stripe account. |
| Open source | Yes. Apache 2.0 License - take the code with you anytime. | No |
| Signup | Request a hosted plan, no card - the team emails you to set it up. Or run the code on your own Linux server. | Open signup |
Ko-fi details checked September 2026 from their own pages: Ko-fi fees, Ko-fi Gold, Ko-fi payouts, Ko-fi messages. Prices change - check before you switch.
Which one fits you
Pick Ko-fi if…
- You mostly want tips, and 0% fees on them matters most.
- You sell digital downloads or commissions from a shop.
Pick Hotly if…
- People already ask you things in your DMs and you'd rather be paid to answer.
- You want to sell a locked photo inside a conversation.
- You want servers, updates and backups handled - and the code if you ever leave.
Questions
- Is Hotly a Ko-fi alternative?
- Yes, for creators whose fans want a reply, not just a button. Ko-fi takes tips; Hotly sells answered messages at $5–$20 each.
- Is Hotly cheaper than Ko-fi?
- Not for tips - Ko-fi charges 0% on tips. Hotly hosted is $5.99/mo + 20% commission or $9.99/mo + 10% commission. Ko-fi has no paid-message product to compare against.
- Can I use Ko-fi and Hotly together?
- Yes. Many creators keep a tip jar and add one Hotly link for people who want an answer.
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