Gumroad vs Etsy 2026
Gumroad takes $13.20 per $100 sale. Etsy takes $9.95. Side-by-side comparison of fees, features, and who should use which.
Gumroad vs Etsy: The Quick Verdict
- Etsy keeps more per sale — $90.25 net on a $100 sale vs $86.80 for Gumroad
- Gumroad is best for: Digital products, simplicity
- Etsy is best for: Printables, planners, craft patterns, discovery
- Both platforms charge $0 upfront
Choose Gumroad if you want digital products, simplicity.
Choose Etsy if you want printables, planners, craft patterns, discovery.
Editor's Take
The Gumroad vs Etsy decision comes down to one question: do you already have an audience? If you're starting from zero, Etsy's 90M+ active buyers give you a discovery engine that Gumroad simply doesn't have. You'll pay more per sale, but you'll actually get sales. If you've built an email list or social following, Gumroad's simpler fee structure and direct customer relationships make it the better long-term play. The smartest creators we've tracked use both — Etsy as a storefront window, Gumroad as the actual shop.
- Gumroad gives you the customer's email with every sale — Etsy doesn't. Over 12 months, a 500-sale creator builds a 500-person email list on Gumroad and zero on Etsy. That list is worth far more than the fee difference.
- Gumroad's 10% flat fee is predictable. You know exactly what you'll net before you hit publish. No listing fees, no surprise offsite ads charges.
- Gumroad's analytics show you where buyers come from, what they click, and what they abandon. Etsy gives you basic shop stats but hides the buyer journey.
- Etsy's search algorithm is a free traffic machine for the right products. Printables, planners, and SVG files get discovered organically — no marketing budget needed.
- Etsy's 15% offsite ads fee is the hidden gotcha. If Etsy runs an ad that leads to your sale, they take an extra 15% on top of all other fees. You can't opt out if you make over $10K/year.
- Etsy buyers trust the platform. A new seller on Etsy gets more initial trust than a random Gumroad page with no reviews.
See also: Which is better for digital products Gumroad or Etsy.
Fee Comparison: What You Actually Keep
| Sale | Gumroad fees | Gumroad net | Etsy fees | Etsy net | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $1.59 | $8.41 | $1.20 | $8.80 | Etsy |
| $25 | $3.52 | $21.48 | $2.63 | $22.38 | Etsy |
| $50 | $6.75 | $43.25 | $5.00 | $45.00 | Etsy |
| $100 | $13.20 | $86.80 | $9.75 | $90.25 | Etsy |
| $500 | $64.80 | $435.20 | $47.75 | $452.25 | Etsy |
| $1000 | $129.30 | $870.70 | $95.25 | $904.75 | Etsy |
| $5000 | $645.30 | $4354.70 | $475.25 | $4524.75 | Etsy |
Gumroad fee structure: 10% platform fee + 2.9% + $0.30 processing. Monthly plan: $0.
Etsy fee structure: 6.5% platform fee + 3% + $0.25 processing. Monthly plan: $0.
For more context, read What are the pros and cons of Gumroad vs Etsy.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Gumroad | Etsy |
|---|---|---|
| Digital product support | Native — built for digital products | Native — instant digital downloads |
| Marketplace / discovery | Yes (146K products) | Yes (90M+ active buyers) |
| Custom storefront | No | No |
| Built-in email marketing | Yes | No |
| Affiliate program | Yes | No |
| Built-in analytics | Yes | Yes |
| Payout speed | Weekly | 3-5 business days |
| Monthly plan | $0 | $0 |
Which Platform Wins? 5 Real Scenarios
New creator, no audience yet: Either works — both require you to bring your own traffic
Established creator at $3K/month: Etsy — lower fees matter at scale. You save $102.15/month ($1225.80/year)
Course creator: Either — both support digital product delivery. Choose based on fee structure and audience location
Software / SaaS licenses: Compare license key delivery options on both platforms before deciding
Template / printable seller: Etsy for best margins on high-volume, low-price products
Real Scenario: Marie, Notion template creator
The situation: Marie launched her first Notion budget planner at $19 on both platforms simultaneously. On Etsy, she got 47 sales in the first month from Etsy search alone — zero marketing spend. On Gumroad, she got 8 sales, all from her Twitter audience of 2,300 followers.
The outcome: After 6 months, Marie's Etsy store does $800/month on autopilot. Her Gumroad store does $1,200/month but requires weekly email newsletters to her 1,400-person list (built from Gumroad customer emails). She keeps both — Etsy for discovery, Gumroad for margins and repeat buyers. Her effective fee rate: Etsy ~14%, Gumroad ~13%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has lower fees, Gumroad or Etsy?
On a $100 sale, Gumroad takes $13.20 and Etsy takes $9.95.
Can I use both Gumroad and Etsy?
Yes. Many creators list on one platform for discovery and the other for direct sales. Neither requires exclusivity.
Which is better for beginners, Gumroad or Etsy?
Both are free to start. Gumroad is best for digital products, simplicity. Etsy is best for printables, planners, craft patterns, discovery.
Which platform pays faster?
Gumroad: Weekly. Etsy: 3-5 business days.
Should I sell on both Gumroad and Etsy at the same time?
Yes — this is the most common strategy among successful digital product sellers. List on Etsy to tap into its 90M+ buyer base for discovery. Sell on Gumroad for direct sales from your email list and social following. Neither platform requires exclusivity.
Which platform is better for printables and planners?
Etsy, by a wide margin. Etsy buyers actively search for printables, planners, and craft patterns. Gumroad has these products too, but buyers don't browse Gumroad for them — they find Gumroad products through external marketing.
Can I migrate my Etsy customers to Gumroad?
Not directly — Etsy doesn't share customer emails. But you can include a card or link in your digital download that offers a discount on your Gumroad store in exchange for an email signup. This is how most dual-platform sellers build their direct audience over time.
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