Best tipping platforms in Kenya: Tihada, BuyMeSoda, Buy Me a Coffee and Ko-fi

Want to give your fans a way to support your work? A tipping platform lets you share a link where people can send you money as a thank-you.

For Kenyan creators, choosing a platform comes down to a few practical questions: Can fans pay with M-Pesa? What fees apply? How do you receive your earnings? And what else can you put on your page?

Here’s how four options compare.

A quick comparison

Platform	How fans pay	Fees for receiving tips	Standout features
Tihada	M-Pesa	10% per gift; no subscription or withdrawal fees	Customizable storefront, several gift choices, custom amounts, highlighted links and social links
BuyMeSoda	M-Pesa, according to its FAQ	A service fee applies; the FAQ doesn’t specify the rate	KSh 50 sodas, a profile link, and QR codes
Buy Me a Coffee	Card payments through Stripe	5% platform fee, plus processing and payout fees	One-time support and recurring memberships
Ko-fi	PayPal or card through Stripe, depending on the creator’s setup	No platform fee for basic one-time tips; processing fees apply	Direct payments to your connected account and optional paid features

Platform details can change. Check the current fees and payout requirements before signing up. The sections below link to each platform’s published information.

Tihada: M-Pesa gifts and a page that feels like yours

Tihada gives Kenyan creators a customizable storefront where fans can send gifts through M-Pesa.

Supporters can choose from gifts such as Cake, Soda, Coffee, Lunch, and Dinner, or enter a custom amount. They can also leave an optional message.

Your page can do more than collect support. Add your photo and bio, choose a theme and colours, include your social links, and highlight links to your latest work. If you later want to sell digital products, you can offer them on the same storefront.

You keep 90% of each gift, with no subscription or withdrawal fees. Earnings become available to withdraw according to your account’s payout terms.

Consider Tihada if: your fans use M-Pesa and you want gifting, your content links, and your social profiles in one place.

BuyMeSoda: a simple tipping idea with QR codes

BuyMeSoda lets fans support creators by buying virtual “sodas.” Its FAQ lists one soda at KSh 50, with supporters choosing how many to send.

Creators get a profile link and QR code. That makes it an option worth considering for DJs, performers, and creators who meet their audience at events: a fan can scan the code to open the support page.

BuyMeSoda’s FAQ currently lists M-Pesa as its payment method. A service fee applies, but the FAQ doesn’t give the exact percentage. Confirm the fee and payout process before choosing it. Source: BuyMeSoda FAQ

Consider BuyMeSoda if: you like the soda-based tipping format and want a QR code to share in person.

Buy Me a Coffee: an option for international fan support

Buy Me a Coffee offers one-time contributions and recurring memberships.

Kenya is currently on its supported payout-country list through Stripe Express, subject to its payout requirements. Kenyan creators shouldn’t assume the platform is unavailable simply because it uses Stripe. Source: supported countries

Its 5% platform fee is only part of the cost. Payment processing and payout fees also apply, with possible additional charges for international transactions. Check the full cost rather than comparing the headline percentage alone. Source: fee breakdown

Consider Buy Me a Coffee if: your audience includes international supporters comfortable paying by card, and you meet the payout requirements.

Ko-fi: basic tipping through PayPal or Stripe

Ko-fi lets creators receive support through a connected PayPal or Stripe account. Payments go directly to that account, rather than waiting for a payout from Ko-fi.

Its basic tips-only option has no platform fee, although PayPal or Stripe processing fees still apply. Some optional features carry a 5% service fee. Your available payment options depend on the account you can connect. Source: Ko-fi payment FAQ

Consider Ko-fi if: you already use a supported payment account and your fans are comfortable with PayPal or card payments.

Which tipping platform should you choose?

Start with your audience’s preferred payment method, then compare the total fees and withdrawal process.

For fans who want to pay through M-Pesa, Tihada and BuyMeSoda are two options to compare. Tihada adds several gift choices, custom amounts, and a customizable storefront with highlighted links and social links.

For an international audience, Buy Me a Coffee and Ko-fi are worth considering, provided their payment and payout arrangements work for you.

Whichever you choose, explain your link in your bio. A simple “Support my work 🎁👇” tells visitors what the link is for.

Ready to try Tihada? Create your page, enable gifts, and share your link. Our gifting and tipping guide walks you through the setup and shows you how to invite fan support.