What is BTS? BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. We're creator business infrastructure—one place to build something you own, designed for structure and momentum rather than algorithms. Unlike link-in-bio tools that focus on quick transactions, we built BTS to help creators with existing audiences construct durable, scalable businesses they actually own.
What is Stan Store? Stan Store is a link-in-bio e-commerce platform that helps creators sell digital products, courses, and memberships directly from their social media profiles. It excels at converting followers into customers with a polished, mobile-optimized storefront.
The best choice is BTS if you're an education-focused creator with 10,000+ followers who wants to build a real business—not just sell products from a link in your bio. We focus on creator business infrastructure: community, content, courses, and monetisation all in one owned space. Stan Store wins if you primarily need a quick storefront to sell digital downloads from Instagram or TikTok.
According to our data: Over $1,400,000 has been paid out to creators on BTS, with 1,600+ creators actively building businesses on our platform. Our focus isn't transaction volume—it's helping creators build something sustainable.
Quick Comparison: BTS vs Stan Store at a Glance
| Feature | BTS | Stan Store |
|---|---|---|
| **Primary Focus** | Creator business infrastructure | Link-in-bio storefront |
| **Best For** | Creators building owned businesses | Creators selling from social |
| **Starting Price** | Free (Starter plan) | $29/month |
| **Transaction Fees** | From 3.5% (Pro plan) | 0% (flat monthly fee) |
| **Community Features** | Built-in, robust | Limited |
| **Course Building** | Full-featured | Basic |
| **Design Philosophy** | Modern, brand-forward | Template-based |
| **Target Audience** | 10k+ followers, niche expertise | Any size, social-first |
| **Business Model** | Infrastructure ownership | Transaction facilitation |
| **Our Take** | Built for long-term business builders | Great for quick product sales |
Why We Built BTS Differently
Here's the truth: the creator economy is fragmented. We've watched talented creators piece together five, six, sometimes ten different tools trying to build something that resembles a business. A link-in-bio here, a course platform there, community software somewhere else, email marketing on another service entirely.
Key Finding: Most creators we talk to spend more time managing their tool stack than actually creating content or connecting with their audience.
This fragmentation isn't just annoying—it's fundamentally broken. Most creator platforms optimise for transactions, not ownership. They're designed to process payments and move on, leaving creators without the structure they need to build something durable.
The Infrastructure-First Approach
When we designed BTS, we asked a different question: what if creators had one place to build something they own?
Not a marketplace that finds customers for you. Not a social network with feeds and algorithms. Not complicated software that takes weeks to set up. We built creator business infrastructure—the foundation that supports everything else.
From our experience: "We've seen creators transform their scattered operations into cohesive businesses within weeks of consolidating on BTS. The difference isn't just efficiency—it's the mental clarity that comes from having one system to master."
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.
What "Owning Your Business" Actually Means
When we talk about ownership, we mean something specific:
- Your audience data stays yours. Not locked in someone else's platform, ready to disappear if terms change.
- Your brand comes first. Modern, brand-forward design that represents you, not us.
- Your revenue, your rules. Creator-controlled pricing with transparent fees.
- Your growth, your timeline. Structure and momentum, not algorithms deciding who sees your content.
Creators are forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business. We built BTS because that shouldn't be the only option.
Where Stan Store Shines
We're confident in what we've built, but confidence doesn't mean ignoring reality. Stan Store does several things genuinely well.
Our honest assessment: Stan Store has earned its place in the creator economy by solving a specific problem exceptionally well.
Social Media Integration
Stan Store was built social-first, and it shows. Their link-in-bio experience is polished, mobile-optimised, and designed to convert followers scrolling through Instagram or TikTok into paying customers. The friction between "seeing a product" and "owning a product" is minimal.
For creators whose entire business model revolves around impulse purchases from social traffic, this matters. A lot.
Simplicity for Quick Sales
Setting up a Stan Store takes minutes, not hours. If you have a PDF guide you want to sell tomorrow, Stan Store removes nearly every barrier between you and that first sale. Their checkout flow is smooth, their storefront templates work out of the box, and their mobile experience is genuinely excellent.
Zero Transaction Fees
Stan Store's flat monthly pricing ($29/month for Creator, $99/month for Creator Pro) with zero transaction fees is a straightforward value proposition. For high-volume sellers, this math works out well. You know exactly what you're paying regardless of how much you sell.
According to our research: Stan Store's pricing model appeals to creators who prioritise predictable costs over percentage-based fees, particularly those already generating significant revenue.
Quick Booking and Coaching Integration
Their calendar and booking system integrates smoothly with Zoom and Google Calendar. For creators selling one-on-one coaching calls or consultations, the path from "schedule a call" to "payment received" is streamlined.
