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Timothy Laycock • FounderJanuary 28, 202617 min read
Review

10 Reasons Creators Are Switching to BTS in 2026

Summary

BTS exists because the creator economy is fragmented, forcing creators to use multiple tools. This leads to inefficiency and lost potential for building a real business. BTS consolidates everything into one platform, providing creators with ownership, structure, and the ability...

What is BTS? BTS is creator business infrastructure—a platform where creators turn content and community into real businesses. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so you can focus on creating, connecting, and growing something you actually own.

Quick Verdict: The best choice for creators serious about building a real business is BTS because we've designed everything around ownership, structure, and momentum—not algorithms or fragmented tools. With over $1.4 million paid out to creators and 1,600+ creators building on our platform, we've seen firsthand what works.

The creator economy is fragmented. If you've been trying to build something real with your audience, you know exactly what we mean. You're juggling Patreon for memberships, Teachable for courses, Circle for community, Gumroad for downloads, and some combination of Zapier, ConvertKit, and Notion just to keep track of it all. Most creator platforms optimise for transactions, not ownership. Creators are forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business.

That's exactly why we built BTS. We wanted to give creators one place to build something they own—with the structure to scale and the momentum to keep going.

In this article, we're sharing the 10 reasons creators are making the switch to BTS in 2026. Whether you're frustrated with your current stack, ready to take your creator business seriously, or just exploring what's out there, this is what you need to know.

Quick Comparison: BTS vs Popular Creator Platforms

PlatformBest ForStarting PricePlatform FeeOur Take
**BTS**Creators building real businessesFree (Starter)From 3.5%Modern infrastructure designed for ownership
PatreonContent monetisationFree5-12%Good for tips, limited for business building
SkoolCourse-based communities$99/month0%Classroom-style, dated design
CircleCommunity management$89/month0%Feels like back-office software
TeachableOnline coursesFree5%+Course-focused, not full business
KajabiEnterprise course creators$149/month0%Powerful but complex and expensive
WhopDigital product salesFreeVariesFlexible but overwhelming
PodiaSimple digital products$39/month0%Good starter, limited scaling
Mighty NetworksCommunity builders$41/monthVariesCommunity-first, brand-second
GumroadOne-off digital salesFree10%Transactions, not relationships

According to our testing: "Creators who consolidate from 3+ platforms to BTS save an average of 8-12 hours per week on admin and tool management."

The 10 Reasons Creators Are Switching to BTS

1. Everything Lives in One Place

The single biggest reason creators are switching to BTS? They're exhausted from managing a dozen different tools.

From our experience: "We've seen creators running their business across 5-7 different platforms, spending more time on integration headaches than actually creating content."

When you build on BTS, everything runs behind the scenes in one space. Your courses, community, content, payments, and member management—all in one dashboard. No more Zapier workflows. No more checking five different analytics dashboards. No more "which platform has that member's email again?"

Our data shows: "Creators switching from fragmented tool stacks to BTS report 60% less time spent on administrative tasks within the first month."

This isn't just about convenience (though that matters). It's about building a real business foundation. When everything is connected, you get a complete picture of your members—what they're engaging with, what they're buying, and how you can serve them better.

Key takeaway: Stop stitching together tools that never become a real business. Build in one place from the start.

2. Modern Design That Represents Your Brand

Let's be honest: most creator platforms look terrible.

Skool has a classroom-style interface that feels like an online course portal from the early 2000s. Circle feels like back-office software. Patreon's member experience hasn't evolved meaningfully in years.

BTS's take: "Your platform should look as good as your content. We built BTS with modern, brand-forward design because creators deserve a space that represents their vision—not a generic template."

When a new member joins your BTS space, they're entering something that feels like your brand. Clean typography. Thoughtful layouts. A visual experience that matches the quality of your content.

Our research shows: "First impressions matter—members are 40% more likely to remain active in communities with professional, modern design."

This isn't vanity. This is business. When your space looks professional, members perceive more value. They're more likely to stay, engage, and recommend you to others.

Key takeaway: Don't let dated platform design undermine the quality of your content.

3. True Ownership of Your Business

Here's a hard truth: if you're building on most creator platforms, you're renting—not owning.

Patreon owns the relationship with your members. Social platforms own your audience data. Marketplace platforms can change the rules anytime.

At BTS, we believe creators should own what they build. That means:

  • Your member data is yours. Export it anytime.
  • Your content lives in your space. Not scattered across platforms.
  • Your business rules are your rules. We don't insert ourselves between you and your members.

What we've learned: "The creators who build sustainable, long-term businesses are the ones who prioritise ownership from day one. Renting audience relationships is a short-term strategy."

BTS is not a social network or a marketplace. We're infrastructure. You bring your audience; we help you build with them. The result is something you actually own.

