Best Free Platforms to Sell Digital Products: Gumroad vs Payhip

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You’ve made the decision. You’re finally ready to sell your amazing digital product—maybe it’s an ebook, a course, a bundle of aesthetic Notion templates, or a pack of coloring pages that could make a sloth productive.

You're pumped, your product is polished, and your creativity is about to make you money while you sleep (or binge your favorite show—no judgment).

But wait—where do you sell it?

Sure, there are dozens of platforms out there, but most of them come with either confusing interfaces, hefty subscription fees, or transaction fees that take a bigger bite than your cat at dinnertime.

Enter: Gumroad and Payhip, two incredibly popular platforms that let you sell digital products for free (yep, really).

But which one’s better? Which one will help you make more sales, save more money, and build a business you actually enjoy running?

Let’s dive in—snacks optional, but encouraged.

Why You Should Consider a Free Platform

We’re in an age where nearly everything is subscription-based—even your fridge wants a monthly fee now. So finding free platforms that actually deliver solid features is rare and delightful.

If you’re:

☑ Just getting started with zero to low upfront budget

☑ Testing out a new niche

☑ Launching a side hustle and want to stay lean

☑ Not ready for a Shopify or building a website

…then free platforms like Gumroad and Payhip are your secret weapons. They let you get going quickly, look professional, and avoid spending $100/month before your first sale.

Both platforms come with pros, cons, and unique vibes. So grab your digital notepad, and let’s compare them head-to-head like it's a reality TV showdown.

Gumroad: Built for Creators Who Want Simplicity (With a Side of Global Reach)

↪ Overview

Founded in 2011, Gumroad was made for creators, by creators. Think of it as the digital lemonade stand for modern artists, writers, developers, and niche entrepreneurs.

If your goal is to get up and running ASAP with something sleek and simple, Gumroad’s interface feels like a warm hug—clean, clutter-free, and ready for your genius.

↪ What Can You Sell on Gumroad?

⁃ Ebooks & PDFs

⁃ Art prints and design bundles

⁃ Online courses

⁃ Music, beats, and audio files

⁃ Fonts and templates

⁃ Software & licenses

⁃ Memberships and subscriptions

⁃ Physical products (but it’s not their forte)

💡 Bonus: You can also set up “pay what you want” pricing—great for donation-based offers or beta testing your product.

↪ Monthly Traffic & Audience Insights

As of late 2024, Gumroad gets over 5 million monthly visitors. That's a decent chunk of eyeballs!

Their marketplace isn't a full-blown Etsy or Amazon-style discovery engine, but your listings can show up in their search feed if you tag them properly.

Pro Tip: Treat Gumroad like your storefront, but drive traffic through your own efforts—Pinterest, email, social, or your own website.

✅ Gumroad Pros (The Sweet Stuff)

1. User-Friendly Interface:
   Even your non-techy cousin could launch a product in under an hour.
   
   

2. Global Sales Support:
   Sell to customers around the world, with built-in international tax handling (VAT included).
   
   

3. “Pay What You Want” Pricing:
   Perfect for flexible creators or donation-based pricing.
   
   

4. Sell Subscriptions & Memberships:
   Want recurring income? Offer a monthly exclusive pack, private content, or even a coaching group.
   
   

5. No Monthly Fees:
   You only pay per sale, which is 10% on the free plan (we’ll get into that in a sec).
   
   

🚫 Gumroad Cons (The Spicy Stuff)

1. Higher Transaction Fees:
   10% on every sale under the free plan. If you're selling a $10 product, that's $1 gone right away.
   
   

2. Limited Customization:
   You get a storefront page, but it’s basic. Branding lovers may find it a little... bland.
   
   

3. Analytics Are Just Okay:
   You get basic views, clicks, and conversions—but if you’re a data nerd, you might crave more.
   
   

4. Email Marketing is Limited:
   There’s a basic broadcast feature, but nothing robust for segmenting or automating your campaigns.
   
   

Payhip: The Underrated All-in-One Powerhouse

↪ Overview

If Gumroad is the minimalist artist’s dream, Payhip is the digital hustler’s toolkit.

Launched in 2011 as well, Payhip offers more built-in features for sellers who want full control without the price tag of Shopify or Kajabi.

