ChatGPT answers, unedited

For a small paid mastermind, I’d look first at Square Subscriptions.

• Square: $0/month for the subscription-management feature, with recurring billing built in. You can create a subscription plan and share a checkout link with members. Square Square
• Processing fees still apply: in the U.S., Square Free currently lists online/subscription payments at 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction. ACH via invoice is 1%, $1 minimum (with a $10 cap). Square
• Stripe: also has no monthly fee for its standard payments account, but Stripe Billing adds 0.7% of Billing volume on its pay-as-you-go plan, on top of payment-processing fees. Stripe Stripe
• PayPal: can handle recurring payments, but its pricing is more complicated, and its U.S. fee schedule includes a $14.99/month Invoice Subscription Service for that particular service. PayPal

My practical setup

For, say, 10–30 mastermind members paying $100/month, I'd use:

Square → one recurring subscription → shareable checkout link → automatic monthly charges.

That gives you no platform subscription fee, while you only pay payment-processing fees when someone actually pays. Square Square

One important distinction: “zero platform fees” doesn't mean zero fees overall. Card processors will still take a percentage/transaction fee unless you collect by a method such as ACH under the applicable pricing.

squareup.com

If you tell me your monthly membership price and approximate number of members, I can calculate the actual monthly cost for Square vs. Stripe vs. PayPal and identify the cheapest setup.

For a small paid mastermind, I’d look at Square first if by “zero platform fees” you mean no monthly software/subscription fee.

• squareup.com — $0/month for the subscription-management software, with recurring weekly/monthly/quarterly/annual billing, payment links, and automatic card charging. You still pay payment-processing fees. Square currently lists 3.3% + $0.30 for subscription payments on its Free plan, though rates can vary by plan/account. Square Square
• stripe.com — more flexible and polished if you want a proper membership/subscription setup. There is no monthly fee on pay-as-you-go Billing, but Stripe charges 0.7% of Billing volume on top of its payment-processing fees. Stripe Stripe
• gumroad.com — no monthly fee and supports memberships, but its 10% + $0.50 per direct transaction makes it substantially more expensive for recurring mastermind dues. Gumroad
• PayPal can do recurring billing, but its US pricing currently lists an additional $10/month for its Recurring Billing add-on, so it doesn't fit your “zero platform fee” requirement as cleanly. PayPal

My practical pick

Square is probably the simplest for, say, 5–30 members paying a fixed monthly amount. You can create a subscription, send members a signup/payment link, and let Square automatically charge them each month—without paying for a separate membership platform. Square Square

If you tell me roughly how many members and what you're charging per month (e.g. 15 people × $200), I can compare the actual monthly fees for Square vs. Stripe and show you the cheapest setup.

For a small mastermind, I’d avoid platforms that add a percentage on top of payment processing. “Zero platform fees” usually still means you pay the card/ACH processor’s normal transaction fee.

My top picks

1. PayPal Subscriptions — simplest/lowest upfront cost

• $0 monthly/setup fee for recurring payments.
• PayPal handles the recurring charges automatically.
• Current U.S. standard card rate is 2.99% + fixed fee; PayPal's subscription page advertises recurring payments with no monthly/setup fee. PayPal PayPal
• Great if you just need: “Join → enter card → get charged monthly.”
• Downside: less polished as a dedicated mastermind/community platform.
• Checkout Page + Stripe — best if you want a nicer membership checkout

• Free tier up to $3,000/month in sales and 0% platform fee; you pay Stripe's normal processing costs.
• Handles subscription checkout without requiring you to build the billing system yourself. Checkout Page
• Better choice if you want a branded checkout/payment page.
• Senvow — interesting option for a membership community

• Advertises $0 platform fee and $0 monthly fee, with payments going through your own payment account.
• Supports memberships and recurring payments. Senvow
• I'd consider this if you want more of a membership experience rather than simply collecting payments.

What I'd choose

For 10–50 mastermind members, I'd start with PayPal Subscriptions if simplicity is the priority, or Checkout Page + Stripe if you want the experience to look more professional.

If you tell me your monthly membership price (e.g. $100/month), approximate member count, and whether you need a community/chat component, I can calculate the actual monthly cost of 3–5 options and tell you which is cheapest.

If by “zero platform fees” you mean no monthly software fee—while accepting that the payment processor will still take its normal card-processing fee—I'd shortlist these:

1. squareup.com — best overall for a small mastermind

• $0/month for Square Subscriptions; no fixed subscription-platform fee. Square
• Supports recurring subscriptions and recurring invoices.
• Easy to send members a payment/checkout link without building a website.
• Particularly attractive if you want something non-technical.
• Square's recurring invoices are free to send; you pay processing when members actually pay. Square
• stripe.com — best if you want a more polished/expandable setup

• No monthly fee for Stripe Billing's pay-as-you-go option, although Billing adds 0.7% of billing volume on top of payment processing. Stripe
• Payment Links can sell subscriptions with no code. Stripe
• Better than Square if you eventually want a sophisticated membership site, automation, or integrations.
• paypal.com — simplest alternative

• Recurring payments have $0 monthly/setup fee and currently list 3.49% + $0.49 per U.S. transaction. PayPal
• Very easy for members who already use PayPal, but the per-transaction cost is relatively high.

What I'd choose

For a small mastermind charging, say, $50–$300/month per member, I'd start with Square. You get recurring billing without paying for a separate membership/billing platform, and the setup is straightforward.

One important distinction: “zero platform fees” doesn't mean zero fees altogether. You'll still pay payment-processing fees. For example, Square's processing rate depends on how the member pays.

If you tell me your monthly membership price and roughly how many members you expect (e.g. 10, 25, 50), I can compare the actual monthly cost of Square vs. Stripe vs. PayPal and identify the cheapest option.

If by “zero platform fees” you mean no monthly software fee and no extra percentage taken by the membership platform—while accepting that the payment processor will still charge card-processing fees—I'd shortlist these:

🥇 Best fit: Stripe + a simple membership layer

Stripe is probably the cleanest option for a small mastermind.

• $0/month for standard Stripe Payments.
• Card processing is currently 2.9% + $0.30 per successful domestic card transaction. Stripe
• It supports recurring subscriptions.
• You can use Stripe-hosted checkout/payment links rather than building anything yourself. Stripe
• Important: Stripe Billing itself adds 0.7% of billing volume, so if “zero platform fee” is the goal, you should account for that rather than assuming recurring billing is completely free. Stripe

For example, on a $500/month mastermind membership, card processing is roughly $14.80, plus potentially $3.50 for Stripe Billing.

💰 Cheapest/simple alternative: Gumroad

Gumroad supports recurring memberships with monthly, quarterly, semiannual, and annual billing. Gumroad

The downside is that it's not actually zero-fee: Gumroad charges 10% + $0.50 per direct transaction, in addition to payment processing in some configurations. Gumroad

So I'd avoid Gumroad for a high-priced mastermind. At $500/month, 10% is far too expensive.

