How to Choose the Right Platform to Sell Your Digital Products (Gumroad vs Podia vs Etsy vs Payhip)
Compare Gumroad, Podia, Etsy, and Payhip to find the best platform for selling your digital products. Learn fees, features, pros, and ideal use cases.
Introduction
Once you've created your digital product — whether it’s an ebook, online course, template, or download — the next big decision is where to sell it.
The platform you choose impacts your visibility, earnings, customer experience, and marketing options.
In this guide, we’ll compare four of the most popular platforms:
-
Gumroad
-
Podia
-
Etsy
-
Payhip
We’ll break them down by:
-
Pricing & fees
-
Ideal use cases
-
Features
-
Pros & cons
By the end, you'll know which one fits your goals best.
1. Gumroad
Overview:
Gumroad is a simple and popular platform for selling digital products like ebooks, design assets, memberships, and more.
Best For:
-
Creators just starting out
-
Low-maintenance digital product sales
-
Building a creator-first audience
Key Features:
-
Pay-what-you-want pricing
-
License key generator
-
Affiliate marketing built-in
-
No upfront cost
Pricing:
-
Free to start
-
10% + payment processing fees per transaction
Pros:
✅ No monthly fees
✅ Beginner-friendly
✅ Clean checkout experience
✅ Supports pay-what-you-want pricing
Cons:
❌ Higher fees (especially as you grow)
❌ Fewer marketing automation tools
❌ Not ideal for full course platforms
2. Podia
Overview:
Podia is a full-featured platform to sell online courses, digital downloads, webinars, and memberships.
Best For:
-
Course creators and coaches
-
Digital product businesses with funnels
-
Creators with email lists
Key Features:
-
Email marketing & automation
-
Upsells and coupons
-
Built-in community features
-
No transaction fees on paid plans
Pricing:
-
Free Plan: 10% transaction fee
-
Starter: $9/mo
-
Mover: $39/mo
-
Shaker: $89/mo (includes affiliates and communities)
Pros:
✅ All-in-one tools
✅ No transaction fees on paid plans
✅ Custom branding
✅ Unlimited products
Cons:
❌ Monthly fees
❌ Learning curve for new users
❌ Email tools less advanced than ConvertKit
3. Etsy
Overview:
Etsy is a massive online marketplace best known for handmade and vintage items — but also popular for digital downloads like planners, templates, and design assets.
Best For:
-
Etsy-friendly niches (e.g. templates, planners, design files)
-
Creators who want built-in marketplace traffic
-
Printables and low-ticket items
Key Features:
-
Massive buyer base
-
SEO-driven discovery
-
Digital download delivery
-
Seller dashboard & analytics
Pricing:
-
$0.20 listing fee per product
-
6.5% transaction fee
-
3% + $0.25 payment processing fee
Pros:
✅ Built-in traffic
✅ High trust with buyers
✅ Easy to get started
Cons:
❌ You don’t own the audience
❌ High competition
❌ Limited customization
❌ Strict policies and seller fees
4. Payhip
Overview:
Payhip is a flexible ecommerce platform for selling ebooks, courses, memberships, and other digital products.
Best For:
-
Authors, educators, coaches
-
Low-budget creators
-
Selling multiple digital product types
Key Features:
-
EU/UK VAT handling
-
Instant download delivery
-
Coupon codes and bundles
-
Built-in affiliate system
Pricing:
-
Free Plan: 5% transaction fee
-
Plus: $29/mo (2% fee)
-
Pro: $99/mo (0% fee)
Pros:
✅ Free plan with most features
✅ Built-in VAT & tax compliance
✅ Affiliate features included
✅ No listing fees
Cons:
❌ Basic website customization
❌ Smaller ecosystem than Podia or Etsy
Platform Comparison Table
| Feature | Gumroad | Podia | Etsy | Payhip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free (10% fee) | Free + Paid Plans | $0.20 + fees | Free + Paid Plans |
| Ideal For | Simple sales | Courses & funnels | Digital downloads | Ebooks, courses |
| Affiliate Support | ✅ | ✅ (Paid) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Email Marketing | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Basic |
| Marketplace Traffic | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Custom Branding | Limited | Full control | Limited | Moderate |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Medium | Easy | Easy |
Final Recommendations
Choose Gumroad if:
You want to launch quickly without monthly costs, and are okay with higher fees as you grow.
Choose Podia if:
You’re building a long-term creator business with multiple products, email marketing, and a course-first model.
Choose Etsy if:
You sell visually driven or downloadable items and want access to a built-in buyer base.
Choose Payhip if:
You want low-fee, VAT-friendly digital product sales, and flexibility across formats.
.jpg)
What’s Next?
Once you’ve chosen a platform, you’re ready to:
-
Set up your product listings
-
Optimize your sales page
-
Start marketing with content and email
We'll cover that in the next few posts.
Tags:
#DigitalProducts #SellOnline #GumroadVsPodia #EtsySelling #PayhipPlatform #OnlineBusinessTips #CreatorPlatforms #DigitalDownloads
