What information do supporters share? Public & private options
When someone supports you on Ko-fi, they’ll enter a few essential details like their preferred username, email, and an optional message. These details are shared directly with you as part of their payment.
Supporters are in control of how their name appears on your page and whether their message is visible publicly or just between the two of you.
Just so you know, payments go straight into your PayPal or Stripe account. Some details like the supporter’s legal name or address may be shared with you by those payment providers as part of their normal process. You can learn more about what information you receive from supporters here.
What details are shared when a supporter makes a payment?
Whether it's a donation, commission, or shop order, Ko-fi collects the supporter’s display name (or username if logged in) and their email. They can also leave you a public or private message.
These details are used to:
- Send a payment receipt
- Deliver rewards or digital products
- Allow them to create an account to track purchases, access supporter-only content, or contact you via Ko-fi (if messaging is enabled)
Note
If a supporter purchases a physical shop item or joins a membership with physical rewards, we’ll ask for their address so you can ship it.
Names and usernames on your feed
Supporters with an account can choose a display name and profile image that shows when they support you.
If they support you as a guest, they can enter a name or leave it blank to show as “Somebody” on your page. However, if they use an email tied to a Ko-fi account, their Ko-fi username and profile picture will automatically show on your feed, even if they’re logged out. To keep this private, you can suggest they use a different email at checkout.
Supporters with an account can change their name anytime in their Profile Settings.
Note
Display name changes may take a few days to fully update on your feed. If a supporter needs their display name updated urgently, they can contact Ko-fi support.
Supporter email visibility
Every supporter must enter an email address to receive a receipt and any items associated with their payment.
This email address is shared with you, the creator, but it won’t appear publicly on your page.
If a supporter with an account logs out and supports you using the same email linked to their Ko-fi account, their account display name will still show on your feed.
Supporters can update their email from their Account & Billing.
Private & public donation messages
If a supporter chooses to leave a private message, it will only be visible to you. It won't appear on your public feed.
Here’s how private (first) and public (second) messages appear on your feed. A private message only shows the supporter’s display name. A public message shows both the name and message.
How supporters can make a message private
If a supporter left a public message and later wants to make it private, either you or the supporter can hide it from your feed. You’ll still be able to see the message.
Here’s how it’s done:
- Visit your Ko-fi page and find their message on your feed.
- Click the three dots and select Make Message Private.
Supporters need to be logged in to do this. If they supported you as a guest, they can contact you directly or Ko-fi Support to request this change.
Note
If they originally marked the message as private, it can’t be made public later.
Supporter address
We don’t ask for a supporter’s address unless you’re sending something physically. If you're sending physical shop items or membership rewards, we’ll ask supporters for their postal address and a phone number if required.
They can update their address from their Payments & Orders page at any time.
We only ever share this address with you for shipping purposes.
Do supporters need a Ko-fi account?
No, an account is not needed to support you on Ko-fi!
Supporters can create a Ko-fi account to personalize their display name and access supporter-only content.
With an account, they can:
- Track their donations and orders
- Access any exclusive content you have available on Ko-fi
- Send you a message on Ko-fi (if you have the option enabled)
If a supporter hasn't verified their account yet, they can do so by visiting Payments & Orders. We’ll send them a code to complete the process.
What details are shared by PayPal and Stripe?
Ko-fi is a direct payment platform. Payments go directly into your connected PayPal or Stripe account.
Each provider shares slightly different info:
- PayPal shares the supporter’s legal name and email
- Stripe shares the supporter’s legal name, email, the card-linked address, and limited bank details
Supporters can upgrade to a PayPal Business account if they’d like to change the display name shown when they support you.
For a full breakdown of what info is shared, see this article.
Can someone support me anonymously?
When someone supports you on Ko-fi, you’ll always see their display name and email. If you’re sending a physical item, you’ll also get their address.
Because payments go directly through PayPal or Stripe, both providers share some information between you and the supporter.
So, there isn't a way to support someone on Ko-fi without sharing any details at all.
You can find a full breakdown of shared details from payment providers here.
For more info about data processing, see our privacy policy and terms.
Still have questions? Feel free to reach out to us here. We're here to help! 💌