My recommendation

For a small mastermind charging, say, $100–$1,000/month, I'd use:

Stripe → recurring payments → private community (Slack/Discord/Circle) → automated member access

That keeps the payment infrastructure inexpensive and avoids giving a membership platform 5–10% of every dollar.

One caveat: if you want literally 0% platform fee beyond unavoidable card/ACH processing, there are self-hosted/open-source billing options, but they require considerably more setup.

If you tell me your monthly membership price and approximate number of members (e.g. 15 members × $300/month), I can compare the actual monthly cost of Stripe, Square, PayPal, Gumroad, and a couple of zero-platform-fee options and tell you which is cheapest.

For a small mastermind group, I’d prioritize no monthly/platform fee, simple recurring payments, and low payment-processing costs.

My top picks

• squareup.com — best overall for simplicity. Square Subscriptions has no monthly fee or fixed subscription cost. You still pay payment-processing fees on each transaction. Square Square
• paypal.com — easiest no-code option. PayPal's recurring payments have $0 monthly and setup fees, with its current listed U.S. rate of 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction. It supports monthly/annual billing and automatic retries. PayPal
• stripe.com — best if you want a more polished membership/payment system. Stripe has no monthly fee on its standard payments plan, but Stripe Billing adds 0.7% of recurring billing volume, on top of payment processing (currently 2.9% + $0.30 for domestic cards). Stripe Stripe

What I'd choose

If you're literally just 10–30 people paying, say, $100–$500/month, I'd start with Square. You get recurring subscriptions without paying for a separate membership platform.

If you want the absolute simplest setup—send someone a payment/subscription link and let the system handle the monthly charge—PayPal is worth considering.

One important distinction: “zero platform fees” doesn't mean zero fees. All of these still charge payment-processing fees. If by zero fees you mean you want members to pay by ACH/bank transfer so you avoid card fees as much as possible, I can compare the cheapest setups for that specifically.

For a small mastermind group, I’d start with Square—specifically Square Free + recurring subscriptions/payment links.

• $0 monthly/platform fee on the Free plan; you only pay when someone pays you. Square Square
• It supports recurring payments/subscriptions, so members can be charged automatically each month. Square Square
• For online card payments, the current standard rate is 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction on Square Free. Square
• You can also offer ACH, which is substantially cheaper: 1% with a $1 minimum on invoices, with a cap depending on the plan. Square
• Members don't need a Square account to pay.

For example, if your mastermind is $250/month and you have 10 members, you'd collect $2,500/month. Card processing would be roughly $85.50/month, with no separate platform subscription.

squareup.com

One important distinction

"Zero platform fees" doesn't mean zero payment-processing fees. Virtually every legitimate platform that handles the payment charges processing fees. If by "zero fees" you mean literally 0%, you'd generally need members to pay via something like bank transfer rather than cards.

My pick: Square if you want the simplest setup with recurring billing and no monthly software cost.

If you tell me your monthly membership price and roughly how many members you expect, I can compare Square vs. Stripe vs. a couple of other options and calculate the actual monthly cost for your mastermind.

If by “zero platform fees” you mean no monthly software/platform charge, while still accepting normal payment-processing fees, I’d keep it very simple.

My pick: PayPal Subscriptions

For a small mastermind, paypal.com is probably the lowest-friction option:

• $0/month
• $0 setup fee
• Automatic recurring charges
• Built for memberships/subscriptions
• No separate membership platform required
• Current US pricing shown by PayPal: 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction PayPal
• You can send members through a hosted checkout rather than building anything technical.

For example, on a $200/month membership, you'd pay about $7.47 in processing, leaving $192.53.

Better UX: Stripe

stripe.com is what I'd choose if you expect the mastermind to grow or want a more polished subscription-management experience.

The catch is that Stripe now charges 0.7% of recurring Billing volume on top of payment processing. US card processing starts at 2.9% + $0.30, so it isn't truly zero-platform-fee. Stripe Stripe

Stripe does give you useful things like:

• Hosted subscription checkout
• Automatic recurring billing
• Customer self-service billing portal
• Failed-payment retries
• Payment links with no coding Stripe Stripe

What I'd do for your group

If you're 5–30 members and just want to collect dues, I'd start with PayPal. Don't pay for a dedicated community/membership platform unless you actually need its community features.

If you're charging something like $100–$500/month, I can also compare PayPal vs Stripe vs Square vs a few $0/month membership platforms and calculate the actual fees for, say, 10, 20, and 50 members.

If by “zero platform fees” you mean no monthly software fee and no extra platform percentage on top of normal payment processing, I’d shortlist these:

🥇 Best fit: Stripe

Stripe is probably the cleanest choice for a small mastermind.

• No monthly fee on standard pricing. Stripe
• Recurring subscriptions can be created with Payment Links, so you don't need to build a website or code an integration. Stripe
• Standard U.S. card processing is 2.9% + $0.30 per successful charge. Stripe
• Important: Stripe Billing itself adds 0.7% of Billing volume on the pay-as-you-go plan. Stripe

So Stripe isn't literally zero-fee for recurring billing; it has a small Billing fee in addition to payment processing.

🥈 PayPal — potentially simpler/cheaper for your use case

PayPal offers recurring payments with:

• $0 monthly fee
• $0 setup fee
• 3.49% + $0.49 per U.S. transaction for its recurring-payments product. PayPal
• Built-in recurring billing, failed-payment retries, subscription management, and payment links. PayPal

For a small mastermind, this can actually be easier than Stripe if you're happy accepting PayPal.

What I would avoid

Gumroad is attractive because it has no monthly fee and supports memberships, but it charges 10% + $0.50 per direct transaction, before certain underlying processing fees. Gumroad Gumroad That's unnecessarily expensive for a mastermind.

My recommendation

If you're charging something like $100–$500/month per member, I'd go with Stripe Payment Links + recurring subscriptions despite the 0.7% Billing fee. It's professional, easy for members, and gives you much better control as the group grows.

If your priority is absolute lowest cost and you don't need sophisticated subscription management, I'd also compare ACH-based recurring payments, since card processing can become significant.

If you tell me roughly how much you're charging per member/month and how many members you expect (e.g. 10 × $250/mo), I can calculate the actual monthly cost of Stripe vs PayPal vs ACH and tell you which is cheapest.

