5 Best Gumroad Alternatives that are Cheaper and more effective (2023) (source: Gumroad)

Dec 30, 2022

The most recent update was December 20 20, 2022

Version 1.0 UpdateAs in December 2022 Gumroad has announced the possibility of a price hike and be charging a flat 10% for each sale that you sell on the platform (plus any transaction fee charged by Paypal and Stripe). If you're affected by the shocking news and contemplating switching to another one, check out this listing of Gumroad alternatives you'll be looking into!

Gumroad is among the most popular platforms to offer digital items. It offers a hosted storefront which allows you to offer digital items for sale within a matter of minutes. Gumroad offers additional alternatives, such as the possibility to market subscriptions, integrate of Paypal and Stripe along with many more.

However, it has drawbacks that turn people off to remaining on the platform. Reviews have shown that, among other issues, Gumroad's high prices, insufficient customer supportand the absence of scalability to handle large volumes of sales have caused users to switch to different platforms.

In this post, we'll review Gumroad's most effective options for selling digital products in order to take a shrewd decision about the products you offer to your company. There are many choices that work well for businesses which are only in the beginning, however, we've kept growing with scalability so you don't have change the platforms you use when your business grows.

Below is a short outline of the best Gumroad choices that's cheaper and better:

What is Gumroad and What do they Offer?

Gumroad can be defined as an eCommerce platform specifically designed for digital goods. Gumroad provides a range of possibilities, which includes the capability to market various product types including digital downloads as well as subscriptions. In addition, it offers marketing and analytics tools and the ability to incorporate the product page on your site.

Gumroad is an excellent choice. Gumroad, you'll have an entirely hosted online store where you can market your products via. Gumroad also has an online marketplace dubbed "Gumroad Discover" that lets you display your listings of products in addition to other sellers.

How Much Does Gumroad Cost?

Gumroad will cost its customers 10 percent of that total amount for each transaction it completes through its platform.

Furthermore, you'll have be paying transaction costs via Paypal and Stripe which usually are about 2.9 percent plus $0.30 for each transaction.

It is important to note that Gumroad used an earlier pricing system prior to 2023, but they've since settled on this price structure for the future.

Why is it important to search for Gumroad Alternatives?

    1. Prices are expensive and there is a lack of Scalability

Gumroad's normal cost of 10% for each sale can be extremely expensive for businesses who are only beginning their journey. However, it's even more expensive as your business grows because your expenses will increase only in proportion to the income.

Imagine making $100,000 per month while having to cover charges of up to $10,000. It isn't a whole lot of fun at all. In addition, the 10% fee is notinclude the additional Paypal and Stripe charges (which generally cost between 2.9 percent and $0.30 for each transaction) that you also need to pay.

    2. Inability to Customize

Although Gumroad offers the ability to host a completely hosted online storefront which you can market your items but you aren't able to alter the look of your store's online presence in order to reflect your company's image. Gumroad is a unique appearance for its storefronts. It are used on sellers' storefronts. All you have to change your storefront's color to highlight your store and some minor customizations like the name of your business, logo, and bio.

In contrast these alternative platforms in this article have advanced store builder capabilities which are user-friendly for beginners (no coding or design skills needed) However, they're also capable of providing you with complete freedom in designing a high-converting online store that matches the brand you've chosen to use.

    3. Choose Alternatives to Sell Online Courses. Alternatives for selling online online courses

If you're selling items like digital downloads, Gumroad generally is extremely efficient in providing the downloads to customers. However, if you're still operating online courses the platform isn't equipped with the capabilities of other platforms for online courses typically offer.

Gumroad's online course feature allows you to upload a video or any other file that your students can download. They can then click to watch the video. But, it's not exactly the kind of interactive education experience you'd like to get through an online learning platform. The courses don't have advanced tools like assessment and drip schedules, aswell as certification of achievement.

Here's an example from the learning experiences of a student.

Here's an example of an exciting learning experience that includes a variety of formats for lessons. It could appear to be (the above example is taken from ):

Specific Characteristics to Look For In an Gumroad Alternative

If you're in search of a replacement for Gumroad there are a number of essential factors to consider.

    1. The features to sell various product Types

Does the platform include the necessary tools to market diverse digital products? This can help you boost your income in a variety of verticals. Think about features like:

  • Digital downloads may be offered by offering features such as instant file delivery, pdf stamping, download limitations as well as other options.
  • Online course features to market: engaging online course player that includes various types of lesson (e.g. instructional videos, video lessons or assignments) and drip content calendar diverse pricing options for course certifications, courses, and so on.
  • Tools to market coaching services Integration with meeting apps online like Zoom and Calendly, plus more.
  • Features to sell subscription or membership: ability to bill recurring payments

In addition, consider the possibility of being able to integrate product pages onto your website. It lets you embed an online shopping cart along with a seamless checkout functionality on any website.

    2. Affordable Price (Little to No Upfront Costs)

What are the steps for completing a transaction? Do you face other monthly costs, like hidden charges, limit?

