The best platform to sell digital products in 2026 — compared on the numbers
Six platforms, one table, and an honest answer for each kind of seller — including the cases where the right choice is not us.
There is no single best platform — it depends almost entirely on how much you sell. Under about $150 a month, Gumroad's pay-per-sale model is cheapest and simplest. Between $150 and $1,000, a flat fee with 0% commission pulls ahead. Above that, percentage platforms become expensive fast — at $3,000/month Gumroad's cut is around $310 while a flat plan is $14.99. Separately: if US sales tax and EU VAT are a burden you want gone, a merchant-of-record platform is worth its fee regardless of volume.
TL;DR
- • Low volume (under ~$150/month): Gumroad. No monthly fee beats any subscription.
- • Growing ($150-$1,000): a flat fee with 0% commission. SitesPlaced at $14.99.
- • Higher volume: flat fee, decisively. Percentages compound against you.
- • Want tax handled: Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy — they are the legal seller.
- • Want a real website and blog: SitesPlaced. Most of the others give you a product page.
The fee table
| Platform | Monthly | Cut of each sale | On $1,000/month |
|---|---|---|---|
| SitesPlaced | $0 free, or $14.99 | 0% | $14.99 |
| Gumroad | $0 | 10% + 50c | about $105 |
| Beacons (free) | $0 | 9% | about $90 |
| Payhip (free) | $0 | 5% | about $50 |
| Payhip Growth | $29 | 2% | about $49 |
| Sellfy Starter | $29 | 0% under the cap | $29 |
| Stan Store | $29 | 0% | $29 |
Figures from each platform's own pricing page, checked late August 2026. Payment processing fees (Stripe, PayPal) apply on all of them including ours. Competitor prices are from their own pricing pages, checked late August 2026. Plans change — confirm before you switch.
The caps nobody reads
Fees are visible. Caps are not, and they bite later.
- • Sellfy limits annual sales by plan — roughly $10k, $50k and $200k — with 2% on anything above until you upgrade. Even the $119/month plan is capped.
- • Big Cartel's free plan stops at 5 products.
- • Ecwid's free plan stops at 10 products.
- • SitesPlaced caps products on no plan, and revenue on no plan. The free tier limits live digital downloads to one and shows a badge.
How each one protects your files
Most platforms host your file and hand out a download link. The differences are in what happens next.
- • Per-buyer links that expire — the baseline you should insist on.
- • Download limits per buyer — stops one link becoming a public mirror.
- • Revocation after a refund — surprisingly rare, and the one you want the day you need it.
- • PDF stamping with the buyer's email — a deterrent that makes leaks traceable. Sellfy and ownstreet offer it; we do not yet.
Who should pick what
- • Occasional seller, a file or two: Gumroad. Pay nothing until you sell something.
- • Selling steadily and want to keep the margin: a flat-fee platform with 0% commission.
- • Selling to Europe and dreading VAT: Payhip or a merchant-of-record platform.
- • Coaching and courses with bookings: Stan Store — their calendar beats everyone's.
- • Merch you never want to touch: Fourthwall.
- • Files and physical products, on a real website with a blog: SitesPlaced.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest platform to sell digital products?
It depends on volume. Under about $150 a month, Gumroad's no-monthly-fee model wins despite the 10%. Above that a flat fee with 0% commission is cheaper, and the gap widens with every sale.
Which platform has no transaction fees?
SitesPlaced and Stan Store take 0%. Sellfy advertises 0% but adds 2% above each plan's annual sales cap. Gumroad, Payhip and Beacons all take a percentage of every sale.
Which handles sales tax for me?
Gumroad and Lemon Squeezy are merchant of record, so they are the legal seller and handle US sales tax and EU VAT. Payhip handles EU VAT. On platforms where you connect your own Stripe account you are the seller, though Stripe Tax can calculate it at checkout.
Which gives me a real website?
SitesPlaced builds a multi-page site with a blog and your own domain. Gumroad, Payhip, Stan Store and Beacons give you a product page or link page — deliberately, in most cases.
Can I move between platforms later?
Yes. Your files are yours everywhere. Recreate the products, upload the same files, and redirect your links. Most sellers run two in parallel for a few weeks.
Try the 0% option free
Publish free with 0% commission and your own Stripe account. Upgrade to $14.99/month only when you want a custom domain and unlimited downloads.