For a small mastermind group charging recurring membership dues, I’d shortlist these:

1. squareup.com — my top pick for simplicity

• $0/month platform fee
• Handles recurring weekly/monthly/annual payments.
• Members can subscribe through a shareable checkout link.
• Current online processing is roughly 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction on Square Free, depending on the payment method/setup. Square Square
• Very little technical setup—good if you just want to send members a link and collect dues.
• stripe.com — best if you want a more polished membership/payment system

• No monthly fee on the pay-as-you-go Billing plan.
• Billing adds 0.7% on top of Stripe's payment-processing fees.
• Stripe's standard domestic card rate is 2.9% + $0.30, so recurring card payments effectively start around 3.6% + $0.30. Stripe Stripe
• Excellent if you eventually want a website, automated member management, coupons, trials, invoices, etc.
• paypal.com — easiest if your members already use PayPal

• $0 monthly fee and $0 setup fee for recurring payments.
• PayPal currently lists 3.49% + $0.49 per USD transaction for its recurring-payment offering. PayPal
• Convenient, but generally more expensive per transaction than Stripe/Square for a typical membership.

What I'd choose

For, say, 10–30 members paying $100–$300/month, I'd start with Square. You don't need a dedicated "membership platform" eating another 5–10% of your revenue. Create one recurring subscription, send the checkout link to your members, and let Square handle automatic charges.

If you expect the mastermind to grow substantially or want a professional member portal + more sophisticated automation, I'd choose Stripe instead.

One important distinction: "zero platform fees" doesn't mean zero fees. You'll still pay the underlying card/ACH processing fee. The options above don't charge you an additional monthly membership-platform fee.

If you tell me your monthly membership price, number of members, and whether you need ACH/bank payments, I can calculate the actual monthly cost for Square vs. Stripe vs. PayPal and tell you which is cheapest.

For a small mastermind group, I’d recommend squareup.com.

• $0 monthly/platform fee on Square Free. Square
• Built-in recurring subscriptions—weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually. Square
• You can create a shareable signup/payment link, so members can subscribe without you building a website. Square
• Current U.S. Square subscription pricing is 2.8% + $0.30 per transaction on its subscription product, with no monthly fee. Square
• It supports membership-style recurring payments specifically. Square

One important distinction

If by “zero platform fees” you mean literally no fee beyond credit-card processing, Square fits well. If you mean zero fees of any kind, essentially no mainstream card-billing platform can do that—the payment processor still charges a transaction fee.

Stripe is another excellent option, but it's less attractive for a small group because Stripe Billing adds 0.7% on recurring billing volume, on top of payment-processing fees. Stripe Stripe

For example, on 10 members paying $100/month, Square's subscription processing would be roughly $31/month in fees, leaving $969.

If you tell me your monthly membership price and approximate number of members, I can compare Square vs. Stripe vs. a couple of other low-cost options and tell you which will cost the least.

For a small mastermind group, I’d prioritize $0 monthly cost + 0% platform fee, while accepting the unavoidable card/ACH processing fee.

My top picks

• checkoutpage.com — Best overall for your use case. It supports subscriptions on your own Stripe account and, according to a recent 2026 comparison, has a free tier up to $3,000/month in sales with 0% platform fees. You’d pay Stripe’s normal payment-processing fees. Checkout Page
• withflintpay.com — Worth considering if you want payments, payment links, invoicing, and subscriptions in one place. Its $0/month Developer plan explicitly charges 0% platform fee on subscriptions; card processing is 3.79% + $0.30, while ACH is 0.70%. Flint Pay
• stripe.com + Stripe Billing — The most established option, especially if you want flexibility and don't mind a little setup. Stripe Billing itself adds a percentage fee for recurring billing on top of payment processing, so it's not quite as cheap as a truly 0%-platform-fee setup. Stripe

What I'd choose

For, say, 10–30 members paying $50–$200/month, I'd start with Checkout Page + Stripe. It's inexpensive, supports recurring subscriptions, and avoids giving a percentage of every membership payment to a separate mastermind/community platform.

One important distinction: “zero platform fees” doesn't mean zero fees overall. You'll still pay the payment processor (Stripe/card network or ACH) unless members pay by a method that costs you nothing.

If you tell me your monthly membership price, approximate number of members, and whether you want credit cards, ACH, or both, I can compare the actual monthly cost of 3–4 options and tell you which is cheapest.

If by “zero platform fees” you mean no monthly software fee or percentage-of-revenue platform fee—while accepting that card processors still charge payment-processing fees—I'd shortlist these:

🥇 Best fit: Square Subscriptions

Square is probably the simplest choice for a small mastermind.

• $0/month for Square Subscriptions.
• Recurring billing can run weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually.
• You can create checkout links and send them directly to members.
• Members' cards can be charged automatically.
• Square doesn't add a separate subscription-management/platform fee; you pay the normal payment-processing fee. Square Square
• In the U.S., Square Free currently lists online/invoice card payments at 3.3% + $0.30, with ACH via invoice at 1% ($1 minimum). Square

squareup.com

🥈 PayPal — easiest if your members already use it

PayPal has built-in recurring payments with $0 monthly/setup fees. Its current U.S. recurring-payment rate is 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction. PayPal

That's attractive for a small group because there's essentially no software overhead, although the per-transaction fee is relatively high for inexpensive memberships.

paypal.com

🥉 Stripe — best if you want to grow/customize

Stripe is excellent if your mastermind might eventually need a website, member portal, coupons, trials, multiple membership tiers, etc.

The catch: Stripe Billing itself now charges 0.7% of Billing volume, on top of payment-processing fees. Standard U.S. card processing is 2.9% + $0.30. Stripe Stripe

So it doesn't meet your strict “zero platform fee” requirement as well as Square or PayPal.

stripe.com

My recommendation

For a small mastermind group, I'd start with Square:

Member → Square checkout link → recurring monthly charge → automatic receipts → money deposited to your bank.

It's inexpensive, doesn't require you to build anything, and avoids paying for a separate membership platform.

One important distinction: “zero platform fees” doesn't mean zero fees overall. You'll still pay the payment processor when someone pays by card/ACH. If you tell me your monthly membership price (e.g. $100, $250, $500) and number of members, I can calculate the cheapest option in actual dollars for your group.

If by “zero platform fees” you mean no monthly software fee or extra fee just for having recurring subscriptions (while accepting normal payment-processing fees), I’d shortlist these:

• squareup.com — best overall for a small mastermind. Square says Subscriptions has no monthly fee or fixed cost, and you can create/manage recurring membership plans from the dashboard. In the U.S., online subscription payments are generally subject to payment processing fees (currently listed as 2.9% + $0.30 for subscription payments via Square's API). Square Square
• paypal.com — simplest if you just need to charge members automatically. There’s $0 monthly and $0 setup fee, but PayPal currently lists 3.49% + $0.49 per U.S. transaction for recurring payments. PayPal
• stripe.com — best if you want a more sophisticated membership/payment setup. Stripe Billing has no recurring software fee on its pay-as-you-go plan, but adds 0.7% of billing volume on top of Stripe's payment-processing fees, so it isn't actually “zero fees” for recurring billing. Stripe

My pick for your mastermind

Start with Square. If you have, say, 10–30 members paying $100–$500/month, it's inexpensive, straightforward, and you don't need to build a website or technical billing system. You can set up a recurring membership and let Square handle automatic charges.

