esplorasWhat will you sell?
Check that the platform supports your mix of memberships, downloads and online services.
Esploras vs other platforms
Choose a home.
Not just a checkout.
Compare the fees. Look at the tools. Then choose the platform that fits the business you want to build.
5% per sale
Esploras platform commission
Start free
Up to 150 product listings on the Free plan
Connected tools
Commerce and community together
The fee picture
Different models.
A clearer comparison.
Platform fees are only part of the picture. Processing, taxes, sales channels and legacy plans can change the total.
| Platform | Published platform fee | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Esploras | 5% per sale | Free plan available. Paid plans add product capacity. Stripe processing fees are separate. |
| Patreon | 10% standard plan | For creator pages published after August 4, 2025. Legacy plans differ; other fees and taxes can apply. |
| Gumroad | 10% + $0.50 direct sales; 30% Discover sales | Direct and Discover sales have different fees. Gumroad acts as merchant of record for sales tax collection and remittance. |
| Ko-fi | 5% on shop sales and memberships | Free mode has 0% on one-time tips; Standard mode has 5%. Shop and memberships have 5% in both modes. Processor fees are additional; Gold arrangements can differ. |
Official sources: Patreon feesGumroad pricingKo-fi fees
This is a comparison of selected fee models, not a claim that Esploras is always the cheapest option. Check each provider’s current terms for your circumstances.
Look beyond the percentage
Your business has
more than one side.
A membership, a download and a booked online session can all belong to the same creator. Esploras brings these offers together with a place for your audience to connect.
- Sell subscriptions and one-time digital products
- Offer bookable online services and digital auctions
- Publish subscriber-only posts and build community
Make an informed choice
Three questions
for your next platform.
What will you pay?
Compare platform fees, processing fees and any recurring plan cost together.
Where will people connect?
Think about what happens after a purchase: updates, exclusive content and conversations.
Esploras payments use Stripe Connect. Bank deposits follow Stripe and bank timing; connecting an account does not guarantee an instant bank payout.
Match the model to your work
Start with what
your audience needs.
A headline fee cannot tell you how well a platform fits your mix of offers and conversations.
If memberships are the centre of my work, what should I compare?
Look at recurring access, member-only publishing and how people interact with you between payments. Esploras supports subscription products and unlimited subscriber-only timeline posts for active subscribers.
Patreon’s standard plan includes memberships, digital sales and community features such as chats, polls and comments. Compare the publishing experience as well as processing, payout and platform fees.
If I sell downloads, why does the sales channel matter?
Esploras supports digital products with a 5% platform commission, plus separate Stripe processing fees. Your Esploras plan also sets your store product capacity.
Gumroad publishes a 10% + $0.50 fee for profile or direct-link sales and a 30% fee for Discover sales. It acts as merchant of record for sales tax collection and remittance. Compare these arrangements alongside the percentage.
If people support me with tips, what is different about Ko-fi?
Ko-fi distinguishes one-time tips from shop sales and memberships: Free mode has no service fee on one-time tips, while Standard mode has 5%. Shop sales and memberships have a 5% service fee in both modes, with payment processor fees additional.
Esploras brings together digital products, memberships, bookable online services, digital auctions and community. Choose around the offers you intend to publish; a tipping fee is not a like-for-like comparison with a product sale.
Provider details above use the official sources linked in the fee comparison. Legacy arrangements, payment methods and applicable taxes can change the overall cost.
Your next chapter
Make a home for
what you create.
Start free. Bring your work, your ideas and your audience.