Gumroad Fees Explained (2026): What You Keep From a $5, $20, or $50 Sale
10% + $0.50 is only part of it. Here is the full checkout math, the payout rules, and the point where another platform keeps more for you.
On a $20 direct sale, Gumroad’s fee is $2.50 and card processing is about $0.88, so you keep about $16.62. If the buyer finds you through Gumroad Discover, the fee is a flat 30% and you keep $14.00. The fixed $0.50 hurts most on cheap products: on a $5 item, close to 30% of the price is gone before payout.
Every Gumroad fee, in one table
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Fee | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Direct sale fee | 10% + $0.50 | Sales from your profile or your own links |
| Card processing | 2.9% + $0.30 | Added on top of the direct sale fee |
| PayPal processing | PayPal’s fees | Added on top when the buyer pays with PayPal |
| Discover marketplace | Flat 30% | Buyers who find you on Gumroad’s marketplace; includes processing |
| High-volume rate | 5% + $0.50 | New direct sales after $20,000 in paid sales in a calendar month; resets on the 1st |
| PayPal payout | 2% | Only if you are paid out to PayPal instead of a bank |
| Monthly fee | $0 | — |
Gumroad also says it acts as merchant of record and has handled sales tax collection and remittance worldwide since January 1, 2025, with no extra fee for that.
What you keep, by price
Direct sale, US card at 2.9% + $0.30. Payhip Free shown for comparison (5% platform fee, same card processing).
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Price | Gumroad fee | Processing | You keep on Gumroad | You keep on Payhip Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5 | $1.00 | $0.45 | $3.55 (71%) | $4.30 (86%) |
| $10 | $1.50 | $0.59 | $7.91 (79%) | $8.91 (89%) |
| $20 | $2.50 | $0.88 | $16.62 (83%) | $18.12 (91%) |
| $50 | $5.50 | $1.75 | $42.75 (86%) | $45.75 (92%) |
The gap is widest on low prices because of Gumroad’s fixed $0.50 per sale. If most of your products cost under $10, the platform choice matters more than it looks.
A month of sales: 100 × $20
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Platform | Monthly plan | Platform fees | Total before processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gumroad (direct) | $0 | $250 | $250 |
| Payhip Free | $0 | $100 | $100 |
| Payhip Plus | $29 | $40 | $69 |
At $2,000 a month in direct sales, that is about $180 a month, or more than $2,000 a year, kept by switching. Card processing is roughly the same on each, so it is left out.
Payout rules that cost time, not money
- $100 minimum balance before Gumroad pays you out.
- 7-day holding period on weekly, monthly, and quarterly schedules.
- 2% fee on PayPal payouts, used in countries where Gumroad cannot pay to a bank.
Payhip pays through your own Stripe or PayPal account at the time of sale, so there is no platform balance to wait on.
When Gumroad is still the right choice
- You sell into many countries and want one company to handle all sales tax. That is what part of the fee buys.
- You get real sales from Discover. 30% on a customer you would not otherwise have can be worth it.
- You sell more than $20,000 a month and get the 5% + $0.50 rate automatically.
When to move
- Most of your products are under $10, or you bring your own audience through links → compare Payhip Free. See Payhip plans (affiliate link).
- Direct sales above about $967 a month → Payhip Plus ($29 + 2%) beats Payhip Free; above $3,500, Pro ($99, 0%).
- You want tax handled and a lower fee → see Lemon Squeezy vs Payhip.
Check your own sales export first: Gumroad lets you download a CSV with the fee taken from every sale.
Sources: Gumroad pricing, Gumroad’s fees, Getting paid by Gumroad, Payhip pricing (affiliate link).
Refunds cost more than the sale: processing fees are not returned, and a chargeback adds $15. See the refund and chargeback cost calculator.
Selling cheap items on Gumroad? See how much fees take on $1 to $5 products and how bundling keeps more of each sale.
Thinking of moving? The Gumroad switch calculator compares a year of Gumroad fees with each Payhip plan, with Discover sales counted separately.
Choosing between the two? See Gumroad vs Lemon Squeezy for the fee on every sale side by side.
Prefer a flat monthly price over a cut of each sale? Stan Store fees breaks down the $29 Creator plan, its 0% platform cut, and the sales level where it beats Gumroad or Payhip.
Still choosing where to sell? See the best platform to sell digital products, with 10 options compared by what you keep per sale.
Run your own numbers: try the free digital product fee calculator.
Related: Payhip vs Gumroad Fees · Gumroad Alternatives for Small Creators · Payhip Review · Etsy vs Payhip
Gumroad price, payment methods and payouts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Monthly price | $0. Gumroad has no plans or tiers; every account gets the same features and pays per sale. |
| Fee per sale | 10% + $0.50 on direct sales, plus card processing (2.9% + $0.30) or PayPal’s fee. A flat 30% on sales that come through Gumroad Discover. |
| How buyers can pay | Credit and debit cards and PayPal; the hosted checkout also supports Apple Pay. |
| Sales tax and VAT | Since January 1, 2025, Gumroad acts as merchant of record and collects and remits sales tax, VAT and GST for you. |
| When you get paid | Payouts typically go out on Fridays. US creators can get free direct deposit; outside the US, options depend on your country and PayPal may be the only one. |
| Refunds | Gumroad does not refund its fees when you refund a buyer. You lose the 10% + $0.50 and the processing fee on top of the money you return. |
What a refund really costs on Gumroad
| Sale price | Fees you already paid (direct sale, card) | Total cost of a full refund |
|---|---|---|
| $5 | $1.00 + $0.45 = $1.45 | $6.45 |
| $20 | $2.50 + $0.88 = $3.38 | $23.38 |
| $50 | $5.50 + $1.75 = $7.25 | $57.25 |
If more than a few percent of your sales are refunded, this adds up fast. Use the refund and chargeback calculator with your own numbers.
When Gumroad is still the right choice
- You sell to buyers in many countries and want someone else to handle VAT and sales tax.
- You sell a few products a month and value a $0 monthly bill over the lowest fee.
- Discover sales are new buyers you would not reach otherwise, even at 30%.
If most buyers come from your own audience and your products cost under $20, the $0.50 + 10% fee is the most expensive option in our fee table. Compare Payhip vs Gumroad before your next launch.
FAQ
How much does Gumroad cost?
Nothing per month. You pay 10% + $0.50 per direct sale plus card processing, or 30% on Discover sales.
What payment methods does Gumroad accept?
Cards, PayPal and Apple Pay at checkout.
Does Gumroad handle sales tax?
Yes. Since January 1, 2025, Gumroad is the merchant of record and collects and remits sales tax, VAT and GST.
Does Gumroad refund fees on refunds?
No. Gumroad keeps its fees, and card processing fees are not returned either.
How much do I keep from a $20 sale on Gumroad?
About $16.62 on a direct card sale, or $14.00 if the buyer came through Discover.
Not sure which platform fits your numbers? Put in your price and monthly sales and see what you keep on every platform at once. If you are just starting, a Payhip store costs $0 until you sell, so you can set it up first and decide later.
Compare my numbers →Start a free Payhip store