Best platforms to sell digital products in 2026
Payhip is the best platform to sell digital products for most creators. Its free plan includes every feature for a 5% fee plus processing, it collects EU and UK VAT and US sales tax for you, and paid plans cut the fee to 2% or 0%. Gumroad is easier, Lemon Squeezy suits software, and Stan suits social sellers.
We compared the four on published fees, tax handling, payouts, and ownership as of October 2026. Scores are editorial judgments from each platform's pricing pages and help centers, not hands-on tests. The methodology explains how they are weighted.
Our ranking
Payhip
Best overall
Every feature on every plan, a 5% free-plan fee that falls to 0% on Pro, and VAT and US sales tax collected for you.
Gumroad
Best for your first sale
No monthly fee, no tax setup, and a marketplace that can send buyers, at a cost of 10% + $0.50 plus processing on each direct sale.
Lemon Squeezy
Best for software and license keys
The cheapest merchant of record here at 5% + $0.50 with processing included, though its owner Stripe plans to move users to Stripe Managed Payments.
Stan
Best for selling from a link in bio
0% transaction fees and booking, courses, and downloads on one phone-friendly page for $29 a month, with no tax handling.
What you keep on $1,000 a month
Platforms to sell digital products paid in $25 payments by US cards, on whichever plan leaves you the most. Fees checked October 21, 2026.
| Platform and plan | Share kept versus fees | You keep | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon SqueezyStandard | $930 | −$70 | |
| StanCreator | $930 | −$70 | |
| PayhipPlus | $910 | −$90 | |
| GumroadDirect sales | $839 | −$161 |
Platforms to sell digital products side by side
| Platform | Best for | Keep at $1,000 | Keep at $10,000 | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip | Creators selling ebooks, templates, courses, or memberships who want low fees and room to grow without changing platforms. | $910 | $9,491 | 8.4 |
| Gumroad | Beginners selling low-priced digital files who want sales tax and VAT handled with no setup. | $839 | $8,390 | 7.1 |
| Lemon Squeezy | Software, plugin, and template sellers who want global VAT and sales tax handled for 5% + $0.50. | $930 | $9,300 | 7.1 |
| Stan | Social media creators selling a mix of digital products, courses, and paid calls from a link in their bio. | $930 | $9,561 | 6.9 |
How much do you keep from a $20 sale?
Stan and Lemon Squeezy leave you the most per sale, and Gumroad leaves you the least. These figures assume one $20 product bought with a US card on Stripe:
- Stan: $19.12, before the $29 monthly fee
- Lemon Squeezy: $18.50, or $18.20 if the buyer is outside the US
- Payhip Free: $18.12, or $18.72 on the $29 Plus plan
- Gumroad: $16.62 on a direct sale, or $14 through its Discover marketplace
Which platform is cheapest each month?
At $1,000 a month in $25 sales, Stan and Lemon Squeezy tie for cheapest at $930 kept. Payhip Plus leaves $910, Payhip Free $909, and Gumroad $839. At $10,000 a month, Stan leaves $9,561, Payhip Pro $9,491, Lemon Squeezy $9,300, and Gumroad $8,390.
At $100 a month, Stan drops to last. Its $29 subscription leaves you $66.90, while Lemon Squeezy leaves $93, Payhip Free $90.90, and Gumroad $83.90. Stan beats Payhip's free plan only above $580 a month, whatever your product costs.
The gap between Payhip, Lemon Squeezy, and Stan is small. The gap to Gumroad is not. The fee table runs these numbers at every revenue level.
Which platforms handle sales tax and VAT?
Gumroad and Lemon Squeezy act as merchant of record, so they collect and file sales tax and VAT worldwide. That work is part of their fee, which is why their percentages look higher than a plain checkout.
Payhip collects and remits digital EU and UK VAT, US sales tax, and Canadian GST, HST, and PST. It took over US and Canadian sales tax on July 1, 2026. Quebec QST and taxes elsewhere are yours to handle.
Stan does not handle tax for you. It can calculate tax at checkout through Stripe in the region where you are registered, but registering and filing stay with you. If you sell to buyers in many countries, that difference is worth more than a few points of fees.
How to choose a platform for digital products
Match the platform to how you sell today, then move when the math changes.
- Testing an idea or selling your first file: Gumroad, for no monthly fee and no tax setup.
- Selling ebooks, templates, courses, or memberships steadily: Payhip, for low fees and every feature on every plan.
- Selling software or license keys to buyers worldwide: Lemon Squeezy, if you accept a likely move to Stripe Managed Payments later.
- Selling from an Instagram or TikTok bio with coaching calls in the mix: Stan, once you pass about $580 a month.
Is Lemon Squeezy still a safe choice?
Lemon Squeezy still accepts new sellers as of October 20, 2026, but plan for a move. Stripe bought it in July 2024, and Lemon Squeezy's January 2026 update says the goal is to help users migrate to Stripe Managed Payments. No deadline or shutdown has been announced.
Its public changelog has no entries after August 2025. That is why we rank it below Gumroad despite lower fees. The fees are excellent, but a store you will probably have to rebuild is a real cost.
How fast does each platform pay out?
Payhip is fastest because it never holds your money. Buyers pay into your own Stripe or PayPal account, and that processor's schedule applies.
Stan lets you cash out from $10 once Stripe clears the funds, which takes 2 to 7 business days for US creators. Lemon Squeezy pays twice a month after a 13-day hold with a $50 minimum. On weekly to quarterly schedules, Gumroad needs a $100 balance and holds sales 7 days. It also reviews new accounts for 1 to 3 weeks before the first payout.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best platform to sell digital products?
Payhip is the best choice for most creators. Its free plan includes every feature for a 5% fee plus processing, it handles EU and UK VAT and US sales tax, and its Pro plan drops the fee to 0%.
What is the cheapest way to sell digital downloads?
For $25 products sold to US card buyers, Lemon Squeezy leaves the most money below $1,000 a month in sales, and Stan leaves the most above that. Stan does not handle sales tax, so factor in that work. Payhip sits close behind both and collects VAT for you.
Can I sell digital products without a monthly fee?
Yes. Gumroad, Lemon Squeezy, and Payhip's Free Forever plan all charge only per sale. Stan is the exception, with plans at $29 and $99 a month after a 14-day trial.
Which platforms are merchants of record?
Gumroad and Lemon Squeezy are merchants of record, so they collect and file sales tax and VAT worldwide. Payhip handles digital EU and UK VAT, US sales tax, and Canadian GST, HST, and PST. Stan leaves tax filing to you.
Is Gumroad still worth using in 2026?
For a first product, yes. It has no monthly fee and handles tax everywhere, but at 10% + $0.50 plus processing it costs the most per sale of the four platforms here. Move to Payhip once you sell a few hundred dollars a month.