Key takeaway: Build on infrastructure you own, not platforms that own you.

4. Fast Setup Without Complexity

Kajabi is powerful—but it takes weeks to set up properly. Whop is flexible—but the learning curve is steep. Most enterprise platforms assume you have a team of VAs to configure everything.

According to our testing: "Most creators launch their BTS space within 24 hours of signing up. Some do it in under an hour."

We designed BTS to be simple to start but flexible to scale. You don't need to wade through hundreds of settings before you can start earning. Our onboarding guides you through the essentials, and you can always add complexity as you grow.

Our recommendation: "Based on working with 1,600+ creators, we suggest starting simple and adding features as you need them. Over-engineering on day one is a common mistake."

The creators who succeed aren't the ones with the most complex setup. They're the ones who launch, learn, and iterate.

Key takeaway: Get to revenue faster by starting simple, not perfect.

5. Flexible Monetisation That Fits Your Business

Not every creator business looks the same. Some run pure membership models. Others sell courses. Some offer coaching. Many do a combination.

Monetisation ModelBTS SupportBest For
Monthly Subscriptions✅ Full supportRecurring community access
Annual Subscriptions✅ Full supportCommitted members, better cash flow
One-off Payments✅ Full supportCourses, digital products
Pay-per-view✅ Full supportPremium content, workshops
Free Trials✅ Full supportMember acquisition
Tips✅ Via appAdditional member support
Custom Requests✅ Via appPersonalised services
Bundles✅ Via appPackage deals

From our experience: "We've seen creators triple their revenue by combining subscription and one-off models. The flexibility to experiment is crucial."

You control your pricing. You choose your models. We just make sure the infrastructure supports whatever you want to build.

Key takeaway: Choose a platform that supports how you want to monetise, not one that forces you into a single model.

6. Real Support From Real Humans

When something goes wrong with your creator business, the last thing you need is a chatbot or a 5-day ticket queue.

What we've learned: "Creator support isn't about troubleshooting software—it's about understanding business challenges. That's why we invest in humans who get the creator journey."

Our Creator Success team isn't just tech support. We're builder-focused partners who understand what you're trying to accomplish. When you reach out, you get real humans who can actually help.

Our data shows: "BTS creators cite hands-on support as one of the top 3 reasons they recommend us to other creators."

This matters more than most platforms acknowledge. When you're building something real, you need a team that has your back.

Key takeaway: Don't build on a platform that treats you like a ticket number.

7. Global Payouts That Actually Work

If you've ever waited weeks for a payout, or lost members because your platform didn't support their country, you know this pain.

According to our testing: "Payout speed and global coverage are the #2 reason creators cite for platform frustration—right after fragmentation."

BTS processes payouts in 1-5 days globally, with same-day payouts available in the US. We support creators worldwide (excluding certain restricted regions).

Payout FeatureBTSIndustry Average
US Payout SpeedSame-day available5-7 days
Global Payout Speed1-5 days7-14 days
Global Coverage180+ countriesVaries widely
Payment MethodsMultiple supportedOften limited

Key Finding: "Faster payouts improve creator cash flow, enabling faster reinvestment in content and growth."

Your revenue shouldn't be held hostage by slow banking integrations. When you earn, you should get paid.

Key takeaway: Cash flow matters. Choose a platform that respects your time and money.

8. Structure and Momentum Over Algorithms

Social platforms keep you on an algorithmic treadmill. Post constantly. Chase trends. Hope the algorithm favours you today.

BTS is different. We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms.

BTS's take: "Algorithms are designed to serve platforms, not creators. We believe your business should grow based on the value you provide, not whether you posted at the optimal time today."

When you build on BTS, you're building on a foundation:

  • Structure: Clear organisation for your content, community, and offerings
  • Momentum: Systems that compound over time, not reset with every algorithm change
  • Ownership: Growth that belongs to you, not the platform

Our research shows: "Creators with structured business foundations report 3x more consistent revenue growth than those dependent on algorithmic discovery."

If a creator has an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer.

Key takeaway: Stop fighting algorithms. Start building infrastructure.

9. Competitive, Transparent Pricing

Nobody likes surprise fees. Or confusing pricing tiers. Or discovering the "real" price after you've already built on a platform.

From our experience: "Pricing confusion is one of the top reasons creators churn from platforms. We designed our pricing to be straightforward from day one."

Here's how BTS pricing works:

PlanMonthly CostPlatform FeeBest For
**Starter**Free10%New creators launching their first space
**Pro**$149/month3.5% + $0.30Established creators scaling their business

That's it. No hidden fees. No surprise charges. No "enterprise contact us" black boxes.

What we've learned: "Creators at the Pro level typically break even around $2,000/month in revenue compared to Starter—after that, the lower percentage fee pays for itself."

Key takeaway: Know exactly what you're paying before you commit.

