Fourthwall is a great all-in-one platform for beginner creators. It lets you sell products, memberships, and digital content without handling complicated logistics or hiring an entire crew to run the business. However, many quickly outgrow Fourthwall and start searching for alternatives with more features, flexibility, and control over their brand and audience.

I’ve tested the eight most prominent Fourthwall competitors and laid it all out, so you won’t have to go through your own vicious cycle of trial and error.

Before we proceed with the reviews, full disclosure: I work with Sellfy, which I include in this list. My experience in the industry – working with creators, their pains and needs – informed this comparison. I write these guides to make choosing easier for them, whatever made them look for an alternative.

Here is how I keep it honest:

1. I personally go through the entire journey: look for recommendations online and test everything. I set up the account, customized the store, uploaded products, added payout options, etc.
2. I’m transparent about all the great features any of the solutions have and give credit where it’s due. I recommend competitors over Sellfy in five out of eight use cases.
3. I’m also open about where Sellfy falls short: no free plan, less robust support for big physical inventory, fewer integrations than Shopify.

How I chose and tested these Fourthwall alternatives

To arrive at the suggestions below, I looked at the platforms creators actually migrate to when they outgrow Fourthwall or need a different focus for their flavor of creator business. I wanted to test how these platforms perform in practice rather than rely on marketing claims. 

To test each platform, I set up a store, customized it, created several products from the types available on each platform, explored payout options, and prices. I also looked at the analytics, marketing, and SEO tools available directly through the dashboard.

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Our testing criteria

To make this comparison informative and actionable, I zeroed in on the following:

1. Ease of setup. I assessed how quickly a creator with little to no experience with the platform can go from signing up to publishing a storefront with products.
2. Fee structure and pricing. I compared entry-level plans, took note of hidden costs like payment processing or currency conversion fees, and tried to predict whether each pricing model would still feel fair as your revenue grows.
3. Product types supported. I evaluated how well each platform handles different product types: digital downloads, memberships, courses, print-on-demand merch, subscriptions, and physical items. I also noted whether these features are native or patched through third-party tools.
4. Marketing tools. I looked at built-in tools for promotion and sales that actually matter for creators (email marketing, discount codes, upsells, affiliate management, cart recovery, analytics, SEO, audience segmentation, social media integrations).
5. Customization options. I compared how much flexibility each platform has in terms of storefront design, domains, layouts, functionality, audience data, etc. Mind you, not every creator needs full control over branding – some look for a simple storefront, so low customization might be a win.
6. Payout speed and frequency. I checked whether payouts are instant or scheduled, whether there’s a threshold, and how much control you have over methods and timing of your earnings withdrawal.

Please note: pricing, fees, and free plan limitations change all the time. Everything in this comparison is based on the information that was publicly available at the time of the writing. It’s always worth double-checking the latest terms with the official websites before committing to your new platform.

Fourthwall alternatives at a glance

Sellfy provides probably the most balanced all-in-one solution for digital creatives. It combines digital products, subscriptions, merch, email marketing, built-in sales tools, and a beautiful, customizable website – all in a clean beginner-friendly dashboard.

Gumroad is one of the easiest low-risk websites to start selling your digital creations. It’s free to set up, has built-in marketplace discoverability, and assists with tax management.

Payhip is the strongest free contestant. The platform provides a customizable storefront, built-in tools for selling downloads, memberships, courses, and physical products.

Spring is one of the simplest ways for YouTubers and streamers to launch branded merch without handling inventory, shipping, or customer support.

Patreon is great for building a continuous, predictable income and growing your fan community. It fits someone who already has a loyal audience through other channels (YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, etc.) 

Ko-fi is a simple and elegant platform created primarily for collecting tips and selling memberships. It’s a great fit for casual creators and hesitant beginners because it provides low-pressure, simple monetization tools without any financial commitment. 

Shopify is a powerful and scalable e-commerce solution with deep customization, built-in SEO, advanced inventory management, and a whole ecosystem of apps and integrations. It fits creators who have already grown a serious business with multiple sales channels and a comprehensive catalog of products.

