Why Are Creators Leaving Gumroad?
Thousands of creators are switching from Gumroad every month. Here's why:
Gumroad's 10% Fees Are Too High
Gumroad takes 10% of every sale. On $10,000/month in sales, that's $1,000 gone. With PengDrop Pro at $20/month with 0% fees, you'd save $980/month.
Example: $50,000/year in sales = $5,000 lost to Gumroad fees
Your Money, Their Control
Gumroad holds your payments and pays out on their schedule. With direct Stripe integration (like PengDrop), money goes straight to YOUR account.
Get paid instantly, not on Gumroad's timeline
Limited Customization & Branding
Gumroad stores all look the same. You deserve a store that reflects YOUR brand with custom domains, themes, and a unique checkout experience.
Build a brand, not just a Gumroad page
Better Features Elsewhere
Modern platforms offer embeddable widgets, advanced analytics, better integrations, and features Gumroad doesn't provide or charges extra for.
Get more features for less money
How Much Could You Save?
See the real cost difference between Gumroad's 10% fees and PengDrop's $20/month flat rate:
| Your Monthly Revenue | Gumroad (10%) | PengDrop Pro | Your Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000/month | $100/month | $20/month | $80/month ($960/year) |
| $5,000/month | $500/month | $20/month | $480/month ($5,760/year) |
| $10,000/month | $1,000/month | $20/month | $980/month ($11,760/year) |
| $20,000/month | $2,000/month | $20/month | $1,980/month ($23,760/year) |
* Gumroad charges 10% on all sales. PengDrop Pro is a flat $20/month with 0% transaction fees.
Payment processing fees (Stripe ~2.9% + 30¢) apply to all platforms.
PengDrop: The Best Gumroad Alternative
Keep 100% of your revenue with 0% platform fees on our Pro plan
Why PengDrop Beats Gumroad
- 0% platform fees vs Gumroad's 10% (save thousands)
- Affordable pricing - $15/month (annual) or $20/month
- Direct Stripe payments - money goes to YOUR account
- Instant payouts - no waiting for Gumroad to release funds
- Custom domains included on all plans
- Unlimited products with no revenue caps
All Gumroad Alternatives Compared
We've analyzed the top platforms to help you find the best fit for your digital product business.
PengDrop
The #1 Gumroad Alternative for Creators
Save $1,200-$12,000/year vs Gumroad's 10% fees
Key Features:
- 0% platform fees (all plans)
- Save $1,200-$12,000/year vs Gumroad
- $15/month annual or $20/month
- Custom domain support
- Instant digital delivery
- Built-in analytics dashboard
Pros:
- Lowest fees in the market (0% platform fees)
- Keep 100% of revenue minus Stripe fees
- No hidden costs or surprises
- Simple, clean interface
Cons:
- Newer platform (rapidly growing)
- Email marketing coming soon
Best for: Creators who want maximum profit and complete control over their revenue
Lemon Squeezy
Merchant of record with tax handling
Key Features:
- Handles global taxes & VAT automatically
- Merchant of record (they handle compliance)
- Sleek, modern design
- Subscription billing
- License key generation
- Fraud protection included
Pros:
- Lower fees than Gumroad (5% vs 10%)
- Tax compliance handled for you
- Beautiful checkout experience
- Good for SaaS products
Cons:
- Still has 5% fee (not as low as PengDrop)
- Plus 50¢ per transaction adds up
- Less design customization
Best for: Software sellers who want automatic tax compliance
Payhip
Free plan with built-in marketing
Key Features:
- Free plan available
- Built-in email marketing
- Affiliate program included
- EU VAT handling
- Memberships & subscriptions
- Coupons and discounts
Pros:
- Free tier with good features
- Strong marketing tools
- Good for digital products
- Established platform
Cons:
- 5% fees on free plan
- Pro plan is $99/mo for 0% fees
- Interface feels dated
Best for: Creators who want built-in marketing tools on a budget
Sellfy
All-in-one with print-on-demand
Key Features:
- Print on demand integration
- Email marketing built-in
- Upselling features
- Store customization
- Digital + physical products
- Mobile app included
Pros:
- 0% transaction fees on all plans
- User-friendly interface
- Great for POD businesses
- All-in-one solution
Cons:
- Higher monthly cost ($19 minimum)
- $19/mo just to start
- No free plan available
Best for: Businesses selling digital products alongside print-on-demand merch
Podia
All-in-one for courses & memberships
Key Features:
- Course hosting with full LMS
- Community features
- Webinar hosting
- Email marketing
- Membership sites
- Coaching products
Pros:
- 0% transaction fees
- Great for course creators
- Community building tools
- Professional course player
Cons:
