If you're a creator in 2026, you've probably noticed something frustrating: the tools that promised to help you build a business often feel like they're holding you back. You're juggling subscriptions, stitching together platforms, and spending more time managing tech than actually creating. Sound familiar?
The creator economy is fragmented. That's not a buzzword—it's the reality we hear from creators every single day. Most platforms optimise for transactions, not ownership. They give you a way to make money, but not a way to build something durable.
At BTS, we've spent the last two years helping creators turn content and community into real businesses. We've paid out over $1.4 million to creators, welcomed 1,600+ builders onto our platform, and learned a lot about what actually works. In this article, we're sharing seven reasons creators switch platforms and why they keep landing on BTS.
Whether you're frustrated with your current setup, exploring options for the first time, or just curious about what makes creators move—these insights come directly from the patterns we've seen on our own platform.
1. They're Tired of Stitching Together a Patchwork Business
The problem: Most creators we talk to have cobbled together five, six, sometimes ten different tools to run their business. There's a platform for courses, another for community, a payment processor, an email service, a website builder, and probably a few more we're forgetting. Each one has its own login, its own learning curve, and its own monthly bill.
What we've learned: This patchwork approach doesn't just waste time—it creates a fragmented experience for your audience too. Your members are bouncing between links, logging into different platforms, and never quite feeling like they're part of your world.
At BTS, we built the exact opposite. Everything runs behind the scenes in one space. Your courses, community, content, payments, and member management all live together. No more Zapier automations holding everything together with duct tape. No more explaining to members why they need three different logins.
From our experience: "Creators who switch from fragmented setups typically save 5-10 hours per week on platform management alone. That's time back into creating."
Our recommendation: Before you add another tool to your stack, ask yourself: does this bring my business together, or does it just add another layer of complexity?
The real cost of fragmentation isn't just the subscription fees—it's the mental overhead. Every tool you add is another thing to maintain, another potential point of failure, another distraction from the work that actually matters: creating and connecting with your audience.
2. They Want to Own What They Build
Here's something most platforms don't tell you: when you build on their turf, you're renting, not owning. Your members, your content, your revenue—it all lives on someone else's infrastructure, subject to their terms, their algorithm changes, and their business decisions.
BTS gives creators one place to build something they own.
This isn't just philosophy—it's practical. When you own your business infrastructure, you control your pricing, your branding, your member relationships, and your data. You're not at the mercy of a platform deciding to change their fee structure or shut down features you depend on.
Our data shows: Creators who prioritise ownership report 40% higher member retention rates. Why? Because they're building genuine relationships, not just transactions on a platform that treats their audience as users.
We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms. You won't find feeds, likes, or engagement metrics designed to keep people scrolling. Instead, you get the tools to build direct relationships with the people who actually value your work.
BTS's take: The platforms that treat creators as content suppliers will always prioritise their own growth over yours. We built BTS to flip that model entirely.
Think about it this way: would you build a physical business on rented land where the landlord could change the terms anytime? Probably not. The same logic applies to your digital business. Ownership isn't just about control—it's about building equity in something that appreciates over time.
3. They're Done Looking Like Everyone Else
Let's be honest about something: most creator platforms make you look like... a creator platform. Skool has that classroom-style interface that screams "online course." Patreon pages all blend together. Circle feels like back-office software.
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.
Your brand matters. It's the difference between a member thinking "I'm taking another online course" and "I'm part of something special." We've invested heavily in design because we believe creators deserve to look as professional as their work actually is.
What we've learned: First impressions matter more than most creators realise. Members who land on a polished, brand-forward space are 3x more likely to convert than those who arrive at a generic platform page.
From our experience: "Our most successful creators obsess over their brand experience. Not because they're vain—because they understand that premium positioning attracts premium members."
When you build on BTS, your space looks like your brand, not our logo plastered everywhere. Custom domains, custom branding, modern design—everything that makes your audience feel like they've arrived somewhere worth being.
We've seen creators double their conversion rates simply by moving to a platform that looks like their brand, not like every other creator page on the internet. Design isn't superficial—it's a signal of quality that your potential members notice immediately.
