Gumroad vs Lemon Squeezy vs Payhip: Fees Compared (2026)
Three platforms, three different approaches to fees — one bundles everything into a simple percentage, one layers platform and processor fees separately, and one lets you buy down the rate with a monthly plan. Here's exactly what each costs in 2026, and what you actually keep on the same product across all three.
The fee structures, side by side
| Platform | Platform fee | Processing | Monthly fee | Merchant of Record? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gumroad | 10% + $0.50 | Included | $0 | Yes (since Jan 2025) |
| Lemon Squeezy | 5% + $0.50 | Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 | Yes |
| Payhip (Free) | 5% | Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 | $0 | No* |
| Payhip (Plus) | 2% | Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 | $29 | No* |
| Payhip (Pro) | 0% | Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 | $99 | No* |
*Payhip is not a Merchant of Record — you are responsible for international tax compliance (EU VAT, Australian GST, etc.) unless you use a separate service. Lemon Squeezy is MoR; Gumroad became MoR in January 2025. Verify current rates on each platform's pricing page.
What the fees mean in plain terms
Gumroad — one number, fully inclusive
Gumroad's 10% + $0.50 is everything. Since becoming the Merchant of Record in January 2025, Gumroad absorbs payment network costs internally — there is no separate Stripe line item on your payout. You set the price, Gumroad takes its cut, and the rest lands in your account weekly. The full breakdown is in Gumroad Fees Explained (2026).
Lemon Squeezy — lower platform rate, but add Stripe
Lemon Squeezy's headline 5% + $0.50 looks cheaper than Gumroad, but it's not the full story — Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 is charged separately on top. Combined, a domestic US transaction costs roughly 7.9% + $0.80. International cards add 1.5%, and PayPal adds another 1.5%. Lemon Squeezy is also a Merchant of Record, so tax compliance is handled.
Payhip — buy down the fee with a monthly plan
Payhip's fee depends on which plan you're on. The free plan takes 5% + Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30, for a combined ~7.9% + $0.30. The Plus plan ($29/month) drops the platform cut to 2%. The Pro plan ($99/month) eliminates the platform fee entirely, leaving only Stripe at 2.9% + $0.30. Note: Payhip is not a Merchant of Record — international tax compliance is your responsibility.
Head-to-head: what you keep on the same product
Three typical creator price points, with combined fees applied:
| Product price | Gumroad | Lemon Squeezy | Payhip Free | Payhip Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $19 (ebook) | $16.60 | $16.77 | $16.77 | $18.15 |
| $29 (guide) | $25.60 | $25.91 | $25.96 | $28.01 |
| $99 (course) | $88.60 | $89.51 | $90.01 | $95.81 |
| $499 (template pack) | $448.60 | $452.71 | $456.01 | $484.81 |
Gumroad: price − (10% + $0.50). Lemon Squeezy: price − (5% + $0.50 + 2.9% + $0.30) = price − (7.9% + $0.80). Payhip Free: price − (5% + 2.9% + $0.30) = price − (7.9% + $0.30). Payhip Pro: price − (2.9% + $0.30). Figures are for domestic US Stripe card transactions. International, PayPal, and subscription transactions carry additional fees. Verify before publishing.
The break-even analysis for Payhip Pro
Payhip Pro costs $99/month and eliminates the platform fee. At what monthly revenue does it pay for itself vs Gumroad (10% + $0.50)?
Break-even vs Gumroad:At $99/month plan cost, you're covering the savings from dropping Gumroad's ~7.1% platform fee advantage. At ~$1,400/month in sales, the Payhip Pro savings exceed the $99 plan cost — above that volume, Pro is cheaper than Gumroad. Below that volume, the free plan + Gumroad comparison is closer to neutral, and the monthly fee is a drag.
The practical takeaway: if you're doing under $1,000/month, Gumroad's simplicity (no monthly commitment, one number) often wins. Above $1,400/month and growing, Payhip Pro or Lemon Squeezy start to make sense on fees alone — assuming you don't need Gumroad's Merchant of Record for tax compliance.
What Gumroad's 10% buys you vs the alternatives
| Feature | Gumroad | Lemon Squeezy | Payhip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax compliance (VAT/GST) | Included (MoR) | Included (MoR) | Your responsibility |
| Payment processing | Included | Separate (Stripe) | Separate (Stripe) |
| File delivery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Embeds & checkout | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Marketplace discovery | Discover (30% fee) | No | No |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 | $0–$99 |
Which platform should you choose?
- Want the simplest setup with no monthly commitment? Gumroad. One fee, everything included, handles global taxes.
- Growing past $1,400/month in digital sales? Run the math on Lemon Squeezy or Payhip Pro — the lower base rate can save meaningful money at scale.
- Selling to EU/international buyers and don't want to manage VAT? Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy — both are Merchants of Record. Payhip is not.
- Already have a Stripe account and technical comfort? Direct Stripe integration (2.9% + $0.30, no platform cut) may beat all three on fees, at the cost of building your own checkout and tax handling.
Fees are only one variable. Audience discovery, checkout UX, customer support, and product hosting matter too. But when two platforms otherwise serve you equally, the fee math here is your guide.
Don't estimate — calculate it
Plug your real price into the free Gumroad Fee Calculator. It shows your Gumroad net instantly so you can see the comparison for your actual numbers — not a hypothetical. Next, see how to price on Gumroadso the 10% doesn't quietly shrink your margin.
FAQ
Is Gumroad cheaper than Lemon Squeezy?
It depends on the price. On direct sales, Gumroad charges 10% + $0.50 (all-inclusive). Lemon Squeezy charges 5% + $0.50 plus Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 on top — making the combined rate roughly 7.9% + $0.80 at a minimum. At $29, Lemon Squeezy's combined fees are about $2.29 vs Gumroad's $3.40 — Lemon Squeezy is cheaper there. At $499, Lemon Squeezy is also cheaper. Lemon Squeezy's base fee is lower, but you carry the Stripe processing cost yourself.
Does Payhip's free plan really charge 5%?
Yes — Payhip's free plan charges 5% per sale. Critically, this is in addition to Stripe's or PayPal's standard processing fee (2.9% + $0.30 for Stripe). On the free plan your effective fee is roughly 7.9% + $0.30. Payhip's Plus plan ($29/month) drops the platform fee to 2%, and the Pro plan ($99/month) eliminates it entirely, leaving only the processor fee.
Which platform is best for low-priced digital products?
All three platforms have significant effective fees on very low-price products due to fixed per-transaction charges. At $9.99 or below, Payhip Pro (0% + Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30) tends to be cheapest if you're at $99/month volume. For low-volume sellers on free plans, every platform takes 15-20%+ on sub-$10 items. Pricing above $19 reduces the bite of fixed fees substantially.
Is Stripe a realistic alternative to all three?
Yes for developers or those comfortable with setup. Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction — no platform cut. You keep far more per sale but you handle tax compliance, file delivery, license keys, and checkout yourself. For non-technical creators who want everything included, the platform fee on Gumroad, Lemon Squeezy, or Payhip buys real operational simplicity.