How to Build a Creator Monetization Platform with Strapi, Next.js, and Stripe

The tutorial provides a comprehensive guide on building a creator monetization platform using Strapi 5, Next.js 16, and the Stripe API, with a focus on integrating Stripe Connect for payment processing and fee distribution. It covers setting up a headless CMS backend with Strapi to manage creators, tiers, and purchases, and creating a frontend using Next.js with routing managed by the App Router. The guide details crucial technical steps such as configuring Stripe Connect Express accounts, handling webhooks with signature verification, and implementing a checkout flow using destination charges for fee splits. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of secure practices like maintaining private fields, using environment variables for sensitive data, and ensuring webhook signature verification. The platform built allows creators to sign up, list paid tiers, and receive payouts after Stripe onboarding, with all transactions tracked and managed through the CMS. For deployment, the guide suggests switching from test mode to live keys, using HTTPS for live deployments, and considering additional features such as recurring subscriptions or notifications.