One important distinction: there isn't really a mainstream card-billing platform that charges literally zero fees—someone still has to pay the card/ACH processing cost. What you can avoid is an additional platform/subscription fee.

If you tell me your monthly membership price and roughly how many members you expect, I can compare Square vs. Stripe vs. PayPal and calculate the actual monthly cost for your group.

If by “zero platform fees” you mean no monthly software fee and no extra percentage taken by the membership platform, I’d keep the stack very simple:

Best fit: Stripe

stripe.com

For a small mastermind, Stripe + Stripe Payment Links is probably the easiest setup. You can create a recurring subscription payment link without building a website or custom checkout. Stripe says Payment Links are included with its standard Payments pricing, with no separate Payment Link fee. Stripe Stripe Docs

Why I’d choose it:

• $0 monthly platform fee
• No separate subscription-management platform required
• Recurring monthly/annual billing
• Members can manage their subscriptions
• Easy payment link you can put in your onboarding email
• Excellent bookkeeping/export integrations
• You pay the normal payment-processing fee, rather than a second “platform” fee

The important distinction: there isn't really a legitimate payment processor with literally zero fees. Someone has to process the card/ACH transaction. What you can avoid is an additional platform fee on top of processing.

If most members are comfortable with bank payments: GoCardless

gocardless.com

This is worth considering if your mastermind is primarily US-based and you're charging meaningful recurring amounts. GoCardless specializes in recurring ACH/bank payments and has no setup or monthly fee on its standard offering; it charges per transaction instead. Its US Standard pricing is currently 0.5% + $0.05 per transaction, capped at $5 for domestic payments. GoCardless

For example, on a $500/month membership, that's only $2.55 in processing versus typical card processing costs.

What I'd avoid

I wouldn't use a dedicated “membership platform” unless you actually need community/membership-management features. Many of them add 5–10%+ platform fees or a monthly subscription, which is unnecessary if all you need is:

Member signs up → recurring payment → automatic receipt → failed-payment handling → you get paid.

My recommendation: Start with Stripe Payment Links if convenience and card payments matter most. If your group is small, established, and willing to pay by ACH, GoCardless could be substantially cheaper.

If you tell me your membership price (e.g. $100/$500/$1,000 per month), number of members, and whether you want cards or ACH, I can calculate the cheapest setup for you.

For a small mastermind, I’d prioritize no monthly/platform fee + automatic recurring charges + a simple checkout link.

My top picks

1. squareup.com — best overall for simplicity

• $0/month for the subscription-management software.
• Supports recurring weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual billing.
• You can create a checkout link and send it to members.
• You pay payment-processing fees when someone pays; Square currently lists 3.3% + $0.30 for online transactions on its Payment Links page. Square Square
• Very little technical setup.
• paypal.com — easiest if your members already use PayPal

• $0 monthly fee / $0 setup fee.
• Built-in recurring billing and subscription management.
• Current listed transaction rate is 3.49% + $0.49 per U.S. transaction. PayPal
• Good if you want something familiar and don't need a sophisticated membership site.
• stripe.com — best if you want to build something more sophisticated

• Stripe itself has no recurring subscription fee on the pay-as-you-go Billing plan.
• However, Stripe Billing adds 0.7% of billing volume, on top of Stripe's payment-processing fees. Stripe Stripe
• Excellent if you eventually want a website, automated member portal, coupons, trials, different plans, etc.
• For a tiny mastermind, though, I'd probably avoid paying the extra Billing percentage unless you need its features.

What I'd choose

Square is probably the sweet spot for your situation: $0 platform fee, recurring billing, payment links, and minimal setup. You could have something like:

Mastermind Membership — $100/month
Automatically billed monthly
Cancel anytime

…and send members one Square checkout link.

One important distinction: "zero platform fees" doesn't mean zero fees overall. You will still pay the payment processor's transaction fee unless members pay by a genuinely fee-free method such as certain ACH arrangements. Square, for example, explicitly says its processing fees are deducted from each transaction. Square

If you tell me roughly how many members you expect and the monthly price (e.g. 10 members × $100/month), I can compare the actual monthly cost of Square vs. Stripe vs. PayPal and tell you which is cheapest.

If by “zero platform fees” you mean no monthly platform fee and no percentage taken by the membership platform, I’d shortlist these:

1. stripe.com — best overall for a small mastermind

• No monthly fee on the pay-as-you-go plan.
• Recurring billing/subscriptions are supported.
• Stripe Billing itself charges 0.7% of Billing volume, on top of normal payment-processing fees, so it isn't literally zero-fee. Stripe Stripe
• You can create payment links/checkout without building a full website. Stripe
• Best if: you want a professional, simple payment setup and don't need a full membership website.
• payhip.com — best if you want membership features

• Free plan: $0/month + 5% transaction fee.
• $99/month Pro: 0% Payhip transaction fee (you still pay Stripe/PayPal processing).
• Supports recurring memberships, multiple tiers, weekly/monthly/annual billing, member portals, and automated failed-payment emails. Payhip Payhip
• Best if: you want members to have a login/portal and potentially want to distribute resources alongside the mastermind.
• gumroad.com — easiest, but expensive

• No monthly fee.
• But it takes 10% + $0.50 per transaction, plus applicable payment processing, so I wouldn't choose it for a recurring mastermind. Gumroad Gumroad

My recommendation

For a small mastermind, I'd start with Stripe Billing. You can make something as simple as:

Mastermind — $100/month
Recurring membership • Cancel anytime
[Join & Pay]

Members enter their card once, and Stripe handles the recurring charges, failed payments, receipts, etc.

If you tell me roughly how many members you expect and your monthly price (e.g. 12 members × $150/month), I can compare the actual monthly cost of Stripe vs Payhip and tell you which is cheapest. Stripe Payhip

If your priority is low cost + recurring billing + 0% platform fee, I’d keep it simple and look at these:

1. Stripe — my top pick if you want a professional setup. There’s no monthly/platform fee on standard pricing; you pay payment processing (currently 2.9% + $0.30 for domestic cards). Stripe Billing itself can add 0.7% of recurring billing volume, so it isn't literally zero-fee for automated subscriptions. Stripe Stripe Support

stripe.com

2. PayPal Recurring Payments — very easy for a small mastermind. PayPal lists $0 monthly and $0 setup fees, with a standard transaction fee of 3.49% + $0.49 for USD transactions. PayPal PayPal

paypal.com

3. Ko-fi Gold — attractive if you also want a simple membership page/community-facing storefront. Gold is $12/month with 0% Ko-fi service fee, although PayPal/Stripe processing fees still apply. Ko-fi Ko-fi Help

ko-fi.com

What I'd choose for a mastermind

For, say, 10–30 members paying $100–$300/month, I'd use Stripe + a simple membership/community platform rather than Patreon, Kajabi, etc. You avoid a large platform percentage and keep control of the customer relationship.