Pick platforms with proven records of solid pricing structures. Though many businesses will provide the user a fair price plan initially, you'll like to ensure that there aren't any sudden price hikes later on.

    3. Tools for Marketing that are robust Tools

Apart from basic marketing tools, such as discount coupons, it's important to choose a platform that provides more sophisticated and powerful marketing tools for instance affiliate marketing. It lets you run various marketing campaigns to scale the scale of your business.

This is the only alternative that is listed on this list, and it has affiliate marketing features for free Some platforms also cost monthly subscriptions for use these features.

    4. A Beginner-Friendly Store Builder that is Fully Customizable and Customized

In the digital age, the creation of a website or online store is essential for every firm or company to boost customer loyalty and display their professionalism. If you do it right, having your own website will help you get in the right direction to becoming an expert within your industry, but it could also help you build connections with your customers since they will be able to learn more about your brand's image.

Find platforms that permit you to build a fully custom online store that will present your company with the best professional manner. There are a lot of choices which do not require any skills in design or programming.

    5. The Tax Department will take care of VAT, which means You Will Not Have to

A fear of having to work through the tax laws can stop the growth of your business and slowing down your expansion. You should consider a solution that is conforming to the law so that you are able to not only collect VAT from customers at the point of purchase as well as remit VAT on your behalf, which means there is no need to do anything.

HTML1 5 of the Best Gumroad Solutions to Sell Digital Products

Let's review several options that are superior to Gumroad with regards to selling digital goods. Each platform comes with its own distinctive characteristics and pricing plans so it's important to compare the various options before making the final decision.

    1.    

is the best Gumroad choice for quality and value.

It is probably the most popular platform and often gets it compared with Gumroad due to the fact that they're the nearest Gumroad rival , and they have all the features Gumroad offers, but as well as a much lower cost of entry that's perfect for small businesses regardless of the size.

Gumroad is well-known thanks to its forever-free program that grants sellers access ALL of the features that it can provide. Instead of the hefty 10% that Gumroad charges just 5% for every sale. As your business grows then you could switch into a monthly service at less. It is not necessary to worry about scaling your company .

If you're in search of an organization committed to the development of your firm it's the right option.

PRICING:

It has shaken up the business by introducing the industry with a novel pricing strategy that is designed to assist small businesses succeed, while also making sure that businesses will keep their costs low when they become million-dollar enterprises.

The three price plans:

  • Free for life with only 5% fee (perfect for those who are just beginning)
  • $29.30/month, 2% of which is fees.
  • A monthly payment of $99, with no additional charges.

What makes the pricing "unconventional"? This is because all pricing plans offer equally access right to ALL of their amazing capabilities. The business's creators were inspired by the conviction that they could be successful in creating the platform to help small businesses through never having to restrict their access to advanced tools they require. This belief is well-received by most buyers who read the site's reviews.

If you're just beginning your journey, you can start by using the most well-known plan, Free for Lifewith monthly fees that aren't charged plus the 5% cost per purchase (excluding shipping charges). If you grow your business, it's possible to upgrade to 's Plus plan at $29 per month for monthly fees plus the fee of 2% for each sale. You can also upgrade to an Professional plan with $99 for month fee (no additional fees for sales).

has maintained this pricing for many years which means that customers can be at ease knowing that the price isn't going anyplace.

PROS :

  • This is the cheapest option to replace Gumroad.
  • Important features integrated to assist in the to sell a variety of products, such as:
  • Unlimitless product listings, and unlimited revenues
  • Improved checkout experience to ensure the highest conversion
  • Simple-to-use and effective store builders There are no design or coding skills needed
  • You are able to customize your store's appearance online to reflect the brand you want to represent
  • Free fully hosted storefront (you could also join an existing domain)
  • If you have your own website, it's easy to incorporate it on any eCommerce website.
  • Payouts instantaneous and safe via Paypal and Stripe
  • Pricing options for Pay-what-you-want to your products (a.k.a. Tip Jar)
  • The company collects and remits UK & EU VAT on behalf of you
  • Google Analytics for the store, and ability to connect to Google Analytics
  • Bonus: It is acknowledged for its support high-quality. Each user gets prioritization regardless of price plans you're currently on.

CONS:

  • The shipping label is not integrated with any software or automated system (e.g. Shippo, or ShipStation).  The platform of ShipStation is more targeted toward digital products, but it is still possible to offer physical products if you'd prefer to.

    2. Shopify

Being one of the biggest online marketplaces in the world, Shopify is often a popular Gumroad alternative. Shopify offers an internet-based shop which allows you to create your own store online and also manage the products you sell. Additionally, it offers a vast range of software and services like payments processing, analytics and marketing tools. In addition, Shopify has a variety of pricing plans to fit various budgets.

Due to the sheer size of this eCommerce platform, you can find thousands of third-party apps spanning across every business category that could connect to your Shopify store. It allows you to equip your shop online with distinct software that can be used to modify the look of your site to tools to promote your business as well as many others. A caveat is that the apps typically will not cost-free, which means you'll be able to control your spending cautiously.

