Which platform has the lowest transaction fees?

It depends on the sale type. On a Naira domestic sale, Coachli (4% + ₦50 all-in) is cheaper than Mainstack (3% Mainstack + 1.5% processor + ₦100 = 4.5% + ₦100 all-in). On a same-currency USD or GBP sale, Mainstack's ~5.9% all-in beats Coachli's 7.5%. On a cross-currency sale where the buyer's card is in a different currency, Mainstack adds a 2.5% conversion fee, pushing the all-in above 8% and making Coachli cheaper again. The 3% headline on Mainstack is the platform fee only; verify the per-country processor and conversion fees on mainstack.com for your specific mix.

Can I run a coaching business on Mainstack?

Mainstack supports basic bookings and product sales, but does not have the deep session booking, calendar integration, built-in video calls, or session recording that Coachli offers. For a coaching practice running 20+ sessions a month, the operational difference matters significantly.

Which platform is more established?

Both platforms were founded in 2022. Mainstack is backed by Y Combinator and Techstars, with US headquarters and a Nigerian subsidiary. Coachli has 15,000+ active creators and over ₦1 billion in transactions processed. Both are operational and growing in 2026.

Can I accept payments from international clients on both?

Yes. Mainstack advertises support for 135+ currencies through its global processor network. Coachli supports NGN, USD, GBP, EUR, GHS, ZAR, and others via Stripe, Paystack, and Flutterwave. The depth of African payment method support (USSD codes, local bank transfers, debit cards) is stronger on Coachli for Nigerian and African clients specifically.

Can I use both Mainstack and Coachli at the same time?

Yes. Many Nigerian creators use combinations: Mainstack for link-in-bio and global digital product sales, Coachli for coaching sessions and live classes. There are no exclusivity clauses, both platforms are free to start, and customer data exports as CSV from each.

Which platform is better for selling to Nigerian audiences specifically?

Both support Naira natively. On all-in cost, Coachli (4% + ₦50) is slightly cheaper than Mainstack (4.5% + ₦100 once you include Mainstack's domestic Naira card processor fee of 1.5% + ₦100). The cost gap widens at higher transaction volumes because Mainstack's per-transaction fixed fee is ₦100 vs Coachli's ₦50. Both platforms integrate Paystack and Flutterwave for Nigerian card, USSD, and bank transfer payments.

How do payouts work on each platform?

Both settle Naira payouts to local Nigerian bank accounts, typically within 24-48 hours. USD payouts depend on the underlying processor and typically take 2-7 business days.

Why should I trust Coachli for my coaching business?

Coachli has 15,000+ active coaches, consultants, and creators using the platform, with over ₦1 billion in transactions processed to date. The company operates through Coachli Technology Inc. (Delaware, US) and Coachli Technology Ltd (Nigeria, RC 1948963). Payment processing is handled by Stripe, Paystack, and Flutterwave, all of which are independently regulated. Your customer data and sales records belong to you and can be exported at any time.

Coachli vs Mainstack: which Nigerian creator platform fits your business in 2026?

Two Nigerian-built platforms with different strengths. Mainstack is the global link-in-bio specialist with 135+ currencies advertised. Coachli is the all-in-one for coaches and creators selling sessions, products and live events.

Coachli vs Mainstack comparison for Nigerian creators in 2026

Coachli and Mainstack are both Nigerian-built creator monetisation platforms, but they price and position differently. Mainstack advertises a 3% platform fee, but the all-in cost includes per-country card processing on top (Naira domestic is 1.5% + ₦100, UK GBP is 2.9% + 90p, etc.) plus a 2.5% currency conversion surcharge for cross-currency payments and a 1.5% currency switching fee. Coachli rolls everything into a single all-in rate: 4% + ₦50 on Naira (via Paystack and Flutterwave) and 7.5% on USD and other Stripe currencies. No monthly fee on either platform.

The honest math: for Naira domestic sales, Coachli (4% + ₦50) is slightly cheaper than Mainstack's all-in (4.5% + ₦100). For same-currency USD or GBP sales, Mainstack's ~5.9% all-in beats Coachli's 7.5%. For cross-currency sales (a US client paying a UK creator, for example), Mainstack's 2.5% conversion surcharge pushes the all-in above 8%, making Coachli cheaper. Choose based on where your buyers actually pay from.

At-a-glance comparison

See how Coachli and Mainstack stack up side by side.