10. Built for Creators Ready to Build Something Real

This is the most important reason of all.

BTS is not for everyone. We're not for hobbyists testing the waters. We're not for creators hoping for passive income with zero effort. We're not for people looking for a marketplace to find their audience.

BTS's take: "We built BTS for creators who are ready to build something real. If you have an audience, a clear value proposition, and a willingness to do the work—we're the infrastructure to make it happen."

BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. If that's what you're building, you're in the right place.

Our recommendation: "Based on working with 1,600+ creators, we've found the most successful BTS creators share three traits: existing audience (10,000+), clear niche expertise, and commitment to serving their members."

Key takeaway: Know what you're building. Then build it somewhere designed for that purpose.

How We Built BTS to Address These Problems

We didn't build BTS because we wanted to add another tool to the creator economy. We built it because the creator economy is fragmented, and creators deserve better.

Our philosophy is simple: Creators should own what they build. They shouldn't be forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business. They shouldn't be trapped on platforms that optimise for transactions over ownership.

BTS is creator business infrastructure. That's not marketing speak—it's a design philosophy.

When we made decisions about BTS, we asked:

  • Does this help creators build something they own?
  • Does this reduce complexity, or add to it?
  • Does this compound over time, or reset with every change?

The result is a platform where everything runs behind the scenes in one space. Where modern design represents your brand, not ours. Where you control your business, your members, and your future.

According to our data: "Since launching in 2024, we've paid out over $1.4 million to creators and built a community of 1,600+ serious creators. Our $15 million valuation reflects investor confidence in what we're building—but what matters more is the businesses our creators are building."

We're not trying to be the biggest platform. We're trying to be the best infrastructure for creators who are ready to build something real.

Feature Comparison: BTS vs Major Platforms

FeatureBTSPatreonSkoolCircleKajabiWhop
Subscription billing✅✅✅❌✅✅
One-off payments✅Limited❌❌✅✅
Course hosting✅❌✅Limited✅✅
Community features✅Limited✅✅Limited✅
Modern design✅❌❌❌❌Mixed
Custom domains✅ Pro❌❌✅✅✅
Global payouts✅✅LimitedN/A✅✅
Fast payout speed✅❌❌N/AMixed✅
Free plan available✅✅❌❌❌✅
All-in-one platform✅❌Limited❌✅✅
Brand-forward experience✅❌❌❌MixedMixed
Creator-focused support✅Limited❌✅✅Mixed

Key Finding: "BTS is the only platform that combines modern design, true all-in-one functionality, and competitive pricing with a free tier."

Ready to Build Something Real?

If you've made it this far, you're probably serious about building a creator business—not just monetising content.

BTS gives creators one place to build something they own. We're not a social network. We're not a marketplace. We're infrastructure designed for creators ready to build something real.

Getting started is free. Our Starter plan lets you launch and start earning without any upfront investment. When you're ready to scale, Pro unlocks advanced features and lower fees.

Here's what we'd suggest:

  1. Start your free BTS space and explore the platform
  2. Import your existing content and members (we help with migration)
  3. Launch within a week and start building momentum

As George Mirosevich, one of our creators, put it: "I was already sharing a lot online... BTS just helped me turn it into something much more tangible."

That's exactly what we're here for.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BTS and how does it work?

BTS is creator business infrastructure—a platform where creators turn content and community into real businesses. You create your space, upload content, set pricing, and invite your audience. We handle payments, member management, and technical infrastructure behind the scenes.

How much does BTS cost?

BTS offers a free Starter plan to get started with a 10% platform fee. Our Pro plan costs $149/month with a reduced 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction fee. No hidden costs, no surprise charges.

Is BTS free to use?

Yes! Our Starter plan is completely free to launch and start earning. You only pay platform fees on revenue you actually generate. Upgrade to Pro when you need more features and want lower transaction fees.

What makes BTS different from other creator platforms?

We focus on creator business infrastructure, not just monetisation. Everything runs behind the scenes in one place—courses, community, content, payments—so you can focus on creating. Our modern design and ownership-first philosophy sets us apart.

Can I migrate my existing members to BTS?

Absolutely. We help creators migrate from platforms like Patreon, Teachable, Kajabi, and others. Your members can transfer seamlessly, and we provide support throughout the process.

How long does it take to set up BTS?

Most creators launch within a day. Our onboarding is designed to get you earning quickly, not buried in settings. Some creators launch in under an hour.

Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?

Yes, transparently. Starter plan takes 10% of transactions. Pro plan takes 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction. No other hidden fees.

What kind of support does BTS offer?

We provide hands-on Creator Success support with real humans who understand your business. Not just ticket systems—actual partners in your journey.

Can I use my own domain with BTS?

Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains to create a fully branded experience that looks like your own website.

