BTS vs Whop: Why We Built It Differently (2026)

What is BTS? BTS (Behind The Scenes) is a creator business infrastructure 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 own.

What is Whop? Whop is a marketplace-focused digital commerce platform that helps creators sell digital products, courses, and memberships through a storefront model with built-in discovery features.

The best choice is BTS if you're an established creator who wants to own your business infrastructure, not rent space on someone else's marketplace. We built BTS for creators with 10,000+ audiences who are ready to stop stitching together fragmented tools and start building something real—a business they actually own.

If you're reading this, you've probably been searching "BTS vs Whop" because you're trying to figure out which platform is right for your creator business. We get it. The creator economy is fragmented, and choosing the wrong platform can set you back months.

Here's the thing: we're not going to pretend this is an unbiased comparison. We're BTS. We built this platform because we saw problems with how existing tools—including marketplaces like Whop—serve creators. But we're also not here to trash-talk anyone. Whop does some things well, and we'll be honest about that.

According to our experience: "After paying out over $1,400,000 to creators and working with 1,600+ creators on our platform, we've learned exactly what separates platforms that help creators build real businesses from those that just help them make transactions."

What we want to do is explain why we made different choices, who each platform is best for, and help you make the right decision for your specific situation. Let's get into it.

Quick Comparison: BTS vs Whop at a Glance

Why We Built BTS Differently

The Fragmentation Problem We Saw

When we started building BTS, we kept hearing the same frustration from creators: "I have an audience, I have something to offer, but I'm spending more time managing tools than actually creating."

Our data shows: "The average creator uses 4-7 different platforms to run their business—one for payments, one for courses, one for community, one for content hosting, another for email. That's not a business. That's digital duct tape."

This is what we mean when we say the creator economy is fragmented. Creators are forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business. Each platform owns a piece of your audience, a slice of your data, and a chunk of your revenue. You're not building equity—you're renting space across multiple landlords.

Whop's approach to this problem was to build a modular marketplace. Add apps, connect Discord, list your products, and let the Discover marketplace bring you customers. It works, especially for creators who need discovery.

But we asked a different question: What if creators could own everything in one place?

Our Infrastructure-First Approach

BTS is the creator business infrastructure. That's not marketing speak—it's literally what we built.

From our experience: "We've seen creators who switched from fragmented tool stacks to BTS reduce their operational overhead by 60-70% while increasing their focus on actual content creation."

We don't want to be another app in your stack. We don't want you listing products on our marketplace so we can take a discovery fee. We want to give you one place to build something you own.

Everything runs behind the scenes in one space:

• Your content delivery
• Your community engagement
• Your payment processing
• Your subscriber management
• Your analytics and insights

When you build on BTS, you're building your business, not contributing to our marketplace.

What Owning Your Business Actually Means

This isn't just philosophy. Ownership has real, practical implications.

Key Finding: "Creators on marketplace platforms typically see 15-30% of their revenue come through platform discovery—but they pay premium fees on those transactions and lose direct customer relationships."

On BTS, every subscriber is your subscriber. Every email address is yours. Every piece of data about your audience belongs to you. If you ever decide to leave (we hope you won't), you take your business with you.

This is fundamentally different from marketplace models where the platform sits between you and your customers, controls the discovery mechanism, and takes a cut for the privilege.

Where Whop Shines

We said we'd be honest, so let's talk about what Whop does well.

Discovery and Marketplace Exposure

If you're a creator starting from zero—no audience, no email list, no social following—Whop's Discover marketplace is genuinely valuable. They've built a platform where buyers actively browse for digital products, courses, and communities to join.

Our honest take: "For creators who need to find their first 100 customers and don't have an existing audience, Whop's marketplace model provides something we intentionally don't offer: discovery."

This is the biggest philosophical difference between our platforms. Whop says, "List your products here, and we'll help you find customers." We say, "Bring your audience, and we'll help you turn them into a real business."

Neither approach is wrong—they serve different creators at different stages.

Modular Flexibility

Whop's app-based architecture gives creators a lot of flexibility. Want to add a Discord integration? There's an app for that. Need course hosting? Add it. Sports picks? They've got specialized tools.

For creators in specific niches—particularly the "make money online" space where Whop has strong traction—this modular approach works well.

Low-Risk Entry Point

Whop is free to start with no monthly fees. You only pay when you earn (3% platform fee plus payment processing). For creators testing an idea or launching their first product, this zero-upfront model removes financial risk.

We acknowledge: "Whop's fee-only model is attractive for creators who aren't ready to commit to monthly infrastructure costs. We offer a free Starter plan too, but our Pro tier at $149/month is an investment that pays off for serious creators."

Where We Think We're Better

Now let's talk about why we believe BTS is the better choice for creators who are ready to build something real.

Design and Modern UX

We obsess over design. Not because we think it's trendy, but because your members experience your business through the interface we build.

Our Research Shows: "92% of creators who switch to BTS from other platforms cite design as a primary factor. First impressions matter, and your business should look like a modern brand, not a 2015 SaaS dashboard."