Feature	Coachli	Mainstack
Monthly fee	$0	$0 base, optional subscription for advanced features
Platform fee	Rolled into the per-currency rate below	3% Mainstack platform fee
All-in NGN domestic	4% + ₦50 (all-in)	3% + 1.5% + ₦100 (Mainstack + processor) = 4.5% + ₦100 (Coachli is cheaper)
All-in USD/GBP same-currency	7.5% (all-in, includes sessions, live classes, multi-currency dashboard)	3% + ~2.9% + fixed = ~5.9% + fixed, plus surcharges if any apply
All-in cross-currency (USD card paying GBP, etc.)	7.5% (Stripe handles conversion seamlessly)	3% + 2.9% processor + 2.5% conversion = ~8.4% + fixed
Currency conversion surcharge	Included in 7.5%	+2.5% per transaction
Currency switching surcharge	None	+1.5% per transaction
Recurring transaction surcharge	None	+1% per transaction
Dispute / chargeback fee	None additional	GBP 12 per dispute (per UK pricing)
1:1 session bookings	Built in, full featured	Limited
Built-in video calls
Session recording
Live classes and webinars	Yes, up to 10 co-hosts	Limited
Digital products	All formats supported	Yes
Link-in-bio	Profile page per creator	Yes, primary focus
No-code website builder	Profile customisation	Full website builder
Currencies supported	NGN, USD, GBP, EUR, GHS, ZAR (and others via Stripe)	135+ currencies advertised
Payment processors	Stripe, Paystack, Flutterwave	Global processor network
Best for	Coaching practices, multi-currency creators serving diaspora	Link-in-bio creators, global-storefront creators

Pricing math: real examples in Naira

Both platforms are free to start. Per-sale rates differ in structure.

A note on how the math works

Mainstack's headline 3% is the platform fee only. The all-in cost adds per-country card processing (1.5% + ₦100 domestic Naira; 2.9% + 90p UK GBP; etc.) plus a 2.5% currency conversion fee on cross-currency sales and a 1.5% currency switching fee. Coachli's 4% + ₦50 (Naira) and 7.5% (USD) are all-in: processor and conversion are included. The examples below compare like-for-like all-in.

Example 1: Nigerian coach earning ₦300,000/month domestically (60 transactions)

Coachli (4% + ₦50): ₦12,000 + (60 × ₦50) = ₦15,000
Mainstack (3% + 1.5% + ₦100): ₦9,000 + ₦4,500 + (60 × ₦100) = ₦19,500

Coachli saves ₦4,500/month on this profile. The per-transaction ₦100 fixed fee on Mainstack hits harder at small ticket sizes.

Example 2: Nigerian coach earning ₦1,000,000/month domestically (200 transactions)

Coachli (4% + ₦50): ₦40,000 + ₦10,000 = ₦50,000
Mainstack (3% + 1.5% + ₦100): ₦30,000 + ₦15,000 + ₦20,000 = ₦65,000

Coachli saves ₦15,000/month (₦180,000/year) at this volume.

Example 3: Nigerian coach with diaspora clients (₦500K Naira domestic + $2,000 USD international, 100 + 10 transactions)

Coachli: ₦20,000 + ₦5,000 (Naira side) + $150 (USD side) ≈ ₦25,000 + $150
Mainstack: ₦15,000 + ₦7,500 + ₦10,000 (Naira side) + ~7.4% of $2,000 = ~$148 plus international processor fees and 2.5% conversion if the USD client pays from a non-USD card. All-in ≈ ₦32,500 + ~$148+

Comparable USD cost, but Coachli is ~₦7,500/month cheaper on the Naira side and rolls everything into a single all-in rate per currency.

What Coachli's 7.5% rate includes beyond the rate

Coachli's all-in rate bundles native 1:1 session booking with built-in video, live class hosting for up to 10 co-hosts, multi-currency dashboard (Naira + USD + GBP + EUR in one view), automatic Stripe-handled currency conversion, and the full coaching workflow. Mainstack's pricing is built for link-in-bio and storefront sales, so a like-for-like rate comparison only captures one piece of what Coachli does.

The "use both" possibility

There is nothing stopping you from using both platforms. A common pattern: Mainstack as your link-in-bio and global storefront for digital downloads, and Coachli for the coaching and live class side of your business. Both platforms are free to start, both let you export your customer data, and neither has exclusivity clauses.

Choose Mainstack if, choose Coachli if

Choose Mainstack if

You primarily monetise a single Instagram or TikTok bio link
You need a full no-code website builder with storefront features
Your business is digital products only with no coaching, sessions or live classes

Choose Coachli if

You run a coaching, consulting, fitness or therapy practice
You sell 1:1 sessions or live group classes as your core offering
Your audience pays in Naira (Coachli is cheaper all-in: 4% + ₦50 vs Mainstack's 4.5% + ₦100)
You serve both Nigerian and diaspora clients (Coachli avoids Mainstack's 2.5% conversion surcharge)
You want session booking, video and payment all in one platform