- Expensive starting point ($39/mo)
- Overkill if you just sell downloads
- No free plan
Best for: Course creators and coaches building membership communities
SendOwl
Flexible with powerful automation
Key Features:
- Powerful affiliate program
- Drip content delivery
- PDF stamping (anti-piracy)
- Cart abandonment emails
- Subscription support
- Flexible integrations
Pros:
- Affordable starting price ($9/mo)
- 0% transaction fees
- Strong automation features
- Great for affiliates
Cons:
- Dated interface
- Steeper learning curve
- Limited store customization
Best for: Advanced sellers who need affiliate programs and automation
ThriveCart
One-time payment, lifetime access
Key Features:
- Lifetime access (one payment)
- High-converting cart pages
- Sales funnels built-in
- Bump offers & upsells
- Affiliate center
- A/B testing
Pros:
- No monthly fees ever
- Powerful funnel builder
- Great checkout optimization
- Pays for itself quickly
Cons:
- High upfront cost ($690)
- No monthly payment option
- Not a full storefront
Best for: High-volume sellers who want to pay once and own forever
Shopify
Full ecommerce powerhouse
Key Features:
- Massive app ecosystem
- Physical + digital products
- Enterprise-grade features
- Global commerce
- POS integration
- Advanced analytics
Pros:
- Industry leading platform
- Extremely scalable
- Thousands of integrations
- Best for large businesses
Cons:
- Expensive for digital-only sellers
- Overkill for simple stores
- Transaction fees on top of monthly
Best for: Large businesses with complex needs and physical inventory
Feature Comparison: Gumroad vs Alternatives
See how the top platforms stack up against Gumroad
| Feature | PengDrop | Gumroad | Lemon Squeezy | Payhip | Sellfy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% Platform Fees Available | Paid only | ||||
| Transaction Fees | 0% | 10% | 5% + 50¢ | 0-5% | 0% |
| Monthly Cost (0% fees) | $15/mo (annual) or $20/mo | N/A (always 10%) | N/A (always 5%) | $99/mo | $19/mo |
| Custom Domain | Paid only | Paid only | |||
| Direct Payments (Your Stripe) | |||||
| Analytics | |||||
| Instant Payouts |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are people leaving Gumroad?
The main reasons creators leave Gumroad are the high 10% transaction fees (which add up quickly), limited customization options, and the fact that Gumroad holds your money before paying out. Many creators prefer platforms like PengDrop that offer direct Stripe integration (instant access to your money) and 0% platform fees.
What is the best Gumroad alternative in 2026?
For most creators, PengDrop is the best Gumroad alternative because it offers 0% platform fees for just $15/month (annual) or $20/month. This saves you significantly compared to Gumroad's 10% fees. Plus, you get direct Stripe payments, meaning your money goes straight to your bank account with instant payouts - no waiting for the platform to release your funds.
Which platform has the lowest fees?
PengDrop ($15/month annual or $20/month) and Sellfy ($19/month) both offer 0% transaction fees, making them the lowest-fee options for consistent sellers. Lemon Squeezy charges 5% + 50¢ per transaction, while Gumroad's 10% is among the highest in the market. For sellers making $300+/month, a flat monthly fee with 0% transactions will always save money compared to percentage-based fees.
Can I migrate from Gumroad to another platform?
Yes! Most platforms make migration straightforward. You can export your products from Gumroad and set them up on your new platform. Customer email lists can typically be exported and imported as well. PengDrop offers free migration assistance to help you transfer your digital products seamlessly - just reach out to our support team after signing up.
What's the most affordable Gumroad alternative?
PengDrop offers 0% platform fees for just $15/month (annual billing) or $20/month, making it extremely affordable compared to Gumroad's 10% fees. For example, if you make $2,000/month in sales, you'd pay $200/month to Gumroad but only $15-20/month to PengDrop - saving you over $2,000 per year. Payhip and Lemon Squeezy offer free plans with 5% fees, which are still better than Gumroad's 10%.
Does Gumroad have hidden fees?
Gumroad's 10% fee is their platform fee, but you also pay payment processing fees on top of that (typically 2.9% + 30¢ for US cards through their payment processor). So your total fees are actually around 13% per sale. With platforms like PengDrop that use your own Stripe account, you pay just Stripe's standard fees (2.9% + 30¢) with 0% platform fees - saving you thousands annually compared to Gumroad.