Payhip vs Gumroad (2026): Fee Math, Taxes and Which to Pick
Quick verdict: on fees alone, Payhip wins at every price point and every volume — its free plan takes 5% per sale versus Gumroad's 10% + $0.50, and there is no volume level where Gumroad comes out cheaper. Gumroad earns its premium only if you need full merchant-of-record tax handling or sales from its Discover marketplace. The details, worked examples and edge cases below.
Payhip and Gumroad solve the same problem — sell a digital file with a link, no website needed — but price it very differently. One takes a flat cut per sale; the other lets you buy the cut down with a subscription. The Gumroad vs Payhip decision comes down to actual numbers, so here's the head-to-head.
Fee structures side by side
| Gumroad | Payhip | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | $0/month | $0/month |
| Per-sale cut | 10% + $0.50 | 5% (Free plan) |
| Buy-down options | none | Plus $29/mo → 2%; Pro $99/mo → 0% |
| Card processing | 2.9% + $0.30, billed separately | your Stripe/PayPal rates apply |
| Marketplace traffic | Discover (30% on those sales) | none |
| Tax handling | full merchant of record (global VAT/GST) | collects & remits UK/EU VAT; other taxes are on you |
The math at three volume levels
All-in monthly fees (platform + card processing), selling a $12 product:
| Volume | Gumroad | Payhip (best plan) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 sales ($120/mo) | ~$23 | ~$12 (Free) |
| 50 sales ($600/mo) | ~$117 | ~$62 (Free) |
| 250 sales ($3,000/mo) | ~$587 | ~$190 (Pro) |
There is no volume level where Gumroad's fees are lower. On pure per-sale cost, Payhip's free plan beats Gumroad's 10% + $0.50 at every price point — the difference is 5% of the price plus $0.50, on every single sale. Payhip's plan structure then lets growing sellers cap the cost entirely: Free is cheapest below ~$970/month, Plus from there to ~$3,500/month, Pro beyond. (The calculator picks the right plan for your numbers automatically.)
So why does anyone choose Gumroad?
Three honest reasons:
- Merchant of record. Gumroad owns your global tax compliance end to end. Payhip covers UK/EU VAT — a big chunk for most sellers — but US sales tax and the rest of the world stay your problem. If you sell high volume into many jurisdictions and hate paperwork, Gumroad's 5-point premium is a service fee, not waste.
- Discover. Gumroad has a marketplace; Payhip doesn't. Discover sales cost 30%, but they're incremental sales you didn't market for. For creators with zero audience, some traffic beats no traffic.
- Refund familiarity and brand. Buyers know Gumroad. It's a small conversion edge for cold audiences.
Against that: Gumroad keeps its fee even on refunded orders, and its pricing has changed more than once — the current flat 10% arrived abruptly in 2023 and sellers with real revenue felt it immediately.
Verdict by seller type
- Just starting, no audience: either works; take Payhip if you want the lowest cut from day one, Gumroad if Discover matters to you.
- Steady sales, simple tax situation (or mostly UK/EU buyers): Payhip, and it's not close — you're paying Gumroad double for nothing you use.
- High volume, many tax jurisdictions, no accountant: Gumroad as a merchant of record earns its cut; also look at Lemon Squeezy, which offers MoR with different pricing — see our Gumroad alternatives roundup.
Want the per-sale breakdown for your exact price? The Gumroad fee calculator itemizes Gumroad's side of this comparison.
*Rates verified 2026-07-31 against both platforms' published pricing. Some links are affiliate links; the comparison math never changes because of them.*