Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 changes this month
GitHub Sponsors 3.8Silver 50 pts
Sponsorship directly inside GitHub - developers and organizations fund your open source work monthly or one-time, with no platform fee on personal sponsorships.
- Free to joinNo sign-up fee
- Only in 103 countriesCheck yours below
- Easy sign-upQuick profile or ID check
- How you get paidBank transfer (Stripe)
- Work from homeOnline, from anywhere
- Since
- 2019 7 yrs
Based in- San Francisco, United States
- Web rank
- #34 worldwide
Can you join GitHub Sponsors?
Answer three questions and we check them against GitHub Sponsors's sign-up rules.
Pick your country and age, tick what you have, then press Check. Your answer shows here and in “Can I join?” below.
GitHub Sponsors is an open source funding where anyone can register to start earning, and the work can be done remotely. Fees are No platform fee on personal sponsorships, the minimum payout is $100 for ACH or wire payouts, no set minimum via Stripe Connect (cross-border minimums may apply), earnings are typically paid out monthly, on the 22nd via stripe connect or third thursday via ach or wire, first payout about 60 days after first sponsorship and you can withdraw via Bank transfer (Stripe). Founded in 2019, GitHub Sponsors is based in San Francisco, United States. It is available in 103 countries.
Last updated
Getting paid
What the platform takes, when you get your money and how
Not verified yet: Payment protection Know the answer? Tell us
From the published fees above, before payment-processing, currency or withdrawal charges.
What people actually earn on GitHub Sponsors
Sourced figures from the platform, filings and independent studies
Figures published by GitHub Sponsors or by independent studies and surveys, as dated. Individual earnings vary widely.
What changed
Every update we made to this listing, with the page we checked
2 updates · latest Nov 1, 2026
What changed
Every update we made to this listing, with the page we checked
- Payout speed added: Monthly, on the 22nd via Stripe Connect or third Thursday via ACH or wire, first payout about 60 days after first sponsorship source ↗
- Minimum payout added: $100 for ACH or wire payouts, no set minimum via Stripe Connect (cross-border minimums may apply) source ↗
Every change we make to this listing, with the official page we checked. Recent updates across all platforms →
How complete is this profile?
We have 10 of the 17 things we track for every platform. Fees, payouts, join rules, countries and real earnings count most.
- Plain-English overview
- Payment protection
- Review ratings
- Wikipedia or reference page
- Support channels
- Mobile apps
- Social accounts
- What kind of platform it is
- Year founded
- Headquarters
- Fees
- Minimum payout
- How fast you get paid
- Withdrawal methods
- Join requirements
- Countries it accepts
- Real earnings figures
Every fact is checked against the platform's own pages. How we check →
Our rating
Worked out from the facts on this page, the same way for every platform
Strong on fees and access. Weaker on getting paid.
- Fees5.0
- Getting paid2.3
- Access4.3
- Track record3.5
- Proof of earnings4.0
Not a review of service quality: a score from verified fees, payouts, access, track record and earnings data. How the rating works
Achievements
50 of 100 points from 6 of 14 achievements, Silver tier. Earned from verified facts, never paid for
Verified earningsA sourced figure for what people earn or are paid there+10
Why it matters You can judge the pay from a real number instead of the platform's own promises.
How we check We need a figure for what earners are paid, earn typically, or how many people earn, with a link to the filing, pay page or study it came from.
GitHub Sponsors $40M+ paid out (2026)
Every platform with this badge →Free to joinNo fee to sign up+5
Why it matters Paying to join is a red flag on many work sites. This one costs nothing to start.
How we check The platform's sign-up and pricing pages show no fee to register as an earner.
GitHub Sponsors free
Every platform with this badge →Clear feesPublishes its cut as a percentage+5
Why it matters You can work out what you keep before you start.
How we check The platform publishes its cut as a percentage on its pricing or help pages, which we record as a range when it is tiered.
GitHub Sponsors 0%
Every platform with this badge →Low cutTakes 10% or less of what you earn+10
Why it matters More of every payment reaches you. Many marketplaces take 20% or more.
How we check The highest percentage the platform names in its published fees is 10% or less.
GitHub Sponsors 0%
Every platform with this badge →Top 10K websiteAmong the world's 10,000 most visited sites (Tranco)+5
Why it matters Big platforms have more clients and buyers, and a lot to lose from treating earners badly.
How we check The site ranks in the world's 10,000 most visited on the Tranco list, a research-grade ranking.
GitHub Sponsors #34 worldwide
Every platform with this badge →Fully documentedFees, payouts, countries and company details all verified+15
Why it matters Everything you need to decide is verified here, not left as guesswork.
How we check Fees, payouts, minimum payout, who can join and the company details are all recorded from official pages.
Every platform with this badge →Open worldwideAccepts people from almost every country10
Why it matters Most earning platforms only take people from a handful of countries. This one lets almost anyone join.
How we check The platform's own terms or sign-up pages say it accepts people worldwide, with no more than eight countries left out.
GitHub Sponsors 100+ countries
Every platform with this badge →Low payout barLets you cash out $10 or less5
Why it matters Small earnings are not left stuck in your account waiting for a high threshold.
How we check The platform's published minimum withdrawal is $10 or less, or it has no minimum.
GitHub Sponsors $100 for ACH or wire payouts, no set minimum via Stripe Connect (cross-border minimums may…
Every platform with this badge →Fast payoutsPays out instantly, daily or on demand5
Why it matters Money arrives when you need it, not weeks later.
How we check The platform says payouts are instant, same-day, daily or on demand.
