One of the best introductions to the world of ecommerce is selling digital products. Digital sales require no shipping, storage and very little overhead. In fact, once a creator makes an asset, the rest is almost completely passive income.

Gumroad is an online platform that allows creators to sell their digital products directly to their audience. Founded in 2011 by Sahil Lavingia, Gumroad has become the go-to platform for creative entrepreneurs to sell their digital products.

However, a 2022 change in Gumroad’s pricing proved to be a massive gut-punch to creators. As a result, many are scrambling for an alternative to selling digital goods.

In this post, you’ll learn about the best Gumroad alternatives and the unique features of each platform.

Whether you’re looking to switch platforms or looking for a new place to sell digital or physical products, this post will give you a clearer picture of your next steps.

With that said, let’s jump right in.

Summary of the best Gumroad alternatives

Here’s a quick summary of our favorite Gumroad alternatives. We’ll go into more detail on these and more in the remainder of the post.

• Shopify – If you want to easily create an ecommerce store that has built-in marketing features, a digital storefront and an app for inventory management at a competitive price, you can’t go wrong with Shopify.
• BigCommerce – This popular platform is the best alternative to Gumroad if you need a full-featured ecommerce site that supports growth or large enterprise-sized sales.
• Sellfy – With Sellfy, you can sell digital downloads, on-demand videos and print-on-demand merchandise. Those on a budget looking for a gumroad alternative will also like Sellfy since it offers zero transaction fees on paid plans.
• Teachable – If you are planning to sell courses and have a flexible budget, then Teachable may be a smart match.
• Squarespace ecommerce – If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line ecommerce platform and website builder (and you don’t mind a bit of a learning curve), then Squarespace ecommerce is a great alternative to Gumroad.
• Lemon Squeezy – Lemon Squeezy offers a very similar experience to Gumroad and is well-suited for SaaS or Micro-SaaS sellers. The software offers an all-in-one platform for payments, subscriptions, global tax compliance, digital downloads and more.

15 best alternatives to Gumroad

There are dozens of alternative platforms to choose from, so we’ve narrowed the list down to the 15 that we think offer the best features and the most bang for your buck.

We’ll let you know the kind of creators each platform caters to, as well as how much they charge for the features they offer.

We will also give you a list of each platform’s major pros and cons.

1. Shopify

Creators flock to Shopify because the platform makes building an online store easy. It comes with a drag-and-drop user interface and a huge app library.

That and more make it possibly the best ecommerce platform for merchants looking to sell digital products for the first time.

Creators who use Shopify can check a mobile app to see how their products are selling and they never have to worry about support because it is offered around the clock.

Shopify store pages load quickly and look good on any sized display, but the platform charges additional fees to creators who do not use its internal payment system.

Shopify does not offer a free option, but it does allow creators to test out the platform for $1 per month for three months. If they like the platform, they will have three subscription packages to choose from. The packages cost $39, $105 and $399 per month.

Shopify Pros:

• Huge app library
• Integrated payment gateway
• 24-hour support
• Drag-and-drop user interface
• $1 per month trial offer

Shopify Cons:

• No free subscription package
• Fees for using outside payment gateways
• Not many free themes to choose from

2. Payhip

Payhip’s main claim to fame is a seamless checkout process that takes just seconds to complete and can be linked to blogs, websites and social media pages.

Payhip also allows you to sell online courses or digital products that require a one-time or recurring payments, which make them a viable platform for hosting paid membership programs.

The platform does not have its own payment system, but Payhip allows customers to pay with debit or credit cards or their PayPal accounts.

Additionally, Payhip caters to creators who like to network with an affiliate program and coupons and social discounts that reward tweets and likes and there is a free forever subscription for sellers on a budget.

However, creators who choose this option must pay a 5% transaction fee every time they make a sale. The transaction fee is reduced to 2% when creators choose the Plus plan for $29 per month and it is waived for Pro plan subscribers who pay $99 per month.

Payhip Pros:

• Free plan available
• Great for networkers
• Fast and easy checkout process
• Affiliate program
• All features included in all plans

Payhip Cons:

• Transaction fees on free and Plus plans
• Few sales tools
• Not many customization options

3. WooCommerce

WooComerce is an open-source ecommerce platform built on top of the WordPress framework.

One big advantage that WooCommerce has over Gumroad is that you can use third-party plugins to perform cross-selling and upselling of items, offer discount codes, recover cart abandonments and more.

Plus, you’ve got access to the massive library of WordPress plugins and themes, offering you granular customization options and an unrivaled level of control over your storefront’s branding.

