Looking for a Whop alternative? You're not alone. Every week, we hear from creators who feel like they're running their business on someone else's terms. They signed up for Whop hoping for an all-in-one solution, but somewhere along the way, they realized they wanted something different—something they could truly own.
At BTS, we've spent the past two years building what we believe is the answer. Not just another platform, but genuine creator business infrastructure. BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses. We didn't set out to compete with every feature Whop offers. We set out to solve a fundamentally different problem: giving creators a single place to build something they own, without the fragmentation that plagues most creator businesses.
Before we dive in, let's be clear: we're not pretending to write an unbiased comparison. We are the alternative we're going to recommend. But we'll be honest about where we shine, where others might actually be better for your situation, and help you figure out what's right for your specific creator business.
So far, we've paid out over $1.4 million to creators, support 1,600+ active creators on the platform, and recently hit a $15 million valuation. Not because we're trying to be everything to everyone—but because we've focused relentlessly on helping creators build real businesses.
Why Creators Leave Whop
Whop built something impressive. There's no denying that. Their marketplace approach has helped thousands of creators sell digital products, and their free-to-start model removes the barrier to entry. But as we talk to creators making the switch to BTS, patterns emerge.
The Ownership Question
The biggest issue we hear? Ownership. Whop operates as a marketplace—and marketplaces, by design, prioritize the platform over the individual creator. When your storefront lives within Whop's ecosystem, your customers become Whop customers first, your customers second. The platform owns the relationship.
This isn't inherently bad. For creators just starting out, marketplace exposure can be valuable. But for serious creators building long-term businesses, this dynamic creates friction. You're building on rented land.
The Complexity Creep
Whop's modular app system is powerful, but power comes with complexity. Creators tell us they spend more time configuring apps than creating content. Discord integration, Telegram bots, licensing management—these are technical challenges that pull creators away from what they do best.
From our experience: We've seen creators spend weeks setting up their Whop ecosystem, only to realize they've built a Frankenstein's monster of tools that still doesn't feel like a cohesive business.
The Fragmentation Problem
Here's the uncomfortable truth about the creator economy: most creator platforms optimize for transactions, not ownership. Whop is excellent at processing payments. But a payment processor isn't a business infrastructure.
Creators who've been in the game for a while know this frustration intimately. You end up with:
- Whop for sales
- Discord for community
- ConvertKit for email
- Notion for content organization
- Calendly for booking
- And on and on...
Creators are forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business. Each tool serves a purpose, but together, they create a messy, disconnected experience for both you and your members. The administrative overhead compounds. The customer experience fragments. And you never quite feel like you're building something durable.
The Design Reality
We'll say what others won't: Whop's interface prioritizes function over form. That's a valid choice. But for creators whose brand is their business, a platform that looks and feels generic undermines the premium experience they're trying to create.
What We Built Instead
When we started BTS, we asked a different question: What would creator business infrastructure actually look like if we designed it from scratch?
Our Philosophy: One Place to Build Something You Own
BTS gives creators one place to build something they own. Not a marketplace. Not a tip jar. Not a course platform or a community platform or a subscription platform. Infrastructure. The pipes and foundation that let you build whatever your business needs to be.
We call ourselves creator business infrastructure because that's genuinely what we are. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so creators can focus on creating, connecting, and growing something they own.
The Tradeoffs We Made
Every product decision involves tradeoffs. Here's where we consciously chose a different path:
Ownership over exposure. We don't have a marketplace that might help you get discovered. Your business is yours—your domain, your brand, your members. We believe the trade is worth it for creators who already have an audience.
Simplicity over infinite flexibility. Whop lets you add dozens of apps. We give you a curated, cohesive experience out of the box. Less configuration, more creating. Most creators launch within a day, not a week.
Design over density. 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 BTS space looks like a premium product because it is one.
Structure over sprawl. We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms. We're not trying to be your social media strategy. We're trying to be the business those social efforts build into.
Why These Choices Matter
The creator economy is still young, but patterns are emerging. The creators who thrive long-term are the ones who own their audience relationships, maintain a coherent brand experience, and build real business infrastructure—not just payment processing.
Our data shows: Creators who migrate to BTS from transaction-focused platforms report feeling more in control of their business within the first month. That sense of ownership isn't just psychological—it changes how you make decisions, how you price your offerings, and how you think about growth.
BTS vs Whop: Honest Comparison
Let's get specific. Here's how we actually stack up, including where Whop might be the better choice.
