Verdict. Pick Gumroad if you are starting out and want to sell a file today without a monthly bill. Setup takes minutes, and since January 2025 Gumroad handles sales tax and VAT for you as merchant of record. The catch is cost. A $20 sale loses about $3.38 to the 10% + 50¢ fee and card processing, and Discover sales cost 30%. Once you sell steadily, a subscription platform keeps more of each sale.
- Founded
- 2011
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, California, US
- Best for
- New sellers who want to start without a subscription
- Plans from
- Free
- You keep from $1,000
- $791 on Direct sales
Who can join. You can sell from age 13. Sellers aged 13 to 17 need a legal guardian on the account to get paid, which only works in the US. Payouts need a bank account in a supported country or a PayPal account.
Gumroad pricing and fees
You pay 10% + 50¢ per direct sale plus 2.9% + 30¢ card processing, or a flat 30% with processing included on Discover marketplace sales.
| Plan | Price | Fee on sales | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct sales | $0/mo | 10% + 50¢ per sale, plus card processing | 5% + 50¢ on new direct sales after $20,000 in paid sales that calendar month. |
| Discover marketplace | $0/mo | 30% per sale, processing included | Only for buyers who find you through Gumroad Discover. |
On $1,000 of monthly sales at $10 each, the cheapest option is the Direct sales plan. You'd pay about $209 in platform and card fees, 20.9% of revenue, and keep $791. Compare that with every other platform.
Payment processing. Card processing of 2.9% + 30¢ and PayPal fees are charged on top of the 10% + 50¢ direct-sale fee. The 30% Discover fee already covers processing.
Payouts. Weekly, monthly or quarterly payouts need a $100 balance, and each sale is held at least 7 days. Bank deposits go out in local currency in most countries and take 2 to 7 business days. Elsewhere you get PayPal in USD with a 2% fee. US sellers can add daily payouts or take instant payouts up to $10,000 for 3%.
What you get with Gumroad
- Digital downloads and memberships
- Discover marketplace listing
- Custom domain for profile and products
- Email broadcasts and automated workflows
- Affiliate program
- Subscriber and sales CSV export
- Upsells and installment plans
- Pay what you want pricing
- Worldwide sales tax handling as merchant of record
Gumroad pros and cons
What we like
- No monthly fee, so you pay nothing until you make a sale.
- Gumroad has been merchant of record since January 2025 and handles sales tax and VAT worldwide.
- Direct-sale fee drops to 5% + 50¢ after $20,000 in sales in a month.
- You can export subscribers and sales to CSV at any time.
What gets in the way
- Fees plus processing take about $3.38 of a $20 sale, nearly 17%.
- Discover marketplace sales cost a flat 30%.
- Standard payouts need $100 and wait at least 7 days per sale.
- New sellers can no longer connect their own Stripe account, except in Brazil.
- You can't email subscribers until you've earned $100 and received a payout.
Who should skip Gumroad
Skip Gumroad if you already sell over $1,000 a month, because Payhip's $29 Plus plan at 2% leaves you more money.
Gumroad alternatives
| Platform | Score | Keep from $1,000 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beacons | 7.7 | $911 | Social creators who mix product sales with brand deals |
| Payhip | 7.6 | $892 | Sellers who want a full store and low fees |
| Whop | 7.3 | $943 | Paid communities, trading groups and software sellers |
| Stan | 6.7 | $912 | Instagram and TikTok creators selling coaching and courses |
Head to head: Gumroad vs Stan, Gumroad vs Payhip, Gumroad vs Whop.
See all 5 digital product and link-in-bio stores ranked.
Gumroad questions
How much does Gumroad take per sale?
Gumroad charges 10% + 50¢ on every direct sale through your profile or links, plus sales tax where it applies. Card processing of 2.9% + 30¢ comes on top. Once your paid sales pass $20,000 in a calendar month, new direct sales that month drop to 5% + 50¢. There is no monthly fee.
Does Gumroad's 10% fee include payment processing?
No. Gumroad's help center says the 10% + 50¢ direct-sale fee excludes card processing, listed at 2.9% + 30¢, and PayPal fees. On a $20 sale you pay $2.50 to Gumroad and about $0.88 for processing. Discover marketplace sales work differently. Their flat 30% fee already includes processing.
What is the Gumroad Discover fee?
When a new customer finds and buys your product through Gumroad's Discover marketplace, Gumroad takes a flat 30%, which includes all processing fees. The high-volume discount does not lower it. Sales through your own profile or direct links stay at 10% + 50¢ plus processing.
When does Gumroad pay you?
You need a $100 balance for weekly, monthly or quarterly payouts, and each sale sits at least 7 days first. Bank deposits take 2 to 7 business days. PayPal payouts carry a 2% fee. US sellers with 60 days of history can take instant payouts of up to $10,000 for a 3% fee.
Sources
We checked these pages on October 20, 2026. Platforms change fees often, so confirm on the official page before you commit.