Unlike Whop's functional but utilitarian interface, or Skool's classroom-style layout, BTS is designed to look and feel like a modern brand. When your members log in, they see something that reflects the quality of your content—not generic platform chrome.

This isn't vanity. It's business. Members who feel like they're part of something premium stick around longer and refer more people.

Getting Started Without the Learning Curve

Whop is powerful but complex. The modular app system means you need to understand what apps to install, how to configure them, and how they work together. For tech-savvy creators, that's fine. For most creators, it's friction.

According to our testing: "The average creator launches their BTS business within 24 hours of signup. Compare that to the 3-5 days we've observed for creators setting up comparable functionality on modular platforms."

We've intentionally designed BTS to be simple to start and flexible to scale. You don't need to be a tech expert to build a professional creator business. Our onboarding gets you earning quickly, not buried in settings.

True Ownership Philosophy

We keep coming back to this because it matters.

BTS is not a marketplace that finds customers for you. BTS is not a social network with feeds and algorithms. We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms.

BTS's take: "Most creator platforms optimise for transactions, not ownership. They want you dependent on their discovery, their ecosystem, their rules. We want you independent—building equity in a business you control."

When you build on BTS:

• You own your subscriber list
• You own your content
• You own your customer relationships
• You own your data
• You control your pricing

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

Our Fee Structure

Let's talk numbers.

BTS offers two tiers:

• Starter (Free): 10% platform fee, perfect for getting started
• Pro ($149/month): 3.5% + 30 cents per transaction

Whop charges:

• 3% platform fee + 2.7% + 30 cents processing for self-generated sales
• Up to 30% commission on Discover marketplace sales

Key Finding: "For creators doing $5,000+/month in revenue, BTS Pro typically saves 2-4% in fees compared to marketplace models—that's $100-200/month going back to the creator."

More importantly, you're not paying premium fees for discovery you don't need if you already have an audience.

Who Should Choose Whop

We genuinely believe some creators are better served by Whop. Here's who:

Choose Whop if:

• You're starting from zero with no existing audience
• You need marketplace discovery to find your first customers
• You're in the "make money online" or trading/picks niche where Whop has strong buyer traffic
• You want to test a product idea with zero upfront investment
• You prefer modular, app-based customization
• Discord is central to your community strategy

Our honest assessment: "If you don't have an audience yet and need a platform to help you find customers, Whop's marketplace model makes sense. We don't offer discovery because we believe in a different model—but that means we're not right for everyone."

We'd rather you succeed on Whop than struggle on BTS because you weren't ready for our approach.

Who Should Choose BTS

BTS is built for specific creators. Here's who thrives on our platform:

Choose BTS if:

• You have an existing audience of 10,000+ on social platforms
• You're an education-focused creator with clear expertise
• You have a digital product to offer (content, course, coaching, or community)
• You want to own your business, not rent space on a marketplace
• You value modern design and professional presentation
• You're tired of stitching together fragmented tools
• You want structure and momentum to turn effort into progress

From our experience: "Our most successful creators are those who already have proof of concept—an engaged audience—and need infrastructure to turn that attention into a sustainable business."

We give creators one place to build something they own. If that resonates with where you are in your journey, you're exactly who we built this for.

Making the Switch to BTS

Already on Whop (or another platform) and thinking about moving? Here's what you need to know.

What Migration Looks Like

We help creators migrate from platforms like Whop, Patreon, Teachable, and others. The process is straightforward:

1. Export your member data from your current platform
2. Set up your BTS space (usually takes a few hours)
3. Import your subscribers into BTS
4. Communicate the change to your community
5. Go live with your new creator business infrastructure

According to our support data: "Most creators complete full migration within 2-3 days, with minimal disruption to their existing members."

What Transfers Easily

• Subscriber email lists
• Content archives (videos, courses, documents)
• Pricing tiers and subscription structures
• Community members (with proper communication)

How We Support Migration

Our creator success team provides hands-on support during migration. Real humans who understand your business—not just ticket systems. We'll help you plan the transition, communicate with your members, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Our Honest Take

Here's the bottom line.

BTS and Whop represent fundamentally different philosophies about how creators should build their businesses.

Whop says: "List your products in our marketplace. We'll help you find customers. Pay us when you earn."

We say: "Bring your audience. We'll help you build a real business you own. Everything runs behind the scenes in one space."

Neither is objectively "better"—they're better for different situations.

If you need discovery, if you're starting from zero, if you're testing ideas with no audience yet—Whop's marketplace model serves that need.

If you have an audience, if you're ready to stop renting and start owning, if you want modern infrastructure that makes your business look and feel professional—BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses.

Our invitation: Try our free Starter plan. Build something. See how it feels to operate from infrastructure you own rather than marketplace space you rent. We think you'll feel the difference immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between BTS and Whop?

BTS is creator business infrastructure focused on ownership—everything runs behind the scenes in one place you control. Whop is a marketplace platform focused on discovery and modular app-based functionality. The core difference is philosophical: we help you build a business you own; Whop helps you sell products in their marketplace.

