Tipping is a way to pay a creator directly for work you loved. It's a one-time payment - not a subscription - and it goes straight to them through Stripe.
How to tip
Open a story you want to support, or go to the creator's profile page
Look for the Tip button
Enter an amount and complete the payment
You can pay with a debit card, credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. You don't need a Vocal account to tip - anyone can do it.
How much should I tip?
There's no minimum or set amount. Tip whatever feels right for the work. Even small tips make a real difference, especially for independent creators building an audience.
Does the creator get the full amount?
Almost. A small processing fee is deducted by Stripe before the tip reaches the creator:
Free account creators: 7% fee
Vocal+ creators: 2.9% fee
So a $5 tip to a Vocal+ creator results in about $4.86 in their Wallet.
Tips vs. paid subscriptions
A tip is one-time. A paid creator subscription is monthly and unlocks a Vocal+ creator's Exclusive Stories. Use tips for single payments; subscribe when you want ongoing access to a creator's premium content.
Can I tip anonymously?
Tips are associated with the payment method used, but creators don't see your personal information beyond what you choose to share. If you're using a guest payment (no Vocal account), the creator sees the payment but not your identity.