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How this calculator works
For each platform plan, the fee per sale is the platform percentage (e.g. Gumroad 10%) plus the platform's fixed fee (e.g. $0.50) plus payment processing (about 2.9% + $0.30) for platforms that connect to your own Stripe or PayPal account. Monthly take-home is net per sale times your sales volume, minus any monthly subscription. Plans are ranked by monthly take-home. The fee table lives in a config file, so new pricing can be added in one place without touching the calculator logic.
2026 platform fee comparison
Published fees as of September 2026. 'MoR' means merchant of record — the platform collects and remits sales tax on your behalf. Processing refers to your own Stripe/PayPal account (typically 2.9% + $0.30).
| Platform | Platform fee | Monthly | Tax handling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gumroad | 10% + $0.50 (30% via Discover) | $0 | MoR, worldwide since Jan 2025 |
| Lemon Squeezy | 5% + $0.50 | $0 | MoR, global VAT/GST/sales tax |
| Payhip (Free) | 5% + processing | $0 | EU/UK VAT + US sales tax since Jul 2026 |
| Payhip (Plus) | 2% + processing | $29 | Same as Free |
| Payhip (Pro) | 0% + processing | $99 | Same as Free |
| Sellfy (Starter) | 0% + processing | $22 | Seller handles sales tax |
| Stan Store | 0% + processing | $29 | Seller handles sales tax |
Useful scenarios
- Selling a $29 template at 100 sales/month: Gumroad's 10% + $0.50 costs $3.40 per sale, while Lemon Squeezy's 5% + $0.50 costs $1.95 — a difference of about $1,740 a year.
- A creator doing $10,000/month at a $50 average order comparing Payhip Free (5% + processing) against Payhip Plus ($29/month at 2% + processing) to find the break-even volume.
- A solo founder deciding whether Gumroad's merchant-of-record convenience (global sales tax handled) is worth the extra fee at their current international sales mix.
FAQ
Why do Gumroad and Lemon Squeezy look more expensive per sale?
They act as merchant of record: payment processing and global sales tax (VAT, GST) are bundled into their single fee. Payhip, Sellfy, and Stan Store add the processor fee (about 2.9% + $0.30) on top of their platform fee, so the gap is smaller than the headline percentages suggest — but merchant-of-record platforms also take the tax compliance work off your desk entirely.
When does a monthly subscription beat a percentage fee?
It depends on your volume. Flat-monthly plans (Payhip Plus at $29, Sellfy at $22, Stan Store at $29) win once their savings on percentage fees exceed the subscription. For a $29 product, Payhip Plus saves 3% + $0.30 per sale versus the free plan — roughly $1.17 per sale, so it breaks even around 25 sales per month. Use the calculator with your real numbers.
Does Gumroad's marketplace fee apply to me?
Only when a buyer finds your product through Gumroad's Discover marketplace — those sales cost 30% instead of the standard 10% + $0.50. Sales from your own traffic (your site, newsletter, or social links) always pay the standard rate.
Are these fees up to date?
The fee table was verified against each platform's published pricing pages in September 2026. Platform pricing changes — Gumroad became merchant of record in January 2025 and Payhip added US sales tax handling in July 2026 — so check the linked pricing pages before committing at volume.