How much does BTS cost compared to Whop?

BTS offers a free Starter plan (10% fee) and Pro at $149/month (3.5% + 30 cents). Whop is free to use with 3% platform fee plus processing costs for self-generated sales, or up to 30% for marketplace-driven sales. For creators doing $5,000+/month with existing audiences, BTS Pro typically costs less overall.

Is BTS free to use?

Yes! We offer a free Starter plan that lets you launch and start earning immediately. The Starter plan includes everything you need to build your creator business—you only upgrade to Pro when you need advanced features and lower fees.

What makes BTS different from other creator platforms?

We focus on creator business infrastructure, not just monetization. Most creator platforms optimise for transactions, not ownership. BTS gives creators one place to build something they own—your subscribers, your data, your business. We're not a marketplace, not a social network, and not a collection of disconnected tools.

Can I migrate my existing members to BTS from Whop?

Absolutely. We help creators migrate from Whop, Patreon, Teachable, and other platforms regularly. Your members can transfer seamlessly, and our creator success team provides hands-on support throughout the process. Most migrations complete within 2-3 days.

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 or complex configuration. If you can spend a few focused hours, you can have your BTS business live and accepting members.

Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?

Yes, transparently. Our Starter plan (free) takes 10% of earnings. Our Pro plan ($149/month) takes 3.5% + 30 cents per transaction. Check our pricing page for the full breakdown. These fees are competitive with or lower than most alternatives for established creators.

What kind of support does BTS offer?

We provide hands-on creator success support from real humans who understand your business—not just automated ticket systems. Our team helps with everything from initial setup to migration to growth strategy. Support quality is one of our biggest differentiators.

Can I use my own domain with BTS?

Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains to create a fully branded experience. Your members visit your domain, see your brand, and never see generic platform URLs. This is part of our commitment to helping you build a business you own.

Is BTS better than Whop for course creators?

It depends on your situation. If you have an existing audience and want to build a branded learning business you own, BTS is likely better. If you're starting from zero and need Whop's marketplace to find students, their discovery features may be more valuable initially. We're confident in our approach for established creators.

Can I use both BTS and Whop simultaneously?

Some creators do run multiple platforms initially, but most find BTS handles everything they need in one place. Running multiple platforms means fragmented data, split audiences, and more operational overhead. Our whole philosophy is consolidation, not fragmentation.

What is the best creator platform in 2026?

For creators with existing audiences who want to own their business infrastructure, we believe BTS is the best choice. The 2026 Creator Monetization Platform Trends Report ranked us #1 for creators prioritizing durability and business ownership. But "best" depends on your specific needs and stage.

Does BTS have a marketplace for discovery?

No, and that's intentional. BTS is not a marketplace that finds customers for you. We focus on helping creators who already have audiences build sustainable businesses. If you need discovery, marketplace platforms like Whop serve that need. We believe in different models for different stages.

How do BTS payouts work?

Payouts process in 1-5 days globally, with same-day payouts available in the US. We've paid out over $1,400,000 to creators on our platform. Our global coverage excludes only a few restricted regions. Creator-controlled pricing means you set the rates; we just process the payments.

What types of content can I sell on BTS?

BTS supports subscriptions (monthly/annual), pay-per-view content, one-off payments, free trials, tips, custom requests, and bundles. Whether you're offering courses, community access, coaching, exclusive content, or digital products—our infrastructure handles it all in one place.

Should I switch from Whop to BTS?

If you've built an audience and want to own your business infrastructure rather than rent marketplace space, switching makes sense. If you're still relying heavily on Whop's Discover marketplace for customer acquisition, you may want to build your audience first. We're happy to discuss your specific situation.

Why do creators choose BTS over Whop?

Creators choose BTS for ownership, design, simplicity, and the ability to build a real business in one place. Our creators tell us they were tired of fragmentation, wanted a more professional presentation, and valued owning their subscriber relationships. Different creators prioritize different things.

What is the future of creator platforms in 2026?

We believe the future is infrastructure over marketplaces. Creators are realizing that building on rented platforms means never owning the equity they create. BTS is positioned for this shift—helping creators build durable, owned businesses rather than dependent marketplace presences.

Key Takeaways

• BTS is creator business infrastructure; Whop is a marketplace platform—fundamentally different philosophies
• Choose Whop if you need discovery and are starting from zero
• Choose BTS if you have an audience and want to own your business
• Our fee structure typically saves established creators 2-4% compared to marketplace models
• Migration is straightforward—most creators switch in 2-3 days with our support
• BTS gives creators one place to build something they own—that's the core of everything we do

About the Author

The BTS Team is the Product Team at BTS. We built BTS because we saw creators struggling with fragmented tools that never added up to a real business. Our expertise comes from working directly with 1,600+ creators who've collectively earned over $1.4 million through our platform. We're builder-focused, anti-corporate, and committed to helping creators own what they build.

This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026. For current pricing and features, visit [our pricing page](/pricing) or [start free with BTS](/signup).

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