Competitor details last verified 2026-08-30. Platforms change pricing and features — verify on the provider’s official pages.
Choose Stan Store if predictable flat pricing and a product-focused storefront justify at least $29 per month; choose Beacons if you want a free entry point, broader link-in-bio tools, or paid Requests. Stan charges 0% platform transaction fees, while Beacons charges 9% on its Free and Creator plans and 0% on higher tiers.
Last verified: August 2026, using Stan Store’s official plan page, Beacons’ official pricing page, and Beacons’ transaction-fees help article. Pricing can change, so confirm the current terms before subscribing.
Which platform should I pick?
Pick Stan Store if you expect enough monthly sales to make a fixed subscription cheaper than Beacons’ percentage fee. Stan Store’s Creator plan is $29/month or $300/year, Creator Pro is $99/month or $948/year, both plans have a 0% platform transaction fee, and the free trial lasts 14 days (Stan Store plan page, verified August 2026).
Pick Beacons if you want to begin without a monthly subscription or need its broader link-in-bio and Requests features. Beacons costs $0/month for Free, $10/month for Creator, $30/month for Creator Plus, and $90/month for Creator Max; Free and Creator charge a 9% transaction fee, while Creator Plus and Creator Max charge 0% (Beacons pricing and transaction-fees policy, verified August 2026).
Before payment processing, Stan Store’s $29 Creator plan and Beacons Free’s 9% fee cost the same at approximately $322.22 in monthly sales because $29 divided by 9% equals $322.22. Below that amount, Beacons Free has the lower platform cost; above it, Stan Creator has the lower platform cost.
Both platforms are primarily storefront-and-links tools rather than interaction-first services. Beacons includes a Requests block, but neither platform centers its entire experience on personalized, per-fan replies. That use case belongs to a different category: a paid-fan-interaction tool.
How do Stan Store and Beacons compare side by side?
| Dimension | Stan Store | Beacons |
|---|---|---|
| Core model | All-in-one storefront for digital products, courses, bookable coaching, email lists, and link-in-bio sales | Link-in-bio storefront with links, digital products, a media kit, a TikTok Shop block, and paid Requests |
| Monthly cost | No permanent free plan; Creator is $29/month and Creator Pro is $99/month after a 14-day trial | Free is $0/month; Creator is $10/month; Creator Plus is $30/month; Creator Max is $90/month |
| Annual pricing | Creator is $300/year; Creator Pro is $948/year | Creator Plus is $300/year |
| Platform transaction fee | 0% on both plans | 9% on Free and Creator; 0% on Creator Plus and Creator Max |
| Payment processing | Stripe or PayPal processing applies separately | Stripe or PayPal processing applies separately |
| Payout destination | Creator’s connected Stripe or PayPal account | Creator’s connected Stripe or PayPal account |
| Courses and digital products | Yes; courses, hosting, and downloads are core features | Yes; includes a digital-product store and downloads |
| Custom paid requests | No dedicated per-fan request format | Yes; Requests can include Q&A, feedback or coaching, 1:1 video, and similar offers |
| Published follower minimum | None published on the reviewed official plan page | None published on the reviewed official pricing page |
Stan Store’s plan names, prices, annual figures, trial length, and 0% platform-fee policy are from Stan Store’s official help center, verified August 2026. Beacons’ plan names, prices, Requests offering, and fee structure are from the Beacons pricing page and Beacons transaction-fees article, verified August 2026.
A standard US online card payment through Stripe costs approximately 2.9% plus $0.30, separate from either platform’s fee (Stripe pricing, verified August 2026). PayPal processing is also separate and follows PayPal’s applicable merchant fee schedule (PayPal merchant fees, verified August 2026).
At what sales volume is each plan cheaper?
These break-even points compare stated platform charges before Stripe or PayPal processing fees:
| Fee comparison | Break-even monthly sales | What the result means |
|---|---|---|
| Stan Creator at $29 vs. Beacons Free at 9% | $322.22 | Beacons Free costs less below $322.22; Stan Creator costs less above it |
| Stan Creator at $29 vs. Beacons Creator at $10 plus 9% | $211.11 | Beacons Creator costs less below $211.11; Stan Creator costs less above it |
| Beacons Creator Plus at $30 vs. Beacons Free at 9% | $333.33 | Free costs less below $333.33; Creator Plus costs less above it |
| Stan Creator Pro at $99 vs. Beacons Free at 9% | $1,100.00 | Beacons Free costs less below $1,100; Stan Creator Pro costs less above it |
| Beacons Creator Max at $90 vs. Beacons Free at 9% | $1,000.00 | Free costs less below $1,000; Creator Max costs less above it |
The calculations use the officially listed monthly prices and transaction fees verified in August 2026: Stan Store charges $29 or $99 per month with a 0% platform fee, while Beacons charges 9% on Free and Creator and 0% on Creator Plus and Creator Max.
