The Tool Desk
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Choose a platform based on how you will find buyers, what you are selling, and what it costs at your expected sales volume. A marketplace such as Etsy may offer search discovery; a direct-selling service such as Gumroad or Payhip is more useful when you can bring your own audience. Courses and memberships may need tools that a simple download store does not provide.
The available fee comparison covers 10 platforms, not 15, and its prices are a snapshot checked on September 29, 2026. It was published by AOVANCY, which includes its own service, so treat it as a vendor-authored comparison rather than an independent audit. Fees and availability can vary by country and change; verify current terms for your market before committing.
Which platform should you choose?
Start with the route to customers. If you already have an audience, a direct storefront can give you a straightforward way to sell through links you share. If you need marketplace search, Etsy may be worth considering, but discovery is not a promise of traffic or sales. Then match the platform to the product: downloads, a structured course, and a recurring membership have different delivery needs.
Finally, compare the full cost—not just the advertised percentage. Add any monthly subscription, platform share, flat transaction charge, payment processing, listing costs, and paid-discovery or advertising fees. Check payment and tax terms for your location as well as what customer and sales data you can export.
#1 Best Overall
How the 10-platform fee comparison looks
The table reports figures from AOVANCY’s comparison checked September 29, 2026. Its monthly prices were displayed to an EU visitor; the Etsy processing figure is specifically for the United States. These are not uniform, independently audited quotes, and some providers’ fees depend on plan, buyer geography, payment method, or sales channel. Use the linked official pages where available to confirm current terms.
| Platform | Reported fee model | Best-fit distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Gumroad | $0/month; 10% + $0.50 per direct or profile sale; 30% for Discover sales. Card processing is additional. | Direct links and optional Discover exposure; supports downloads, ebooks, courses, tutorials, and memberships. See Gumroad pricing for current terms. |
| Payhip | $0, $29, or $99/month; respectively 5%, 2%, or 0% platform share, with processor charges additional. | Compare the monthly plan cost with the platform-share savings at your likely sales volume. Verify the current schedule on Payhip pricing. |
| Lemon Squeezy | $0/month; 5% + $0.50, with processing included in the comparison’s reported model. It reports additional conditions for non-US buyers and PayPal. | Check the fee details against buyer geography and payment method before estimating margins. |
| Etsy | $0 monthly, with a possible one-time setup charge; 6.5% transaction fee plus $0.20 listing fee. The comparison reports US processing at 3% + $0.25. Offsite Ads may add a charge. | Marketplace search can aid discovery, but the total varies with location and ad attribution. See Etsy’s fee policy. |
| Sellfy | $29, $79, or $159/month; no platform share on the listed plans. Processing is additional; the comparison reports annual sales caps. | Flat monthly pricing may suit steady sales, subject to the applicable plan cap. |
| Podia | $42, $84, or $150/month; the comparison reports a 5% share on Mover and none on higher plans. Processing is additional. | Positioned for courses alongside downloads. |
| Teachable | $39, $89, or $189/month; the comparison reports 7.5% on Starter and none on higher plans. Processing differs for US and other cards. | Course-first option; include both the plan and processing costs in your estimate. |
| Kajabi | $179, $249, or $499/month; no platform share reported. Processing applies. | Positioned for established course businesses seeking multiple functions in one subscription. |
| Thinkific | €53, €107, or €213/month as displayed to the comparison’s EU visitor; no platform share with Thinkific Payments. Processing applies. | Course-first option; the reported no-share condition depends on using Thinkific Payments. |
| AOVANCY | €0 Free plan; 7.5% after card processing, according to its own comparison. | The publisher is including its own service, so consider that conflict when weighing its figures. |
Where the platform fits your product
Downloads and direct sales
For ebooks, templates, or other downloadable files, the comparison includes Gumroad and Payhip among the direct-selling choices. Gumroad’s official page also lists courses, tutorials, and memberships. The best fit depends on whether you value a no-monthly-fee starting point, a particular storefront experience, or the possibility of a sales channel such as Gumroad Discover.