However, building an online store with WooCommerce is not as easy as it is with out-of-the-box solutions.

While the WooCommerce plugin is free, there are some significant hidden costs. Getting a WooCommerce site up-and-running will likely require some third-party or “premium” plugins.

WooCommerce Pros:

• Open source
• Almost endless customization options
• Lots of extensions and themes to choose from
• Mobile app
• Upsell and cross-sell features

WooCommerce Cons:

• Steeper learning curve than other platforms
• Some of the best themes and add-ons cost money
• Only works on WordPress websites

4. Sellfy

Sellfy is an excellent platform for selling digital downloads, physical products and subscriptions. Artists can print their designs on items like t-shirts, hats or coffee mugs. Their print-on-demand service easily handles the printing and shipping, so you don’t have to.

This is also a popular platform among creators who sell subscriptions, online courses or on-demand video streaming. The platform offers discount codes, pixel tracking, upsells and email marketing. Plus, it has security features that prevent downloaded content from being shared.

There is a 14-day free trial for creators who want to give Sellfy a try and those who decide to stick around can choose between $19, $49 and $99 per month subscription packages.

However, subscriptions are paid every two years in advance, which means you will have to pay $456, $1,176 or $2,376 when you sign up.

Sellfy Pros:

• 14-day free trial
• Security features prevent content sharing
• Email marketing feature
• Print-on-demand service
• Money back guarantee
• You can sell digital and physical products

Sellfy Cons:

• Subscriptions must be paid for two years in advance
• Few customization options
• No free plan

5. Etsy

Etsy is known best as a place to go for jewelry, gifts and clothing, but creators can also sell printable and downloadable products on the site. Etsy is more of a marketplace than an ecommerce platform, but it attracts millions of visitors every day.

If you’re not interested in building your own website and want to tap into a massive existing audience, you may want to give Etsy a try.

Etsy does offer a solution for creators who want to have their own storefront on the site, but it costs $15 per month.

It also costs quite a bit to sell products on Etsy. The site charges a 20-cent insertion fee, a 6.5% transaction fee, a 3% payment processing fee and a 2.5% currency conversion fee when products are not purchased with U.S. dollars.

Etsy Pros:

• Millions of visitors
• Highly trusted
• Custom storefronts available
• No set-up fees
• Excellent support

Etsy Cons:

• Lots of fees
• Lots of competition
• Strict product guidelines

6. Podia

Podia is the best Gumroad alternative for those who want an all-in-one solution, as it has all the tools and features needed to run your online company in one place.

The popular ecommerce platform caters to creators who are selling digital products and digital subscriptions and it also has a feature that links to Zoom or YouTube Live accounts for webcasters who want to charge for their content. It’s also excellent for selling online courses as well.

Setting up a Podia store is simple and the platform offers a host of marketing features like coupon codes, cross-selling and upselling, affiliate marketing, drip campaigns and email marketing.

This is not a great platform for selling physical merchandise, however, because there are no inventory tracking features.

You won’t have to pay a transaction fee if you pay for a Podia subscription, but users who choose the free package will pay an 8% fee.

A Mover package costs $33 per month and a Shaker package costs $75 per month. Podia offers a 17% discount to subscribers who pay for a whole year in advance.

Podia Pros:

• Free package available
• Great for digital downloads
• Webcast integration
• Lots of marketing features
• 24-hour support

Podia Cons:

• Not the best solution for physical merchandise
• Limited analytics
• Free plan has transaction fees

7. Ecwid

Ecwid’s Instant Site feature might just be the quickest and easiest way to enter the world of ecommerce. This platform caters mainly to creators who want to add an online store to an existing web presence, but a simple one-page store is offered for novices.

There is a fee plan available from Ecwid, but creators who choose this option won’t be able to sell digital products or offer coupon codes.

Users who choose a paid plan for $19, $39 or $99 per month can sell whatever they want, but they may not be able to sell their products wherever they want.

You will need to choose the Venture plan if you want to sell on Facebook or Instagram and only Business and Unlimited plan subscribers can sell their products on Amazon and eBay.

Ecwid Pros:

• Free plan available
• Instant Site feature
• More than 250 integrations
• Multiple languages and currencies
• Tax is calculated automatically

Ecwid Cons:

• Selling opportunities are limited on cheaper plans
• Some mobile features do not work on Android devices
• Live chat and phone support only offered with paid plans

8. Lemon Squeezy

Lemon Squeezy is the ecommerce platform of choice for selling software and other digital downloads because it issues a license key during the checkout process.

This ensures that only people who have actually paid for software can use it. This is also a great platform for sellers outside the United States because it supports 15 payment methods and makes bank payouts in 79 countries.

