Background
Teachertainment offers free educational items (likely downloadable resources, lesson plans, or activity sheets). The goal is to add a "donate if you'd like" option so users can voluntarily contribute when downloading free content — without making it feel transactional or creating a paywall.
This is commonly called a "Pay What You Want" or "Name Your Price" model, and it's widely used in education, creative, and nonprofit spaces.
Platform Options Compared
1. Buy Me a Coffee
Best for: Simple, low-friction donations
A popular platform that lets creators accept one-time or recurring donations with a friendly "buy me a coffee" metaphor. Extremely simple to set up — just a button or link.
Pros
- Setup in 5 minutes — no coding
- Friendly, non-pushy feel
- Custom amounts or preset ($3, $5, $10)
- Embeddable button for any page
- Supporters can leave messages
- Free to create account
Cons
- 5% platform fee on donations
- Limited customization
- Redirects to external page (unless embedded)
- Not a "pay-per-download" — general tip jar
Cost: Free to set up. 5% transaction fee.
URL: buymeacoffee.com
2. Ko-fi
Best for: Zero-fee donations + selling content
Similar to Buy Me a Coffee but with a key advantage: 0% platform fees on donations (they only charge for premium features). Also supports a "pay what you want" shop for digital downloads.
Pros
- 0% platform fee on donations (free tier)
- Built-in "pay what you want" shop
- Can gate downloads behind optional payment
- Embeddable widget for website
- Supporters can subscribe monthly
- Great for educators
Cons
- PayPal or Stripe processing fees still apply (~2.9% + 30 cents)
- Gold tier ($6/mo) needed for some features
- Less brand recognition than Buy Me a Coffee
Cost: Free tier (0% platform fee). Gold: $6/mo for shop + premium features.
URL: ko-fi.com
3. Gumroad — "Pay What You Want"
Best for: Digital product downloads with optional pricing
Gumroad lets you list any digital product with a minimum price of $0 and a suggested price. Users can download for free OR pay whatever they want. This is the most seamless "donate with download" experience.
Pros
- Set $0 minimum with suggested price (e.g., "Free, but $5 suggested")
- Collects email addresses (great for list building)
- Automatic file delivery after payment/download
- Professional product pages
- Analytics on downloads and revenue
- Embeddable checkout overlay
Cons
- 10% flat fee on paid transactions (significant)
- More "storefront" feel than donation feel
- Requires account creation for buyers (can be friction)
Cost: Free to list. 10% fee on sales (plus processing).
URL: gumroad.com
4. WooCommerce "Name Your Price" Plugin
Best for: Keeping everything on teachertainment.com (WordPress sites)
If Teachertainment runs on WordPress/WooCommerce, this plugin allows "pay what you want" pricing directly on the existing site — no third-party redirect needed.
Pros
- Stays on your own website — no redirects
- Full control over design and experience
- Collects email + payment in one flow
- No platform fees (just payment processing)
- Works with existing WooCommerce setup
Cons
- Requires WordPress + WooCommerce
- Plugin costs $29-49/year
- More setup time than hosted solutions
- Need Stripe or PayPal connected to WooCommerce
Cost: ~$29-49/year for plugin. Standard payment processing fees.
5. Stripe Payment Links (DIY Approach)
Best for: Maximum control, lowest fees
Create a simple Stripe Payment Link with a custom amount field. Embed it as a button next to the free download. Completely custom, no platform middleman.
Pros
- Lowest fees (2.9% + 30 cents only)
- Full control over messaging
- No monthly fees
- Professional checkout experience
- Custom amounts
Cons
- Requires Stripe account setup
- No built-in file delivery
- Separate from download flow (donation is decoupled)
- More technical to implement
Cost: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction only.
Our Recommendation
Primary pick: Ko-fi — It has 0% platform fees, supports "pay what you want" digital downloads, is embeddable on the Teachertainment website, and has a friendly educator-appropriate feel. Users can download for free or choose to support with any amount.
Runner-up: Gumroad — If email list building is the priority, Gumroad's built-in email capture on every download (even $0) makes it incredibly valuable for growing the Teachertainment subscriber list. The 10% fee is only on paid transactions, so free downloads cost nothing.
If WordPress: WooCommerce "Name Your Price" — Best long-term option if the site already runs WooCommerce. Keeps everything on-site with zero platform fees.
Suggested Implementation
User Experience Flow
- User browses free items on Teachertainment site
- Clicks "Download Free Resource"
- Sees a friendly popup or inline message: "This resource is free! If you find it helpful, consider supporting us with a small donation."
- Two buttons: "Download Free" and "Download + Support ($3 / $5 / Custom)"
- Either path delivers the resource immediately
Messaging That Works (Non-Pushy)
On the download page:
"This resource is completely free — no strings attached. If it helps your classroom, consider leaving a small tip to help us create more free content for teachers like you."
[Download Free] [Support with $3] [Support with $5] [Custom Amount]
After download (thank you page):
"Thanks for downloading! If this resource saves you time or makes your students smile, a small donation helps us keep creating. No pressure — your support means the world either way."
In the email follow-up (if using Gumroad/Ko-fi):
"Hey [Name], hope you're enjoying [Resource Name]! Just a reminder — all our free resources are made possible by generous teachers who donate when they can. If you'd like to pay it forward: [Donation Link]"
Key Principle: Never make the user feel guilty for downloading for free. The messaging should celebrate their download and gently mention the donation option as a way to support the mission — not as an obligation.