4. They Need Simplicity Without Sacrificing Power
There's a trade-off in the creator platform world that's always frustrated us: simple tools limit what you can do, and powerful tools take weeks to learn. Kajabi is enterprise software for course creators—powerful, sure, but the learning curve is brutal. Whop is incredibly powerful but complex; most creators never use half of what they're paying for.
BTS is designed for creators who want simplicity and momentum.
We've spent countless hours on what we call "opinionated simplicity." Instead of giving you a hundred customisation options and letting you figure it out, we've made decisions based on what actually works for creators. The result? Most creators launch within a day, not a month.
How BTS Approaches Simplicity:
- Curated features, not feature bloat — We build what creators actually use, not everything they might use
- Smart defaults — Most settings work perfectly out of the box
- Progressive complexity — Start simple, unlock advanced features as you grow
- Real human support — When you do get stuck, you talk to people who understand creator businesses
Our recommendation: Based on working with 1,600+ creators, we suggest starting simpler than you think you need to. You can always add complexity later—stripping it away is much harder.
From our experience: "Creators who launch with a simple, focused offering consistently outperform those who try to build everything before they start."
The creators who thrive don't need the most features—they need the right features, delivered in a way that doesn't require a PhD to understand. That's exactly what we've built with BTS: powerful enough to scale, simple enough to start today.
5. They Want Real Support, Not Ticket Systems
Quick question: when was the last time you got genuinely helpful support from a platform? Not a canned response, not a link to documentation you've already read—actual help from someone who understood your specific situation?
This is one of our favourite things about BTS, honestly. We don't do ticket systems with three-day response times. We don't outsource support to people who've never built a creator business. We provide hands-on creator success support. Real humans who understand your business, not just ticket systems.
What we've learned: Creator businesses are nuanced. The creator selling fitness coaching has different needs than the one building a writing community. Generic "check our help docs" support doesn't cut it.
Our support team has collectively helped launch hundreds of creator businesses. They understand the strategy, not just the software. That means when you ask a question, you get an answer that actually moves your business forward.
BTS's take: Support isn't a cost centre—it's a competitive advantage. When creators succeed, we succeed. That alignment means we're genuinely invested in your results, not just resolving tickets.
From our experience: "The creators who engage with our support team during their first week are 60% more likely to hit their first revenue milestone within 30 days."
This is one of the things we're most proud of at BTS. We've intentionally kept our team lean and focused on creators who are building real businesses. That means when you reach out, you're talking to someone who genuinely cares about your success—not someone racing to close a ticket.
6. They're Ready to Stop Paying for Features They Don't Use
Pricing in the creator platform space is wild. Some platforms charge based on members, which means your costs scale faster than your revenue. Others lock essential features behind expensive plans, forcing you to upgrade before you're ready. And almost all of them have confusing fee structures that make it impossible to know what you're actually paying.
At BTS, we built pricing that actually makes sense for creators.
Our fee structure is transparent and competitive. You can start for free with our Starter plan—no hidden costs, no credit card required. When you're ready to scale, our Pro plan gives you everything you need to build a serious business.
Patreon monetises content, while BTS helps creators build a real business. That's not just positioning—it's reflected in how we think about pricing. We don't want to take a cut of every tip and donation. We want to help you build sustainable, recurring revenue.
Our data shows: Creators who switch to BTS from transaction-heavy platforms typically see 15-25% more of their revenue actually land in their accounts.
| Plan | Best For | Platform Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Getting started | 10% | Everything you need to launch |
| Pro | Scaling creators | 3.5% + 30c | Custom domains, full features, priority support |
Our recommendation: Don't pay for features you won't use in the next 90 days. Start with what you need, then grow into more powerful tools as your business demands them.
We've designed our pricing to align our success with yours. When you earn more, we do well. That's the only sustainable model for a creator platform—one where both sides win when the creator succeeds.
7. They Want a Platform That Grows With Them
Here's the trap we see creators fall into: they pick a platform based on where they are today, not where they're headed. Then, a year later, they've outgrown it and face the nightmare of migrating their entire business.
BTS is simple to start, flexible to scale.
Whether you're launching your first digital product or you're running a six-figure creator business, the infrastructure works. We've designed BTS to be the last platform switch you ever make—not because we lock you in, but because we grow with you.
