Brandwave

How popular isKo-fi?

In September 2026, people searched for Ko-fi by name about 1.1 million times worldwide, a 22.2% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 14% of all global creator payment platform searches, placing Ko-fi second out of seven platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about creator payment platforms, Ko-fi appeared in two of the five answers and was the joint most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Ko-fi is the second most searched of 7 competitors and the joint most recommended in AI answers.

  1. PatreonShare of searches 85.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  2. Ko-fiShare of searches 14%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. JoinBrandsShare of searches 0.64%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  4. PassionfrootShare of searches 0.14%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
  5. HypefyShare of searches 0.07%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –

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Top creator payment platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Ko-fi was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Ko-fi is the joint most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Patreon1st
  2. Ko-fi1st
  3. JoinBrands–
  4. Passionfroot–
  5. Hypefy–
  6. Popular Pays–
  7. Glewee–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Patreon3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ko-fi2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • JoinBrands0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Passionfroot0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Hypefy0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Popular Pays0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Glewee0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about creator payment platforms

5 answers

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Which creator payment platform should I use?”

    1. 1Ko-fi
    2. 2Patreon

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What are the best creator payment platforms?”

    1. 1Patreon
    2. 2Ko-fi

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best creator payment platform for paying creators?”

    1. Searched Google, AI Overview

      “creator payment platform”

      1. 1Patreon

    2. Searched Google, AI Overview

      “pay creators platform”

      Not named in any answer:

      Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

      Which creator payment platforms compete with Ko-fi?

      Ko-fi against creator payment platforms worldwide, by month

      Share of searches by month for Patreon, Ko-fi. The figures are in the table below the chart.

      View monthly share of searches table
      MonthPatreonKo-fiJoinBrandsPassionfrootHypefyPopular PaysGlewee
      Oct 202587.7%11.8%0.33%0.05%0.06%0.08%0.02%
      Nov 202587.7%11.8%0.33%0.05%0.06%0.08%0.02%
      Dec 202587.7%11.8%0.34%0.06%0.05%0.05%0.02%
      Jan 202687.6%11.8%0.41%0.06%0.04%0.06%0.02%
      Feb 202687.6%11.8%0.41%0.06%0.05%0.08%0.02%
      Mar 202687.6%11.8%0.42%0.06%0.05%0.06%0.01%
      Apr 202685.3%14%0.49%0.07%0.05%0.07%0.01%
      May 202687.6%11.8%0.42%0.08%0.06%0.05%<0.01%
      Jun 202687.6%11.8%0.42%0.06%0.05%0.05%<0.01%
      Jul 202685.1%14%0.62%0.17%0.07%0.06%<0.01%
      Aug 202687.5%11.8%0.53%0.12%0.04%0.05%<0.01%
      Sep 202685.1%14%0.64%0.14%0.07%0.05%<0.01%

      1. 1.Patreon

        85.1%

        Held 1st. 3.4M estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -2.4 points.

      2. 2.Ko-fi

        14%

        Held 2nd. 550K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +2.2 points.

      3. 3.JoinBrands

        0.64%

        Held 3rd. 25.1K estimated branded searches, +2% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

      4. 4.Passionfroot

        0.14%

        Held 4th. 5.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

      5. 5.Hypefy

        0.07%

        Moved from 6th to 5th. 2.9K estimated branded searches, +52.6% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

      6. 6.Popular Pays

        0.05%

        Moved from 5th to 6th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, -20.8% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

      7. 7.Glewee

        <0.01%

        Held 7th. 390 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

      Compare popularity between Ko-fi and its closest rivals

      Every comparison with Ko-fi

      26 comparisons

      How has branded search demand for Ko-fi changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

      3 findings
      • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Ko-fi worldwide rose from 900K to 1.1M.
      • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ko-fi’s share of searches among creator payment platforms worldwide increased from 11.8% to 14%.
      • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Ko-fi’s share of searches among creator payment platforms worldwide peaked at 14% in April 2026 and was lowest at 11.8% in August 2026.

      How did search popularity change for creator payment platforms worldwide in September 2026?

      6 changes

      1. In September 2026, Ko-fi gained share of searches among creator payment platforms worldwide, from 11.8% to 14%.

      2. In September 2026, Patreon lost share of searches among creator payment platforms worldwide, from 87.5% to 85.1%.

      3. In September 2026, Hypefy rose from 6th to 5th among creator payment platforms worldwide.

      4. In September 2026, Popular Pays fell from 5th to 6th among creator payment platforms worldwide.

      5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Passionfroot worldwide rose 184.2% over 12 measured months, from 1.9K to 5.4K in September 2026.

      6. Estimated monthly branded searches for JoinBrands worldwide rose 101% over 12 measured months, from 12.5K to 25.1K in September 2026.

      How are Ko-fi’s branded searches counted?

      2 search terms

      Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Ko-fi’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

      • ko-fi
      • kofi

      Do you work for Ko-fi? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

      How the Brand Demand Index is measured

      Where does Ko-fi compete?

      Ko-fi is ranked in five competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
      Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
      Creator membership platforms3rd of 98.4%Show ranking
      Creator payment platforms2nd of 714%Shown above
      Digital product sales platforms1st of 846.4%Show ranking
      Tipping platforms1st of 536.9%Show ranking
      Creator media kit platforms1st of 858.9%Show ranking
      Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

      Is Ko-fi your brand?

      Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.

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