Choosing the right creator platform shouldn't require a spreadsheet, a calculator, and a law degree. Yet here we are in 2026, and most creator platforms still bury their real costs behind confusing fee structures, hidden transaction charges, and plans that sound great until you actually start earning.
At BTS, we believe in transparency. We're not going to pretend our pricing is perfect for everyone—but we are going to show you exactly what you're paying for, how it compares to alternatives, and help you make the decision that's right for your creator business.
BTS is 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 own. And that starts with understanding what you're actually investing in.
Our Pricing Philosophy
Let's be honest: the creator economy is fragmented. Creators are forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business—a subscription tool here, a community platform there, a course builder somewhere else. And every single one takes a cut.
From our experience: We've seen creators lose 20-30% of their revenue to platform fees alone when they stack multiple tools together. That's not a business model—that's a tax on creativity.
When we built BTS, we made a few non-negotiable decisions about pricing:
- No hidden fees. What you see is what you pay. We're not going to surprise you with "processing fees" or "marketplace fees" buried in the fine print.
- Aligned incentives. We only win when you win. Our fee structure means we're motivated to help you grow, not just to lock you in.
- Start free, scale affordably. You shouldn't have to bet hundreds of dollars a month before you've proven your concept works.
Our recommendation: Before you compare any platform's pricing, calculate the true cost including all transaction fees, payment processing, and add-on features. Most platforms don't make this easy—and that's intentional.
BTS Plans Breakdown
We keep it simple: two plans, transparent fees, no surprises.
Starter Plan (Free)
Who it's for: Creators testing the waters, validating a concept, or just getting started with their first digital product.
What's included:
- Full access to the BTS platform
- Community features
- Content hosting and delivery
- Basic monetisation tools
- Subscriptions, one-off payments, and pay-per-view
- Global payment processing
- 1-5 day payouts (same-day in the US)
The trade-off: 10% transaction fee on earnings
BTS's take: The Starter plan isn't a limited trial or a bait-and-switch. It's a legitimate way to launch and start earning. We take 10% because we're betting on your success—if you don't earn, we don't earn.
Pro Plan — $149/month
Who it's for: Creators who've validated their concept and are ready to scale. If you're earning consistently and want to maximise your margins, Pro is the move.
What's included:
- Everything in Starter
- 3.5% + $0.30 transaction fee (dramatically reduced from 10%)
- Custom domain support
- Advanced analytics and insights
- Priority creator success support
- White-label branding options
What we've learned: Most creators who upgrade to Pro have hit a consistent revenue threshold where the math clearly favours the lower transaction fee. We'll help you figure out when that crossover point makes sense for you.
Understanding Our Fees
Let's break down exactly what you're paying and why.
Transaction Fees Explained
Starter Plan: 10% of each transaction Pro Plan: 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction
These fees cover:
- Platform infrastructure and maintenance
- Payment processing coordination
- Global payout management
- Creator success support
- Continuous platform development
What you're NOT paying for:
- Hidden "marketplace" fees
- Separate community software subscriptions
- Video hosting charges
- Email delivery fees
From our experience: Creators often underestimate how much they're spending on fragmented tools. A typical stack of course platform + community software + email marketing + payment processing can easily run $200-400/month PLUS 5-15% in transaction fees. BTS consolidates all of this.
Payment Processing
Standard payment processor fees (Stripe/PayPal rates) apply in addition to our platform fees. This is industry-standard—every platform has these, even if they don't always make it clear.
No Hidden Fees Policy
We don't charge for:
- Member limits
- Storage or bandwidth
- Email sends
- Feature access based on revenue tiers
- "Premium support" upgrades
Our data shows: Creators who switch to BTS from fragmented tool stacks save an average of 15-25% in total platform costs, even accounting for our transaction fees.
BTS Pricing vs Competitors
Here's where it gets interesting. Let's look at how our pricing actually compares to the alternatives.
