The Real Cost of Selling on Different Platforms: A Fee Comparison

You made a sale. $29. Nice feeling. But how much of that actually hits your bank account?

The answer depends entirely on where you sell — and most creators have no idea how much they are really giving away.

Platform fees, payment processing, payout delays, monthly subscriptions — it all adds up. And when you are trying to build a real business, every dollar matters.

Here is a straightforward breakdown of what the major platforms actually cost you, so you can make an informed decision about where to sell your digital products.

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The Hidden Problem With Platform Fees

Most creators look at one number: the percentage the platform takes. But that is only part of the story.

The real cost of selling online includes:

• Transaction fees — the percentage the platform takes per sale
• Payment processing — credit card fees, often on top of the platform cut
• Monthly subscriptions — fixed costs you pay whether you sell or not
• Payout timing — how long you wait to access your money
• Upsells and add-ons — features locked behind higher tiers

A platform that looks cheap at first glance can cost you thousands more per year once you factor in everything. Let's break down the actual numbers.

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Gumroad

Gumroad is the most well-known platform for digital product creators. It is easy to use and has a large built-in audience. But the fee structure has changed multiple times — and not in creators' favor.

Fee structure:

• 10% flat fee per sale
• Payment processing: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction (passed through from Stripe)
• No monthly fee

What this looks like in practice:

If you sell a $29 ebook:

• Gumroad takes: $2.90 (10%)
• Processing fee: $1.14 (2.9% + 30¢)
• You keep: $24.96 (86% of the sale)

That does not sound terrible until you look at the old days. Gumroad used to charge just a flat processing fee with no platform cut. The 10% was added later — and it adds up fast.

Sell 100 products a month at $29 each ($2,900 revenue) and you are losing $290 to Gumroad plus $114 in processing. That is $404/month or $4,848/year going to fees alone.

Other considerations:

• Payouts happen weekly, not instantly
• Discover feature can drive traffic but is not reliable
• Limited branding and customization options
• You do not fully own customer email addresses by default

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Shopify

Shopify is powerful — there is no denying it. It was built for e-commerce and it shows. But it was built for traditional e-commerce: physical products, inventory management, shipping logistics.

For a digital product creator, it is often overkill.

Fee structure:

• Basic plan: $39/month
• Transaction fees: 2.9% + 30¢ (if using Shopify Payments) or 2% additional (if using third-party payment)
• Credit card rates vary by country

What this looks like in practice:

If you sell 50 products a month at $29 each ($1,450 revenue):

• Monthly subscription: $39
• Processing on $1,450: $42.05 (2.9% + 30¢ × 50)
• Total fees: $81.05
• Effective rate: 5.6% of revenue

Now if you sell 200 products at $29 ($5,800 revenue):

• Monthly subscription: $39
• Processing on $5,800: $168.20
• Total fees: $207.20
• Effective rate: 3.6% of revenue

Shopify gets cheaper at scale because the $39/month becomes a smaller percentage. But here is the thing — most creators are not at that scale yet. And even at $5,800/month, you are paying over $200 in fees.

Other considerations:

• Setup takes time and technical comfort
• Many features require paid apps ($10–$50/month each)
• Payouts take 2–3 business days
• Built for physical products — digital delivery requires apps or workarounds
• Steeper learning curve than creator-focused platforms

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Lemon Squeezy

Lemon Squeezy positioned itself as a creator-friendly alternative to both Gumroad and Shopify. It handles tax compliance globally, which is a real benefit for creators selling internationally.

Fee structure:

• 5% flat fee per sale + payment processing
• Payment processing: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
• No monthly fee on most plans

What this looks like in practice:

If you sell a $29 ebook:

• Lemon Squeezy takes: $1.45 (5%)
• Processing fee: $1.14 (2.9% + 30¢)
• You keep: $26.41 (91% of the sale)

Sell 100 products at $29 ($2,900 revenue):

• Platform fees: $145
• Processing fees: $114
• Total fees: $259/month or $3,108/year

The 5% + processing is better than Gumroad. And the built-in tax compliance is genuinely valuable if you sell to customers in the EU, UK, and other regions with complex VAT rules.

Other considerations:

• Tax handling is a major plus for international sellers
• Payout timing varies by region
• Limited customization compared to standalone storefronts
• Relatively new platform — long-term stability is less proven

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Ko-fi

Ko-fi started as a tip jar and has expanded into a full creator storefront. It is popular among artists, writers, and streamers.

Fee structure:

• 0% on donations and shop sales (no platform fee)
• Payment processing: 2.9% + 30¢ (Stripe) or 5% + 5¢ (PayPal)
• Ko-fi Gold (optional): $8/month for extra features

What this looks like in practice:

If you sell a $29 ebook with Stripe:

• Platform fee: $0
• Processing fee: $1.14
• You keep: $27.86 (96% of the sale)

That number looks great. But there is a catch.

Ko-fi's free tier has significant limitations on what you can sell and how your store looks. To get proper storefront features — custom branding, commission options, advanced shop settings — you need Ko-fi Gold. That is $96/year on top of processing fees.

Other considerations:

• Limited product types compared to dedicated storefront platforms
• Branding options are basic even on the paid tier
• Payouts through Stripe or PayPal (timing depends on the processor)
• Better suited for ongoing support models than one-off product sales

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Payhip

Payhip is a lesser-known but solid option focused specifically on digital downloads and online courses.

