Circle vs Passes
Side-by-side comparison on fees, payouts, monetization, and audience ownership.
Platform fee
$89/mo + 2% · monthly subscription plus transaction fee
10% · of revenue
Payout speed
weekly
instant
Minimum payout
Stripe default
$50
Countries
Wherever Stripe operates
Primarily US, Stripe-supported
Email list export
Full access
Limited
Custom domain
Yes (custom domain supported)
Yes (subdomain)
Community features
Full-featured: spaces, chat, DMs, live rooms, events
DMs, group chats, 1:1 video calls
Best for
Coaches, creators, and brands running paid communities plus courses under one roof
Mainstream creators, influencers, coaches wanting low-fee subs and merch
Circle vs Passes: which one wins?
Circle charges $89/mo + 2% (monthly subscription plus transaction fee) versus Passes at 10% (of revenue).
On payout speed, Circle pays weekly while Passes pays instant. For creators where cashflow matters, the faster cadence usually wins.
For audience ownership, Circle offers full access email export and Passes offers limited. Email portability matters most for creators planning to migrate later or build a list independent of any single platform.
Best for: Circle suits coaches, creators, and brands running paid communities plus courses under one roof. Passes fits mainstream creators, influencers, coaches wanting low-fee subs and merch.