Pricing Comparison Table
| Platform | Base Cost | Transaction Fee | Best For | Our Take |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **BTS Starter** | $0/month | 10% | Getting started | Start earning immediately with no upfront risk |
| **BTS Pro** | $149/month | 3.5% + $0.30 | Scaling creators | Best value for creators earning $2,000+/month |
| **Skool Hobby** | $9/month | 10% | Community-focused | Similar fee structure, but classroom-style interface |
| **Skool Pro** | $99/month | 2.9% | Scaling communities | Competitive, but design feels dated |
| **Patreon** | $0/month | 10% | Content creators | Monetises content, but doesn't build a business |
| **Circle Professional** | $89/month | 2% | Community builders | Back-office feel, needs additional tools |
| **Circle Business** | $199/month | 1% | Scaling communities | Powerful but complex |
| **Podia Mover** | $39/month | 5% | Digital products | Clean and simple, limited community features |
| **Podia Shaker** | $89/month | 0% | Course creators | Good value, but less extensible |
| **Teachable Starter** | $39/month | 7.5% | Course sellers | High transaction fees eat into margins |
| **Teachable Builder** | $89/month | 0% | Growing courses | Enterprise software feel |
| **Kajabi Basic** | $179/month | 0% | All-in-one | Powerful but enterprise pricing |
| **Kajabi Growth** | $249/month | 0% | Scaling businesses | Premium features, premium price |
| **Whop** | $0/month | 3%* | Digital products | Marketplace-first approach |
| **Gumroad** | $0/month | 10% + $0.50 | Simple sales | High fees, limited features |
| **Mighty Networks** | $79/month | 3% | Community apps | Custom apps available, complex pricing |
| **Stan Store** | $29/month | 0% | Link-in-bio | Great for simple sales, not full businesses |
| **Thinkific Basic** | $49/month | 5%* | Course creators | Transaction fees vary by payment method |
*Additional marketplace or payment processing fees may apply
How We Stack Up
Against Skool: 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. Similar pricing structure, vastly different experience.
Against Patreon: Patreon monetises content, while BTS helps creators build a real business. If you want tips and subscriptions, Patreon works. If you want infrastructure for a creator business, that's us.
Against Circle: Circle feels like back-office software, where BTS feels like a modern, public-facing creator business. We focus on the front-end experience your members see, not just the admin dashboard.
Against Whop: Whop is powerful but complex; BTS is designed for creators who want simplicity and momentum. If you need every bell and whistle, Whop might work. If you want to launch fast and scale smart, we built BTS for you.
Against Kajabi: Kajabi is enterprise software for course creators; BTS is infrastructure for creator businesses. Their pricing reflects their enterprise positioning—starting at $179/month before you've made a dollar.
Calculating Your ROI
Let's get practical. When does BTS Pro make sense versus staying on Starter?
The Break-Even Analysis
The math is simple: At what monthly revenue does the $149 Pro subscription save you money compared to the 10% Starter fee?
Break-even point: ~$2,300/month in revenue
Here's the calculation:
- At $2,300/month revenue on Starter: $230 in fees (10%)
- At $2,300/month revenue on Pro: $149 subscription + ~$85 in fees (3.5% + $0.30) = ~$234 total
Above $2,300/month, Pro saves you money every month.
Real Examples from Creators
Creator A: Earns $1,500/month
- Starter cost: $150/month (10%)
- Pro cost: $149 + $53 = $202/month
- Verdict: Stay on Starter, save $52/month
Creator B: Earns $5,000/month
- Starter cost: $500/month (10%)
- Pro cost: $149 + $178 = $327/month
- Verdict: Upgrade to Pro, save $173/month
Creator C: Earns $15,000/month
- Starter cost: $1,500/month (10%)
- Pro cost: $149 + $533 = $682/month
- Verdict: Pro saves $818/month—nearly $10,000/year
Our recommendation: Don't upgrade to Pro until you're consistently earning above the break-even point. We'd rather you stay on Starter and succeed than pay for Pro before you're ready.
When to Upgrade
Here are the clear signals that it's time to move from Starter to Pro:
Signs You've Outgrown Starter
- You're consistently earning $2,500+/month — The fee savings alone justify the upgrade
- You want a custom domain — Brand presence matters for premium positioning
- You need advanced analytics — Data-driven decisions require better insights
- Support response time matters — Priority support can save hours of frustration
- White-label branding is important — Remove BTS branding for a fully custom experience
The ROI Threshold
Our data shows: Creators who upgrade at the right time (above break-even) see their effective platform cost drop from 10% to under 5% of revenue. For a creator earning $10,000/month, that's an extra $500+ back in your pocket.
Features That Justify the Upgrade
Beyond the fee savings, Pro unlocks:
- Custom domains — yourname.com instead of yourname.behindthescenes.com
- Advanced analytics — Understand what's working and what isn't
- Priority support — Real humans who understand your business
- White-label options — Your brand, your experience
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How much does BTS cost?