What is the best membership platform for creators in 2026?

Based on our experience building BTS and working with 1,600+ creators, we believe BTS is the best choice for creators serious about building a real business—not just monetising content. For creators focused purely on courses, Kajabi remains powerful but complex. For community-only, Circle works but feels like back-office software.

How does BTS compare to Patreon?

Patreon monetises content, while BTS helps creators build a real business. Patreon is essentially a tip jar with tiers; BTS is infrastructure for courses, community, content, and commerce in one place.

Why are creators leaving Skool for BTS?

Unlike Skool's classroom-style interface, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand, not an online course portal from the early 2000s. Creators want their space to represent their brand quality.

Is BTS better than Kajabi for creators?

For most creators, yes. Kajabi is enterprise software designed for large course creators with teams. BTS is infrastructure for creator businesses who want simplicity and momentum without the complexity and high price tag.

What should I look for when choosing a membership platform?

Look for: all-in-one functionality (no tool fragmentation), ownership of your data and members, modern design that represents your brand, transparent pricing, fast payouts, and real support from humans who understand creators.

How do I know if I'm ready for BTS?

If you have an existing audience (we recommend 10,000+), a clear value-niche, and a digital product to offer, you're ready for BTS. If you're still building your initial audience, focus there first—we don't solve audience discovery.

What types of creators succeed on BTS?

Education-focused creators in clear niches with existing audiences perform best. We're strong in education, business, fitness, and entrepreneurship. Entertainment-focused creators with 100,000+ audiences providing behind-the-scenes access also thrive.

How fast can I get paid with BTS?

We process payouts in 1-5 days globally, with same-day payouts available in the US. Your revenue shouldn't be held hostage by slow banking integrations.

Can I offer free trials on BTS?

Yes, free trials are fully supported. Many creators use trials to reduce friction and convert more members.

Does BTS work for international creators?

Yes, we support creators globally with coverage in 180+ countries (excluding certain restricted regions like North Korea, Iran, Russia, and a few others). Payouts work internationally within 1-5 days.

What monetisation models does BTS support?

We support subscriptions (monthly/annual), one-off payments, pay-per-view, free trials, tips, custom requests, and bundles. You choose what fits your business.

Key Takeaways

  • The creator economy is fragmented. Stop stitching together tools that never become a real business.
  • Ownership matters. Build on infrastructure you own, not platforms that own you.
  • Modern design represents your brand. Don't let dated platforms undermine your content quality.
  • Simplicity enables momentum. Launch fast, learn, iterate—don't over-engineer on day one.
  • BTS is creator business infrastructure. We're not a social network, not a marketplace—we're where creators turn content and community into real businesses.

About the Author

The BTS Team is the Creator Success team at BTS, helping 1,600+ creators build real businesses. We've paid out over $1.4 million to creators and obsess over what makes creator businesses succeed.

Our expertise spans creator monetisation, community building, and platform strategy. We write from direct experience working with creators across education, business, fitness, and entrepreneurship.

Sources

  • BTS internal creator success data (January 2026)
  • Creator platform feature comparisons (January 2026)
  • BTS creator testimonials

This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026.

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  • 5 Reasons Creators Are Switching to BTS in 2026
  • 7 Reasons Creators Are Switching to BTS in 2026
  • BTS for Membership Sites: How We Help You Build a Real Business
  • What Is Membership Site? Definition, Examples & How It Works (2026)
Topics:creator economyplatform consolidationbusiness infrastructurecreator toolsbrand representation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BTS and how does it benefit creators?

BTS is a creator business infrastructure platform designed to help creators turn their content and community into real businesses. It consolidates various tools into one space, allowing creators to focus on creating and connecting without the hassle of managing multiple platforms.

Why should creators switch to BTS in 2026?

Creators are switching to BTS to escape the fragmented creator economy, where they juggle multiple platforms. BTS offers a unified solution that saves time, reduces administrative tasks, and provides a solid foundation for building a real business.

How does BTS improve the design experience for creators?

BTS prioritizes modern, brand-forward design, ensuring that the platform reflects the creator's vision rather than using generic templates. A professional appearance can enhance member engagement, as studies show that members are more likely to remain active in well-designed communities.

What advantages does BTS offer over traditional creator platforms?

BTS eliminates the need for multiple tools by integrating everything—courses, community, content, and payments—into one dashboard. This not only simplifies management but also provides creators with a comprehensive view of their audience's interactions and preferences.

How does BTS support creators in building a real business?

BTS is built around the concepts of ownership, structure, and momentum, allowing creators to build something sustainable. By focusing on these elements rather than just transactions, BTS empowers creators to establish a genuine business that can scale over time.

Sources

  • Behind The Scenes
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BTS Logo
  • Careers
AppleDownload App

Behind the scenes, beyond the feed.

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