Gumroad vs Sellfy

Creators often compare Gumroad's simple transaction model against Sellfy’s feature-rich subscription. Gumroad charges high transaction commissions but demands zero monthly fees. Sellfy uses a subscription but guarantees 0% platform transaction fees. One means high risk, low upfront cost; the other, stability and better profitability.

Gumroad
Gumroad

Sell easily, but proceed with extreme caution.

Ciroapp review
1.5
#11 in Ecommerce

Gumroad offers an accessible, zero-upfront-cost model ideal for creators starting out in the digital space. However, we found the user reports regarding immediate account bans, withheld payments, and severe customer support failures extremely alarming. Overall, we cannot recommend Gumroad due to critical risks concerning financial security and platform reliability.

Pros

  • Purely usage-based model with no required monthly subscription fees.
  • Fees are lower (10% + $0.50) for creators who drive their own traffic.
  • Handles global sales tax and VAT/GST automatically as Merchant of Record (effective 2025).
  • Ability to sell various digital and physical formats, including subscriptions.

Cons

  • Frequent reports of withholding or delaying creator payouts without explanation.
  • Customer support is often described as non-existent or limited to unhelpful chatbots.
  • Accounts are frequently suspended or banned abruptly, trapping earned revenue.
  • Lack of transparency regarding transaction fees makes actual costs higher than advertised.
Pricing
10% + $0.50 to 30% per transaction
Free trial
Money-back
Best for
Sole beginners focused on validating fast, small digital product ideas., Creators who absolutely refuse to pay a monthly subscription fee., Sellers relying on the Gumroad marketplace for customer discovery (accepting 30% fees).
Sellfy
Sellfy

Zero fees, simple selling for creators.

Ciroapp review
4.6
#2 in Ecommerce

We found Sellfy to be an incredibly efficient, all-in-one platform tailored for creators who prioritize simplicity and cost savings. Its zero-transaction-fee model and built-in marketing tools offer exceptional value, starting at just $22 per month when billed annually. Overall, we confidently recommend Sellfy for easily scaling digital or physical product sales while maintaining total control.

Pros

  • No platform transaction fees, improving profitability immediately.
  • Extremely fast setup and user-friendly interface for first-time sellers.
  • Supports digital, subscriptions, physical, and high-quality print-on-demand products.
  • Includes essential growth tools like affiliate marketing and conversion features.

Cons

  • Limited payment processing options (primarily Stripe and PayPal Business).
  • Store designer offers basic functionality for advanced users seeking complex customization.
  • Users report difficulty when trying to implement additional languages.
  • Custom shipping labels cannot be fully branded.
Pricing
$29/mo
Free trial14 days
Money-back30 days
Best for
Professional creators earning up to $200,000 annually who need 0% transaction fees., Businesses selling both digital products and custom print-on-demand merchandise., Entrepreneurs requiring built-in affiliate marketing and upselling tools.
Quick verdict
Choose Gumroad if you are focused purely on testing small digital products frequently and avoiding mandatory subscription fees while accepting higher risks.
Choose Sellfy if you are scaling your creative business and need reliable monthly income tools with 0% transaction fees, instant payouts, and proven customer support.

AboutGumroad

Gumroad is an all-in-one platform built to help creative entrepreneurs sell digital and physical products. It helps you experiment with all kinds of ideas and formats, like video lessons or monthly subscriptions. Whether you need more flexibility or just a different gig, Gumroad makes it easy to chart a new path. You don't need to be a tech expert to upload a file, set a price, and start selling your expertise. ✨

AboutSellfy

Sellfy is an ideal, all-in-one platform built specifically for skilled creators and modern online businesses. It focuses on simplicity without sacrificing the results you need. If you hate complexity, Sellfy makes getting started easy.

You can upload and sell almost anything right away. This includes digital downloads like courses, music, art, and videos. You can also manage complex needs like physical products inventory or use the simple print-on-demand service. Sellfy helps you replace multiple tools with one efficient dashboard. 💡

Highlights

Quick winners by category at a glance.
Ease of Use
Sellfy is consistently praised for user-friendly setup and quick digital product uploading. Gumroad’s simplicity is undermined by pervasive platform reliability issues.
Feature Set
Sellfy includes superior built-in growth tools like PoD, affiliate marketing, and upselling. Gumroad requires linking many external apps for similar functionality.
Value for Money
Sellfy's 0% transaction fee model offers better overall profitability and predictable monthly costs. Gumroad's variable 10%-30% fees can cut deeply into your profits.
Customer Support
Sellfy provides reliable 24/7 dedicated support highly praised by users. Gumroad support is widely reported as non-existent or extremely unhelpful.
Reliability & Safety
Sellfy users report a stable platform with instant payouts. Gumroad has severe negative reviews concerning fund withholding and random account bans.
Scalability
Sellfy scales via plan tiers up to $200k sales with guaranteed 0% fees. Gumroad's high fees become financially burdensome as sales volume increases quickly.

