Getting paid guide
How to accept tips online as a creator
The simplest setup is a tip page linked from your bio: supporters pick an amount and pay in seconds, and you never share your name, number or payment app. This guide compares your options, shows what you keep from a tip, and covers privacy and taxes.
The short answer
Use a tip page, put it first in your link in bio, offer two or three quick amounts, and say thank you every time. A tip page takes cards and wallets, keeps your personal details private, and gives you payout records for taxes.
Payment apps work for friends, but they can show your name and are not built for receiving money from strangers. Payment links are flexible, but you have to build the thank-you, the records and the page yourself.
Three ways to accept tips
| Option | What supporters see | Privacy | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tip page (Loresta, Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee) | Your name or brand, quick amounts and a message box | Your legal name, email and address stay private | Most creators. Works from any bio link and adds memberships or products later. |
| Payment app (PayPal, Venmo, Cash App) | Your account name or handle | Depending on the app and settings, your name can be visible | Friends and family, or existing business accounts |
| Payment link (for example Stripe Payment Links) | A plain checkout page | Private, but you set up the business details yourself | Creators who already run a business and want full control |
Platform fees differ more than they look. Ko-fi lists “0% one-time tips, 5% on the rest (free plan)”. Buy Me a Coffee lists “5% per transaction”. Loresta's free plan takes 8% of Page payments, and paid plans lower that. Card processing usually comes on top. Choosing between the first two? Ko-fi vs Buy Me a Coffee works out what you keep from each.
What you keep from a tip
Two fees usually come out of a tip: the platform's percentage and the card processor's fee, which often includes a fixed amount per payment. The fixed part is why small tips cost more, proportionally. On Loresta's free plan, Stripe processing is 2.9% + 30¢ plus 0.5% for sales tax handling.
| Tip | Page fee (8%) | Stripe processing | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00 | $0.24 | $0.40 | $2.36 |
| $5.00 | $0.40 | $0.47 | $4.13 |
| $20.00 | $1.60 | $0.98 | $17.42 |
Keep your name and address private
- Use a page, not a personal handle: a tip page shows your creator name, not your legal name or phone number.
- Avoid personal transfers from strangers: PayPal says personal payments are not covered by its Purchase Protection, and Venmo points sellers to business profiles. A checkout records what was paid and why.
- Do not post your address for gifts: if supporters want to send things, use a wishlist that hides your address, or let them send money toward the item instead. Read how to accept gifts without sharing your address.
- Keep identity checks private: payment providers verify who you are before paying you. That stays between you and the provider, not your supporters.
Make tipping easy
- 1
Put it near the top
Make the tip option one of the first two buttons in your link in bio, with a label like “Buy me a coffee ($5)”.
- 2
Say what tips fund
“Tips pay for the new microphone” or a visible goal turns a vague ask into a shared project.
- 3
Thank people quickly
A thank-you that arrives right away, plus a shout-out when supporters agree to one, makes people tip again.
- 4
Mention it in content
A short line at the end of a video or stream, pointing to the link in your bio, works better than a pinned post nobody reads.
On a Loresta Page, tips can have quick amounts, a goal, a message to you, and an automatic thank-you. Supporters who ask a question first get an answer on the Page instead of waiting for a DM. Selling, including tips, is open to creators in about 100 countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, Japan, Mexico and India.
Tips, records and taxes
In the US, money supporters pay you for your creative work is usually income, not a gift, for tax purposes. The IRS treats income from gig and online platform work as generally taxable. Platforms and payment providers may also send tax forms once you pass reporting thresholds.
- Keep payout records: download monthly payout reports from your tip page or payment provider.
- Keep tips separate: one tip page and one payout account make records far easier than tips spread across personal apps.
- Ask a professional: rules depend on where you live and how much you earn. This guide is general information, not tax advice.
Research notes
Sources checked for this guide
Product details and policies can change. First-party pages were checked on October 20, 2026.
- Ko-fi service fee breakdown
Ko-fi's fee breakdown, checked on August 21, 2026: 0% one-time tips, 5% on the rest (free plan).
- Buy Me a Coffee fee calculation
Buy Me a Coffee's fee calculation, checked on August 21, 2026: 5% per transaction.
- Stripe pricing
Stripe lists its standard US card processing rate, which most tip pages pass on in some form.
- PayPal Help: personal payments versus goods and services
PayPal explains that personal payments are not covered by Purchase Protection.
- Venmo Help: business profiles
Venmo describes business profiles for receiving payments for goods and services, with a per-payment seller fee.
- IRS: gig economy tax center
The IRS explains that income from gig and side work, including online platforms, is generally taxable.
Questions creators ask next
Direct answers that keep the plan realistic.
What is the easiest way to accept tips online?
A tip page linked from your bio. Supporters tap your link, pick an amount and pay by card or wallet in a few seconds, and you never share a phone number, email or payment app handle.
Can I accept tips without a business?
Yes. Creator tip pages are built for individuals. You still verify your identity with the payment provider so you can be paid, but that information is not shown to supporters.
Are tips from fans taxable?
In the US, money you receive from supporters for your creative work is usually income, not a gift, for tax purposes. Keep your payout records and ask a tax professional how it applies to you.
Should I use PayPal or Venmo for tips?
You can, but use a business or goods-and-services option rather than personal transfers. PayPal says personal payments are not covered by its Purchase Protection, and Venmo has business profiles for receiving payments for goods and services.
What is the cheapest way to accept tips?
It depends on tip size. Some platforms charge 0% on one-time tips, but card processing still applies and fixed per-payment fees take a bigger share of small tips. On Loresta's free plan a $5.00 tip leaves you about $4.13 after the 8% Page fee and Stripe processing.
Start taking tips from your link in bio
Claim your name and paste your link. Loresta builds a free Page for tips, offers and answers to your followers' questions. Nothing goes live until you publish.
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