Payhip vs Gumroad Fees (2026): What You Actually Keep From a $20 Sale
Same $20 product, two checkouts: here is what actually reaches your account.
The short answer
- Selling under about $970 a month: Payhip’s free plan (5% fee) keeps more of each sale than Gumroad’s direct-sale fee (10% + $0.50).
- Selling $970–$3,500 a month: Payhip Plus ($29/month, 2% fee) is the cheapest of the three Payhip options.
- Selling more than $3,500 a month: Payhip Pro ($99/month, no transaction fee) wins.
- Choose Gumroad when you want it to act as the seller of record for sales tax worldwide, or when you expect real sales from its Discover marketplace—and accept the higher fee for that.
The fees, side by side
On a narrow screen, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Payhip Free | Payhip Plus | Payhip Pro | Gumroad (direct link) | Gumroad (Discover) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | $29 | $99 | $0 | $0 |
| Platform fee per sale | 5% | 2% | 0% | 10% + $0.50 | 30% |
| Card / PayPal processing | Charged by Stripe or PayPal at their standard rates | same | same | Charged separately, per Gumroad’s help center | Check Gumroad’s help center |
Sources: Payhip pricing, Gumroad pricing, Gumroad’s fees (help center).
What you keep from one $20 sale
Assumption: a US card payment processed at Stripe’s standard 2.9% + $0.30 ($0.88 on $20). Your processor rate may differ by country and payment method; the gap between the platforms does not.
On a narrow screen, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Platform | Platform fee | Processing | You keep |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip Free | $1.00 | $0.88 | $18.12 |
| Gumroad direct | $2.50 | $0.88 | $16.62 |
On a $20 product, Gumroad’s fixed $0.50 per sale is what widens the gap. On a $5 product the difference is larger in percentage terms: Payhip Free takes $0.25, Gumroad direct takes $1.00 before processing.
When a paid Payhip plan pays for itself
Monthly sales where two plans cost the same:
- Free vs Plus: 5% of sales = $29 + 2% of sales → about $967/month
- Plus vs Pro: $29 + 2% of sales = $99 → $3,500/month
Below $967, stay on Free. Do not upgrade on expected sales; upgrade after one month above the line.
What the fee table leaves out
- Sales tax and VAT. Gumroad states that since January 1, 2025 it handles all tax obligations for creators. Payhip states it collects and pays digital EU/UK VAT and US/Canadian sales tax on your behalf. If you sell into other countries with their own rules, check where you are responsible before choosing on fees alone.
- Discover sales. Gumroad’s 30% only applies to buyers who find you through Gumroad’s marketplace. If you bring your own audience, the direct-link fee is the one that matters.
- Payout timing. Payhip says payouts happen immediately after a completed transaction through your Stripe or PayPal account. Gumroad pays out on its own schedule; see its “Getting paid” help article.
What you keep at every price
Direct sale paid by card in the US. Both platforms add card processing of about 2.9% + $0.30.
| Price | Gumroad (10% + $0.50) | Payhip Free (5%) | Extra you keep on Payhip |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5 | $3.56 | $4.31 | $0.75 |
| $10 | $7.91 | $8.91 | $1.00 |
| $20 | $16.62 | $18.12 | $1.50 |
| $50 | $42.75 | $45.75 | $3.00 |
Over a year: 50 sales a month at $20 means $75 a month, or $900 a year, staying with you instead of Gumroad. At 200 sales a month it is $3,600 a year.
Switching from Gumroad: a 30-minute checklist
- Open the new store first. Upload your files and copy your product descriptions and prices before you change any links.
- Recreate discount codes and bundles. They do not move with you.
- Export your customer list from Gumroad if you plan to email past buyers about the new store.
- Update every link: link-in-bio, YouTube descriptions, pinned posts, email footers and old blog posts.
- Keep your Gumroad account open until past buyers have downloaded what they paid for. Unpublish products instead of deleting the account.
- Check tax settings. Gumroad acts as merchant of record worldwide. On the new platform, confirm who collects VAT and sales tax before your first sale. See who pays sales tax on digital products.
Ready to compare for yourself? Payhip’s free plan costs nothing until you sell, so you can set up the store before moving any links. Or run your own numbers in the digital product fee calculator.
Open your Payhip store, free →
FAQ
Is Payhip cheaper than Gumroad?
Yes, on every price point for direct sales. Payhip Free charges 5% per sale; Gumroad charges 10% + $0.50. Card processing is about the same on both.
How much more do I keep on Payhip than Gumroad?
5% of the price plus $0.50 per sale: $0.75 on a $5 product, $1.00 on $10, $1.50 on $20 and $3.00 on $50.
When is Gumroad worth the higher fee?
When sales from Gumroad Discover bring buyers you would not reach otherwise, or when you want one platform to act as merchant of record for tax worldwide.
Do I need a paid Payhip plan?
Not at first. Payhip Plus ($29/mo, 2%) only beats the free plan above about $970 a month in sales, and Pro ($99/mo, 0%) above about $3,500.
Can I sell on both Payhip and Gumroad?
Yes. Many creators keep Gumroad for Discover sales and send their own audience to Payhip for the lower fee.
Which one to choose
- You already have an audience and sell under $970/month → Payhip Free. Compare Payhip plans (affiliate link).
- You want one company to handle worldwide sales tax and you sell low volume → Gumroad, accepting the higher fee.
- You sell more than $967/month on Payhip → recalculate with your real numbers and move to Plus or Pro.
Considering Payhip? Read the full Payhip review or how to sell without a website.
Refunds cost more than the sale: processing fees are not returned, and a chargeback adds $15. See the refund and chargeback cost calculator.
If your products cost under $5, read what fees take on $1 to $5 sales before you choose a platform.
Want your own numbers? The Gumroad switch calculator shows your yearly fees on Gumroad against each Payhip plan.
Run your own numbers: try the free Payhip plan calculator or the digital product fee calculator.
Related: The Lean Creator Business Stack · How to Build a Creator Website That Can Sell · Gumroad Fees Explained
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.
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