---
title: "Gumroad vs Payhip for Selling Ebooks"
description: "Gumroad and Payhip compared from their own pages: fees, an example sale, tax handling, payouts and file limits for selling an ebook."
url: "https://www.superebook.ai/blog/gumroad-vs-payhip-for-ebooks"
published: "2026-10-11"
updated: "2026-10-11"
---

# Gumroad vs Payhip for Selling Ebooks

Both let you sell an ebook from your own link, but they charge in different shapes: Gumroad takes a cut of each sale, Payhip lets you trade a monthly fee for a lower cut. Here is what each page says, read on 2026-10-11.

By Shri and Sarath · Published October 11, 2026 · 5 min read

Gumroad and Payhip are the two names that come up when you want to sell a PDF or EPUB from your own link instead of through a marketplace. This post sets out what each platform's own pages say about fees, tax, payouts and files. Fees change, so check the current pages before you commit. Everything below was read on 2026-10-11.

## What each one charges

|  | Gumroad | Payhip |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly fee | None | Free plan 0 USD; Plus $29; Pro $99 |
| Per-sale fee | 10% + $0.50 on direct sales; 30% on Discover sales | Free plan 5%; Plus 2%; Pro none |
| Card and PayPal fees | Direct sales: card processing 2.9% + $0.30 and PayPal fees are not included; Discover's 30% includes processing | PayPal and Stripe charge their standard rates on top, on every plan |
| Volume discount | Direct sales fall to 5% + $0.50 once a month's paid sales reach 20,000 USD | Higher plans lower the percentage instead |

Platform fees, from each platform's own pages (US dollars)

Gumroad's pricing page says 10% + $0.50 applies to all sales through your profile or direct links, and 30% applies when new customers find you through its Discover marketplace. Its fees help article adds that card processing and PayPal fees are on top of the direct-sale fee. Payhip's pricing page lists three plans with all features on each, and says PayPal and Stripe still charge their standard rates after each transaction.

## One sale, worked through

Take a $19.00 ebook. This is an example built from the fees above, not a forecast, and other deductions may apply, such as currency conversion, refunds or your own taxes.

| Setup | Platform fee | Processing fee |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gumroad, direct link | $2.40 | $0.85 (2.9% + $0.30) |
| Gumroad, Discover | $5.70 | Included in the 30% |
| Payhip, Free plan | $0.95 | PayPal or Stripe's standard rate |
| Payhip, Plus plan | $0.38 | PayPal or Stripe's standard rate |
| Payhip, Pro plan | $0.00 | PayPal or Stripe's standard rate |

Example fees on one $19.00 sale

Payhip's page doesn't quote the PayPal or Stripe rates, so we haven't put a processing figure on those rows; they are an extra cost. On Payhip the plans trade a fixed monthly fee for a lower percentage. Going from Free to Plus saves 3 points of every sale, so the 29 USD fee equals the saving at about 967 USD of sales a month. Plus to Pro saves 2 points for 70 USD more, at about 3,500 USD. Below those volumes the lower plan costs less in platform fees.

## Tax, payouts and files

**Tax.** Gumroad's pricing page says that since January 1, 2025 it handles all your tax obligations, collecting taxes in regions where it has obligations as a merchant of record. Payhip's tax page says it takes responsibility for digital EU and UK VAT, and for US and Canadian sales tax, and that other taxes you set up are collected by Payhip but reported and paid by you. Both are statements about what the platform handles; confirm that they cover your situation.

**Payouts.** Payhip's pricing page says it deposits your sales to you immediately after a transaction, through PayPal or Stripe. Gumroad's payout article says you need a minimum balance of 100 USD, can choose daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly payouts, and that on weekly, monthly and quarterly schedules a sale has a minimum 7-day holding period. Daily payouts are limited to eligible US accounts. How you are paid varies by country.

**Files.** Gumroad's help article gives 250 MB for free products and 20 GB for the largest single file on paid products, with as many files per product as you like. Payhip's two help articles differ slightly: one says each file can be up to 5GB, the other says 5GB per digital product, so check which applies. Payhip also says buyers can download immediately from the download page and get a receipt email with a link. For a text ebook, none of these limits is likely to matter.

## How we'd choose

This is judgment, not data. If you have an audience and sell a few copies, Gumroad's flat percentage means no monthly commitment. If you expect steady sales, work out whether a Payhip plan lowers your total. If a stranger finding you on Discover is what you want, remember the 30% rate applies to those sales. We haven't compared how many buyers either platform sends you, and don't claim either sells more.