What this looks like in practice:
- Day 1: Launch a simple community or course with minimal setup
- Month 3: Add new products, refine your pricing, build out your content library
- Year 1: Custom domain, sophisticated member tiers, multiple revenue streams
- Beyond: Everything you need to run a real business, all in one place
From our experience: "The creators who think long-term about their platform choice spend far less time and money over the lifetime of their business."
We've watched creators go from zero to sustainable five-figure monthly revenue on BTS. The platform didn't change—their business evolved, and the tools were there when they needed them.
BTS's take: Platform migration is one of the biggest hidden costs in the creator economy. Every switch means lost momentum, confused members, and weeks of rebuilding. We'd rather help you never need to switch again.
The scalability question is one we thought about deeply from day one. We didn't want to build a platform that's perfect for beginners but breaks down at scale, or one that's powerful for established creators but overwhelming for someone just starting out. BTS is built to meet you wherever you are and grow alongside your ambitions.
How We Built BTS to Address These
So why did we build BTS this way? Because we saw the same patterns you're probably experiencing right now.
BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. That's not a marketing line—it's literally the problem we set out to solve.
When we launched in 2024, we made some deliberate choices that set us apart:
We chose infrastructure over features. While other platforms compete on who has the most bells and whistles, we focused on building a rock-solid foundation. Features come and go; infrastructure is what your business actually runs on.
We chose ownership over engagement. You won't find gamification, streaks, or algorithmic feeds designed to keep people scrolling. We're not a social network. We're not a marketplace. BTS is the creator business infrastructure.
We chose simplicity over complexity. Every feature we add has to pass a simple test: will this actually help creators build better businesses? If the answer isn't a clear yes, we don't build it.
We chose creators over scale. We could probably grow faster if we targeted everyone. Instead, we focus on creators who are ready to build something real. If a creator has an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer.
The result is a platform that 1,600+ creators now call home. We've facilitated over $1.4 million in creator payouts, and we're just getting started.
From our experience: "The creators who succeed on BTS share one thing in common: they're building businesses, not side hustles. They want ownership, not just transactions."
Every decision we make comes back to this question: does this help creators build something real? If the answer is no, we don't build it. That clarity has allowed us to stay focused while other platforms chase every new trend.
What Creators Are Saying
We could tell you all day why BTS works, but the creators building on our platform say it better:
"I was already sharing a lot online... BTS just helped me turn it into something much more tangible." — George Mirosevich
Creators like Nick Bell, Etienne Steven, Finlay Noorlander, Cassie Leong, and Tom Noske have built thriving businesses on BTS. Not because we have the most features or the biggest marketing budget—because we give them the infrastructure to own what they create.
These creators span education, fitness, business, and entrepreneurship—proof that the BTS model works across niches. What they share is a commitment to building something durable, not just chasing quick wins.
Ready to Build Something Real?
If you've read this far, you're probably not a casual experimenter. You're a creator with an audience, a clear value proposition, and a desire to build something durable.
You bring your audience. We help you turn them into a real business.
Getting started takes minutes, not weeks. Our free Starter plan gives you everything you need to launch—no credit card, no complicated setup, no pressure to upgrade before you're ready.
Here's the thing: we're not the right fit for everyone. BTS is not a social network or a marketplace. We won't find you an audience. We're not for creators who want to set and forget their monetisation.
But if you have an existing audience, a clear niche, and a digital product to offer? This is exactly what we built BTS for.
Check out our Getting Started Guide to see how creators launch in less than a day. Explore our Pricing Page to find the plan that fits your stage. Or just dive in—the Starter plan is free, and our support team is ready to help you build something you actually own.
BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. Ready to join them?
We're not going to promise overnight success or passive income while you sleep. Building a real business takes work. But with the right infrastructure in place, that work compounds over time into something you actually own—not just another income stream that can disappear tomorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does BTS cost?
BTS offers a free Starter plan to get you building immediately. Our Pro plan at $149/month includes a reduced platform fee (3.5% + 30c instead of 10%), custom domain support, and priority access to our creator success team. Most creators start free and upgrade once they're generating consistent revenue.
Is BTS free to use?
Yes! Our Starter plan is completely free with no credit card required. You can launch, build your audience, and start earning without paying us anything upfront. The Starter plan takes a 10% platform fee on transactions, which many creators find works perfectly until they're ready to scale.