Pricing Breakdown
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Transaction Fee | Our Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTS Starter | Free | 10% | Best for testing and launching |
| BTS Pro | $149/month | 3.5% + $0.30 | Best for serious creators |
| Whop | Free | 3% + payment processing | Great for high-volume, marketplace-focused creators |
What we've learned: Whop's free model works well if you're optimizing purely for transaction costs. But once you factor in the hidden costs of fragmentation—your time configuring integrations, the tools you add to fill gaps, the brand dilution—the math changes.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | BTS | Whop | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course creation | ✅ | ✅ (via app) | Both solid here |
| Community | ✅ (native) | ✅ (Discord integration) | BTS keeps everything in one place |
| Subscriptions | ✅ | ✅ | Both handle recurring payments well |
| Custom branding | ✅ (strong focus) | ✅ (basic) | Major BTS advantage |
| Marketplace exposure | ❌ | ✅ | Whop advantage if you need discovery |
| Setup time | Hours | Days/Weeks | Complexity has a cost |
| Design quality | Modern, brand-forward | Functional | Depends on your priorities |
Where Whop Wins
We're building something different, not something objectively better in every dimension. Whop might be the better choice if:
- You're brand new with no audience and need marketplace exposure
- You love tinkering with modular app systems
- Transaction cost is your only priority
- You're selling primarily to the Whop community, not your own audience
- You need very specific integrations (Discord bots, licensing, etc.)
Where BTS Wins
BTS is the better choice if:
- You have an existing audience (10K+) you want to own
- You value design and brand experience
- You want to launch quickly without complex configuration
- You're building a business, not just processing transactions
- You want everything in one place, not scattered across tools
BTS's take: If a creator has an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer. If a creator has no audience and needs to find one, Whop's marketplace might serve them better—for now.
Is BTS Right for You?
We're not for everyone, and that's by design.
The Ideal BTS Creator
Our most successful creators share common characteristics:
Existing audience. Whether it's 10,000 followers on Instagram, a podcast with loyal listeners, or an email list you've been growing—you've already done the work of building attention. Now you need structure to turn that attention into a business.
Clear value-niche. You know what you teach, share, or create. Education-focused creators in business, fitness, personal development, and similar niches thrive on BTS. Entertainment-focused creators with 100K+ who want to monetize behind-the-scenes access also do well.
Digital product offering. Courses, coaching, community, content—you have something to sell. You're not looking for a platform to help you figure out what to offer; you're looking for infrastructure to deliver it professionally.
Ownership mindset. You want to build something durable. Not just make a quick buck, but create a business you control. This is the most important factor.
When Whop Might Actually Be Better
Honesty builds trust. Here's when we'd suggest looking elsewhere:
- Zero audience? Whop's marketplace might help you get initial traction. Come back to us when you're ready to own the relationship.
- Need complex integrations? If your business model requires Telegram bots, Discord role management, and software licensing, Whop's modular approach has more options.
- Pure digital products, no community? If you're just selling downloads with no ongoing relationship, Gumroad or even Whop's simpler flows might be sufficient.
Our recommendation: Based on working with 1,600+ creators, we suggest BTS for anyone who's moved past the "testing ideas" phase and is ready to build something real. That's not everyone—and that's okay.
Making the Switch from Whop
Thinking about migrating? Here's what to expect.
What Transfers Easily
- Your content. Courses, videos, downloads—these transfer smoothly. We'll help you get everything organized.
- Your pricing structure. Subscriptions, one-time payments, bundles—we support all of it.
- Your members. This is the most important part. We provide migration support to bring your paying members over without friction.
What You'll Need to Recreate
- Custom app configurations. If you've built elaborate Whop app setups, you'll simplify into BTS's native features.
- Discord community. BTS has built-in community, so you'll consolidate rather than continue the fragmentation.
- Marketplace presence. If you relied on Whop Discover for new members, you'll need to bring your audience yourself (but you'll own them).
Timeline Expectations
From our experience: Most creators complete migration within 1-2 weeks, with active member transition handled smoothly. Complex setups with extensive content libraries might take 3-4 weeks.
How We Help
This isn't a "figure it out yourself" situation. We provide:
- Dedicated migration support. Real humans who understand your business.
- Member communication templates. We've helped hundreds of creators explain the switch to their audience.
- Technical assistance. Content import, member transfer, domain configuration—we're hands-on.
What we've learned: The creators who have the smoothest migrations are the ones who view the switch as an opportunity to clean house, not just replicate their old setup. BTS is a chance to build your business the way it should have been from the start.
Get Started Free
Here's the thing about risk: we don't think you should take much of it just to try a platform.
Our Free Starter Plan
BTS Starter lets you:
- Launch your creator business
- Accept payments immediately
- Build your community
- Deliver courses and content
- Start earning—today
No credit card required. No artificial limitations designed to frustrate you into upgrading. Just a higher transaction fee (10%) that makes sense while you're validating.
