Recommendation

Proceed

Overall Summary

Safe

Why we think so

Ko-fi.com is a well-established platform for creators to receive donations and subscriptions without fees. It attracts about 11 million visits monthly, mainly from the United States, and uses recognized payment systems like PayPal and Stripe for handling transactions. The site runs on reliable technologies, including CloudFlare, and maintains strong security with valid SSL certificates and reputable domain registration. No evidence links Ko-fi.com to scams or fraudulent activity at the platform level; user complaints are mostly about individual creator disputes. The platform provides clear contact points and guidelines for reporting issues. Overall, it appears safe and trustworthy for users supporting creators.

Confidence Score

90%

Risk Insights

📈

Strong Website Traffic 📈

Approximately 11 million visits per month

Main audience located in the US

Healthy engagement with multiple page views per visit

🔐

Secure and Recognized Payments 🔐

Uses PayPal, Stripe, and Apple Pay for transactions

Valid SSL certificate ensures encrypted communications

Payments handled by trusted third parties

Contradictory Signals

Ko-fi is safe itself, but users should watch for specific creator reliability.

Signal A: Platform has no scam reports

Signal B: Users report individual creator disputes

Category Scores

Identity 95/100

Reputation 90/100

Technical 90/100

Content 85/100

Legal 80/100

Business Validity 90/100

Red Flags & Warnings

Ko-fi does not mediate or guarantee individual creator transactions; disputes may arise if creators do not fulfill promises.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain and SSL authenticity

Score: 90/100

Passed

"Certificate issued by WE1 and domain registered with Wild West Domains, LLC since 2011."

Reason: ko-fi.com has a valid SSL certificate issued recently and a reputable registrar with no early expiration.

Traffic and usage legitimacy

Score: 95/100

Passed

"Primary user base in the United States with moderate bounce rate and engagement metrics."

Reason: Site shows high traffic (~11 million monthly visits), indicating legitimate and active usage.

Platform technology stack quality

Score: 90/100

Passed

"Use of standard security and web technologies indicates well-maintained infrastructure."

Reason: Robust technology stack including CloudFlare CDN and secure payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe.

Reputation and scam reports

Score: 90/100

Passed

"Ko-fi has mechanisms for reporting and handling abuse but does not guarantee creator performance."

Reason: No evidence of platform-level fraud; complaints are limited to individual creators and addressed via support.

Trademark and brand protection

Score: 85/100

Passed

"Trademark registration dates to 2019, showing sustained brand identity."

Reason: Registered trademark under Ko-fi Labs Limited confirms legitimate business presence.

Your Next Steps

1

Use official Ko-fi contact emails (hello@ko-fi.com or ko-fi@ko-fi.com) for support or inquiries.
2

If supporting creators, verify individual creator reputations and reviews to mitigate risks of service non-delivery.
3

Monitor any transaction issues and use Ko-fi’s recommended refund and dispute resolution pathways via PayPal or Stripe.
4

Report suspicious or fraudulent creator pages to Ko-fi through their official support channels.
5

Stay updated with Ko-fi’s policies and terms to understand platform roles and limitations in disputes.

Evidence & Citations

Ko-fi.com website technology and traffic overview
Details about technology stack, traffic, and category classification.
Ko-fi.com domain and SSL certificate information
Verified domain registration and SSL validity details.
Ko-fi.com Safe Browsing and Scam Blacklist Checks
No risk or threat detected for the domain.
Ko-fi brand trademark registration
Trademark records confirm official brand ownership.
Analysis of user complaints and refund policies on Ko-fi
Explanation of dispute resolution and scam reports related to the platform.

🕵🏻 Keep investigating

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