One important distinction: "zero platform fees" doesn't mean zero fees overall. Someone still has to process the card/ACH payment. Stripe and PayPal charge processing fees, while some membership platforms add their own percentage on top.

If you tell me roughly how many members you expect, monthly price (e.g. $100/month), and whether you need a community/chat component, I can narrow this down to the cheapest setup and estimate your actual monthly fees.

For a small mastermind group, I’d prioritize $0 monthly/platform fee + simple recurring payments + easy member self-service.

My top pick: Square Subscriptions

squareup.com is probably the best fit if you want something cheap and extremely simple.

• $0/month for the subscription functionality.
• Members can be charged automatically on a recurring schedule.
• You can create a shareable checkout link and send it to members.
• Members can update payment information, and you can pause/resume subscriptions.
• Square specifically supports recurring membership fees.
• You pay payment-processing fees rather than a separate platform subscription fee. Square Square

Also worth considering: PayPal

paypal.com has $0 monthly and $0 setup fees and supports recurring subscriptions. Its listed U.S. transaction pricing is 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction, so it's particularly easy to get started but can be relatively expensive for smaller monthly memberships. PayPal

Stripe

stripe.com is my choice if you expect the mastermind to become more sophisticated. It supports subscriptions, payment links, customer billing portals, trials, coupons, and more. However, Stripe Billing currently adds 0.7% of Billing volume on top of Stripe's payment-processing fees, so it's not actually the lowest-cost option for a tiny group. Stripe Stripe

What I'd do

For 10–50 mastermind members paying a fixed monthly amount, I'd start with Square. You don't need a membership-management platform like Circle, Kajabi, or Memberstack just to collect recurring dues.

For example, if you charge $100/month, Square's processing fee is the main cost; there isn't a separate monthly subscription-platform fee. Square

One important distinction: “zero platform fees” doesn't mean zero fees overall—card/payment processors still take a transaction fee. If you tell me your monthly membership price and approximate number of members, I can compare Square vs. Stripe vs. PayPal and calculate the actual monthly cost for your group.

For a small mastermind group, I’d start with squareup.com.

Best fit: Square Subscriptions

• $0/month for the subscription-management software.
• Supports weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual recurring payments.
• You can create a shareable checkout link, so members can subscribe without you building a website.
• No separate “platform” subscription fee; you pay payment-processing fees when someone pays. Square Square
• In the U.S., Square currently lists subscription payments at 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction on its Free plan. ACH is substantially cheaper at 1%, $1 minimum, with a $10 cap in the listed configuration. Square

So, for example, on a $100/month membership, you'd pay about $3.60 in card processing and keep $96.40.

One important distinction

If by “zero platform fees” you mean literally zero fees beyond the underlying payment processor, Square is a strong choice. Stripe also has no monthly/setup fee, but Stripe Billing adds 0.7% of recurring billing volume on top of its payment-processing fees, making it less attractive for a tiny membership group. Stripe Stripe

My recommendation: Square if you want simple + cheap + no-code. Set up one subscription product (e.g. “Mastermind Membership — $100/month”), send members the checkout link, and let Square handle recurring charges.

If you tell me your monthly membership price and roughly how many members you expect, I can compare Square vs. Stripe vs. a couple of other low-cost options and calculate your actual monthly fees.

For a small mastermind group, I’d prioritize something with $0 monthly/platform fee, recurring subscriptions, payment links, and minimal setup.

My top pick: squareup.com

Square is probably the best fit if you want simple, low-cost, no-code recurring billing:

• $0/month for the subscription-management feature—no platform fee. Square Square
• Members can subscribe through a shareable checkout link.
• Supports weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual billing. Square
• You can manage subscriptions, update payment information, pause/resume memberships, etc.
• You still pay payment-processing fees when someone pays; that's unavoidable with card payments. Square currently lists its online Payment Link rate at 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction, though rates can vary by payment method/account. Square

Other good options

paypal.com also has $0 monthly and setup fees, with recurring payments available for memberships. Its current listed recurring-payment rate is 3.49% + $0.49 per USD transaction. PayPal

stripe.com has no recurring platform fee on its pay-as-you-go Billing plan, but charges 0.7% of Billing volume on top of Stripe's payment-processing fees. So for a tiny mastermind, I'd generally choose Square instead. Stripe

Bottom line: If you're charging, say, 10–30 people $100–$500/month, I'd start with Square. You can create a membership plan, generate one checkout link, send it to your members, and let Square handle the recurring charges without paying for another membership platform.

If you tell me your monthly membership price and approximate number of members, I can compare the actual monthly cost of Square vs. Stripe vs. PayPal for your group.

For a small mastermind, I’d shortlist Square first.

• squareup.com — $0/month platform fee, with recurring membership payments built in. Square explicitly supports membership fees and lets you generate checkout links. You pay payment-processing fees when members pay. Square Square
• stripe.com — also has no recurring platform fee on its pay-as-you-go Billing plan, but adds 0.7% of recurring billing volume on top of payment-processing fees. It's more powerful if you expect to build a sophisticated membership system. Stripe
• paypal.com — supports subscriptions without requiring you to build your own billing system, but I'd choose Square over it for a simple mastermind because Square's membership/subscription workflow is more directly suited to this use case. PayPal

My pick

Square if you want: “Send members a link → they enter their card → Square automatically charges them every month → we don't pay a monthly software fee.”

One important distinction: “zero platform fees” doesn't mean zero fees overall. You will still pay payment-processing fees on successful transactions.

If you tell me roughly how much you're charging per member/month and how many members you expect, I can compare the actual monthly cost of Square vs. Stripe (including processing fees) and tell you which is cheapest.

If by “zero platform fees” you mean no monthly software fee and no extra percentage taken by the membership platform—while accepting that the payment processor still charges its normal processing fee—I'd shortlist these:

My pick: Square

For a small mastermind, Square Subscriptions is probably the sweet spot. Its subscription-management functionality has no monthly fee or fixed cost, and it supports weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual recurring payments, plus checkout links you can send directly to members. Square Square

You'd still pay payment processing—for online card payments, Square currently lists 3.3% + $0.30. Square

For example, on a $100/month membership, that's about $3.60 per member/month in processing, with no additional Square subscription/platform charge.

If minimizing fees is the absolute priority

I'd also look at ACH/bank payments rather than cards. Card processing can eat a meaningful chunk of a mastermind's revenue. Square and PayPal both support bank-payment options, although the exact rates and eligibility differ.

PayPal is another straightforward option: its recurring-payments product has $0 monthly and $0 setup fees, with its standard recurring-payment rate currently listed as 3.49% + $0.49 per USD transaction. PayPal

I would not choose Stripe Billing if “zero platform fees” is your primary criterion. Stripe's underlying payment platform has no monthly fee, but Stripe Billing itself charges 0.7% of Billing volume on its pay-as-you-go plan, on top of payment processing. Stripe Stripe

Bottom line: For ~5–50 mastermind members, I'd start with Square Subscriptions + a payment/checkout link. It's inexpensive, requires very little technical setup, and doesn't impose a recurring software fee.