GitHub Sponsors Monthly, on the 22nd via Stripe Connect or third Thursday via ACH or wire, first payout ab…
Every platform with this badge →Payment protectionHolds or guarantees payment before you work10
Why it matters Something stops you working for nothing, such as client money held before the work starts.
How we check The platform publishes how it protects earners' payments: escrow, guaranteed pay or a dispute process.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for GitHub Sponsors.
Every platform with this badge →Loved appA mobile app rated 4.5 or higher5
Why it matters A well-rated app usually means smooth day-to-day work and fewer payout problems.
How we check The platform's app is rated 4.5 or higher on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for GitHub Sponsors.
Every platform with this badge →10 years runningFounded at least 10 years ago5
Why it matters Platforms that have lasted a decade are less likely to vanish with your balance.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 10 years ago.
GitHub Sponsors Founded 2019
Every platform with this badge →20 years runningFounded at least 20 years ago5
Why it matters Two decades of paying people is a strong track record.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 20 years ago.
GitHub Sponsors Founded 2019
Every platform with this badge →Public companyListed on a stock exchange, with audited filings5
Why it matters Listed companies publish audited accounts, so their finances and risks are public.
How we check The company has a stock ticker on a public exchange, with filings we can read.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for GitHub Sponsors.
Every platform with this badge →
How achievements and tiers work · Open any badge for the details
Can I join GitHub Sponsors?
Age, countries, equipment and how sign-up works
Yes, if you live in one of 103 countries.
You need a bank account and a tax ID number. Your profile is reviewed before you start.
Enter your country and age in the quick check and we will tell you here whether GitHub Sponsors accepts you. Your answers stay on your device.
Check with my country103 countries
- A bank account
- A tax ID number
- Sign upFree
- Quick profile or ID reviewBefore you can start
- Do your first workJobs, tasks or sales
Good to know: Needs 2FA on GitHub, a bank account in the same supported region you live in and a W-9 or W-8BEN tax form, review takes a few days.
GitHub Sponsors's official requirements ↗Every platform you can join →
How GitHub Sponsors compares
Against similar platforms in our directory
- Launched in 2019, GitHub Sponsors is newer than most open source funding platforms — 3 of the 5 we track were founded earlier.
Compared with the open source funding platforms in our directory. See them all →
Is GitHub Sponsors legit?
What we could verify about the company
GitHub Sponsors is a real, operating platform. What we could verify:
- Operating since 2019 (7 years)
- Headquartered in San Francisco, United States
- Its domain github.com was registered in 2007 (registry record)
- Among the world's top 1,000 websites by traffic (Tranco rank #34)
Listing last updated October 2026 · how we verify platforms · Missing or out of date? Tell us
GitHub Sponsors in public records
Company filings, web traffic and app store data
- Website rank
- #34 worldwideAmong the top 1,000 sites (github.com)
- Domain registered
- Oct 2007github.com, 19 years ago
Sources: Tranco · RDAP registry. Retrieved October 29, 2026.
GitHub Sponsors timeline
Founding, funding, milestones and news
-
Founded
GitHub Sponsors founded
Headquarters today: San Francisco, United States
-
Milestone
$40M+ paid out
GitHub says more than $40 million has been given back to open source maintainers through GitHub Sponsors, across 103 supported regions.
Source ↗ -
Milestone
0% fee from individuals
GitHub Sponsors takes no fee on sponsorships from personal accounts so 100% reaches the developer, and up to 6% on sponsorships from organization accounts.
Source ↗ -
On FreelanceSites
Added to the FreelanceSites.net directory
Checked against its official pages before listing.
From the platform's own reports and press coverage we checked, plus company records on Wikidata. Know a milestone we're missing? Tell us
Guides
Step-by-step help for this platform
No step-by-step guide for GitHub Sponsors yet. Browse all guides or find the right way to earn for you.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about GitHub Sponsors
How much does GitHub Sponsors charge?
GitHub Sponsors fees: No platform fee on personal sponsorships.
How do you get paid on GitHub Sponsors?
GitHub Sponsors pays out via Bank transfer (Stripe). Minimum payout: $100 for ACH or wire payouts, no set minimum via Stripe Connect (cross-border minimums may apply). Timing: Monthly, on the 22nd via Stripe Connect or third Thursday via ACH or wire, first payout about 60 days after first sponsorship.
Which countries is GitHub Sponsors available in?
103 countries.
How much do people earn on GitHub Sponsors?
GitHub says more than $40 million has been given back to open source maintainers through GitHub Sponsors, across 103 supported regions. Individual earnings vary widely.
Is GitHub Sponsors legit?
Yes, GitHub Sponsors is a real, operating platform: operating since 2019 (7 years), headquartered in San Francisco, United States and its domain github.com was registered in 2007 (registry record). As with any platform, check its current terms before relying on it for income.
What are the best GitHub Sponsors alternatives?
Similar platforms include Polar, Liberapay, Open Collective and Tidelift. Compare their fees and payouts in the alternatives section below.
Compare GitHub Sponsors with…
GitHub Sponsors alternatives
More open source funding like GitHub Sponsors
PolarA funding and monetization platform for developers - sell licenses, subscriptions, and digital products on top of open source, acting as merchant of record.
Fees 4% plus 40 cents per transactionpolar.sh
LiberapayA non-profit platform for recurrent donations to creators and maintainers - no platform fee, only payment processing costs.
Fees No platform fee - payment processing onlyliberapay.com
Open CollectiveTransparent funding for open source projects and communities - collect sponsorships and donations, spend with full public accounting.
Fees Platform and fiscal host fees varyopencollective.com
TideliftPays open source maintainers (as lifters) for keeping packages secure and well-maintained, funded by enterprise subscriptions.
Fees Pays maintainers per package by usagetidelift.com