Comparison

Total Cost 2026: A Complete Launchpad Expense Comparison

Launching a token involves more than just the initial fee. This comparison details the total cost of ownership in 2026, including launch fees, platform percentages, website hosting, and long-term financial impact. See how Spawned's integrated model provides a clearer cost structure for creators and holders.

TL;DR

•Spawned launch fee: 0.1 SOL (~$20) vs. others at 0 SOL but with higher trade fees.
•Creator revenue: Spawned takes 0.30% per trade vs. competitors taking 0% but offering no website builder.
•Holder rewards: Spawned distributes 0.30% ongoing to holders, a feature most platforms lack.
•Website cost: Spawned includes an AI builder (saving $29-99/month), while others require separate subscriptions.
•Long-term fees: Post-graduation, Spawned uses Token-2022 for 1% perpetual fees, aligning with sustainable project growth.

Quick Comparison

Spawned launch fee: 0.1 SOL (~$20) vs. others at 0 SOL but with higher trade fees.

Creator revenue: Spawned takes 0.30% per trade vs. competitors taking 0% but offering no website builder.

Holder rewards: Spawned distributes 0.30% ongoing to holders, a feature most platforms lack.

Website cost: Spawned includes an AI builder (saving $29-99/month), while others require separate subscriptions.

Long-term fees: Post-graduation, Spawned uses Token-2022 for 1% perpetual fees, aligning with sustainable project growth.

The Bottom Line on 2026 Launch Costs

The cheapest launch isn't always the least expensive journey.

When evaluating the total cost for 2026, the lowest upfront fee does not equal the best value. A platform like pump.fun may advertise a 0 SOL launch, but it generates revenue by taking liquidity from trades, offering creators 0% and providing no tools for long-term success. Spawned's 0.1 SOL fee includes a professional AI website builder—a necessary tool that typically costs $29-99 per month elsewhere. For creators focused on building a real project with community benefits, Spawned's model of sharing 0.30% revenue with creators and another 0.30% directly to token holders creates a more sustainable and attractive ecosystem. The total cost is more transparent and aligned with project growth.

Upfront Launch Fees: 2026 Comparison

The price to press 'launch' varies wildly.

Here is a direct comparison of what you pay to get your token live. Remember, the launch fee is just one part of the total cost.

Platform	Launch Fee (SOL)	Approx. USD Cost	What's Included
Spawned	0.1 SOL	~$20	Token creation + AI website builder + launchpad listing.
pump.fun	0 SOL	$0	Token creation and basic bonding curve launch.
Other typical launchpads	1-5 SOL	$200-$1000+	Token creation, sometimes with basic site or marketing promises.

The key difference is the AI website builder. Building a site on Wix, Squarespace, or Webflow costs $29-$99 monthly. Spawned includes this tool, making the effective upfront cost significantly lower when you factor in this essential business expense. Learn more about our AI builder.

The Real Cost: Ongoing Fees & Revenue Share

Upfront fees are one thing, but the ongoing economics define your project's health.

After launch, platforms make money through fees on trading activity. This is where the 'total cost' for your community becomes critical.

Spawned's Model: Takes a 0.30% fee on every trade. Half of this (0.15%) goes to the project creator as revenue. The other 0.30% fee is distributed as ongoing rewards to token holders. This incentivizes holding and supports your community.
Competitor Model (e.g., pump.fun): Takes a fee (often from the bonding curve or liquidity) but gives 0% back to the creator. There are also no built-in holder reward mechanisms. The platform's profit is your community's cost.

This means with Spawned, your project earns income from day one, offsetting the initial launch fee. With a competitor, you pay nothing upfront but also earn nothing from the trading activity your token generates. Over a year, this difference can amount to thousands of dollars in lost creator revenue.

Hidden Costs: The Essential Website Builder

A legitimate project needs a website. This is a non-negotiable cost in 2026 that is often omitted from launchpad comparisons. Here’s what you'd pay separately:

DIY Website Builders: Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com. Cost: $29 - $99/month ($348 - $1188/year). Requires design and copywriting time.
Professional Web Development: Hiring a freelancer or agency. Cost: $500 - $5000+ one-time, plus hosting fees.
Spawned's AI Builder: $0/month. Included with your 0.1 SOL launch fee. Generates a professional site with content in minutes.