8 best Fourthwall alternatives in 2026: tested and reviewed

Now let’s get into a more detailed overview and comparison of each platform to Fourthwall and other available tools for particular use cases, I suggest based on my experience and, frankly, personal preferences.

1. Sellfy: best overall Fourthwall alternative for creators

Sellfy is a streamlined and versatile e-commerce solution that was built for independent creators, yet suits any small to medium operation. It’s an all-in-one platform for digital products, subscriptions, print-on-demand, analytics, and powerful marketing tools – all assembled neatly in one clean dashboard.

What makes it truly different from most e-commerce solutions is the potential to adapt its offerings smoothly to the growing needs of your business. At the very start, it’s as easy as training wheels, but when you grow, it has robust tools and professional features to support your business for years to come.

Why I picked Sellfy

Sellfy is powerful enough to grow a real online business and yet simple enough for one person or a small team to run it without feeling overwhelmed. You don’t have to be tech-savvy, yet if you are, it has some hidden depth as well.

Sellfy is a self-sustained storefront. During this testing run, I could upload digital downloads, create a course, enable subscriptions, play around with discount codes, set up an automated email campaign, and configure abandoned cart recovery. All without the need to connect third-party services.

Meanwhile, Fourthwall is an excellently optimized merch machine for content creators that works right out of the box. If your business revolves mostly around POD drops and virality, Fourthwall gives more socially-oriented features and is easier to “plug into” an existing fanbase. That’s why YouTubers love it.

Yet Sellfy covers more ground when it comes to running an independent creator business from one dashboard. It handles digital products, subscriptions, physical products, and marketing (all with no fees on paid plans).

Sellfy is also very flexible. It supports secure streaming and license keys for digital products, includes upselling, bundles, and affiliate tools – smoothly, without the need to piece your workflows together from different apps.

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What testing felt like

Sellfy was the smoothest setup overall. I had a storefront, downloadable product, and automated email flow running in about 15 minutes. Of course, I know it inside and out, but from my experience, people who see it for the first time do just as well, even without watching a tutorial.

The thing I love most about Sellfy is its outward simplicity with the growth potential. You can choose a template if you want to set up as fast as with Stan Store or Ko-fi, or you can get to the nitty-gritty with manual design, just as in Payhip or Shopify.

Standout features

• Fully hosted solution
• Wide range of products: downloads, subscriptions, courses, POD
• Clean storefront with customizable themes
• Integrated email tools, including automation
• Advanced marketing tools (discounts, bundles, upsells, cart recovery)
• Affiliate program
• Secure digital delivery with streaming and license keys
• Built-in tax handling (VAT/customs) and multi-currency support

Pricing

Starter Plan: Creators favorite

• $22 a month
• Up to $10,000 in sales per year
• Unlimited products
• Core marketing features

Best Value Plan: Premium

• $119 a month
• Up to $200,000 in sales per year
• Everything from Starter, plus:
• Custom fields
• Advanced marketing (upsells, cart recovery, affiliate)
• Product and design migration
• Priority support

Pros and Cons

2. Gumroad: best for beginners and solo digital creators

Gumroad is a simple platform that was designed for creators: it allows you to open a storefront quickly, risk-free, and without any special tech skills or a ready-made audience. By selling digital products through Gumroad’s Discover marketplace, an artist can get their first exposure.

Why I picked Gumroad

Gumroad offers a friendlier start for a creator who wants to launch an online business. There are no monthly fees, setup is extra simple, and it even quietly takes care of daunting things like tax compliance, so a solo-creator can focus on the art of it all.

What testing felt like

Gumroad took me around 8 to 10 minutes from login to publishing my first digital product. It felt as easy as uploading a file to Dropbox, not at all like building a store. The flip side is that customization options ran out very quickly: once I changed the banner and accent colors, I pretty much hit the ceiling.

