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Comparison

Gumroad vs Payhip 2026

Gumroad vs Payhip: compare fee assumptions, delivery, and customer access with a worked example and practical checks before switching.

Gumroad vs Payhip: The Quick Verdict

Key Takeaways:
  • Base-rate example: Payhip leaves $91.80 after listed fees on a $100 sale vs $86.30 for Gumroad; see assumptions below
  • Gumroad is best for: Digital products, simplicity
  • Payhip is best for: E-books, courses
  • Monthly plans: Gumroad $0; Payhip $0 (Free); Plus $29; Pro $99. Optional service fees can also apply

Choose Gumroad if you want digital products, simplicity.

Choose Payhip if you want e-books, courses.

Decision: Compare delivery, customer access, and acquisition alongside fees. The lowest base transaction cost does not establish the best fit for your offer.

Gumroad or Payhip: Compare the Channel Before the Fee

For an established download seller, the first question is where customers arrive from. Your own newsletter can send buyers to either checkout. A sale attributed to marketplace discovery has a different acquisition cost and may not follow you when you change platforms. Separate those orders before estimating migration savings. Also inspect the customer experience you would need to rebuild: product variants, previous purchase access, and updated files. Payhip's paid tiers introduce another decision beyond the platform choice itself: whether a monthly subscription makes sense at the revenue you actually process there.

Sources checked September 22, 2026. The worked example uses published Payhip platform charges and explicitly excludes payment processing.

What stands out about Gumroad:
  • Gumroad publishes different charges for direct sales and Discover sales. Export or review your own order mix before comparing it with a storefront that you primarily promote yourself.
  • Gumroad's fee documentation is the place to verify payment-related charges. Reconcile your own recent transactions rather than assuming every order has the same deductions or uses the same payment method.
What stands out about Payhip:
  • Payhip currently lists Free at 5%, Plus at $29 monthly plus 2%, and Pro at $99 monthly with no platform transaction fee. Payment processor charges still apply on all three plans.
  • A paid tier only saves money when avoided transaction fees exceed its fixed cost. Compare several recent months, including a quiet month, before making a plan change based on a launch spike.

See also: What are the best Gumroad alternatives.


Illustrative Fee Comparison: Base Rates per Order

Single-item card-sale examples using the rates listed below, before taxes, advertising, currency conversion, subscriptions or account-specific discounts. Confirm the rate for your account and country. Gumroad examples use the standard direct-sale rate, not Discover. Account-specific discounts can differ.

SaleGumroad feesGumroad after listed feesPayhip feesPayhip after listed feesLower listed fees
$10$2.09$7.91$1.09$8.91Payhip
$25$4.03$20.97$2.28$22.72Payhip
$50$7.25$42.75$4.25$45.75Payhip
$100$13.70$86.30$8.20$91.80Payhip
$500$65.30$434.70$39.80$460.20Payhip
$1000$129.80$870.20$79.30$920.70Payhip
$5000$645.80$4354.20$395.30$4604.70Payhip

Example assumptions: Each row is one order, not monthly revenue. This illustration excludes monthly plans, tax, refunds, international cards, currency conversion, optional services, and payout charges. Actual costs depend on country, payment method, plan, and sales channel.

Gumroad fee structure: 10% + $0.50 platform fee; processing: 2.9% + $0.30. Monthly plan: $0.

Payhip fee structure: 5% platform fee; processing: 2.9% + $0.30. Monthly plan: $0 (Free); Plus $29; Pro $99. The example uses Payhip Free and Stripe US domestic cards. Paid Payhip tiers reduce the platform percentage; processor rates depend on your gateway and country.

Illustrative monthly example: 20 sales at $50 produce $1,000 gross. Multiply each order's listed fees by 20: Gumroad: $145.00; Payhip: $85.00. These are variable fees under the assumptions above, not total business costs or guaranteed savings.

Gumroad fees (checked September 21, 2026).

For more context, read Can you sell ebooks on Gumroad.


Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureGumroadPayhip
Digital product supportNative: built for digital productsNative: ebooks, courses, memberships
Marketplace / discoveryYes (Discover)Yes (eligibility rules apply)
Custom storefrontYesYes
Built-in email marketingYesNo
Affiliate programYesYes
Built-in analyticsYesYes
Payout speedDepends on country and accountVia connected processor; bank settlement varies
Monthly plan$0$0 (Free); Plus $29; Pro $99

Which Platform Fits? 5 Use Cases

New creator, no audience yet: Both offer marketplace features. Compare category fit, discovery fees and the traffic you can bring; a marketplace listing does not guarantee traffic

Established creator: 30 orders at $100: Payhip: $165.00 lower transaction fees in this scenario, before monthly plans and optional costs. Compare customer acquisition and delivery requirements too

Course creator: Payhip, with built-in course delivery

Software / SaaS licenses: Compare license key delivery options on both platforms before deciding

Template / printable seller: Compare listing, delivery and acquisition costs at your actual product price. The $100 scenario does not establish margins on low-priced downloads


Illustrative Scenario: A template catalog processing $4,000 in direct orders

The situation: This illustrative calculation assumes 200 orders at $20, or $4,000 in monthly sales. Payhip platform charges would be $200 on Free, $109 on Plus ($29 plus $80), or $99 on Pro. The comparison excludes payment processing, refunds, taxes, currency effects, and other expenses. It is not a forecast or a comparison of total Gumroad and Payhip costs.

The decision process: First, calculate the same three totals at your actual monthly revenue. Next, model a quieter month: at $500, Free costs $25 in platform fees and Plus costs $39. Finally, compare those totals with your own Gumroad order deductions and the work required to move the catalog. Keep discovery-driven orders separate. The sensible choice can differ by sales volume and channel; a one-month launch result should not become a permanent cost assumption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has lower fees, Gumroad or Payhip?

In the base-rate example above, listed fees on one $100 order are $13.70 for Gumroad and $8.20 for Payhip. Apply the stated assumptions and add any plan or account-specific charges before comparing total costs.

Can I use both Gumroad and Payhip?

You can evaluate separate sales channels, subject to each platform's terms and your product's eligibility. Plan how buyers receive updates and support, and avoid assuming that purchase history or subscriptions transfer automatically.

Which is better for beginners, Gumroad or Payhip?

Check setup and listing fees as well as monthly plans. Gumroad is best for digital products, simplicity. Payhip is best for e-books, courses.

Which platform pays faster?

Gumroad: Depends on country and account. Payhip: Via connected processor; bank settlement varies.

When does Payhip Plus cost less than its free plan?

Using the published platform charges, solve 5% of revenue = $29 + 2% of revenue. The crossover is about $966.67 monthly. That compares only Payhip's plan charges, assumes the same eligible revenue basis, and does not remove payment processing costs or establish whether migrating is worthwhile.

How should I move a catalog without confusing existing buyers?

Inventory products, download files, licenses, and the access you already promised. Test new purchases separately from old customer access. Update your own marketing links only after receipts and delivery work. Give previous buyers clear instructions for updates; do not assume changing the checkout also transfers their purchase history.

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