Either way, you need the files. SuperEbook plans an ebook for free (three title options, a brief and an editable outline) and writes nothing until you press Write. Each chapter is written from the passages of your uploaded material that fit it. It exports a PDF, an EPUB and a DOCX with the cover you choose (six options), full commercial rights and no watermark. A free listing kit writes a KDP description, keywords and categories, plus Gumroad and Etsy copy, from the finished book. Downloads need a paid plan or a credit pack ($20) bought from the book's page. For the wider picture, see [KDP vs Gumroad vs Etsy](https://www.superebook.ai/guides/kdp-vs-gumroad-vs-etsy.md) and [ebook pricing strategy](https://www.superebook.ai/guides/ebook-pricing-strategy.md).

> **What we left out** Payhip's PayPal and Stripe rates, the payout timing of those processors, Gumroad's EU and UK VAT article, and any claim about which platform's buyers spend more. We couldn't read or confirm them at the source.

**Do this now**

- [ ] Decide your price, then run the example sum with it for each platform.
- [ ] Estimate your monthly sales to see where a Payhip plan breaks even.
- [ ] Look up PayPal's and Stripe's current rates for your country.
- [ ] Check how each platform's tax handling applies to your location.
- [ ] Read the payout rules, including Gumroad's 100 USD minimum balance.
- [ ] Keep your files under the limits on both platforms.

## Questions

**What does Gumroad charge for an ebook?** Gumroad's pricing page lists 10% + $0.50 per transaction on direct and profile sales, and 30% on Discover sales, with no monthly fee. Its fees help article says card processing (2.9% + $0.30) and PayPal fees are on top of the direct-sale fee. Check the current pages.

**What does Payhip charge?** Payhip's pricing page lists three plans: Free (5% transaction fee), Plus at $29 a month (2%) and Pro at $99 a month (no transaction fee). PayPal and Stripe still charge their standard rates on every plan.

**Does Gumroad or Payhip handle sales tax and VAT?** Gumroad says that since January 1, 2025 it handles all your tax obligations as a merchant of record. Payhip says it handles digital EU and UK VAT and US and Canadian sales tax. Both are the platforms' own statements, so confirm they cover your situation.

**When do I get paid on each platform?** Payhip says it deposits sales to you immediately after a transaction. Gumroad needs a 100 USD minimum balance, offers daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly payouts, and holds a sale at least 7 days on the weekly, monthly and quarterly schedules. Both vary by country and account.

**Can I sell an ebook from SuperEbook on Gumroad or Payhip?** SuperEbook exports a PDF, an EPUB and a DOCX with full commercial rights and no watermark. Downloads need a paid plan or a credit pack ($20) bought from the book's page. Check each platform's terms for AI-generated content before you list.

## Sources

Facts checked on October 11, 2026.

- [Gumroad: Pricing](https://gumroad.com/pricing): 10% + $0.50 direct, 30% Discover, tax handling since January 1, 2025.
- [Gumroad: Gumroad's fees](https://gumroad.com/help/article/66-gumroads-fees): Card processing and PayPal fees on top of direct sales; the 5% + $0.50 rate at 20,000 USD a month.
- [Gumroad: Getting paid by Gumroad](https://gumroad.com/help/article/13-getting-paid): 100 USD minimum balance, payout schedules and the 7-day holding period.
- [Gumroad: File size limits](https://gumroad.com/help/article/289-file-size-limits-on-gumroad): 250 MB for free products, 20 GB per file on paid products.
- [Payhip: Pricing](https://payhip.com/pricing): Free, Plus and Pro plans, transaction fees, PayPal and Stripe fees, immediate deposits.
- [Payhip: We handle digital EU/UK VAT](https://payhip.com/features/vat-taxes): EU and UK VAT, US and Canadian sales tax, other taxes.
- [Payhip Help: Add Digital Products](https://help.payhip.com/article/59-adding-a-digital-product): 5GB per file; immediate download and receipt email (updated March 17, 2026).
- [Payhip Help: Cannot Upload File or Image](https://help.payhip.com/article/375-cannot-upload-file-or-image): 5GB per digital product; blocked file types.

## Related

- [AI ebook generator](https://www.superebook.ai/ai-ebook-generator.md)
- [Ebook creator](https://www.superebook.ai/ebook-creator.md)
- [PDF ebook maker](https://www.superebook.ai/ai-pdf-ebook-maker.md)
- [Self-publishing cost calculator](https://www.superebook.ai/tools/self-publishing-cost-calculator.md)
- [Kindle royalty calculator](https://www.superebook.ai/tools/kindle-royalty-calculator.md)