Feature Comparison

Compare key features side by side
Pricing Model
Gumroad:Usage-based (Transaction fees)
Sellfy:Subscription-based (Monthly/Annual)
Tie
Platform Transaction Fees
Gumroad:10% + $0.50 minimum
Sellfy:0%
Gumroad
Monthly Subscription Fee
Gumroad:No
Sellfy:$22 - $119/month (billed annually)
Sellfy
Free Trial Available
Gumroad:No (Always free to start)
Sellfy:Yes (14 Days, No Card)
Tie
Digital Downloads
Gumroad:Yes
Sellfy:Yes (Unlimited products)
Sellfy
Physical Goods Sales
Gumroad:Yes
Sellfy:Yes (Inventory Management)
Sellfy
Integrated Print-on-Demand (PoD)
Gumroad:No
Sellfy:Yes (Integrated Service)
Sellfy
Support for Subscriptions
Gumroad:Yes
Sellfy:Yes (Digital Subscriptions)
Sellfy
Maximum File Size Limit
Gumroad:Not explicitly stated
Sellfy:Up to 20GB (Premium plan)
Sellfy
Instant Payouts
Gumroad:No (Weekly Payouts)
Sellfy:Yes (Via Stripe/PayPal)
Sellfy
Built-in Email Marketing
Gumroad:External Integration Required
Sellfy:Yes (2,000–50,000 credits)
Tie
Product Upselling Feature
Gumroad:No
Sellfy:Yes (Business plan)
Sellfy
Affiliate Marketing Tools
Gumroad:No
Sellfy:Yes (Business plan)
Sellfy
Website Embedding Option
Gumroad:Yes (Connect storefront)
Sellfy:Yes (Widgets and full cart)
Tie
Customer Support Quality
Gumroad:Poor/Non-existent reported
Sellfy:Highly responsive/Dedicated 24/7
Tie
Account Suspension Risk
Gumroad:High (frequently reported)
Sellfy:Low (Stable platform)
Tie
Handles Sales Tax (MoR)
Gumroad:Yes (Effective 2025)
Sellfy:No
Gumroad
Feature Comparison Summary
2
Gumroad
6
Ties
9
Sellfy

Features Overview

We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.

Platform Transaction Fees

Sellfy saves you money with zero transaction fees on all sales. Gumroad charges high fees, ranging from 10% to 30% per sale.

Sellfy

Gumroad’s base fee is 10% plus $0.50 when you bring the buyer. If a customer finds you in the Gumroad marketplace, the fee jumps sharply to 30%. These high commissions instantly reduce your overall profit margins. Sellfy proudly maintains 0% platform transaction fees across all subscription tiers. You only cover standard processing fees from payment processors like Stripe or PayPal. This maximizes profitability, especially as your total volume grows rapidly. Sellfy structures its pricing so you keep a far larger share of every sale. Gumroad takes a costly, mandatory cut on every transaction generated.

Payout Speed

Sellfy provides instant funding directly via PayPal or Stripe connection. Gumroad offers automated weekly payouts every Friday.

Sellfy

Payments on Gumroad are not instant; they are processed weekly every Friday. This requires sellers to wait for access to their earned revenue consistently. Gumroad creators also report frequent, unexplained delays or held payments. Sellfy allows instant access to earnings when connected to Stripe or PayPal. Once a purchase is made, the money is available immediately in your processor account. This dramatically improves cash flow management. Sellfy ensures immediate access to revenue, acting as a simple payment pass-through. Gumroad holds your funds, releasing them on a fixed schedule, which often carries security risks. You get your money instantly with Sellfy, which is vital for managing immediate business needs.

Reliability & Safety

Sellfy is highly rated for reliability and stability in seller support. Gumroad reviews cite critical account security issues and withheld funds.

Sellfy

Gumroad has an extremely low 1.5-star rating, citing frequent, abrupt account bans without cause. Creators report Gumroad holding earned revenue for months or delaying payments. This presents a massive financial risk. Sellfy maintains excellent approval, with sellers praising the platform's stability and support. Sellfy’s reliability allows professional creators to focus entirely on their products. You can trust that your business will not be arbitrarily shut down mid-cycle. Sellfy is clearly viewed as a reliable and trustworthy platform for consistent income generation. Gumroad presents a significant and well-documented financial risk to established sellers. Choosing Sellfy protects your hard-earned revenue from sudden account suspensions or unexplained financial holds on the platform.

Integrated Marketing

Sellfy includes powerful, integrated marketing tools to boost conversions. Gumroad requires users to integrate external apps for all growth features.

