Sellfy vs Gumroad: Which Platform Takes a Smaller Cut of Digital Product Sales?

As a digital creator, the platform you choose to sell your products can significantly impact your bottom line. While many factors influence this decision—from user experience to marketing tools—one consideration often rises to the top: how much of your hard-earned money will you actually keep?

I’ve personally sold digital products on both Sellfy and Gumroad, generating over $50,000 in sales across these platforms. What I’ve learned is that the answer to “which platform takes a smaller cut” isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. The optimal choice depends on your sales volume, pricing strategy, and business model.

In this comprehensive analysis, I’ll break down exactly how much each platform takes from your sales in 2025, help you calculate your effective take-home rate, and provide a clear framework for deciding which platform will maximize your profits.

Fee Structures at a Glance: The Quick Answer

For those seeking an immediate answer:

Sellfy takes a smaller percentage cut of your sales, charging 0% transaction fees on all paid plans (starting at $29/month).

Gumroad takes a larger percentage cut of your sales, charging either:

• 10% + $0.30 per transaction (free plan)
• 30%+ for sales through Gumroad Discover

However, this surface-level comparison doesn’t tell the complete story. Let’s dive deeper to understand the true cost structure of each platform.

Sellfy’s Fee Structure: Subscription-Based Model

Sellfy operates on a subscription-based pricing model with no transaction fees for digital products. Here’s the breakdown for 2025:

Sellfy Plan Options:

Key Points About Sellfy’s Fees:

1. Fixed Monthly Cost: You pay the same amount regardless of your sales volume
2. Zero Transaction Fees: Sellfy doesn’t take a percentage of your sales
3. Payment Processing Still Applies: You still pay the standard Stripe/PayPal fees (approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)
4. Instant Payouts: Access your funds immediately after a sale

Sellfy Plan Limitations:

• Starter: Up to $10,000 in annual sales
• Business: Up to $50,000 in annual sales
• Premium: Up to $200,000 in annual sales

For sales exceeding these limits, you’ll need to upgrade to the next plan level.

Gumroad’s Fee Structure: Percentage-Based Model

Gumroad operates primarily on a percentage-based fee model with an optional premium tier. Here’s the breakdown for 2025:

Gumroad Plan Options:

Key Points About Gumroad’s Fees:

1. Percentage-Based Model: Gumroad takes a percentage of each sale
2. Payment Processing Included: The transaction fee includes payment processing
3. Weekly Payouts: Funds are distributed weekly rather than instantly
4. Discovery Premium: Sales through Gumroad’s discovery feature incur a much higher fee (starting at 30%)
5. No Revenue Caps: Unlike Sellfy, Gumroad doesn’t limit your sales volume

The Break-Even Analysis: When Each Platform Makes Financial Sense

To determine which platform will take a smaller cut of your sales, we need to calculate the break-even point where the costs become equivalent.

The Break-Even Formula:

For Sellfy vs. Gumroad:

Monthly Subscription Cost = Monthly Sales Volume × (Gumroad % – Payment Processing %)

For Sellfy vs. Gumroad:

Monthly Subscription Cost = Monthly Sales Volume × (Gumroad % – Payment Processing %)

Let’s calculate the break-even points for different Sellfy plans compared to Gumroad:

Sellfy Starter ($29/month) vs. Gumroad:

Break-even point: $29 ÷ (10% – 2.9%) = $407 in monthly sales

• Below $407/month: Gumroad takes a smaller cut
• Above $407/month: Sellfy Starter takes a smaller cut

Sellfy Business ($79/month) vs. Gumroad:

Break-even point: $79 ÷ (10% – 2.9%) = $3,286 in monthly sales

• Below $3,286/month: Gumroad takes a smaller cut
• Above $3,286/month: Sellfy Business takes a smaller cut

Examples: Calculating Your Take-Home Amount

Let’s see how these fee structures translate into actual earnings across different sales volumes:

Scenario 1: $500/month in Sales

Sellfy Starter ($29/month):

• Monthly subscription: $29
• Transaction fees: $0
• Payment processing: $500 × 2.9% + $0.30 per sale (assuming 10 sales of $50 each) = $14.50 + $3= $17.50
• Total fees: $29 + $17.50 = $46.50
• Take-home amount: $500 – $46.50 = $453.50 (90.7%)

Gumroad:

• Monthly subscription: $0
• Transaction + processing fees: $500 × 10% + $0.30 per sale (10 sales) = $50 + $3 = $53
• Take-home amount: $500 – $53 = $447 (89.4%)

Winner at $500/month: Sellfy Starter (by a small margin)

Scenario 2: $2,000/month in Sales

Sellfy Starter ($29/month):

• Monthly subscription: $29
• Transaction fees: $0
• Payment processing: $2,000 × 2.9% + $0.30 per sale (40 sales of $50 each) = $58+ $12 = $70
• Total fees: $29 + $70 = $99
• Take-home amount: $2,000 – $99 = $1,901 (95.05%)

Gumroad:

• Monthly subscription: $0
• Transaction + processing fees: $2,000 × 10% + $0.30 per sale (40 sales) = $200 + $12 = $212
• Total fees: $212
• Take-home amount: $2,000 – $212 = $1,788 (89.4%)