Standout features

• Free membership
• Full website within Gumroad’s ecosystem
• “Pay what you want” option
• Discover marketplace for getting new eyeballs
• Collaborations
• Native email updates and basic analytics
• Simple checkout with global tax handling

Pricing

Free model with no subscription, instead you will pay:

• 10% flat + $0.50 commission per transaction 
• 30% per transaction for sales made through the Discover marketplace
• Optional promotional expenses 

Pros and Cons

If Gumroad isn’t quite hitting it, here’s the full list of Gumroad alternatives worth checking out.

3. Payhip: best free Fourthwall alternative

Payhip is a flexible e-commerce platform that lets you sell digital products, courses, memberships, and physical goods from a customizable storefront. It’s a robust solution with a feature-rich free tier that handles most of the technical stuff for you. 

Why I picked Payhip

Compared to Fourthwall, Payhip gives you more control over your website, brand, and customer experience. It’s not an easy plug-and-play, but it is a great free alternative for creators who don’t mind investing a bit more initial effort for a better payoff in the long run.

What testing felt like

Payhip took noticeably longer to configure properly than most apps on this list. This can be counted as an up or a down depending on how you look at it. Payhip simply has many settings and moving parts, enabling minute customization. This complexity also caused the course uploads to lag a few times, which was concerning about wasted time and effort.

Standout features

• Built-in website builder 
• Free custom domain connection
• Digital and physical products, courses, memberships, etc.
• Native marketing tools (email, coupons, affiliate, upsells)
• Integrated blog
• Built-in analytics for each product
• Checkout embeds for external websites
• Unlimited uploads (up to 5GB per file)
• PDF stamping, license keys, secure delivery

Pricing

Starter plan: Free Forever

• $0 a month
• 5% platform fee per transaction (+ PayPal or Stripe payment processing)
• All features
• Unlimited products
• Unlimited revenue

Best Value Plan: Pro

• $99 a month
• No platform fees (PayPal/Stripe will still charge standard fees)
• All features
• Unlimited products
• Unlimited revenue

Pros and Cons

4. Spring (Teespring): best for print-on-demand and YouTube creators

Spring (aka Teespring) is a print-on-demand service that allows selling branded merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, etc.) while managing production, inventory, and shipments for you. It works especially nicely for YouTubers and content creators thanks to seamless platform integrations.

Why I picked Spring

Spring is lean and works best if your content is your storefront. Direct integrations with YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok make it one of the simplest ways to convert your existing audience without building an entire separate website for it.

What testing felt like

Spring was one of the easiest to start: uploading designs and generating mockups felt almost like playing one of those games where you make cupcakes or choose outfits. Yet the store itself is almost uncustomizable, which is a bit frustrating.

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Standout features

• No upfront costs
• YouTube Merch Shelf integration (products shown under videos)
• Large catalog of customizable products (180+ apparel, home, and accessory items)
• Built-in design tools and novelty AI-design feature (beta-testing stage)
• Handles printing, shipping, and customer support

Pricing

Spring is free to use, you set the price above their base cost (approx. $10-$20 for shirts and $25-$35+ for hoodies) and keep the profit (typically $5-$15 per item, depending on the product). There is also an option to direct your profits to a charity of your choice.

Pros and Cons

If you came here mostly for POD, go read the full guide to the best print-on-demand sites — Spring is one of several solid options.

5. Patreon: best Fourthwall alternative for membership-based creators

Patreon is one of the most popular platforms for follower monetization. It allows content creators to earn a predictable income by selling recurring memberships and exclusive content. Unlike Fourthwall, which tries to be everything for everyone, Patreon leans into building community and connections with fans.

Why I picked Patreon

Patreon is a tried and true monetization route for creators whose value comes from a continuous relationship with the audience instead of virality-based one-off sales. If you have avid fans who follow your work consistently, Patreon gives a more structured system of tiers, perks, and exclusive content than Fourthwall. 

