What creator platforms actually take from you
The number most comparison posts skip. Here's what Linktree, Beacons, Collabstr, and Cabana Studio really take from your earnings in 2026 - sourced, dated, and side by side.
See every cost before choosing
No earnings promise · competitor facts are date-stamped
| Platform | On the free plan | On paid plans | What that means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabana Studio | 10% flat, no card required | Flat 3.5–6% by plan (from $15/mo) | One flat % per brand deal. Nothing charged to the brand, and no cut of your affiliate income or storefront sales. |
| Linktree | 12% + Stripe processing on commerce | 9% on Starter/Pro; 0% only on Premium ($30–35/mo) | Commission on sales through Linktree Commerce. No custom domain on any plan. |
| Beacons | 9% commission | 9% on Creator; 0% on Creator Plus and Creator Max | Commission on sales made through your store. |
| Collabstr | - | 15% off the creator payout; brands pay 10% or 5% by plan | Marketplace take rate applied to every booking made through the platform. |
| Komi | Starter: $0/mo; marketplace take rate not published | Pro: $20/mo or $16/mo billed annually | Creator ecosystem + marketplace. Current terms describe direct brand-creator contracts facilitated by KOMI; no complete public marketplace take-rate table was found. |
Competitor figures rechecked against official pricing, help, and terms pages; Cabana Studio figures from its live plan tiers. Updated August 13, 2026. Pricing moves - check each platform’s own site for current rates.
The part most comparison posts skip
A link page being “free” and that link page being free to sell throughare two different things. Linktree’s page is free; Linktree’s commerce takes 12% on the free plan. Beacons is the same shape: 9% on Free and Creator, down to 0% on Creator Plus and Creator Max.
Read the free-plan column again. On Linktree’s free plan, a $1,000 sale costs you $120 before Stripe takes its cut. The 0% tier exists - it’s $30–35/month, and it’s the only plan that stops taking a slice of what you make.
Marketplaces take the most
If you book brand deals through a marketplace like Collabstr, the platform takes 15% off the creator payout on every order, while the brand pays a separate 10% or 5% hiring fee by plan. That fee supports marketplace discovery and escrow. Keep marketplace-sourced work there under the applicable terms; use a direct workflow for opportunities you source and are permitted to manage yourself.
And some platforms don’t publish one complete rate table. KOMI, for example, describes direct brand-creator contracts facilitated by its marketplace, but its public pages do not show one complete current pricing or take-rate table. Check the terms offered for the specific account and campaign.
Why a flat per-deal fee is different
Cabana Studio doesn’t take a commission on your storefront or a cut of your affiliate links. It charges one flat 3.5–6% per brand deal by plan (plus Stripe processing), and it charges the brand nothing. Your rate is the same on a $500 deal or a $5,000 one, and you always know it in advance.
Because the fee is per brand deal rather than a percentage of everything you sell, the models price very differently depending on where your income comes from. If you mostly sell your own digital products, a storefront tool’s commission may work out fine. If you mostly work with brands, a flat per-deal fee - with a deal CRM, invoicing, and a media kit behind it - is usually both cheaper and more predictable. See the full breakdown on the pricing page.
When a competitor is the better call
Honestly: if you want a broad link hub with embedded apps, audience tools, and creator commerce, Linktree is built for that. If your whole business is digital products, a storefront tool may fit better. Cabana is the right answer when the money is brand deals- and you’d rather pay a flat, low, predictable fee than a commission that’s highest exactly when you’re on the cheapest plan.
Compare head-to-head: vs Linktree, vs Beacons, vs Stan Store, vs Collabstr, vs Komi, vs Milkshake.
Pre-launch productNo customer outcome claims or paid testimonials.
Sample data is labeledProduct previews demonstrate workflows, not creator results.
Your approval stays centralPublishing, deal terms, and payment actions remain creator controlled.
FAQ
Creator platform fees - your questions
Keep more of every brand deal.
One flat 3.5–6% per deal, nothing charged to the brand, and a full deal CRM behind it.