The marketing tools Lemon Squeezy offers include email features that are free for users with less than 500 subscribers, discount codes and detailed analytics delivered in real time.

Additionally, the platform’s built-in analytics show how well your online business is doing.

You won’t have to pay a monthly subscription fee to sell on Lemon Squeezy, but the platform charges a 5% transaction fee and collects 50 cents on every sale.

Lemon Squeezy Pros:

• License key issued at checkout
• Great for international sellers
• Excellent marketing tools
• No subscription fees
• Free trial
• You can generate invoices

Lemon Squeezy Cons:

• Transaction fees
• Digital products only
• Payouts every two weeks

9. MemberPress

MemberPress caters to creators who offer online courses, digital downloads or subscriptions.

This WordPress plugin sets itself apart with a drag-and-drop course builder that makes putting together an online course a snap. It also features a “drip content” feature that releases new content at specified intervals or when subscribers reach certain milestones.

Integrating with other popular WordPress plugins like OptinMonster is seamless on MemberPress and there are no transaction fees.

A Basic package costs $179.50 per year, a Plus package costs $299.50 per year and a Pro package costs $399.50 per year. There is no option to pay monthly.

MemberPress Pros:

• Drip content feature
• Course builder
• Seamless integration with other WordPress plugins
• No transaction fees
• 14-day money-back guarantee

MemberPress Cons:

• Subscriptions must be paid a year in advance
• Only works on WordPress websites
• No free trial

10. SendOwl

SendOwl is designed for entrepreneurs who sell digital products and services through their own sites.

The platform is popular with YouTubers and other creators that produce sponsored content as well as sell merchandise because it allows their audiences to support them but does not take a cut of the money they receive.

Marketing features offered by SendOwl include an affiliate program, promotional codes, abandoned cart emails and one-click upselling.

The platform is also great for selling both digital products and physical merchandise. You cannot build an online store on SendOwl, but the user interface is easy to navigate and use.

A free package is available, but creators who choose this option pay a 5% transaction fee. To avoid this fee, you can choose a Starter package for $15 per month or a Pro package for $39 per month.

SendOwl Pros:

• Sponsorship feature
• Excellent marketing tools
• Simple setup and checkout
• Detailed analytics
• Free trial

SendOwl Cons:

• No online store builder
• Limited customization options
• No live chat support

11. BigCommerce

BigCommerce works best for large and fast-growing companies. It’s scalable and suitable for a wide variety of online shops.

One of the perks of choosing BigCommerce is that it offers more built-in sales tools than any of its competitors.

Between this and its multichannel integration and advanced SEO techniques, BigCommerce offers a good choice for growing companies.

It’s also the natural choice for businesses that already sell through other platforms but also desire to set up their own online store.

Whether you own a well-established online store or are trying to build an ambitious ecommerce store, BigCommerce has got you covered.

Prices range from $29.95 per month for the standard package all the way to custom-designed packages for companies that have an annual revenue bracket above $400,000. 

BigCommerce Pros:

• No commission/platform fees
• Multichannel integration works smoothly
• Free built-in features prevent the price from skyrocketing
• Organic growth is assisted by strong SEO support

BigCommerce Cons:

• BigCommerce’s revenue-led billing may be difficult for some companies
• Not as easy as its competitors to set up

12. DPD

DPD offers a specialized digital publishing platform that focuses heavily on eBooks. You can also sell software, music, themes, graphics, etc.

One of the main reasons that authors should consider using DPD is that it’s super easy to set up your online shop and begin selling. All you have to do is upload your products and you’re ready to go.

You can also use DPD’s copy-and-paste cart buttons to capture sales from a wide number of places, including social media, your blog and your website.

Everything is point-and-click on the platform. However, that doesn’t mean it lacks important features. On the contrary, DPD has advanced features that any business owner needs to sell online.

DPD doesn’t charge any commissions, processing fees, or per-sale fees. Monthly pricing is based on how many items you offer for sale and starts at only $10 per month.

DPD Pros:

• No skills are required – DPD is completely point-and-click
• SSL is used for every checkout
• Manage multiple stores from one account
• Sends an update link to customers if you’ve updated your book

DPD Cons:

• Only digital products can be sold on DPD
• Limited payment options

13. Squarespace ecommerce

If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line ecommerce platform, look no further than Squarespace.

Although there is a bit of a learning curve, Squarespace’s huge inventory system and strong features more than make up for it.

Squarespace ecommerce has some awesome built-in content distribution and selling functions, but its main appeal is its gorgeous, plug-and-play theme library.