If you tell me your membership price and approximate number of members, I can compare the actual monthly cost of Square vs. PayPal vs. Stripe (including card vs. ACH) for your group.

For a small mastermind group, I’d start with Square Subscriptions.

• $0 monthly/platform fee — Square explicitly says its subscription management has no monthly cost. Square Square
• Recurring billing built in — weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, etc. Square
• Shareable checkout link — members can sign up themselves without you building a website. Square
• Automatic recurring charges and tools to update payment methods, pause, resume, or cancel subscriptions.
• You still pay payment-processing fees; “zero platform fees” doesn't mean zero fees. Square's online payment-link pricing is currently listed at 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction, though rates can vary by payment type/plan. Square Square

squareup.com

Two alternatives worth considering

PayPal — $0 monthly and $0 setup fee for recurring payments, with recurring billing at 3.49% + $0.49 per USD transaction. It's particularly convenient if your members already use PayPal. PayPal

paypal.com

Stripe — excellent if you eventually want a more sophisticated membership site or custom checkout. Stripe itself has no monthly fee on standard pricing, but Stripe Billing adds 0.7% of billing volume on its pay-as-you-go plan, on top of payment-processing fees. Stripe Stripe

stripe.com

My pick

For 10–50 mastermind members and simple monthly dues, I'd choose Square. It's inexpensive, requires essentially no technical setup, and gives you a straightforward recurring-payment link.

One important distinction: if by “platform” you mean a platform that also hosts the mastermind community/content (e.g., discussions, calls, member directory, resources) and handles recurring payments with no platform fee, that's a different shortlist. I can compare those specifically.

For a small mastermind group, I’d prioritize $0 monthly/platform fee + automatic recurring payments + simple member management.

My top picks

Square would be my recommendation. Its Free plan has no monthly subscription cost, and you can create recurring invoices/subscriptions without paying a separate platform subscription. squareup.com

For example, if membership is $200/month, a card payment through Square's online/invoice rate would cost roughly $6.90, leaving you $193.10. ACH is substantially cheaper at 1% with a $1 minimum. squareup.com

One important distinction

"Zero platform fees" doesn't mean zero payment-processing fees. The processor still charges you for moving the money. If you want to minimize those costs, encouraging ACH/bank payments is particularly attractive: Square lists ACH invoice payments at 1%, $1 minimum. squareup.com

I'd choose:

Square + recurring subscription/invoice + ACH as the preferred payment method + card as a fallback.

That gives a small mastermind a very low-cost setup without committing to a membership-platform subscription.

If you tell me your monthly membership price and approximate number of members (e.g. 15 × $250/month), I can compare the actual monthly fees for Square vs. Stripe vs. PayPal and tell you which is cheapest.

For a small mastermind group, I’d shortlist Square first.

Best fit: Square Subscriptions

Square Subscriptions

• $0/month platform fee
• Built specifically for recurring payments, including membership fees
• Members can subscribe through a shareable checkout link.
• Supports weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual billing.
• You only pay payment-processing fees when someone pays. squareup.comsquareup.com
• Square's current U.S. online/invoice card processing is generally 3.3% + $0.30 on the Free plan; ACH via invoice is 1%, $1 minimum. squareup.comsquareup.com

Example: 10 members paying $100/month = $1,000/month collected. At 3.3% + $0.30 each, you'd pay about $36/month in processing, with $0 platform subscription fee.

Runner-up: Stripe

Stripe Payments

Stripe is more flexible if you eventually want a polished membership site or custom automation. Its standard payments pricing has no setup or monthly fee, with domestic cards at 2.9% + $0.30. However, Stripe Billing adds 0.7% of billing volume on its pay-as-you-go plan, so it isn't as cheap as Square for simple recurring memberships. stripe.com

My recommendation

Use Square if: you just need "member clicks link → enters card → gets charged automatically every month."

Use Stripe if: you expect to build a more sophisticated membership operation with a website, integrations, automated workflows, or different subscription tiers.

One important distinction: "zero platform fees" doesn't mean zero fees overall—card networks/payment processors still charge transaction fees. If your goal is literally the lowest possible cost, especially for higher-priced mastermind memberships, I can compare Square vs Stripe vs ACH/direct-bank options at, say, $500–$2,000/member/month.

For a small U.S. mastermind, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Square

For a small mastermind, Square is probably the simplest low-cost choice. Its subscription management is free, supports recurring membership payments, and lets you create checkout links that you can send to members. squareup.com

You can also use recurring invoices and automatically charge a card on file. squareup.com

One important distinction: “zero platform fees” doesn't mean zero payment-processing fees. Square still charges when a member actually pays. squareup.com

When I'd choose Stripe instead

If you want a more polished membership/subscription experience, Stripe is stronger. Its Billing pay-as-you-go option has no recurring fee, but charges 0.7% of Billing volume on top of the underlying payment-processing fee. squareup.comstripe.com

For example, if you're charging 20 members × $100/month = $2,000/month, I'd lean Square for simplicity; if you're building a more sophisticated membership operation with different tiers, trials, upgrades, etc., I'd lean Stripe.

If you tell me your monthly membership price and roughly how many members you expect, I can calculate the actual monthly cost of Square vs. Stripe vs. PayPal and tell you which is cheapest.

For a small mastermind group, I’d prioritize something simple where you pay only the underlying payment-processing fee—not an additional “platform” percentage.

My top pick: Stripe + a lightweight checkout

stripe.com is probably the best fit if you want members to enter a card once and be charged automatically each month.

• $0/month platform fee on Stripe’s standard plan.
• Standard online card processing is 2.9% + $0.30 per successful domestic card transaction. Stripe
• The catch: Stripe Billing itself adds 0.7% of recurring billing volume, so it isn't literally zero platform fees if you use Stripe's full subscription-billing product. Stripe
• You can use payment links/checkout and keep the setup relatively lightweight. Stripe

If “zero platform fee” is the absolute requirement

I'd look at Helcim. It has $0 monthly software fees and supports subscription billing; current comparisons list online processing around 0.5% + $0.25 plus interchange, making it potentially attractive for a small group. NerdWallet

Another simple option: PayPal

paypal.com has built-in recurring payments with $0 monthly and setup fees, but its current recurring-payment rate is 3.49% + $0.49 per USD transaction. PayPal That's convenient, but the per-member cost can get expensive for a mastermind.

What I'd choose:
If you're charging, say, $100–$500/month per member and have 10–30 members, I'd start with Helcim if minimizing fees is the priority, or Stripe if you care more about polished checkout, integrations, and flexibility.

If you tell me your monthly membership price, number of members, and whether you need invoices/community access, I can calculate the actual monthly cost of 3–5 options and identify the cheapest.

