Why Upskwela is the Better Stan Alternative for Filipino Creators
Stan is a popular creator platform globally, but if you're a Filipino creator building for a local audience, Stan's limitations become clear. Here's why Upskwela is the better alternative for Filipino creators.
1. Local Payments for Filipino Audiences
Stan's Payment Limitations:
- Stripe-only payment processing (USD/international cards)
- No GCash or Maya support
- Limited accessibility for Filipino students
- Currency conversion fees for your audience
Upskwela's Local Payment Support:
- GCash payments (most popular in PH)
- Maya payments
- Local bank transfers
- Credit/debit cards for international reach
2. PHP Pricing vs USD Pricing
Stan charges $29-99/month in USD. For Filipino creators, this means:
- ₱1,500-5,000+/month at current exchange rates
- Pricing fluctuates with USD-PHP conversion
- Additional currency conversion fees
- Less predictable monthly costs
Upskwela's PHP Pricing:
- Free Plan: Start immediately, keep 80% of revenue (20% platform commission)
- Plus Plan: ₱999/month, keep 90% of revenue (10% platform commission)
- Pro Plan: ₱4,999/month, keep 97% of revenue (3% platform commission)
Predictable, affordable pricing in Philippine Pesos.
3. Built-in Community Features
Stan focuses primarily on content delivery and has limited community features.
Upskwela is a complete community learning platform:
- Forum discussions for peer-to-peer learning
- Group chats for real-time communication
- Calendar events and live sessions
- Membership tiers with exclusive access
- Build lasting relationships with your community
This creates better engagement, higher retention, and recurring revenue.
4. Better Revenue Share
Stan takes a 10% platform fee on top of payment processing fees (around 3-5%).
Upskwela's Revenue Share:
- Free Plan: Keep 80% of revenue (20% commission)
- Plus Plan: Keep 90% of revenue (10% commission)
- Pro Plan: Keep 97% of revenue (3% commission)
- Enterprise Plan: Keep 100% of revenue (0% commission)
With higher-tier plans, you keep significantly more of your hard-earned revenue.
5. Complete All-in-One Platform
What both platforms offer:
- Course creation and hosting
- Membership subscriptions
- Custom branding and domains
- Email marketing tools
Where Upskwela excels:
- Forum discussions for community engagement
- Group chats for real-time communication
- Calendar events and scheduling
- Local payment methods (GCash/Maya)
- PHP pricing for Filipino creators
When Might Stan Make Sense?
Stan might be the right choice if:
- You have a primarily international audience (US, Europe, etc.)
- Your audience is comfortable with USD pricing and Stripe
- You don't need extensive community features like forums
- You're focused on content delivery over community building
However, if you're a Filipino creator who wants to:
- Accept GCash and Maya payments for local students
- Have predictable PHP pricing without currency conversion
- Build a thriving community with forums and chats
- Keep more of your revenue (up to 97-100%)
- Serve Filipino learners with payment methods they use daily
Then Upskwela is the better Stan alternative.
Common Questions: Stan vs Upskwela
Is Stan easier to use than Upskwela?
Both platforms are designed to be user-friendly. Stan has a clean interface for content creators, while Upskwela offers a complete community platform. Upskwela's additional features (forums, chats, events) don't add complexity—they add value for building engaged communities.
Can I use both platforms?
You could, but it's not necessary. Upskwela includes all the features you need: courses, memberships, emails, and community tools. Using one platform simplifies your workflow and gives your students a unified experience.
Which platform is better for Filipino creators?
Upskwela is specifically built for Filipino creators. With local payment support (GCash/Maya), PHP pricing, and community features tailored for Filipino audiences, Upskwela removes the barriers that make Stan less accessible for Filipino learners.
The Right Platform for Filipino Creators
Stan is a great global platform, but Upskwela is built specifically for Filipino creators serving Filipino audiences. With local payments, PHP pricing, and community-first features, Upskwela helps you build a sustainable creator business in the Philippines.