Winner at $2,000/month: Sellfy Starter (by a small margin)

Scenario 3: $10,000/month in Sales

Sellfy Business ($79/month):

• Monthly subscription: $79
• Transaction fees: $0
• Payment processing: $10,000 × 2.9% + $0.30 per sale (200 sales of $50 each) = $290 + $60 = $350
• Total fees: $79 + $350 = $429
• Take-home amount: $10,000 – $429 = $9,571 (95.71%)

Gumroad:

• Monthly subscription: $0
• Transaction + processing fees: $10,000 × 10% + $0.30 per sale (200 sales) = $1000 + $60 = $1060
• Total fees: $1060
• Take-home amount: $10,000 – $1060 = $8,940 (89.4%)

Winner at $10,000/month: Sellfy Business (by a more significant margin)

Beyond Percentages: Other Financial Considerations

While the direct fee comparison is important, several other financial factors should influence your platform choice:

1. Payment Timing

Sellfy offers instant payouts to your PayPal or Stripe account, giving you immediate access to your earnings. This improves cash flow and reduces the time your money sits in someone else’s account.

Gumroad processes payouts weekly, which means you could wait up to 7 days to access your earnings. For creators who rely on consistent cash flow, this delay could be problematic.

2. File Size Limitations

Sellfy allows uploads of digital products up to 20GB and supports up to 50 files at once, making it suitable for large digital products like video courses or software.

Gumroad permits uploads up to 16GB, which is still substantial but slightly more limiting for very large files.

3. Marketing Tools

Sellfy includes built-in email marketing, upselling features, and discount codes even on its lower-tier plans. These tools can potentially increase your average order value and customer lifetime value without additional costs.

Gumroad offers basic discount codes but lacks advanced marketing features like email campaigns or sophisticated upselling tools.

4. Sales Limits

Sellfy imposes annual sales limits on each plan tier:

• Starter: $10,000/year
• Business: $50,000/year
• Premium: $200,000/year

Gumroad doesn’t impose sales limits, making it more flexible for creators with unpredictable or rapidly growing sales volumes.

The Hidden Cost Factor: Gumroad Discover

One critical consideration for Gumroad users is the platform’s “Discover” feature. While it can potentially bring your products in front of new customers, sales through this channel incur a significantly higher fee:

• Standard Gumroad sales: 10% + $0.30 per transaction
• Gumroad Discover sales: Starting at 30% per transaction

This higher rate can substantially impact your profitability if a significant portion of your sales comes through the discovery feature rather than direct links or your profile.

Decision Framework: Choosing the Right Platform Based on Your Business

Based on the comprehensive fee analysis above, here’s a framework to help you decide which platform will take a smaller cut of your digital product sales:

Choose Sellfy if:

• Your monthly sales consistently exceed $1,000
• You sell higher-priced digital products (where fixed per-transaction fees have less impact)
• You need immediate access to your funds after each sale
• You value built-in marketing tools like email campaigns and upselling
• Your digital products are large files (up to 20GB)
• You prefer predictable monthly costs regardless of sales fluctuations

Choose Gumroad if:

• You’re just starting out with sales under $500/month
• You sell lower-priced digital products (where monthly fees would eat into profits)
• You don’t mind weekly rather than instant payouts
• You want to test the market without committing to a monthly subscription
• You expect significant sales through Gumroad’s discovery feature
• Your sales volume is highly unpredictable or seasonal

My Personal Experience: A Case Study in Platform Economics

When I launched my first digital product—a design template bundle priced at $37—I started with Gumroad. With sales of approximately $300/month, Gumroad’s percentage-based model made more financial sense than Sellfy’s subscription approach.

However, as my product catalog grew and monthly sales reached $3,000, I switched to Sellfy’s Business plan. The math was compelling:

• Gumroad: 10% of $3,000 = $300/month in fees
• Sellfy Business: $79/month + 0% transaction fees = $79/month in fees

This switch saved me approximately $221/month or $2,652/year—a significant amount for a solo creator. Additionally, the instant access to funds improved my cash flow, allowing me to reinvest in marketing more quickly.

Conclusion: The Bottom Line on Platform Fees

So, which platform takes a smaller cut of your digital product sales? The answer depends entirely on your sales volume:

• For creators earning under $500/month: Sellfy typically takes a smaller cut
• For creators earning $500-$1,000/month: Sellfy Starter is the best
• For creators earning over $1,000/month: Sellfy typically takes a smaller cut, with the advantage growing as sales increase

The most financially savvy approach might be to start with Gumroad’s free plan while testing the market, then transition to Sellfy Starter once you reach $500/month in sales, and finally switch to Sellfy Business once you consistently exceed $10,000/month.

Remember that while fees are important, they’re just one factor in your platform decision. Consider also the user experience, marketing tools, integration capabilities, and how each platform aligns with your overall business strategy.

Ultimately, the platform that helps you sell more products—even if it takes a slightly larger cut—may be more profitable than one with lower fees but fewer sales-generating features.

Have you sold digital products on either Sellfy or Gumroad? I’d love to hear about your experience with their fee structures in the comments below.