For a small mastermind group, I’d keep it simple and avoid membership platforms that add their own percentage fee.

My top pick: Square Subscriptions

• $0/month platform fee.
• Supports recurring weekly/monthly/annual billing.
• You can create a subscription and send members a checkout link—no website required.
• Members can save their payment method, and Square handles recurring charges.
• You pay payment processing fees, but no additional platform fee. squareup.com
• Square is particularly attractive for a mastermind because you don't really need a full membership-management system—you mainly need to collect dues automatically.

Also worth considering: Stripe Billing

Stripe has no monthly platform fee on its pay-as-you-go Billing plan, but charges 0.7% of Billing volume in addition to Stripe's normal payment-processing costs. stripe.com

So for your specific requirement of “zero platform fees,” Square is the cleaner choice.

PayPal is another simple option

PayPal Recurring Payments has $0 monthly and setup fees, with recurring-payment processing currently listed at 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction. www.paypal.com

What I'd do: Start with Square, create one monthly subscription (e.g. $100/month), send the members the signup link, and let Square handle automatic renewals.

If you tell me your monthly membership price and roughly how many members you expect, I can compare the actual monthly cost of Square vs. Stripe vs. PayPal for your group.

For a small mastermind group, I’d prioritize something with $0 monthly/platform fee, recurring subscriptions, and a simple payment link—rather than paying for a full membership platform.

My top picks

My recommendation: PayPal if your priority is lowest complexity and no platform subscription. PayPal currently advertises $0 monthly and $0 setup fees for recurring payments; its standard recurring-payment rate is 3.49% + $0.49 per USD transaction. www.paypal.com

Square is probably my second choice if you want something more business-oriented. Its Free plan has no monthly subscription, and it supports recurring payments; online/invoice card payments are currently 3.3% + $0.30, while ACH via invoice is 1% with a $1 minimum. squareup.com

One important distinction: “zero platform fees” doesn't mean zero payment fees. You'll still pay the card/ACH processor on each membership payment.

For example, on 20 members paying $100/month:

• PayPal: roughly $119.80/month in processing
• Square online/invoice: roughly $72/month
• Square ACH: roughly $20/month (assuming $100 payments)

So if your members are comfortable paying by ACH, Square could be substantially cheaper.

If you tell me (1) monthly membership price, (2) number of members, and (3) whether you need credit cards or can use ACH, I can recommend the cheapest setup and calculate your exact monthly fees.

For a small mastermind, I’d keep it simple: use a payment processor rather than a membership platform. You can get recurring billing without paying a separate platform fee.

My top picks

Stripe has no setup or monthly fee on standard pricing, and its Payment Links can sell subscriptions without building a website. Stripe Billing's pay-as-you-go option adds 0.7% of billing volume, so for maximum cost efficiency, I'd investigate whether your setup can use Stripe's subscription/payment-link functionality without unnecessary Billing add-ons. stripe.com

Square is particularly attractive for a small group: Square Subscriptions has no monthly fees or fixed costs, and it lets you manage recurring subscriptions from the dashboard. api.squareup.com

PayPal also has $0 monthly/setup fees for its recurring-payments offering, but its standard transaction rate is higher at 3.49% + $0.49 per U.S. transaction. www.paypal.com

What I'd choose for your mastermind

Square if you want the simplest setup.
You could create something like:

Mastermind Membership — $100/month
Renews automatically each month
Cancel anytime

Then send members the checkout link. No website or complicated membership software required.

Stripe if you want a more polished/expandable operation. It's better if you eventually want different membership tiers, automated customer management, integrations, or your own branded checkout.

One important distinction: “zero platform fees” doesn't mean zero fees overall. The processor will still take payment-processing fees. If you tell me your monthly membership price and roughly how many members you expect, I can calculate the actual monthly cost of Stripe vs. Square vs. PayPal and tell you which is cheapest.

For a small mastermind, I’d keep it simple and avoid a dedicated membership platform unless you need community/course features.

My pick: PayPal recurring payments

PayPal recurring payments

• $0 monthly/platform fee
• Recurring subscriptions are built in.
• Members can be billed monthly, annually, etc.
• You can set it up without building custom billing software.
• Current U.S. pricing shown by PayPal is 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction. www.paypal.com
• PayPal specifically supports memberships and similar recurring-payment use cases. www.paypal.com

Another good option: Stripe

Stripe Billing

Stripe has no monthly platform fee, but its recurring Billing product currently adds 0.7% of Billing volume, on top of payment-processing fees. Standard U.S. card processing starts at 2.9% + $0.30. stripe.com

So if by “zero platform fees” you mean no recurring software/platform charge, both work. If you mean literally zero fees beyond payment processing, Stripe doesn't quite meet that requirement.

For a small mastermind, I'd choose PayPal if minimizing software costs and setup complexity is the priority. I'd choose Stripe if you want a more polished checkout, better subscription administration, and room to grow.

If you tell me your monthly membership price and roughly how many members you expect, I can compare the actual monthly cost of PayPal vs. Stripe (including processing) for your group.

For a small mastermind group, I’d prioritize no monthly/platform fee + simple recurring billing, rather than paying for a dedicated membership platform.

My picks

1. PayPal — my pick for simplest setup.
PayPal explicitly offers recurring payments with $0 monthly and setup fees. Its current U.S. recurring-payment rate is 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction. You can create subscription plans and automate recurring charges without building much yourself. www.paypal.com
PayPal recurring payments

2. Square — best if you also want invoicing.
Square Subscriptions has no monthly fees or fixed costs. On Square Free, online payments are currently 3.3% + $0.30, while ACH via invoice is 1% with a $1 minimum (and ACH deposited into Square Checking can be $0). api.squareup.com
Square pricing

3. Stripe — best overall experience, but slightly more expensive.
Stripe has no setup or monthly fees on standard payments; domestic cards are currently 2.9% + $0.30. However, Stripe Billing itself adds 0.7% of billing volume, so it isn't quite as cheap if you're specifically using its subscription-billing product. stripe.com
Stripe pricing

What I'd do for your mastermind

If you're, say, 10–30 members paying $100–$500/month, I'd start with Stripe or Square, and avoid Kajabi/Memberstack/Circle-style platforms unless you actually need their community/content features.

If your requirement is literally "zero platform fee", I'd choose Square Free or PayPal. You'll still pay payment-processing fees—there generally isn't a legitimate way to accept recurring credit-card payments with zero fees.

If you tell me your monthly membership price, expected number of members, and whether members pay by card or ACH, I can calculate the cheapest option for your group.

For a small mastermind group, I’d start with Square Subscriptions.

