Sell an ebook, a template, a preset pack, a piece of software — and one of these platforms takes a cut. On a $2,000 month (100 sales of a $20 product), here's what you keep:
| Fee | You keep on $2,000 | Handles sales tax / VAT? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon Squeezy | 5% + 50¢ per sale, no monthly | ~$1,850 | yes — merchant of record |
| Payhip | Free plan 5% flat; Plus $29/mo → 2%; Pro $99/mo → 0% (+ ~2.9% + 30¢ processing) | ~$1,810 (free plan) | yes |
| Gumroad | flat 10% + 50¢ per sale (30% via Discover) | ~$1,750 | yes |
Gumroad is the most expensive and has been since it moved to a flat 10% in 2023. It's also the easiest to start with and has the Discover marketplace, which can send you sales — but Discover sales cost 30%. Pick Gumroad for simplicity and the marketplace exposure, accept that you're paying the most per sale.
Lemon Squeezy is 5% + 50¢ with no monthly fee, and it's a full merchant of record — it handles global sales tax and VAT compliance, which is a real headache it takes off your plate. It was acquired by [Stripe](/entry/stripe-vs-paddle-vs-lemon-squeezy-fees-for-saas-merchant-of-record-explained-202) in 2024 and continues to operate. Best default for software and digital products sold internationally.
Payhip has no per-transaction floor on its percentage (5% flat on the free plan, no 50¢ minimum), and you can buy the fee down: $29/month drops it to 2%, $99/month to 0%. For a small, low-priced catalog the free plan is mathematically the cheapest of the three; for higher volume, the paid tiers pay for themselves. Also a merchant of record.
Want simplicity and marketplace traffic, don't mind paying: Gumroad. Selling software internationally and want VAT handled: Lemon Squeezy. Cheapest fees, especially at low prices or if you'll buy the rate down: Payhip.