What You Can Accomplish on Free
Many creators run profitable businesses on our Starter plan. You can:
- Onboard your first 100+ members
- Launch your initial course or content library
- Test your pricing and offerings
- Validate product-market fit before committing to Pro
When to Upgrade
Our Pro plan ($149/month, 3.5% + $0.30 transaction fee) makes sense when:
- You're processing enough volume that lower fees save money
- You want custom domain support
- You need advanced features and priority support
Our recommendation: Start free. Launch something. See how it feels. Upgrade when the math makes sense—not because we've artificially gated features to pressure you.
How BTS Approaches Creator Business Infrastructure
We've learned a lot building this platform. Here's the methodology behind what we do:
The BTS Framework
Step 1: Consolidate. Stop scattering your business across tools. Bring everything into one place.
Step 2: Structure. Set up your offerings, tiers, and content organization. Create clarity for yourself and your members.
Step 3: Launch. Go live quickly. Perfect is the enemy of shipped.
Step 4: Iterate. Use real member feedback to evolve. Your business will look different in six months—and that's good.
This methodology has helped our creators build businesses that feel coherent, professional, and owned—not rented, fragmented, and precarious.
Why Structure Matters
BTS is not a social network or a marketplace. We don't help you find an audience. We help you turn your existing audience into a real business.
That focus is intentional. Platforms that try to do everything—discovery and monetization and community and courses—end up doing everything poorly. We do one thing well: creator business infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- Whop is powerful but prioritizes marketplace dynamics over creator ownership. For some, that's perfect. For creators who want to build something they truly own, it creates friction.
- BTS is fundamentally different. We're infrastructure, not a marketplace. We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms or discovery.
- The right choice depends on where you are. No audience? Whop's marketplace might help. Existing audience? BTS gives you the infrastructure to turn them into a real business.
- Migration is easier than you think. We've helped hundreds of creators make the switch with dedicated support.
- You can try BTS free. Launch, test, validate. Upgrade when it makes sense.
Everything runs behind the scenes in one space. That's not marketing copy—it's our actual product philosophy. You create, connect, and grow. We handle the infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does BTS cost?
BTS offers a free Starter plan to get started with a 10% transaction fee. Our Pro plan is $149/month with a reduced 3.5% + $0.30 transaction fee—competitively priced for serious creators doing real volume. Check our pricing page for current rates and a calculator to see which plan saves you more.
Is BTS free to use?
Yes! We offer a free Starter plan that lets you launch and start earning immediately. No credit card required, no artificial feature limitations. Upgrade to Pro when you need more features or when the lower transaction fees make financial sense for your volume.
What makes BTS different from other creator platforms?
We focus on creator business infrastructure, not just monetization. While platforms like Patreon monetize content and Whop processes transactions, BTS helps creators build a real business. Everything runs behind the scenes in one place, so you can focus on creating. We're not a marketplace that finds customers for you—we're the infrastructure for the business you're building.
Can I migrate my existing members to BTS?
Absolutely. We help creators migrate from platforms like Whop, Patreon, Teachable, and others. Your members can transfer seamlessly—we provide communication templates, technical support, and hands-on assistance throughout the process. Most migrations complete within 1-2 weeks.
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. Unlike platforms with dozens of apps to configure, BTS gives you a cohesive experience out of the box.
Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?
Our fee structure is transparent. Starter plan: 10% transaction fee. Pro plan ($149/month): 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction. Payouts happen within 1-5 days globally (same-day in the US). Check our pricing page for the exact breakdown and volume calculator.
What kind of support does BTS offer?
We provide hands-on creator success support. Real humans who understand your business, not just ticket systems. Pro members get priority support, and all creators get access to our knowledge base and community. We're builder-focused—we succeed when you succeed.
Can I use my own domain with BTS?
Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains to create a fully branded experience. Your BTS space looks like your brand, not like a generic platform. This matters for creators building premium businesses.
Is BTS better than Whop?
It depends on your needs. We built BTS for creators who want to own their business infrastructure—their audience, their brand, their data. Whop has its strengths, especially around marketplace exposure and modular apps. If you have an existing audience and want structure, BTS is likely better. If you need discovery and don't mind marketplace dynamics, Whop might work for you.
Can I use both BTS and Whop?
Some creators do run multiple platforms, but most find BTS handles everything they need in one place. The whole point of BTS is consolidation—eliminating the fragmentation that makes creator businesses feel scattered. Running both platforms usually means you haven't fully committed to either approach.
About the Author
The BTS Team is the Product Team at BTS, where we've spent the past two years building creator business infrastructure for 1,600+ creators who've earned over $1.4 million through our platform. We believe creators deserve to own what they build, and we've designed every aspect of BTS around that principle.
When we're not shipping features, we're talking to creators—understanding their challenges, learning what works, and refining our approach to infrastructure that actually serves creator businesses.
Sources
- Whop pricing and features: whop.com
- Skool pricing: skool.com/pricing
- Circle.so pricing: circle.so/pricing
- Patreon creator fees: support.patreon.com
- Kajabi pricing: kajabi.com/pricing
This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026.
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