GitHub Sponsors
GitHub Sponsors
Role
The "developer" donation channel for the family. Linked from every
repo's FUNDING.yml, every README, and the family-wide /support
page. Targets GitHub-using developers who already trust the GitHub
checkout flow.
Free tier
- 0% platform fee from GitHub (forever, per their developer pledge)
- Recurring monthly tiers + one-off donations
- Stripe handles payment processing (standard ~2.9% + 30¢, paid by the sponsor not us)
- Direct payout to bank account; KYC via Stripe Connect
Card / subscription required?
NO. Sponsors-account onboarding needs identity + bank-account verification (via Stripe Connect) but no card on file from us.
Methods exposed to the donor
Card (any major brand). No UPI / Google Pay / Apple Pay / PayPal — that's the Ko-fi / Buy Me a Coffee / PayPal.me job.
Alternatives
- Ko-fi — broader donor demographic, 0% platform fee
- Buy Me a Coffee — 5% platform fee, similar UX
- Open Collective — fiscal-host model, requires entity (we have none)
Swap cost
Low — FUNDING.yml line in each repo is the only integration point.
Why this is our pick
Zero platform fee + GitHub-native badge on every repo means it costs
nothing to leave on. Coexists with Ko-fi / BMC / PayPal.me on the
/support page so donors pick their preferred channel.