Payhip vs Shopify

Payhip lets you start selling immediately using their comprehensive Free Forever plan. This plan includes all features, requiring just a 5% transaction fee on sales. You won't need a credit card to launch your Payhip store instantly. Shopify provides a 3-day free trial, but you must subscribe to a paid plan immediately afterward. Shopify’s Basic plan starts at $29/month to access core selling functions. For initial setup, Payhip allows zero commitment, making it much lower risk for testing products. Payhip is the clear winner for beginners and creators prioritizing minimal startup costs and no monthly fee commitment. Shopify's mandatory monthly fee quickly adds up if your sales volume is low or inconsistent. If you are just launching your first digital product, Payhip is the financially smart choice to test the market.

Payhip excels at selling diverse digital products, memberships, and online courses. It includes robust features like drip content and assignments right out of the box. Payhip also facilitates selling 1:1 coaching sessions directly through integrated scheduling. Shopify is primarily optimized for tangible inventory and physical retail operations. While Shopify supports digital goods, you must purchase external apps for membership or advanced course features. This means extra complexity and added monthly costs for Shopify users. Payhip offers these creator-focused tools built-in, simplifying the setup process immensely. Creators get a true all-in-one experience using Payhip for digital delivery. Shopify forces digital creators to depend heavily on its vast app ecosystem. If your core business is selling expertise or digital files, Payhip provides superior native functionality and less integration friction.

Payhip handles the significant regulatory headache of digital EU and UK VAT automatically. The platform calculates, collects, and manages these complex international tax obligations on your behalf. This critical feature simplifies global digital sales compliance for Payhip users tremendously. Shopify requires merchants to separately configure tax settings, often needing paid third-party tax apps or services. Managing global compliance is a greater administrative burden on Shopify. This friction means more time spent on bookkeeping instead of scaling your business. Automatic tax handling is a key distinction that saves Payhip creators time and ensures adherence to international law. Shopify offers general tax tools but lacks Payhip's specific focus on digital VAT. If you sell ebooks or courses globally, the automated compliance in Payhip eliminates significant administrative risk.

Shopify has an enormous ecosystem offering over 13,000 apps that cover almost any specialization needed. This breadth allows extreme customization, from high-level marketing to niche shipping solutions. Shopify also supports enterprise-level needs like headless commerce via Hydrogen. Payhip focuses on keeping its core platform robust, relying only on standard essential marketing and payment integrations. Payhip’s strength is simplicity, meaning fewer customization levers than Shopify. If a feature isn't built in, you might be out of luck with Payhip. Shopify’s vast integration power is essential for unique business models or physical retail with specific hardware needs. Payhip aims for universal functionality without requiring external apps. For businesses requiring advanced B2B features, complex ERP connections, or highly bespoke solutions, Shopify is the only scalable choice.

Payhip provides dedicated 24/7 contact support praised by users as prompt, efficient, and human. Testimonials highlight that the Payhip team helps with complex tasks like migrating stores successfully. Their responsive expertise is a top user benefit. Shopify users frequently report unresponsive support, slow issue resolution, and difficulties managing charges or refunds. Trustpilot reviews consistently describe poor communication and frustrating payout holds when dealing with Shopify support. Customer service is a major differentiator; Payhip earns high marks where Shopify reviews show significant friction. Reliability of help matters when running a business and Payhip excels here. If stellar, dependable customer support is non-negotiable for your operations, Payhip offers a much safer environment.

Shopify is designed for unified commerce, seamlessly managing online and in-person sales (POS). The Shopify Admin centralizes inventory and orders for a complete retail solution. Shopify also supports up to 200 inventory locations on its top plan. Payhip supports the sale of physical products and inventory management but lacks integrated POS functionality. Payhip’s focus remains digital selling, treating physical goods as an added feature, not a core strength. It isn't built for a bustling storefront. If your business includes brick-and-mortar sales or requires robust multi-location inventory tracking, Shopify is mandatory. Payhip offers only superficial physical product functionality. Startups focused purely on digital downloads won't care, but physical retailers must choose Shopify.