• $0/month platform fee — Square says its subscription-management software is free, with no monthly fee. squareup.comsquareup.com
• Recurring billing built in — weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual billing, plus shareable checkout links. squareup.com
• Easy for a nontechnical group — members can subscribe through a link, and you manage everything from Square Dashboard.
• You still pay payment processing — currently Square lists 3.3% + $0.30 per online transaction on its U.S. Payment Links page. squareup.comsquareup.com

Square Subscriptions

Two alternatives

PayPal explicitly lists $0 monthly/setup fees for recurring payments. www.paypal.com Stripe's Billing pay-as-you-go plan adds 0.7% on top of its payment-processing fees, so I wouldn't choose it if minimizing fees is the priority. stripe.com

My pick: Square if you want the simplest setup for, say, 5–50 members. Create one subscription plan (e.g. $200/month), generate the checkout link, and send it to members.

\*Payment-processing rates can vary by payment method and Square product, so verify the rate shown in your account before launching.

For a small mastermind group, I’d start with Square Subscriptions.

Square Subscriptions

Square explicitly says its subscriptions have no monthly fees or fixed costs, and you can create subscription plans and share a checkout link with members. api.squareup.comsquareup.com

Why I'd pick Square

• No platform fee — good for a small group where you don't want another $20–$50/month expense.
• Members can subscribe through a shareable payment link.
• Supports recurring weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc. billing. squareup.com
• You can manage subscriptions from the Square Dashboard.
• No coding or website required.

Example: If you charge 15 members $200/month, that's $3,000/month collected. At 3.3% + $0.30, processing would be about $103.50/month, leaving roughly $2,896.50 before any other costs.

One important distinction: “zero platform fees” doesn't mean zero fees altogether. Square still charges payment-processing fees on each transaction. api.squareup.comsquareup.com

If your mastermind is $100–$500/month per member, I can also compare Square vs Stripe vs PayPal vs a membership-specific platform and tell you which is cheapest at your expected member count.

If by “zero platform fees” you mean no monthly membership/billing-software fee, there are a few good options. You’ll still generally pay card-processing fees—there’s effectively no reputable US service that lets you accept recurring credit-card payments with literally zero fees.

My pick: PayPal Recurring Payments

For a small mastermind, I’d start with PayPal Recurring Payments.

• $0/month
• $0 setup fee
• Supports monthly/weekly/annual recurring charges
• Automated retries when payments fail
• Customers can manage their subscriptions
• No separate subscription-billing platform required
• Current US rate for recurring payments: 3.49% + $0.49 per USD transaction www.paypal.com

For example, on a $200/month mastermind membership, the processing fee would be about $7.47/month, leaving you ~$192.53.

Another option: Stripe

Stripe Billing is probably the better choice if you want a more polished membership/payment experience.

The catch is that Stripe Billing itself charges 0.7% of billing volume, on top of Stripe's payment-processing fees. Standard US card processing is currently 2.9% + $0.30, so it isn't truly “zero platform fees.” stripe.com

What I'd do for your group

For 5–20 mastermind members, I'd choose PayPal if minimizing fees and setup is the priority. If you tell me roughly how much you're charging per member/month and how many members you expect, I can compare the actual monthly cost of PayPal vs. Stripe vs. a few other options and find the cheapest setup.

If you're in Canada, I’d go with Square Subscriptions for a small mastermind.

• $0/month — no platform/subscription fee. squareup.com
• Handles automatic recurring monthly/weekly/quarterly/annual payments. squareup.com
• You can give members a checkout link rather than building a website or custom payment system. squareup.com
• Current online card processing is 2.8% + $0.30 CAD per transaction. squareup.com
• Members can manage payment details, and you can pause/resume subscriptions.

My shortlist

Stripe is excellent, but for a small group its additional 0.7% Billing fee makes it less attractive if your priority is keeping costs down. stripe.com PayPal's Canadian standard domestic commercial rate is currently 2.90% + a fixed fee, with recurring billing using the standard transaction fees. www.paypal.com

One important distinction: “zero platform fees” doesn't mean zero fees altogether. You'll still pay payment-processing fees whenever someone pays.

For example, on $100/month membership, Square would cost about $3.10/member/month in processing, leaving you about $96.90.

If you tell me your membership price (e.g. $50/$100/$500 per month) and approximate number of members, I can compare the actual monthly cost of Square vs Stripe vs PayPal and tell you which is cheapest.

For a small mastermind group, I’d shortlist Square first.

Best fit: Square Subscriptions

Square Subscriptions offers:

• $0/month platform fee
• Recurring weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual billing
• Shareable checkout links—you don't need to build a website
• Automatic recurring payments and subscription management
• Free trials, pauses, cancellations, and plan changes
• Designed explicitly for memberships and recurring fees squareup.comstripe.comwww.paypal.com

For U.S. online payments, Square's current published rate is 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction on the Free plan. squareup.com

Example: if you charge $100/month, you'd pay about $3.60, leaving $96.40.

Runner-up: Stripe

Stripe is excellent if you want more sophisticated subscription management or eventually plan to build a custom member portal. However, there's an important catch: Stripe Billing itself can add a 0.7% fee on top of payment processing on its pay-as-you-go plan. stripe.com

So for a small group wanting simple recurring charges without a platform subscription, Square is probably the cleaner choice.

Also worth considering: PayPal

PayPal Recurring Payments has $0 monthly and setup fees, with recurring payments at 3.49% + $0.49 per transaction. www.paypal.com It's easy, but generally more expensive per payment than Square for typical mastermind dues.

My recommendation: Start with Square if you're 5–50-ish members and just need "members click a link → subscribe → get charged every month." You can run the actual mastermind community separately in Slack, Circle, Discord, etc.

If you tell me your expected membership price and number of members (e.g. 20 members × $250/month), I can calculate the actual monthly fees for Square vs. Stripe vs. PayPal and tell you which is cheapest.

For a small mastermind group, I’d prioritize simple recurring payments with no separate subscription/platform fee. You’ll still pay the underlying payment-processing fee—“zero platform fees” generally doesn’t mean zero fees.

My top pick: Square

Why: Square Subscriptions currently has no monthly or fixed subscription fee, and you can manage recurring plans from the Square Dashboard. api.squareup.com

For U.S. online payments, Square’s current Free-plan rate is 3.3% + $0.30 per transaction; ACH via invoice is 1%, $1 minimum. squareup.com

So if your mastermind is, say, $200/month, a card payment costs roughly $6.90, with no additional Square subscription/platform charge.

Other good options

PayPal's recurring-payment product currently advertises $0 monthly/setup fees, but standard U.S. recurring transactions are 3.49% + $0.49. www.paypal.com

Stripe is powerful, but its current Billing pay-as-you-go pricing adds 0.7% of Billing volume on top of payment processing. stripe.com

For your use case, I'd choose Square if you want a simple checkout link → member enters card → automatically billed every month, without paying a separate membership/billing platform.

If you tell me your monthly membership price and roughly how many members you expect, I can compare the actual monthly cost of Square vs. Stripe vs. PayPal (including ACH) and tell you which is cheapest.