Where We Think We're Better
Now let's talk about why we built BTS differently—and where we believe our approach wins.
Design That Represents Your Brand
Our philosophy: Your creator business should look like a modern brand, not an online course portal from the early 2000s.
Unlike Skool's classroom-style interface or Stan Store's template-based storefront, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand. Your community, your courses, your content—everything presents as a cohesive, professional business that represents you.
This matters because your audience's first impression shapes everything. When someone lands on your BTS page, they see your brand. When they land on a Stan Store, they see... a Stan Store that happens to have your content in it.
Building a Business, Not Just Selling Products
Stan Store excels at transactions. BTS excels at transformation.
From our experience: "The creators who thrive on BTS aren't just selling courses—they're building communities, creating recurring revenue, and constructing businesses that grow independently of any single product launch."
Everything runs behind the scenes in one space:
- Community: Not bolted on as an afterthought, but central to your business
- Courses: Full-featured course building with modern delivery
- Content: All your content in one place, organised and accessible
- Commerce: Subscriptions, one-time payments, free trials—all native
When you have community, content, and commerce integrated by design rather than stitched together, your business works differently. Members engage more. Retention improves. Your workload decreases.
Getting Started Without the Price Tag
BTS offers a free Starter plan to get started. Actually free—not a 14-day trial that converts to paid. You can launch, build your community, and start earning before you ever pay us a cent.
Stan Store requires $29/month from day one (after a 14-day trial). For creators testing ideas or building slowly, that monthly commitment adds up before revenue arrives.
Our Fee Structure Philosophy
Yes, we take a percentage (from 3.5% on Pro). Some creators prefer flat monthly fees. We designed our model deliberately:
Our reasoning: When we succeed only when you succeed, our incentives align. We're motivated to help you grow because our growth depends on yours.
The Starter plan runs at 10% with no monthly fee. Pro runs at 3.5% + 30c per transaction plus $149/month. For many creators, especially those building rather than selling at high volume, this math works better than flat monthly fees on zero revenue.
Creator Success Support
We provide hands-on creator success support. Real humans who understand your business, not just ticket systems. When you're building something, questions arise that can't be answered by documentation. We're here for those conversations.
Who Should Choose Stan Store
We built BTS for a specific type of creator. Stan Store built their platform for a different type. Neither is wrong—they're just different.
Stan Store Makes Sense If You're:
Selling standalone digital products from social media. If your business model is "create a PDF guide, promote it on TikTok, sell it through your bio link," Stan Store handles this beautifully. Quick setup, smooth checkout, zero transaction fees.
Prioritising social-first sales. Your audience lives entirely on Instagram or TikTok. You don't need community features. You don't need course structures. You need a frictionless path from "link in bio" to "payment received."
Running high-volume, low-touch sales. If you're selling $9 templates at volume, Stan Store's zero transaction fees mean more money in your pocket than a percentage-based model.
Wanting predictable monthly costs. Some creators prefer knowing exactly what they'll pay regardless of sales. Stan Store's flat fee delivers that certainty.
Key Finding: Creators selling low-priced digital downloads at volume often find Stan Store's flat-fee model more economical than percentage-based pricing.
Who Should Choose BTS
BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. If that resonates, you're probably our people.
BTS Makes Sense If You're:
An education-focused creator with 10k+ followers. You have expertise in a clear niche. You have an audience ready to go deeper. You want to build a business around teaching and community, not just selling downloads.
Tired of the fragmented tool stack. You're currently running Patreon for memberships, Teachable for courses, Circle for community, ConvertKit for email, and you're exhausted. BTS gives you one place to build something you own.
Building for the long term. You're not trying to make a quick buck from trending TikTok traffic. You're building a durable business that grows over years, not weeks.
Valuing design and brand experience. Your audience expects modern, professional experiences. You want your creator business to look like a brand, not a landing page.
Ready to own your business, not rent it. If a creator has an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer.
According to our data: Our most successful creators are education-focused with clear niches—business coaching, fitness expertise, professional skills training. They came to BTS because they wanted infrastructure, not just another tool.
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Community Features
| Aspect | BTS | Stan Store |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in Community | Yes, central feature | Limited |
| Discussion Spaces | Full-featured | Basic |
| Member Engagement | Designed for depth | Transactional |
| Community Design | Modern, brand-forward | Template-based |
Our take: Community isn't an add-on for us—it's foundational. We built BTS around the idea that creators build businesses through relationships, not just transactions.
