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What do we restrict on Buy Me a Coffee?

In this guide, you'll learn what content and activities are not allowed on Buy Me a Coffee and how we keep the platform safe.

Updated over a week ago

What we restrict on Buy Me a Coffee

Buy Me a Coffee is built to support creators — writers, musicians, artists, educators, developers, and many more — who are doing meaningful, creative work. Our mission is to make that easier, more sustainable, and more rewarding.

To protect this space and everyone in it, we have clear rules on what can and can’t be shared or sold on the platform. These rules exist to keep Buy Me a Coffee safe, legal, and welcoming for the community we care deeply about.

Most creators never have to think about these restrictions. But we’re laying everything out clearly — no fine print, no gray areas — so expectations are always clear.


What’s not allowed on Buy Me a Coffee

Here are the types of content, activities, and products we do not allow. If you see something missing or unclear, email our team at [email protected] — we’d rather clarify than take action later.


Illegal or prohibited activities

We do not allow anything that breaks the law, violates international regulations, or supports harmful behavior. This includes:

  • IPTV subscriptions or unauthorized streaming services

  • Distribution or sale of illegal drugs and substances

  • Weapons, firearms, explosives, or other dangerous goods

  • Human trafficking, ransom, or bribery

  • Tax evasion or schemes to avoid legal obligations

  • Providing fake references, forged documents, or fake ID services

  • Unauthorized replicas, counterfeit goods, or software keys (e.g. Windows, Steam)

  • Hacked or pirated software, including mods or cheats

  • Selling event tickets or processing payments for events you don’t directly organize


Adult and sexually explicit content

We do not allow adult content, services, or anything sexually explicit. This includes:

  • Pornographic content or explicit sexual material

  • Nudity or fetish content presented in a sexual context (e.g. lingerie, bikini shoots, adult cosplay)

  • AI-generated content that meets the criteria for adult or explicit material

  • Live chat platforms with adult themes

  • Adult video stores

  • Online dating services

  • Fetishes or non-pornographic adult content that leads to confusion or disputes over policy

  • Any content involving minors or non-consensual acts — this is a zero-tolerance violation. Such content will result in immediate and permanent removal and will be reported to the appropriate legal authorities.

Note: Artistic nudity is allowed if it is clearly presented as art, such as life drawing or sculpture, and not sexual in nature.


Violence, harm, and dangerous content

We do not allow anything that promotes or glorifies harm — whether physical, emotional, or psychological. This includes:

  • Violence or harm toward people, property, or animals

  • Self-harm or suicide content, including encouragement or romanticization

  • War glorification — content that praises, romanticizes, or celebrates acts of war or armed conflict, in any format (text, video, images)

  • Extremist ideologies or the promotion of violence

  • Excessive gore or disturbing media

  • Content that exposes private information or doxxes someone without consent


Hate speech and discrimination

We do not tolerate hate in any form. We take this extremely seriously. This includes:

  • Content that promotes hate or violence based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics

  • Slurs, dehumanizing language, or coded dog-whistles

  • Accounts created to attack or harass individuals or communities


Financial and regulated services

We do not support services that require regulation, involve deceptive practices, or fall outside the scope of our platform. This includes:

  • Pyramid schemes or get-rich-quick programs

  • Investment opportunities or passive income claims

  • Cryptocurrency tokens, NFTs, or crypto-related fundraising

  • Debt relief or financial consulting without professional credentials

  • Tax, legal, or financial services offered without licensing

  • Gift cards or resale of digital cash equivalents


Misinformation and harmful claims

We do not allow content that spreads misinformation, especially when it could harm public trust, safety, or well-being. This includes:

  • Health misinformation, including anti-vaccine narratives or fake cures

  • Political or election misinformation

  • Historical denialism or distorted accounts of past events

  • Conspiracy theories, hoaxes, or manipulated content meant to deceive


Misrepresentation and impersonation

We do not allow content or accounts that mislead others by impersonating individuals, organizations, or brands. This includes:

  • Pretending to be another person, including creators, public figures, or team members of Buy Me a Coffee

  • Using AI-generated media (voice, image, video, etc.) to impersonate someone without their clear consent

  • Impersonating or misrepresenting a company, institution, or brand in a way that causes confusion or harm

If you're creating parody or fan content, it must be clearly labeled as such and must not deceive or mislead users.


Fundraising, events, and gambling

We do not allow:

  • Political fundraising or campaign donations

  • Unauthorized raffles, lotteries, sweepstakes, or gambling

  • Gambling content, tips, or systems

  • Event ticket sales or payment processing unless you are the verified host


Regulated or restricted products

Some physical and digital items are not allowed on Buy Me a Coffee, even if legal in your country. These include:

  • Food or drink products

  • Medical products or health supplements

  • Skincare, beauty, or cosmetic products (unless clearly handmade and properly labeled)

  • Any product — digital or physical — you didn’t create or don’t have rights to sell


What happens if these rules are violated

We strictly enforce these policies to protect the community. Violations may result in:

  • Immediate removal of content

  • Account suspension or permanent ban

  • Refunds issued to supporters

  • Reporting to law enforcement where necessary


We're here to help

If you're unsure whether your content is allowed, please reach out to our support team ([email protected]) before posting — we’ll be happy to review and guide you.

Our goal is never to punish, but to protect the creators who make this platform special.


Final note

Buy Me a Coffee reserves the right to determine what violates these guidelines. Our moderation decisions are final and made to protect the platform, its creators, and their supporters.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive. We continuously monitor platform activity and will update this article as needed to include new types of content or behavior we find harmful or inappropriate.

These rules are not here to restrict creativity — they exist to safeguard the amazing, values-driven community we’re building.

Finally, we make no apologies for removing individuals who abuse the platform or put others at risk. If that’s not you, you’re in the right place — we built Buy Me a Coffee for creators like you!

Let’s build something amazing, together.

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