Gumroad vs Paddle: Pricing Comparison (2026)
Gumroad and Paddle both start at Free on their entry tier.
Merchant-of-record platform for creators selling digital products (courses, ebooks, memberships). Positioned as the alternative to Stripe + Teachable + Podia for solo creators who want one tool to sell + deliver + handle tax. Distinctive for its 10% flat fee (no monthly subscription) that appeals to sellers just starting out. Founded by ex-Pinterest designer Sahil Lavingia (bootstrapped, transparently profitable). Popular with course creators, indie writers, and design assets sellers.
Merchant of Record (MoR) billing platform for SaaS, valued $1.4B private. Positioned as the alternative to Stripe for SaaS companies that don't want to handle global sales tax/VAT compliance themselves. Distinctive: Paddle becomes the seller of record, absorbing tax complexity. Priced 5% + 50¢ per transaction (higher than Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢), but includes tax handling and dunning. Popular with indie SaaS and European SaaS selling globally.
All plans compared
| # | Plan | Gumroad monthly | Gumroad annual | Paddle monthly | Paddle annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Direct sales / Standard | 10% + $0.50 per sale | — | 5% + 50¢ per transaction | — |
| 2 | Marketplace discovery / Enterprise | 30% flat per sale | — | custom | — |
What each is best for
Merchant-of-record platform for creators selling digital products (courses, ebooks, memberships). Positioned as the alternative to Stripe + Teachable + Podia for solo creators who want one tool to sell + deliver + handle tax. Distinctive for its 10% flat fee (no monthly subscription) that appeals to sellers just starting out. Founded by ex-Pinterest designer Sahil Lavingia (bootstrapped, transparently profitable). Popular with course creators, indie writers, and design assets sellers.
Merchant of Record (MoR) billing platform for SaaS, valued $1.4B private. Positioned as the alternative to Stripe for SaaS companies that don't want to handle global sales tax/VAT compliance themselves. Distinctive: Paddle becomes the seller of record, absorbing tax complexity. Priced 5% + 50¢ per transaction (higher than Stripe's 2.9% + 30¢), but includes tax handling and dunning. Popular with indie SaaS and European SaaS selling globally.
At a glance
| Gumroad | Paddle | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | Free | Free |
| Enterprise available | — | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Usage | Per Usage |
| Last verified | July 29, 2026 | July 25, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified July 29, 2026. Tracked daily.