Fee structure:

• Free plan: 5% transaction fee + processing
• Premium plan: $29/month (0% transaction fee) + processing
• Payment processing: 2.9% + 30¢ (Stripe) or similar

What this looks like in practice (free plan, $29 ebook):

• Payhip takes: $1.45 (5%)
• Processing fee: $1.14
• You keep: $26.41 (91% of the sale)

On the premium plan at 100 sales/month ($2,900):

• Monthly subscription: $29
• Processing fees: $114
• Total fees: $143/month

Other considerations:

• Clean, focused on digital products
• EU VAT handling included
• Limited design customization
• Smaller user base means less built-in discovery

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cart9

Full transparency: this is where this blog lives. But the numbers speak for themselves.

Fee structure:

• 5% flat fee per sale
• No monthly subscription
• No additional payment processing fees (included in the 5%)
• Instant payouts (under 24 hours)

What this looks like in practice:

If you sell a $29 ebook:

• Platform fee: $1.45 (5%)
• Processing: $0 (included)
• You keep: $27.55 (95% of the sale)

Sell 100 products at $29 ($2,900 revenue):

• Total fees: $145/month or $1,740/year

Compare that to Gumroad at $4,848/year for the same volume. That is a difference of over $3,000 per year.

Other considerations:

• Setup in under 5 minutes, no coding
• You own your customer data — emails, purchase history, everything
• Stripe-powered payments with worldwide currency conversion
• Mobile-first store design
• Custom domain support
• No monthly fees, ever

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Here is the full picture for a creator selling 100 products/month at $29 each ($2,900 monthly revenue):

Platform	Monthly Fee	Per-Sale Fee	Processing	Monthly Total Fees	You Keep
Gumroad	$0	10% ($290)	$114	$404	$2,496
Shopify	$39	0%	$168	$207	$2,693
Lemon Squeezy	$0	5% ($145)	$114	$259	$2,641
Ko-fi	$8*	0%	$114	$122	$2,778
Payhip	$0	5% ($145)	$114	$259	$2,641
cart9	$0	5% ($145)	$0	$145	$2,755

*Ko-fi Gold required for full storefront features.

Notice what happens. Platforms with "0% fees" often make up for it with subscriptions, limited features, or add-on costs. Platforms with "simple" pricing often hide processing fees in the fine print.

The only way to compare fairly is to look at total cost per month — not just the headline percentage.

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What About at Higher Volumes?

The math shifts as you grow. Here is what 500 sales/month at $29 ($14,500 revenue) looks like:

Platform	Monthly Fees	You Keep
Gumroad	$1,760	$12,740
Shopify	$477	$14,023
Lemon Squeezy	$1,140	$13,360
Payhip	$572*	$13,928
cart9	$725	$13,775

*Payhip Premium plan ($29/month + processing only).

At this level, Shopify's flat monthly fee becomes relatively cheap. But you are still dealing with a platform built for physical products, not digital creators.

The takeaway: at every volume level, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive option is thousands of dollars per year.

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The Payout Factor: Cash Flow Matters

Fees are not the only cost. When you get paid affects your business too.

• Gumroad: Weekly payouts (Friday)
• Shopify: 2–3 business days
• Lemon Squeezy: Varies (3–7 business days depending on region)
• Ko-fi: Stripe/PayPal payout schedule
• Payhip: Weekly or monthly depending on plan
• cart9: Under 24 hours

If you are relying on creator income to pay rent, a week-long payout delay is not an inconvenience — it is a cash flow problem. Instant or near-instant payouts give you control over your money.

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The Ownership Factor: You Own Your Customers

There is one cost that does not show up on any comparison table: the cost of not owning your customer relationships.

Some platforms restrict access to customer email addresses. Others put your products in a marketplace where your brand is secondary to the platform's brand.

When you do not own your customer data:

• You cannot build an email list for future launches
• You cannot run retargeting campaigns
• You are dependent on the platform for repeat sales
• If the platform changes its rules or shuts down, you lose everything

This is not theoretical. Platforms change their fee structures, their algorithms, and their terms of service regularly. Creators who built their entire business on someone else's platform are the most vulnerable when those changes happen.

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How to Choose the Right Platform for You

Based on the numbers, here is a quick framework:

Choose a low-fee, no-subscription platform if:

• You are just starting out and want to keep costs near zero
• You sell fewer than 200 products per month
• You want to maximize revenue per sale
• You value simplicity and speed of setup

Choose a subscription-based platform if:

• You have high volume (500+ sales/month) where the flat fee becomes negligible
• You need advanced features like custom checkout flows or analytics
• You sell both digital and physical products

Regardless of platform, insist on:

• Full ownership of your customer data
• Transparent fee structure (no hidden processing fees)
• Fast payouts
• Clean, mobile-first design

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The Bottom Line

A 5% difference in platform fees might not sound like much on a single $29 sale. But over a year of consistent selling? It is the difference between a profitable business and one that feels like it is barely working.

Do the math for your own numbers. Take your monthly revenue, apply each platform's fee structure, and see what you would actually keep. The result might surprise you.

Your products are valuable. Your time is valuable. Make sure the platform you choose treats both with respect.

Start selling on cart9 — 5% fee, no monthly costs, instant payouts, and you own every customer relationship. Set up your store in under 5 minutes and keep 95% of every sale.