Think of it like a Swiss Army knife for digital entrepreneurs.

↪ What Can You Sell on Payhip?

⁃ Ebooks, downloads, and digital files

⁃ Courses and online programs

⁃ Coaching and consulting calls

⁃ Memberships and subscriptions

⁃ Physical products (yes, really!)

⁃ Software licenses

⁃ Even fitness programs or meal plans

It’s extremely versatile. You can also create entire “stores” with navigation, pages, and branding elements.

↪ Monthly Traffic & Audience Insights

Payhip’s traffic isn’t as large as Gumroad’s, sitting around 1 to 1.5 million monthly visitors.

But the platform isn’t trying to be a marketplace—it’s designed for sellers who bring their own traffic but want tools to keep it engaged.

And the best way to drive traffic to your shop is by having a website. Even on a tight budget, you can create a decent one.

Read more about: No Website? No Problem— This Tool Makes It Easy.

Pro Tip: With Payhip, email marketing and affiliate tools make it easier to turn every buyer into a promoter.

✅ Payhip Pros (The Goodies)

1. Lower Transaction Fees:
   Just 5% on the free plan. That’s half of Gumroad’s.
   
   

2. Built-in Affiliate Marketing:
   Let your fans promote your stuff for you. Super useful if you’re growing an audience.
   
   

3. Email Marketing + Coupons + Upsells:
   You can send emails, offer timed discounts, and create post-purchase upsells right in the dashboard.
   
   

4. Subscription & Course Support:
   Yes, you can build entire memberships and host courses inside Payhip (with videos and all).
   
   

5. No Monthly Fees:
   Start for free, pay as you sell.
   
   

🚫 Payhip Cons (The Not-So-Sweet Side)

1. Design is Basic-ish:
   You can build store pages, but templates are limited. Still, way more flexible than Gumroad.
   
   

2. 5% Transaction Fee Still Exists:
   Lower than Gumroad’s, but still something to consider.
   
   

3. Only PayPal & Stripe as Payment Options:
   No Apple Pay or direct bank options. Stripe usually covers most customers, but some folks love choices.

So… Which One Should You Choose?

Here’s the honest answer: Both are excellent, but they serve slightly different types of sellers.

Go with Gumroad if you:

☑ Want the fastest possible setup with the least friction

☑ Don’t need advanced marketing or affiliate tools

☑ Are OK with slightly higher transaction fees in exchange for simplicity

☑ Just want to test the waters or sell a few items casually

Go with Payhip if you:

☑ Want more tools without needing a separate email platform or affiliate software

☑ Plan to offer courses, coaching, or memberships

☑ Want to build a mini online store with multiple pages

☑ Prefer lower transaction fees from the get-go

Creative Product Ideas You Can Sell on Both Platforms

Need inspiration? You can start selling any of these right now—yes, even on the free plans:

⁃ Digital wall art (great for Etsy-style customers)

⁃ Printable planners & trackers

⁃ Notion templates

⁃ Coloring pages for kids and adults

⁃ Mini-courses and masterclasses

⁃ Ebooks or guided journals

⁃ Resume & CV templates

⁃ Email swipe files for marketers

⁃ Lo-fi music loops or background tracks

⁃ Canva templates for Instagram, Pinterest, or YouTube

Seriously, the only limit is your imagination—and maybe your caffeine tolerance.

Read more about: 30 Evergreen Digital Products That Sell Like Crazy in 2025.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need Fancy. You Need to Start.

The biggest mistake new digital creators make? Waiting for perfection.

Both Gumroad and Payhip let you launch, learn, and earn without upfront risk.

You don’t need to “build the next Amazon.” You just need a product and a platform.

If you’re serious about making money online selling digital products—without dealing with coding, subscriptions, or tech meltdowns—either of these platforms has your back.

Ready to Choose? Here's Your Action Plan:

1. Test both platforms with one digital product.

2. Track your experience: speed, setup, and customer journey.

3. Stick with the one that feels more you.

4. Rinse, repeat, and scale like the digital boss you are.
   
   

Oh, and don’t forget to bookmark this post—you’ll want to come back when you’re ready to level up.

Now go launch that side hustle. Your future self (and your bank account) will thank you.