Memberful Transaction Fees Explained: How Much Are You Really Paying?
Memberful's pricing looks simple on the surface, but transaction fees can significantly impact your bottom line. Here's exactly what you'll pay at every revenue level.
Memberful's Fee Structure
Memberful charges two types of fees: a monthly subscription (optional) and a transaction fee on every payment you receive.
Memberful Plans & Fees
The Hidden Cost: Stripe Fees
On top of Memberful's transaction fee, you also pay Stripe's payment processing fees: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction. This applies to all membership platforms that use Stripe.
So your true cost per transaction on Memberful is:
- Free plan: 10% + 2.9% + 30¢ = ~13% per transaction
- Pro/Premium: 4.9% + 2.9% + 30¢ = ~8% per transaction
Real Cost at Different Revenue Levels
Here's what you'd actually pay Memberful (excluding Stripe fees, which all platforms charge) at various monthly revenue levels:
| Monthly Revenue | Free Plan | Pro Plan | Ghost (0%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | $50 | $49.50 | $9 |
| $1,000 | $100 | $74 | $9 |
| $2,500 | $250 | $147.50 | $25 |
| $5,000 | $500 | $270 | $25 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 | $515 | $25 |
At $10,000/month revenue, the difference between Memberful Pro ($515) and Ghost ($25) is $490/month or $5,880/year.
When Do Transaction Fees Make Sense?
Despite the fees, Memberful can still make sense in certain situations:
- You have an existing WordPress/Ghost site you don't want to rebuild
- Revenue is under $500/month where the free plan keeps costs low
- You need Memberful-specific integrations that aren't available elsewhere
- The 4.9% fee is worth it to avoid migration hassle
Zero Transaction Fee Alternatives
If Memberful's fees are eating into your margins, consider these alternatives with no transaction fees:
The Bottom Line
Memberful's transaction fees are significant, especially as you scale. At $5,000+/month in revenue, you're paying hundreds of dollars that would stay in your pocket with alternatives like Ghost or Podia.
The trade-off is convenience: Memberful integrates seamlessly with existing sites, so you don't have to migrate. Whether that's worth 4.9% of every dollar you earn is a decision only you can make.
FAQ
What is Memberful's transaction fee?
Memberful charges 10% on the Free plan and 4.9% on paid plans (Pro at $25/mo and Premium at $100/mo). This is in addition to Stripe's payment processing fees of 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction.
Does Memberful charge transaction fees on all plans?
Yes, Memberful charges transaction fees on every plan, including paid plans. The Free plan charges 10%, while Pro and Premium charge 4.9%. There is no way to eliminate transaction fees on Memberful.
How do Memberful fees compare to competitors?
Memberful's fees are higher than many alternatives. Ghost and Podia (on paid plans) charge 0% transaction fees. Patreon charges 5-12%. Substack charges 10%. Ko-fi charges 0%.