Glossary
What is an online tip jar?
An online tip jar is a button or page where people who like your work can send you a small payment, once or every month, without buying anything.
The short definition
A tip jar is the online version of the jar on a café counter: a way for people to say thanks with money. Online it is usually a button, often phrased as "Buy me a coffee", that opens a short checkout with a few preset amounts.
Tips are voluntary and buy nothing in particular, which is what separates them from a sale. Many tip jars also offer monthly support or memberships, which turn occasional thanks into recurring income. See memberships for indie makers.
Common tip jar services
- Buy Me a Coffee: a support page, memberships and a shop; 5% per transaction, per its FAQ.
- Ko-fi: tips, a shop and commissions; 0% on one-off tips on its free option, per its help center.
- Patreon: memberships with members-only posts; 10% for creators who published after August 4, 2025.
- GitHub Sponsors: for open source; no fees on sponsorships from personal accounts.
- Liberapay and Open Collective: recurring donations and shared budgets.
Card processing applies on top of all of them. The side-by-side is in Buy Me a Coffee alternatives.
Where to put one
A tip jar works where people already like your work: your link in bio, your project's README, the footer of your newsletter, the end of a video. The usual pattern is to keep it short and specific. "Buy me a server hour" says what the money does better than "Donate".
makerhandle's support button is a tip jar on your link in bio: any unit, four quick amounts and an optional monthly goal. Today it can open your Buy Me a Coffee, Ko-fi, Patreon or GitHub Sponsors page; built-in payments through your own Stripe account are opening to makers in stages. Walkthrough: how to add a tip button to your link in bio.
Tips and taxes
Calling it a tip does not make it a gift. In many countries money you receive for your work, including tips and memberships, counts as income. Who handles sales tax depends on who the seller is, the merchant of record: the platform, or you. Check with an accountant where you live; this is not tax advice.
Questions
What is a tip jar on a website?
A button or page where visitors can send you a small voluntary payment for your work, usually with preset amounts and often an option to give monthly.
Is a tip jar the same as a donation?
Close, but donation usually means a charity or nonprofit. A tip jar supports a person or their work, and is usually taxable income.
What is the cheapest tip jar?
GitHub Sponsors charges no fees on personal sponsorships, Liberapay takes no cut and Ko-fi takes 0% on one-off tips. Card processing still applies.
Can I add a tip jar to my link in bio?
Yes. On makerhandle the support button sits on your page and links to your existing tip jar, on every plan.
Add a tip jar to your page
Free for up to 5 projects. Pro is $20/year.