Comparison · 2026-04-30
A Memberful alternative: KeepTier
Memberful and KeepTier sit on the same axis: web-only, Stripe-only, no Apple tax. The two differences worth knowing before you switch are pricing model and feature surface. Memberful charges $25/mo plus 4.9% of every transaction; KeepTier charges $9/mo flat. Memberful ships a WordPress plugin and a hosted member-area site; KeepTier ships a single branded membership page with Stripe Checkout and a Discord/Telegram role webhook. Pick the second one when the first one is more product than you need.
Why people search for a Memberful alternative
- The 4.9% transaction fee compounds. On a $4,200/mo show that's an extra $206/mo on top of the $25/mo base. Creators above ~$2,000/mo notice the percentage line first.
- The WordPress plugin is the product. If you don't run WordPress, you're paying for member-area features rendered on a host you don't use. Memberful's branded-page surface is real but secondary in their roadmap.
- Discord/Telegram fulfillment is bolt-on. Memberful's Discord integration exists but lives in a long list of integrations. KeepTier's first-shipped feature was the Discord role webhook — it's the wedge, not an afterthought.
- It's owned by Patreon. Memberful was acquired by Patreon in 2018; the brand is independent but the corporate parent is the same one creators are leaving. Some founders care about that, some don't.
How KeepTier is different
KeepTier is the opinionated, narrow version of the same idea. Two tiers maximum. One Stripe Checkout flow. One webhook event that adds the right Discord role or sends the right Telegram channel invite. No member-area site, no WordPress plugin, no email broadcast tool — those live elsewhere in your stack and KeepTier doesn't duplicate them. The pricing is flat at $9/mo because the surface is small enough to support without per-transaction overhead.
Feature comparison
| Memberful (Pro) | KeepTier | |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $25/mo | $9/mo |
| Transaction fee (on top of Stripe) | 4.9% | 0% |
| Stripe processing | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Apple in-app fee | None — web-only | None — web-only |
| Custom domain | Yes | Yes (support.yourbrand.com) |
| Number of tiers | Unlimited | 2 max (opinionated) |
| Discord role on payment | Integration (configurable) | Native webhook (built-in) |
| Telegram channel invite | Via Zapier | Native webhook (built-in) |
| WordPress plugin | Yes | No |
| Hosted member-area site | Yes | No (page only) |
| Email broadcasts | Yes | No (use your existing tool) |
The same $4,200/mo show, both paths
Memberful Pro
KeepTier
The gap is $222/mo ($2,664/yr) at this revenue band. Below ~$1,300/mo the gap inverts and Memberful becomes cheaper, because the $9 flat plan looks expensive against a tiny percentage on small revenue. Above $5,000/mo the gap widens faster than linear — every extra dollar of gross is $0.049 off Memberful's take-home, $0.00 off KeepTier's.
When Memberful is still the right answer
- You already run WordPress. The plugin renders gated content on your existing site. Re-platforming to a separate page is real switching cost.
- You want unlimited tiers. KeepTier's two-tier limit is opinionated; some creators legitimately need 5+ tiers (course bundles, comped, founder, alumni, regular). Memberful supports it.
- You want a hosted member-area site. Memberful renders
members.yourbrand.comwith gated posts, paywalled video, comments. KeepTier doesn't render content; it gates access. - Email broadcasts are part of your fulfillment. Memberful has a built-in member newsletter tool. KeepTier defers to whatever you already use (Buttondown, Beehiiv, Resend, Mailchimp).
When KeepTier is the right answer
- Discord or Telegram is your fulfillment. If "members get the Discord role" or "members get the private Telegram channel invite" is the whole thing, KeepTier ships that as the default flow.
- You want flat pricing. A $9/mo line item beats a percentage line that grows with your success.
- Two tiers is enough. Most creators ship two — "supporter" and "premium" — and don't need ten.
- You're solo and want a single page, not a member-area CMS. KeepTier's surface is the page + Stripe + webhook. Less to learn, less to misconfigure, less to outgrow upward.
YOUR DELTA, NOT THE BASELINE'S
This page is priced on a $4,200/mo show. The gap inverts below ~$1,300/mo and widens above $5,000/mo. Plug your own number into the calculator to see your specific Memberful-vs-KeepTier annual delta.
Open the calculator →Related reading
- Memberful vs KeepTier — head-to-head decision frame — same numbers, restructured for the buyer-mode "which one" search.
- Patreon vs your own membership site — the broader axis Memberful and KeepTier both sit on.
- Eight Patreon alternatives compared — Memberful and KeepTier both appear in the eight-platform ledger.
- The Patreon Apple tax, explained — what makes web-only Stripe a feature, not a downgrade.
Receipts use the standard KeepTier baseline: $4,200/mo in gross subscription revenue, fifty active subscribers, US creator with USD audience, Stripe at the standard 2.9% + $0.30 US card-present rate. Memberful Pro pricing per memberful.com/pricing; Patreon's 2018 acquisition of Memberful per news.patreon.com. Numbers as of 2026-04-30.