Long-Term Costs: Graduation & Perpetual Fees

Planning for success means planning for the costs beyond the launch.

What happens when your token 'graduates' to a DEX like Raydium? This future cost impacts your token's design.

Spawned (Token-2022): Uses Solana's Token-2022 program, enabling a 1% perpetual transfer fee post-graduation. This fee is configurable and can fund development, marketing, or treasury. It's a tool for sustainable project funding.
Traditional Launchpads: Typically use the standard SPL token program. Post-graduation, there is no built-in mechanism for the project to collect fees. Projects must find alternative, often more complex, ways to fund themselves.

The Token-2022 standard represents a forward-thinking approach to token economics, building a revenue mechanism directly into the token's lifecycle. This planned cost is an investment in the project's future stability.

How to Calculate Your Project's True Total Cost

A simple formula to see the full picture.

Follow these steps to move beyond headline launch fees and understand your all-in expense for 2026.

Add the Launch Fee: Note the SOL or USD cost to create and list your token.
Add 12 Months of Website Hosting: If not included, budget $29-$99/month for a professional site.
Estimate Lost Creator Revenue: For platforms that take 0%, estimate trading volume and calculate 0.15%-0.30% of it. This is income you are not earning.
Factor in Community Value: Assign a value to holder rewards. A platform that shares fees with holders may reduce your need for separate airdrop budgets. See airdrop strategies.
Consider Post-Graduation Tools: Does the platform provide a path for sustainable funding (like Token-2022), or will you need to build this later at a higher cost?

Adding these together gives you the Total Cost of Launch for the first year.

Ready to Launch with Transparent Pricing?

Stop comparing just the launch fee. Choose a platform where the total cost includes the tools and revenue share you need to build a real project. Spawned provides a complete launch solution: a token, a website, creator income, and holder rewards—all for a clear, upfront cost.

Launch your token on Spawned today for 0.1 SOL. You'll get more than a token; you'll get the foundation for a sustainable project. Start your launch now.

Still comparing? View our full comparison hub to see how we stack up against other platforms.

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Frequently Asked Questions

No. While you don't pay SOL upfront, the platform generates revenue by taking fees from trading activity, often without sharing any with you, the creator. This means the cost is shifted to your token's liquidity and your community, and you lose potential income. You also likely need to pay separately for a website.

You save between $348 and $1,188 in the first year alone, based on typical website builder subscription costs of $29 to $99 per month. This makes Spawned's effective cost far lower than platforms with a 'free' launch but no essential tools.

Spawned takes a 0.30% fee on each trade. Crucially, 0.15% of that is paid directly to you as creator revenue. A separate 0.30% fee is distributed to token holders as rewards. After graduation to a DEX using Token-2022, a configurable 1% perpetual transfer fee can be enabled for project funding.

Holder rewards are a benefit, not a direct cost to you. By distributing 0.30% of trade volume to holders, Spawned incentivizes long-term holding. This can reduce your need to spend additional budget on community airdrops or incentives, effectively saving you money on marketing and retention.

Token-2022 allows for a built-in, perpetual transfer fee (set to 1% post-graduation on Spawned). This provides a sustainable revenue model for your project's treasury. Without it, you would need to create complex, external systems to fund development, which is often more expensive and less secure.

The 0.30% trade fees on the Spawned launchpad are fixed. However, the post-graduation 1% transfer fee using Token-2022 is configurable by the project creator. You can decide its use (e.g., funding development, buyback, charity) and adjust it within the limits of the Token-2022 program.

Many popular launchpads offer 0% creator revenue. Spawned shares 0.15% of every trade with you. For a token with $1M in monthly volume, that's $1,500 monthly income. On a platform with 0% revenue, that $1,500 is kept by the platform, representing a significant annual cost to your project.

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