5 StartPlaying Alternatives for DMs Who Want Lower Fees
StartPlaying is the biggest paid DM platform — but at 15%, their fees eat into your income fast. Here are the best alternatives for 2026, compared honestly.
If you're a paid DM, you've probably done the math on StartPlaying's fees. At 15% per session, a DM running four $80 tables per week gives up roughly $2,500/year in platform fees. That's real money.
StartPlaying earned that fee when they were the only game in town. They built the market. But in 2026, there are alternatives worth considering — especially if you already have your own player base and don't rely on StartPlaying for discovery.
Let's break them down honestly.
| Platform | Fee | Discovery | Auto Reminders | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StartPlaying | 15% | High | No | New DMs needing players |
| Scrolld | 5–8% | Growing | Yes | DMs wanting lower fees + automation |
| Fiverr | 20% | High | No | One-shots, broad audience |
| Ko-fi / Patreon | 5–8% | None | No | Established player base |
| Self-hosted | ~3% | None | DIY | Full control, tech-savvy DMs |
1. Scrolld — The low-fee alternative built for DMs
Scrolld
Lowest fees5-8%
platform fee
Pros
- +Lowest platform fees in the market (5-8% vs 15%)
- +Automated 24-hour payment reminders — stops the payment chase
- +VTT integration (pulls data from Roll20 + Fantasy Grounds)
- +DM profile pages with direct booking
- +Free to list your first sessions
Cons
- –Newer platform — smaller player pool than StartPlaying
- –Still building features and community
- –Best for DMs who already have their own players
Verdict: If you already have players and you're tired of giving 15% to StartPlaying for features you don't use, Scrolld is the most direct alternative. The auto-reminder system alone saves hours per week.
Full disclosure: this blog is on the Scrolld website, so take this with appropriate salt. But the fee comparison is straightforward math — on a $100 session, you keep $92–$95 on Scrolld vs $85 on StartPlaying. Over a year of running 3–4 tables per week, that difference adds up to $1,500–$2,000.
2. Fiverr — Broad discovery, highest fees
Fiverr
20%
platform fee
Pros
- +Massive audience — people who've never heard of paid DMing find you here
- +Good for one-shots and intro sessions
- +Built-in review system and buyer protection
- +No TTRPG-specific knowledge needed to book
Cons
- –20% fees — the highest of any platform
- –Fiverr's interface isn't built for recurring sessions
- –You're competing with every other service, not just DMs
- –Clients may not understand TTRPG norms
Verdict: Fiverr works for one-shots and reaching people outside the TTRPG bubble. But at 20% fees and a clunky interface for recurring games, it's not great as your primary platform.
3. Ko-fi / Patreon — Subscription model for established DMs
Ko-fi / Patreon
5-8%
platform fee
Pros
- +Low fees (Ko-fi is 0% on donations, 5% on shop; Patreon is 5-8%)
- +Subscription/membership model for recurring revenue
- +Your players likely already have accounts
- +Can bundle extras (exclusive content, session notes, behind-the-scenes)
Cons
- –Zero discovery — you need to bring your own players
- –Not designed for session scheduling or booking
- –No TTRPG-specific features (no session listings, no reminders)
- –Manual payment tracking for individual sessions
Verdict: Great for DMs with an established audience who want recurring revenue. Works best alongside another platform — use Ko-fi/Patreon for loyal regulars, and a DM platform for new player discovery.
4. Self-hosted (Stripe + website) — Maximum control
Self-hosted
~3%
platform fee
Pros
- +Lowest possible fees (just Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢)
- +Total control over branding, pricing, and experience
- +No platform rules or restrictions
- +Professional appearance with your own domain
Cons
- –Requires technical skills or money to set up a website
- –No built-in discovery — you're on your own for marketing
- –No payment reminders, scheduling, or player management unless you build them
- –Maintaining a website is ongoing work
Verdict: The self-hosted route is ideal for tech-savvy DMs running 5+ tables who want absolute control. But the time investment is significant — you're building a business from scratch, not just running games.
5. Direct payment (PayPal / Venmo / Cash App)
Direct Payment
0-3%
platform fee
Pros
- +Lowest fees — Venmo/Cash App are free for personal payments
- +No platform to learn or manage
- +Instant transfers
- +Players are familiar with these apps
Cons
- –No buyer protection — disputes are messy
- –Manual tracking for everything (who paid, who didn't, when)
- –Looks less professional than a proper booking system
- –No invoicing, reminders, or receipts (unless you do it manually)
- –Tax tracking is entirely on you
Verdict: Works for small, casual groups. But as soon as you're running more than 2 tables or dealing with new players, the lack of structure creates real headaches. Most DMs outgrow this quickly.
So which should you choose?
It depends on where you are in your paid DMing journey:
New DM:Start on StartPlaying or Scrolld for discovery. The fees are worth it when you have no audience. List on both if possible.
Established DM:Move to Scrolld (5–8% vs 15%) or Ko-fi/Patreon for your regulars. Keep a listing on StartPlaying for new player discovery.
Full-time DM:Consider self-hosted for maximum control and minimum fees, with a low-fee platform as backup. The math changes when you're running 5+ tables.
The bottom line: StartPlaying built the paid DM market and deserves credit for that. But at 15%, you should evaluate whether the discovery they provide is worth $2,000+/year — especially if your tables are already full from word of mouth.
Switch to 5–8% fees today
Scrolld gives you lower fees, automated payment reminders, and VTT integration. Free to list your first sessions.
Try Scrolld FreeRelated reading
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