These are fee-only comparisons, not complete feature recommendations. For example, Beacons Creator Max and Creator Plus both have a 0% transaction fee, so Creator Max’s additional $60/month must be justified by its additional features rather than transaction-fee savings. Annual billing can also change the effective monthly cost.
For comparisons across more services, see creator platform fees compared.
Which is cheaper for occasional sales?
Beacons Free is usually cheaper when sales are low or inconsistent because it has no monthly subscription and charges its 9% platform fee only when a sale occurs (Beacons pricing and fee policy, verified August 2026).
Stan Store’s Creator plan costs $29/month after its 14-day trial even if the creator makes no sales, although its 0% platform transaction fee becomes cheaper than Beacons Free’s 9% fee above approximately $322.22 in monthly sales (Stan Store plan page, verified August 2026).
Payment processing remains separate. Stripe’s standard published US online-card rate is approximately 2.9% plus $0.30 (Stripe pricing, verified August 2026), while PayPal applies the relevant rate from its merchant fee schedule, verified August 2026.
What do Stan Store and Beacons have in common?
Both platforms combine a link-in-bio page with tools for selling digital products, courses, or downloads. Both can route payouts to a creator’s connected Stripe or PayPal account, with processor charges applying separately from platform fees.
Neither company publishes a follower minimum on the official plan pages reviewed in August 2026 (Stan Store plans; Beacons plans). Creators can therefore evaluate either platform without a stated audience-size threshold, although earnings still depend on having an audience willing to buy.
Both platforms work best when the monetizable item is a packaged product, course, download, booking, or storefront offer. The main choice is whether you prefer Stan Store’s fixed subscription and 0% platform fee or Beacons’ free entry point, broader link tools, and tiered fee model.
Where does a paid-fan-interaction tool fit?
Neither Stan Store nor Beacons is centered on making the creator’s personal response the product. Stan Store focuses on products, courses, and bookable coaching. Beacons centers on links and storefront features, although its Requests block can support Q&A, feedback or coaching, 1:1 video, and similar paid offers (Beacons pricing, verified August 2026).
FanBell focuses specifically on recurring fan requests. Creators can turn those requests into fixed paid offers such as Paid Private Questions, Personalized Shoutouts, Creator Services, Tips, and project support.
FanBell has no follower minimum, is free to start with no monthly fee, and charges a 12% platform fee only when a fan pays (FanBell pricing and how it works, verified August 2026). Because FanBell does not host a course library or operate a broad merchandise storefront, creators may use it alongside Stan Store or Beacons rather than as a replacement.
For direct comparisons, see FanBell vs. Stan Store and FanBell vs. Beacons.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stan Store or Beacons cheaper?
Beacons Free is cheaper below approximately $322.22 in monthly sales because 9% of $322.22 is about $29. Stan Store Creator is cheaper above that point because it charges $29/month and a 0% platform transaction fee (Stan Store plans; Beacons fees, verified August 2026).
Stripe or PayPal processing fees apply separately. The calculation also excludes feature differences and annual-billing discounts.
Does Stan Store have a free plan?
No. Stan Store offers a 14-day free trial, followed by Creator at $29/month or Creator Pro at $99/month; it does not list a permanent free plan (Stan Store plan page, verified August 2026).
Beacons has a $0 Free plan, but sales on that plan carry a 9% platform transaction fee (Beacons pricing and fee policy, verified August 2026).
Do I need a minimum number of followers?
Neither Stan Store nor Beacons publishes a follower minimum on the official plan pages reviewed in August 2026 (Stan Store plans; Beacons plans). FanBell also has no follower minimum (pricing, verified August 2026).
A platform may be available at any audience size, but sales still depend on whether followers want the product, service, or interaction being offered.
Can I use these platforms together?
Yes. A creator can use Stan Store or Beacons for products, courses, downloads, and links while using FanBell for one-off paid questions, personalized shoutouts, tips, or small services.
FanBell has no monthly fee and applies its 12% platform fee only after a fan pays, so there is no subscription cost to running it alongside a storefront (FanBell pricing and how it works, verified August 2026).
What should I read next?
For a broader view of platform costs, see creator platform fees compared and FanBell’s pricing. For paid-interaction comparisons, read FanBell vs. Stan Store and FanBell vs. Beacons.
If your fans are already asking you for something specific rather than just buying a product, that's exactly what FanBell is built for. Create your free FanBell page — it's free to start, and the 12% platform fee only applies once a fan actually pays you.