BTS offers a free Starter plan to get started—no credit card required, no time limit. Our Pro plan is $149/month with significantly reduced transaction fees (3.5% + $0.30 vs 10%). Check our pricing page for the latest details and to see which plan makes sense for your stage.
Q2: Is BTS free to use?
Yes! Our Starter plan is genuinely free—not a trial, not a limited demo. You can launch, earn, and grow on Starter for as long as you want. We take 10% of what you earn, which means we only make money when you do.
Q3: What makes BTS different from other creator platforms?
BTS is creator business infrastructure, not just a monetisation tool. Everything runs behind the scenes in one place—community, content, courses, payments, member management. Most platforms do one thing well and force you to bolt on other tools. We built BTS so you don't have to.
Q4: Can I migrate my existing members to BTS?
Absolutely. We help creators migrate from platforms like Patreon, Teachable, Circle, Skool, and others. Your members can transfer seamlessly, and our creator success team walks you through the entire process. We've helped 1,600+ creators make the switch.
Q5: 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. We focus on structure and momentum, not complicated configuration. If you can spend an afternoon on it, you can be live by dinner.
Q6: Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?
Yes—our fee structure is transparent. Starter takes 10% of each transaction. Pro takes 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction plus the $149/month subscription. Standard payment processor fees apply on top (this is industry-standard across all platforms). No hidden fees, no surprises.
Q7: What kind of support does BTS offer?
We provide hands-on creator success support. Real humans who understand your business, not just ticket systems and chatbots. Pro members get priority support with faster response times. We've paid out $1.4M+ to creators—we know what works.
Q8: Can I use my own domain with BTS?
Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains to create a fully branded experience. Your audience sees yourbrand.com, not a BTS URL. This is crucial for creators building premium brands and businesses they own.
Q9: Is there a free trial?
Better than a trial—we have a free Starter plan with no time limit. Use it as long as you want, earn real money, and upgrade to Pro when the math makes sense for your business. No credit card required to start.
Q10: Can I change plans later?
Yes, upgrade or downgrade anytime. We make it easy to scale with your business. Start on Starter, prove your concept, and move to Pro when you're ready. No lock-ins, no penalties for changing your mind.
Q11: What payment methods does BTS support?
We support all major credit cards, debit cards, and regional payment methods through our payment processing partners. Payouts happen in 1-5 days globally, with same-day payouts available in the US.
Q12: Does BTS work internationally?
Yes! We support creators and members globally, with coverage in most countries (excluding a few sanctioned regions). Our payment infrastructure handles currency conversion automatically so you can accept payments from anywhere.
Q13: What can I sell on BTS?
Subscriptions (monthly/annual), one-off digital products, pay-per-view content, courses, community access, and more. We support tips and custom requests through apps too. BTS is flexible enough to match your business model.
Q14: How does BTS compare to Patreon for pricing?
Patreon charges a flat 10% plus payment processing fees. BTS Starter is comparable at 10%, but Pro drops to 3.5% + $0.30. More importantly, BTS provides full business infrastructure—community, courses, content—while Patreon focuses primarily on subscriptions.
Q15: Is BTS worth it for new creators?
If you have an existing audience and a digital product to offer, absolutely. Our Starter plan lets you launch with zero upfront cost. If you're still building an audience from scratch, focus on that first—BTS is infrastructure for creators ready to build something real.
Key Takeaways
- BTS Starter is free with a 10% transaction fee—perfect for validating your concept
- BTS Pro at $149/month drops fees to 3.5% + $0.30—ideal for creators earning $2,300+/month
- Break-even point is ~$2,300/month—above this, Pro saves you money
- No hidden fees—what you see is what you pay
- Everything in one place—community, content, payments, member management
- Transparent competitor comparison—we showed you the real numbers
Making Your Decision
BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. We built it because we believe creators deserve one place to build something they own—not a patchwork of tools that never quite fit together.
If you have an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer. Start free on Starter, prove your concept, and upgrade to Pro when the math makes sense.
Ready to see what BTS can do for your creator business? Start free today and launch your first product this week.
About the Author
The BTS Team is the Product Team at BTS. We spend our days building the infrastructure that helps creators turn content and community into real businesses. With $1.4M+ paid out to over 1,600 creators, we've learned what pricing transparency means in practice—and we're committed to keeping it simple.
Sources
- Platform pricing pages accessed January 2026
- BTS internal data and creator feedback
- Industry pricing research and analysis
This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026. Platform pricing changes frequently—always verify current rates on official pricing pages.