Marketplace discovery
Etsy is the clearest marketplace-search choice in this comparison. Its potential discovery advantage should be weighed against transaction and listing fees, possible Offsite Ads charges, and the fact that its fee details vary by market. Do not treat marketplace placement as guaranteed customer acquisition.
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The comparison positions Podia, Teachable, Thinkific, and Kajabi as course-oriented platforms. Compare the tools and plan limits you actually need against the recurring subscription and any platform share or payment costs. Gumroad’s product page also lists course sales, but a seller needing a lesson-based learning experience should confirm the specific delivery features before choosing.
Rank #3
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Memberships and creator communities
Patreon is an adjacent membership-oriented option rather than one of the 10 entries in the fee comparison. Its official pricing page lists a 10% charge on creator income, with payment processing, currency conversion, payout fees, and applicable taxes additional. Patreon supports subscriptions, tiers, and one-time payments. Patreon’s pricing page says, “Patreon is free to start. You only pay when you start earning.” That is Patreon’s description of its pricing, accessed October 7, 2026.
Fourthwall is another adjacent creator-shop option: its official pricing page includes digital products, storefronts, memberships, and members-only videos. See Fourthwall pricing for current details.
Branded online store
Shopify is an adjacent option if you want a branded online store rather than relying primarily on a marketplace listing. Its charges depend on plan and payment setup; the reviewed page does not establish a directly comparable fee model for this table. Check Shopify’s plan comparison for your market.
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How to compare costs without misleading yourself
- Estimate realistic sales. Use a conservative expected monthly volume, not an aspirational target. A subscription can be expensive before sales become steady.
- Separate each charge. Add the monthly subscription, platform percentage, fixed fee per transaction, payment processing, listing fees, and any paid-discovery or ad charges that apply.
- Model the sales channel. Gumroad’s reported direct/profile fee is different from its Discover fee. Etsy’s ad-attributed sales may also incur a different total.
- Check both sides of the transaction. Confirm whether seller location, buyer location, currency, or payment method changes fees or payout options.
- Recheck official terms. The comparison’s September 2026 snapshot is not a guarantee of current rates. Where an official pricing or policy page is linked above, use it to verify the applicable country and plan before choosing.
What “handles taxes” does—and does not—mean
Gumroad says it has acted as merchant of record since January 1, 2025, and handles sales-tax collection and remittance; its FAQ also says obligations vary by location. Those are Gumroad’s statements about its service, not individualized tax advice. Patreon says it handles most applicable tax collection and remittance, while separately identifying costs such as payment processing and payout charges. Neither description establishes that every seller has no remaining tax, reporting, or record-keeping responsibility in every jurisdiction. Confirm the platform’s current scope and local rules.
Best Value
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Can you sell digital products for free, or without a website?
Several options in the comparison have no monthly charge on at least one reported plan: Gumroad and Lemon Squeezy show $0/month, Payhip’s entry plan is reported at $0/month, and AOVANCY reports a €0 Free plan. “Free” does not mean cost-free per sale: platform shares, processing, and other transaction charges may still apply. Verify current plan terms in your country.
You do not necessarily need a separate website. Direct-selling platforms can provide a storefront or product link, while a marketplace such as Etsy provides listings. The trade-off is control: before choosing, check whether the platform lets you export customer and sales information and whether its selling experience supports the brand and customer relationship you want.
What the available comparison does not establish
The title’s 15-platform framing is broader than the 10-platform fee comparison available here. Shopify, Patreon, and Fourthwall have official product or pricing information that makes them relevant adjacent choices, but the reviewed evidence does not provide a consistent, same-market fee audit for them alongside the 10 listed platforms. Ko-fi and Substack were mentioned, but current primary-source fee pages were not established, so no current rates for them are stated here.
There is also no verified basis here for ranking platforms by actual sales conversion, customer traffic, affiliate availability, or ease of use. Treat the fee figures as a starting point for comparing structures, not as a performance ranking.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
