Passes vs SubscribeStar (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Passes if

• Fits if you are a creator who wants paid DMs and calls beside memberships
• Works for people who prefer a share of earnings to a monthly fee

Look elsewhere if

• Watch out: the homepage only says up to 90%, and no pricing or fees page was found
• Skip it if you need to know your cut before signing up, because the split depends on the account
• Not for you if you want to join straight away, as creators apply and the FAQ lists follower requirements
• Watch out: whether iPhone and Android apps exist is not clear from the pages we could read

Pick SubscribeStar if

• Fits if you are a creator who wants subscriptions with no monthly fee
• Works for people who want to choose who pays the processing fee

Look elsewhere if

• Watch out: a rolling reserve of 10% of earnings is held, and more if refunds or chargebacks run high
• Pricey if you use the API, which can add 3% to 5%
• Watch out: fees are set per creator and the page says they may change
• Skip it if you want one clear rate, since processing runs from 3% + $0.30 to 10% + $0.40

Passes

• The revenue split depends on the account; the homepage only says creators keep up to 90%, and the FAQ answers were not readable here.
• No pricing or fees page was found, so the share Passes keeps could not be confirmed.
• The FAQ lists a question on iPhone, iPad and Android apps, but the answer was not readable; only the web is recorded.
• Creators apply to join; the FAQ lists questions on eligibility and follower requirements.

SubscribeStar

• Fees are set per creator and the platform may change them; the pricing page says to review it periodically.
• A rolling reserve of 10% of earnings is held, and a higher reserve can apply when refund or chargeback rates exceed stated limits.
• Creators using the API can face an extra fee of 3% to 5% according to the pricing page.
• The homepage headline reads 'Free Today' for musicians, visual artists and educators, but the pricing page does not explain it.

Passes

Memberships

Recurring tiered access for fans, listed as the most popular revenue stream.

Paid DMs and 1:1 calls

Creators can charge for direct messages and book paid calls, with an example 30-minute session shown on the homepage.

Content vault and scheduling

A vault to organize, price and lock exclusive content, with a smart scheduler for planning posts ahead.

Mass DMs

Targeted messages and promotions that reach many fans at once.

Livestreams and group chats

Paid livestreams and group chats for exclusive communities.

Merch, digital goods and discounts

Sells merchandise and digital items, with discounts and trials to convert fans.

SubscribeStar

Subscriptions for creators

Creators set a subscription price and a schedule, and subscribers are charged on that schedule.

Transaction fee model

A creator picks whether payment processing costs are covered by the creator or passed on to subscribers.

Tax handling

Where applicable the platform calculates, collects and remits VAT, GST, sales tax and similar levies.

Statistics

The site advertises comprehensive statistics and analysis for creators.

Wallet and payouts

Payouts carry a fee that depends on the withdrawal method, currency and country; the site also links to a wallet.

Passes

• Creator account$0

  Passes keeps a share of earnings; the homepage says creators keep up to 90%. A Creators+ program is listed in the FAQ, but its terms were not readable.

SubscribeStar

• Star (creator)$0

  5% platform service fee. Payment processing runs from 3% + $0.30 to 10% + $0.40, paid by the creator or the subscriber depending on the fee model chosen.