Sellfy

Gumroad requires linking multiple external tools for advanced functions like email sequences or upselling. Existing integrations complicate the overall setup and workflow. Gumroad focuses only on simple hosting and the core transaction process. Sellfy includes powerful upselling, affiliate marketing, and cart abandonment recovery features. You also benefit from extensive, included monthly email marketing credits. This built-in suite simplifies all growth marketing efforts. Sellfy provides all the critical sales maximization tools in one simple dashboard. With Gumroad, you must piece together separate, potentially costly tools. Sellfy makes it easier to recover lost sales automatically using their proven cart abandonment features.

Product Diversity

Sellfy offers integrated Print-on-Demand (PoD) and supports large 20GB files. Gumroad focuses primarily on basic digital files and subscriptions.

Sellfy

Gumroad allows selling various digital files and managing subscriptions easily. It primarily suits creators selling digital goods and basic information products. Gumroad lacks some of the advanced physical merchandise features. Sellfy supports digital downloads, managed physical goods, and integrated PoD services. This lets creators launch custom clothing or accessories risk-free. Sellfy also allows uploading single files up to 20GB on its top plan. Sellfy is a true all-in-one commerce solution offering more ways to monetize physical inventory. Gumroad is mainly a straightforward digital storefront. If you plan to expand into selling custom t-shirts or branded merchandise, Sellfy provides the integrated service you need instantly.

Global Tax Compliance

Gumroad will act as Merchant of Record handling worldwide sales tax. Sellfy currently requires the seller to manage all tax compliance.

Gumroad

Gumroad simplifies international selling significantly by handling tax collection. Effective January 1, 2025, Gumroad acts as the Merchant of Record. This means they manage complex taxes like sales tax, VAT, or GST worldwide. Sellfy does not explicitly offer this automated tax management service for sellers. You will be responsible for managing your own international tax obligations. This adds significant administrative complexity for global businesses. Gumroad wins if automated compliance is your top administrative pain point for international sales. Sellfy requires more active tax management from the creator. If you sell globally and hate dealing with VAT/GST forms, Gumroad removes that specific administrative burden for you.

Our Verdict

Objective guidance based on features, pricing, and user fit.

Choosing between Sellfy and Gumroad is really deciding between stability and high risk. Sellfy is the clear winner for professional creators needing guaranteed stability and maximized profits. While Gumroad avoids monthly fees, its actual 10-30% transaction costs are steep and predatory. Gumroad’s strength is its guaranteed zero monthly fee, making initial entry easy. You can test small ideas quickly and experiment with the 'small bets' philosophy instantly. Gumroad is best only for casual side projects or relying on their marketplace for customer acquisition. Sellfy shines with 0% transaction fees and a comprehensive, robust feature set. It gives you instant payouts via Stripe or PayPal, critically protecting your cash flow. Sellfy is also highly praised for reliable support and includes vital growth tools like PoD and upselling. The decisive factor is business reliability and scaling costs over time. Gumroad users frequently report withheld payments and sudden account suspensions, which is highly damaging. If your dedicated income stability matters, Sellfy is clearly the safer and better choice. Choose Sellfy if profitability, instant access to cash, and built-in marketing tools are your priorities. Only choose Gumroad if you are experimenting with throwaway projects and must avoid a subscription payment at all costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper for high volume sales: Gumroad or Sellfy?

Sellfy is dramatically cheaper for high volume sales due to its 0% transaction fee. Gumroad's 10% to 30% fee model becomes very expensive as your total revenue grows. Sellfy's fixed monthly subscription provides predictable overhead costs.

Does Sellfy support Print-on-Demand (PoD) like Gumroad?

Yes, Sellfy features an integrated Print-on-Demand service for custom merchandise. Gumroad does not offer this integrated PoD functionality. For physical and custom product sales, Sellfy offers a superior solution.

Why is Gumroad's user rating so much lower than Sellfy's?

Gumroad holds a disastrous 1.5-star rating due to widespread reports of financial instability. Users cite withheld payments, arbitrary account bans, and non-existent support staff. Sellfy maintains a high 4.6-star rating and is praised for excellent reliability.

How fast do I get paid with Gumroad compared to Sellfy?

Sellfy provides instant payouts directly to your Stripe or PayPal account upon purchase. Gumroad holds money and distributes payouts to creators just once a week, every Friday. This difference greatly impacts seller cash flow.

Which tool is better for built-in marketing features?

Sellfy is significantly better for marketing with included features like product upselling and affiliate tools. Gumroad requires users to integrate and manage separate, external applications for these core growth features.

Does either platform handle my worldwide sales tax?

Gumroad will act as the Merchant of Record, automatically handling worldwide sales tax compliance starting in 2025. Sellfy requires the seller to manage all international tax obligations manually. Gumroad simplifies international legal complexity.

Ready to Choose?

Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.