Compared 2026-09-10
On Stan Store and weighing Beacons instead?
The short answer: if you are already running courses or coaching calls on Stan Store, the main reason to look at Beacons is its $0 free tier and broader creator toolset. The trade-off is a 9% seller fee on that free tier, which Stan Store's paid-only plans do not charge.
Side by side
| Question | Stan Store | Beacons |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | None, only a 14-day free trial | $0, 9% seller fee on sales |
| Entry paid tier | $29 a month, Creator | $30 a month, Creator Plus, 0% seller fee |
| Top tier | $99 a month, Creator Pro | Creator Plus is the top published tier |
| Seller fee on paid tiers | None, Stripe or PayPal processing still applies | 0% once on Creator Plus |
| Breadth | Storefront with courses, coaching calls, memberships, email flows, affiliate tools | Media kit, courses, email automation, brand deal tools, an AI assistant |
| Free trial or plan | 14-day free trial, no lasting free plan | $0 free plan, no time limit, 9% seller fee |
| Where you build it | Any browser | Any browser, desktop or phone |
Prices sourced from each provider's own pricing page, 2026-09-10. Pricing changes; verify the provider's checkout before buying.
When Stan Store is the better fit
- Your business is already built around Stan Store's course and coaching-call tools
- You would rather pay a flat monthly fee than any percentage on sales
- Affiliate tools built specifically around one offer matter to your workflow
- You do not want a seller fee eating into free-tier sales
When Beacons is the better fit
- You want a $0 tier to test on before switching entirely
- A media kit and brand deal tools are part of your income, not just direct sales
- You are comfortable paying 9% on the free tier or $30 a month to remove it
- You would rather test a platform for free than commit to a paid trial
Where Fullink fits, as a third option
Neither platform's storefront is something Fullink replaces. What Fullink offers, if you are mainly looking for a cheaper way to hold a single payment link, is Free at $0 for five links and PRO at $9 a month with a Stripe-hosted payment link, without Stan Store's coaching-call scheduling or Beacons' media kit and brand deal tools. If those specific features are why you are on Stan Store, staying is likely still the better fit than moving to a smaller tool. This comparison is really about Stan Store's and Beacons' own tools, not about Fullink at all.
Free covers 5 links at $0. PRO is $9 a month and adds Stripe-hosted payment links, supporter tiers and no Fullink branding.
Questions people ask
- Does switching from Stan Store to Beacons save money?
- It depends on revenue. Beacons' free plan has no monthly cost but takes a 9% seller fee; Stan Store's Creator plan is a flat $29 a month with no seller fee on its own end, so the cheaper option depends on sales volume.
- Does Beacons support coaching calls like Stan Store?
- Beacons focuses more on media kits, courses and brand deals; Stan Store is built more specifically around coaching-call scheduling as part of its storefront.
- Is migrating an active course from Stan Store to Beacons difficult?
- There is no automated migration between the two, so moving an active course typically means re-uploading content and re-enrolling students manually.
- Which platform is better suited to affiliate marketing specifically?
- Stan Store's affiliate tools are built more specifically around a single offer; Beacons spreads its commerce tools more broadly across brand deals, courses and a media kit.
- Would keeping both Stan Store and Beacons ever make sense at once?
- For most creators, no, since the overlap in purpose makes running both an unnecessary cost; picking whichever platform's specific tools match your actual offer is the more practical route.
- Does either platform lock you into a long-term contract?
- Both bill on a recurring basis without requiring a long-term commitment; check each provider's current terms for cancellation policy specifics before signing up.
- Which platform is more established for course creators specifically?
- Stan Store has focused more narrowly on courses, coaching and memberships since it launched; Beacons expanded into that territory alongside its broader creator-business toolset.