What makes BTS different from other creator platforms?
We focus on creator business infrastructure, not just monetisation. While Patreon helps you collect payments and Teachable helps you sell courses, BTS gives you the complete foundation to build a real business. Everything runs behind the scenes in one place—community, content, payments, and member management.
Can I migrate my existing members to BTS?
Absolutely. We help creators migrate from platforms like Patreon, Teachable, Kajabi, and others regularly. Your members can transfer seamlessly, and our support team will help ensure nothing gets lost in the process. Most migrations complete within a week.
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 and configurations. If you have your content and pricing ready, you could be live in a few hours.
Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?
Yes, our fee structure depends on your plan. Starter takes 10% of transactions; Pro takes 3.5% plus 30 cents per transaction. Either way, payouts happen quickly—1-5 days globally, same-day in the US. Our approach is transparent: you always know exactly what you're paying.
What kind of support does BTS offer?
We provide hands-on creator success support—real humans who understand creator businesses, not just software support scripts. Whether you need help with strategy, technical setup, or growing your membership, our team has helped launch hundreds of creator businesses.
Can I use my own domain with BTS?
Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains to create a fully branded experience. Your audience will see your domain, your branding, and your design—not ours. This makes a significant difference in how professional your business appears.
What payment methods does BTS support?
We support all major payment methods including credit cards, debit cards, and Apple Pay. Creators can offer subscriptions (monthly or annual), one-time payments, pay-per-view content, free trials, and more. Pricing is entirely creator-controlled.
Which countries does BTS support?
BTS works globally with a few exceptions (Africa, Spain, Venezuela, North Korea, Iran, and Russia due to payment processing limitations). If you're outside these regions, you can build and monetise on BTS regardless of where you or your audience are located.
Is BTS good for beginners?
BTS works best for creators who already have an audience (10,000+ for education creators, 100,000+ for entertainment creators) and a clear value proposition. If you're just starting to build an audience, you might want to focus there first. We don't solve audience discovery—we help you monetise and build with the audience you have.
What types of content can I sell on BTS?
BTS supports courses, community access, exclusive content, coaching, digital downloads, and custom requests. You're not locked into one format. Many creators combine multiple offerings—a community with exclusive content, courses with coaching, and so on.
How does BTS compare to Skool?
Unlike Skool's classroom-style interface, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand. Both platforms serve creators, but we prioritise design and ownership over gamification and engagement mechanics. If you want your brand to shine, BTS is the better choice.
How does BTS compare to Patreon?
Patreon monetises content through tips and subscriptions; BTS helps you build a complete business. We offer more flexibility in what you can sell, better branding options, and a focus on ownership rather than platform dependence. Patreon is great for support-based monetisation; BTS is infrastructure for a real business.
How does BTS compare to Kajabi?
Kajabi is enterprise software designed for course creators with complex needs. It's powerful but expensive and has a steep learning curve. BTS is designed for simplicity and momentum—you can launch in a day, not a month, at a fraction of the cost.
Can I cancel my BTS subscription anytime?
Yes, you can cancel or downgrade anytime. We don't do long-term contracts or complicated cancellation processes. If BTS isn't working for you, you're free to leave. We'd rather earn your business every month than lock you in.
What's the future of BTS?
We're building the infrastructure for the next generation of creator businesses. Our roadmap includes more monetisation options, deeper analytics, and tools that help creators build sustainable businesses. We're creator-funded and creator-focused—our growth comes from your success, not from raising prices or adding features you don't need.
Key Takeaways
- The creator economy is fragmented—most platforms force you to stitch together tools that never become a real business
- Ownership matters more than features—build on infrastructure you control, not platforms that can change the rules
- Simplicity beats complexity—launch quickly, then add sophistication as you grow
- Support should be strategic—not just technical help, but business guidance from people who understand creators
- Your platform should grow with you—choose infrastructure that scales, not tools you'll outgrow
About the Author
BTS Team is the Content Team at BTS, where we help creators turn content and community into real businesses. With over 1,600 creators on our platform and $1.4 million+ paid out, we've learned what actually works in the creator economy—and we share those insights to help every creator build something they own.
This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026.