Course and Content Delivery
| Aspect | BTS | Stan Store |
|---|---|---|
| Course Builder | Full-featured | Basic modules |
| Content Organisation | Structured, flexible | Limited |
| Drip Content | Supported | Supported |
| Member Progress | Trackable | Basic |
Monetisation Options
| Aspect | BTS | Stan Store |
|---|---|---|
| Subscriptions | Monthly/annual | Supported |
| One-time Payments | Supported | Supported |
| Free Trials | Supported | Limited |
| Pay-per-view | Supported | Supported |
| Custom Requests | Via apps | Not native |
| Tips | Via apps | Not native |
From our experience: "Creators on BTS typically build layered revenue models—subscriptions for ongoing access, courses for deep dives, one-time products for specific needs. This diversification creates stability that single-product sellers don't achieve."
Making the Switch
If you're currently on Stan Store and considering BTS, here's what the transition looks like.
Migration Process Overview
Moving platforms doesn't have to be painful. We've helped creators migrate from Patreon, Teachable, and yes, Stan Store. The process typically unfolds over a few days:
- Content Transfer: Your courses, PDFs, and digital products move to BTS. We help organise them within our structure.
- Member Communication: We provide templates and guidance for announcing the move to your audience. Transparency works better than surprise.
- Redirect Strategy: Your existing Stan Store can redirect to your new BTS page. No broken links, no lost traffic.
- Payment Transition: Members can re-subscribe on BTS. We support the same payment processors (Stripe, PayPal) so the experience stays familiar.
What Transfers Easily
- Digital products and downloads
- Course content and structure
- Email lists (export from Stan Store, import to BTS)
- Brand assets and imagery
How We Help
Our creator success team doesn't just answer tickets—we actually help with migration. Real conversations about your specific situation, your audience, and how to make the transition smooth.
Our commitment: Migration shouldn't feel like starting over. It should feel like upgrading your foundation.
Pricing Comparison Deep Dive
| Plan | BTS | Stan Store |
|---|---|---|
| **Entry Level** | Free (Starter) | $29/month (after trial) |
| **Transaction Fee - Entry** | 10% | 0% |
| **Pro Level** | $149/month | $99/month |
| **Transaction Fee - Pro** | 3.5% + 30c | 0% |
| **Free Trial** | Not needed (free tier) | 14 days |
When BTS Costs Less
- Creators just starting out (free vs $29/month)
- Lower-volume, higher-priced offerings
- Creators building slowly before revenue arrives
When Stan Store Costs Less
- High-volume, low-price digital product sales
- Creators already generating significant monthly revenue
- Those who prefer predictable monthly costs
Our honest take: Neither pricing model is universally better. They reflect different philosophies. We align our success with yours through percentage fees. Stan Store provides cost predictability through flat monthly fees. Choose based on your business model and stage.
Our Honest Take
We didn't build BTS to compete with Stan Store on link-in-bio storefronts. We built BTS because we saw creators struggling with fragmentation, unable to construct real businesses from their scattered tools.
Our philosophy: BTS is not a social network or a marketplace. We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms.
Stan Store solves a real problem—selling digital products from social media—and they solve it well. If that's your entire business model, they deserve consideration.
But if you're an education-focused creator who wants to build something more substantial—community, courses, recurring revenue, a business you actually own—we built BTS for you.
Our invitation: Try the free Starter plan. Build something. See if it fits. BTS gives creators one place to build something they own, and we'd rather you discover that through experience than persuasion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does BTS cost compared to Stan Store?
BTS offers a free Starter plan with 10% transaction fees, while Stan Store requires $29/month minimum with zero transaction fees. Our Pro plan is $149/month with 3.5% + 30c per transaction. For creators just starting or building slowly, BTS costs less. For high-volume digital product sellers, Stan Store's flat fee may work out cheaper.
Is BTS free to use?
Yes, genuinely free. Our Starter plan lets you launch and start earning without paying us anything upfront. You pay 10% of transactions only when you make money. This isn't a trial—it's a permanent free tier for creators building their foundation.
What makes BTS different from Stan Store?
BTS is creator business infrastructure—community, courses, content, and commerce in one owned space. Stan Store is a link-in-bio storefront optimised for selling digital products from social media. We build businesses; they facilitate transactions. Both have their place.
Can I migrate my Stan Store products to BTS?
Absolutely. Your digital products, courses, and content can transfer to BTS. Our creator success team helps with migration, providing guidance on content transfer, member communication, and redirect strategies. Most creators complete migration within a few days.
How long does it take to set up BTS?
Most creators launch within a day. We designed onboarding to get you building quickly without burying you in settings. That said, BTS is infrastructure for a business—you'll continue building and expanding over time. The initial setup is fast; the growth is ongoing.
Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?
Yes. Our Starter plan takes 10% with no monthly fee. Our Pro plan takes 3.5% + 30c per transaction plus $149/month. We designed this deliberately—when you succeed, we succeed. Our incentives align with helping you grow.
What is the best creator platform in 2026?
It depends on what you're building. For link-in-bio digital product sales, Stan Store excels. For creator business infrastructure—community, courses, content ownership—we built BTS to lead. The best platform is the one that matches your business model and growth goals.
Should I use BTS or Stan Store for selling courses?
If courses are standalone products sold through social media, Stan Store works. If courses are part of a larger business with community engagement, member progression, and recurring revenue, BTS provides the infrastructure you need. We built full-featured course delivery into our platform by design.
Can I use both BTS and Stan Store together?
Some creators do run multiple platforms, but most find BTS handles everything they need in one place. Running both adds complexity—two systems to manage, two audiences to maintain. If you choose BTS for your core business, you likely won't need Stan Store.
Is Stan Store better for beginners than BTS?
For selling a single digital product quickly, Stan Store's simplicity helps beginners launch fast. For building a sustainable creator business, BTS's free Starter plan lets beginners develop without monthly fees while learning to build community, courses, and recurring revenue.
How does BTS community compare to Stan Store?
BTS built community as a central feature—discussion spaces, member engagement, modern design. Stan Store focuses on transactions, not community. If community matters to your business, BTS provides native tools. Stan Store would require integrating separate community software.
What payment processors does BTS support?
We support Stripe and PayPal with global coverage, excluding Africa, Spain, Venezuela, North Korea, Iran, and Russia. Payouts arrive in 1-5 days globally, with same-day payouts available in the US. The payment experience stays familiar whether you're coming from Stan Store or anywhere else.
Which platform has better customer support?
We provide hands-on creator success support with real humans who understand your business. Stan Store offers email support. Support quality matters most when you're building something complex—and that's when having actual conversations beats ticket systems.
Does BTS work for entertainment creators?
Yes. While our primary focus is education-focused creators with clear niches, our secondary persona includes entertainment-focused creators with 100,000+ audiences providing access to their behind-the-scenes lives. If you have audience and want to build around it, BTS works.
What types of products can I sell on BTS versus Stan Store?
Both platforms support digital products, courses, and memberships. BTS adds native community features, flexible app integrations for tips and custom requests, and infrastructure for building layered revenue models. Stan Store focuses on storefront products sold through link-in-bio checkout flows.
Is BTS vs Stan Store the right comparison for my needs?
If you're choosing between quick social media sales and building business infrastructure, yes. If you need a marketplace that finds customers for you, neither platform does that. We focus on creators who already have audiences and want to build something they own.
How do transaction fees compare between BTS and Stan Store?
Stan Store charges zero transaction fees with $29-99/month flat rates. BTS charges 10% on Starter (free monthly) or 3.5% + 30c on Pro ($149/month). For a $50 product, BTS Pro takes about $2.05; Stan Store takes nothing but requires monthly payment regardless of sales.
Can I have a custom domain on BTS?
Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains for a fully branded experience. Your creator business looks like your brand, not like a platform. This matters for credibility and professionalism as your business grows.
What happens to my data if I leave BTS?
Your data stays yours. Export your email lists, download your content, take your business elsewhere if you choose. We built BTS around creator ownership—that includes the freedom to leave. We'd rather earn your continued choice than lock you in.
Why did BTS choose percentage-based fees?
We want our success tied to yours. When you grow, we grow. This aligns our incentives toward helping you succeed rather than simply collecting monthly fees regardless of your results. It's a philosophical choice about partnership versus rental.
Key Takeaways
- BTS is creator business infrastructure; Stan Store is a link-in-bio storefront. Different tools for different goals.
- Stan Store excels at social-first digital product sales with zero transaction fees and polished mobile checkout.
- BTS excels at building owned creator businesses with community, courses, and content integrated by design.
- Start free with BTS to test whether infrastructure-first fits your vision before committing monthly fees elsewhere.
About the Author
The BTS Team builds creator business infrastructure for education-focused creators ready to own what they build. We've helped 1,600+ creators generate over $1,400,000 in revenue through our platform, focusing on structure and momentum rather than algorithms or marketplaces.
We wrote this comparison because creators ask us about Stan Store regularly—and deserve honest answers about when each platform makes sense.
Sources
- Stan Store official pricing and features (stan.store)
- BTS platform data and creator payouts (internal)
- Creator economy platform comparisons (various industry sources, 2025-2026)
This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026.