Pricing plans begin at $27 per month, or you can choose the advanced plan for $49 per month.

Squarespace ecommerce Pros:

• High-quality site features
• Offers the best design options of any ecommerce platform
• Fantastic analytical tools and inventory system

Squarespace ecommerce Cons:

• Takes some time to overcome the learning curve
• Offers fewer apps than competitors’ platforms

14. Teachable

With Teachable, you can offer and sell digital downloads, coaching and online courses in one place. Unlike Udemy, its major competitor, you can use your own branding, too.

Basically, if you’ve got any skill that you want to teach to others, Teachable allows you to make it happen.

Teachable has an easy-to-use interface and you can choose between a wide array of templates or creating something that’s just yours. It will take time, dedication and persistence, but you can create a thriving course business with this platform.

Teachable offers a free option, but it’s only suitable for those who are just starting out. If you choose the free plan, Teachable will take $1 plus 10% of each sale.

Upgrading to their basic plan costs $39 per month and Teachable will take 5% of each sale. If you want to get away from giving Teachable a cut on each sale, you’ll have to select the pro plan ($119 per month) or a custom business plan.

Teachable Pros:

• Drag-and-drop editor and page set are very easy-to-use
• No prior knowledge is required
• Payment processing and web hosting are included
• Student-side fully customizable courses

Teachable Cons:

• Unlike Udemy, you’ll be fully responsible for marketing
• Payment processing fee plus a per sale fee makes Teachable expensive

15. Hyax

Digital subscriptions are easy to sell with Hyax. Regardless of whether you’re selling memberships, courses, merchandise, paid newsletters, etc., you can do so from one website.

What’s more, Hyax provides some impressive tools, like the ability to create landing pages to sell products or get customers to sign up to be your lead magnets.

You’ll have access to marketing funnels and landing pages, along with membership site capabilities, a digital storefront and a customizable course builder.

There are three different price tiers available: Beginner plans are currently $49 per month, advanced plans cost $99 monthly and the Enterprise tier offers custom pricing.

Hyax Pros:

• Simple to use
• Customizable
• Includes features like file delivery, gated content and subscriptions
• Free trial available

Hyax Cons:

• Hard to integrate with other tools
• The interface can be confusing

Why should you look for Gumroad alternatives?

In addition to their price hikes, there are other reasons to consider Gumroad alternatives.

Perhaps you want to branch out into both physical and digital products (which Gumroad supports but only at a very basic level). Or, maybe you want more control over your storefront, in which case something like WooCommerce, Shopify, or Squarespace is a better option.

Alternatively, maybe you don’t want the hassle of managing your own website and just want to hop onto an existing marketplace like Etsy or Amazon.

Whatever your particular business scenario, if you’ve made it to this point in the post, you now have plenty of Gumroad alternatives to explore.

FAQs about selling digital products and Gumroad alternatives

Which Gumroad alternatives have the best features?

That depends on your individual needs. Shopify offers a range of powerful ecommerce solutions, while SendOwl is more focused on digital products. Selz is another great alternative that gives you easy-to-customize online stores with no coding necessary.

Why sell both digital and physical products?

Selling both digital and physical products can be beneficial for your business as it expands reach and diversifies your income streams. Selling physical products may require more resources and storage space, but your customers get to experience a tangible item related to your brand.

Digital products often offer a lower cost of entry due to their non-physical nature and are an excellent, low-risk starting point for those just getting into ecommerce.

How do the pricing models compare between Gumroad and its alternatives?

Pricing models vary significantly among Gumroad alternatives. Shopify has subscription plans that range from $39 to $399 per month, while Stripe’s fees are based on transaction fees and vary accordingly.

FastSpring and SendOwl offer flat-rate fee plans, while Selz has a simple pricing plan that charges you per transaction.

Does Gumroad offer any advantages over its alternatives?

For all its quirks, Gumroad is still one of the top digital download platforms and offers an easy-to-use interface for setting up and selling assets.

It also integrates with a growing list of third-party services.

What should I consider when choosing an alternative to Gumroad?

When selecting an alternative to Gumroad, think about your particular needs, what you’d like to sell and the future goals of your business.

Then, try to find a platform that aligns best with these metrics.

Additionally, consider how easily you’ll be able to integrate with other services or products you want to use in conjunction with Gumroad.

Final thoughts

Gumroad’s pricing change is a cautionary tale that’s forced many of its loyal creators to explore other options.

And there are lots of other options.

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Looking for other ways to cut costs and expand sales? See how Linnworks can help streamline and automate your inventory, order, and listing management processes.