Although Shopify is a strong eCommerce platform but it's does not integrated functions that allow you to market digital goods since Shopify's platform is designed to sell tangible goods. You will have to install an additional app from third parties that can possibly increase the price for selling your digital goods.

PRICING:

for businesses with a limited budget who wish to try several platforms before settling on the one that best suits their needs, Shopify offers a 14-day trial for free. There is no forever free choice.

At a cost per month of only $29 per month The Shopify Basic Plan is the most well-liked plan. Other Shopify plans are offered for the price of $79 per month, $299 in the case of Advanced Shopify, and $2000/month for Shopify Plus and Enterprise. The additional transaction cost required per transaction.

As we mentioned, Shopify isn't a platform for selling digital products. Shopify platform isn't equipped with integrated features for selling digital items. Most likely, you'll have to download third-party applications from the Shopify application store , which typically comes with additional costs.

PROS :

  • You can access hundreds of third-party apps via Shopify, the Shopify app store
  • Multi-channel sales can be accepted. This can be particularly useful when you own a brick and mortar shop
  • Shopify is utilized by many small and mid-sized enterprises and also by the creators of content who are specialized on Shopify content. They will likely provide many useful information about businesses that operate online
  • The Shopify features may not be sufficient for sellers who sell mostly physical products, but physical sellers could profit from Shopify's robust eCommerce capabilities

CONS CONS

  • It doesn't come with integrated capabilities for selling digital products. The user must download an app from the third-party, and it will most likely be a cost-plus purchase. Shopify isn't the ideal choice for graphic designers.
  • The site does not come with marketing tools such as affiliate marketing and referral, as well as upsell or cross-sell. There are many other.

    3. Kajabi

Kajabi is a popular alternative to Gumroad as it is an all-in-one platform to sell digital goods. The main advantage that Kajabi has over Gumroad is that the latter permits creators to create communities. But, Kajabi is also famous for its monthly fees, which can be a problem for smaller firms that just started out.

PRICING:

Kajabi gives you the choice of fourteen days of trial. It is necessary to enter your information regarding payment prior to being allowed to begin your trial. trial.

After your trial period expires, you'll have choice among three different plans paid:

  • Basic: $149/month
  • Growth: $199/month
  • Pro: $399/month

A small savings if you opt to sign up for the annual subscription.

PROS :

  • Kajabi provides educational materials to their customers through Kajabi University (although it's worth noting that you're probably going to get this information via videos on YouTube that are free to watch on the internet)
  • The ability to access functions that aren't offered via Gumroad like the community service, sales funnels and more.

CONS CONS

  • It's not cost-effective for smaller-scale businesses.
  • Advanced marketing features like affiliate programs are only available in plans like the Growth and Pro plans
  • There are many limitations to various aspects, such as the quantity of items, the amount of contacts, members, the number of administrators etc. Not recommended for those of you who would like to "set-it-and-forget-it" because you'll need to keep track of your usage

    4. Podia

Podia is among the most popular alternatives for designers. One of the major benefits that comes with using Podia is the fact that they offer a lifetime free plan. However, keep that to your mind that you'll not be able to add several products with the free plan.

PRICING:

  • For free, 8% of fees
  • Mover: $39/month
  • Shaker: $89/month
  • Earthquaker: $199/month

PROS :

  • Opportunities to sell other types of items that aren't listed by Gumroad such as webinars and community-based
  • Chat widget on the page to let you interact with customers of your site

CONS CONS :

  • The plan for free is accompanied by the cost of 8% for transactions and the ability to offer one digital download (you'll probably need to upgrade to Podia's paid plans to become a fully functional eCommerce store)
  • Innovative marketing tools such as affiliate marketing are only available in the Shaker ($75/month) as well as the Earthquaker ($166/month) packages.
  • A further fee for a monthly fee of 20 dollars, for any team seats that are added to the roster.
  • You can't turn off Podia logo unless you're paying an annual cost in Shaker ($75/month) or Earthquaker ($166/month) plans

    5. Mighty Networks

If you're looking for a Gumroad alternative for setting up an online community, selling classes, or even coaching services Mighty Networks is a well-known choice. Although this site may not be the best choice for selling digital downloads but there is a better Gumroad alternative to sell online classes.

PRICING:

You have a choice between two plans that are paid to:

  • The Community Plan is $39.39 per month.
  • The business plan: $119/month
  • Mighty Pro: It's best to contact the team to inquire about pricing

PROS :

  • Mighty Networks' community feature is more advanced than the other platforms mentioned in this post. Its user interface is similar to what you would see on the social media platforms.
  • Members are able to view each other's posts through content feed which may encourage authentic interaction

CONS

  • Lack of reliable features that can be used to market products like digital downloads
  • Course features on online courses don't have the same strength as other online course platforms as they do not offer different types of lessons like quizzes or assessments along with certificates of completion
  • It's not integrated with PayPal

The Last Thoughts: Finding The Best Option for Your Business

Here you go! There's a wide range of Gumroad choices to explore. Don't forget to take advantage of every one of their trials for free to see what options offer the best mix of advantages and price plans that meet the requirements of your organization.

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