What testing felt like

Patreon setup went absolutely smoothly for memberships: tiers, gated posts, perks – everything was intuitive and clearly done with an understanding of its creative users. However, even as I sailed through this process, I felt the system nudging me ever so slightly towards frequent updates and engagement loops, which honestly gave me anxiety.

Standout features

• Ramified system of tiers with customizable pricing and perks
• Community tools (posts, comments, direct messaging)
• Built-in analytics (content performance, audience behavior, earnings)
• Marketing tools (free trials, discounts, upgrade prompts)
• Discoverability via personalized recommendations to patrons
• Mobile app for easy access to exclusive content (for patrons)

Pricing

No monthly subscriptions, instead, you will pay:

• 10% platform fee from each sale
• Payment processing fees (depend on the provider)
• Currency conversion fees (depend on your audience’s geo)

Pros and Cons

Want a deeper dive? Read the full breakdown of Patreon alternatives for membership creators.

6. Ko-fi: best Fourthwall alternative for casual creators and small audiences

Ko-fi is a simple and lightweight platform built primarily for receiving tips and donations, with an option to sell products and memberships. Even compared to Fourthwall, it’s very casual and low-pressure, which is ideal for someone who wants to start monetizing their hobby versus building a full storefront.

Why I picked Ko-fi

Ko-fi lowers the barrier to entry almost to the floor. You don’t need a content library, strategy, or ramified tier system. All you need is to show up, share your work, and let people support you. Ko-fi is a no-stress option for small creators, hobbyists, or anyone testing the waters of content creation.

What testing felt like

Ko-fi is the most chill and low-pressure solution here. I had a donations page and a tiny shop live in under 10 minutes, and the interface never froze or felt overwhelming. The trade-off is that customization is barebones – after the setup, there’s really nothing left to do.

Standout features

• Free plan with shop set-up fees
• “Pay-what-you-want” option and commission requests
• Shop for digital and physical products
• Membership tiers for exclusive content
• Simple community tools (polls, comments, messages)
• No-threshold PayPal and Stripe payouts
• Widgets and shareable buttons for other websites

Pricing

Starter Plan: Contributor

• $0 a month
• 5% service fee
• Full features

Best Value Plan: Gold

• $12 a month
• 0% service fee
• Full features

Pros and Cons

7. Shopify: best Fourthwall alternative for scaling a creator business

Shopify is one of the most widely used e-commerce platforms designed for fully functional online stores. Compared to Fourthwall, it’s a more robust business engine for those who have grown beyond occasional merch drops into a full commercial enterprise.

Why I picked Shopify

When your side project starts feeling like a big business, Shopify has the infrastructure to support its needs and future-proof its growth. It has a wide range of products, customer segments, marketing funnels, and inventory management – not the simplest option, but worth it for a big and serious business.

What testing felt like

Shopify felt the most powerful – and most exhausting. The initial setup went invitingly simple, but actually building a creator-friendly store quickly turned into a rabbit hole of apps, conflicting settings, and paid add-ons for things I expected to be native: courses, downloadables, POD, email automation, etc.

Standout features

• Fully customizable white-label store
• Drag-and-drop website builder
• Built-in SEO, email marketing, and analytics
• Advanced marketing tools (cart recovery, customer segmentation, funnels)
• Multi-currency and international selling support
• Inventory management with brick-and-mortar integration
• Thousands of integrations for customizable functionality

Pricing

Starter Plan: Basic

• $19 a month
• 2% third-party payment processor fee
• Support for online and in-person sales
• AI assistant for commerce

Best Value Plan: Advanced

• $289 a month
• 0,6% third-party payment processor fee
• Up to 15 staff accounts
• Region-based store adjustments
• Discounted shipping rates

Pros and Cons

If Shopify feels like overkill, here’s the wider list of Shopify alternatives ranked by use case.

8. Stan Store: Best Fourthwall alternative for TikTok and Instagram creators

Stan Store is a simple “link-in-bio” storefront enabling creators to sell digital products (courses, memberships, etc.) directly from their social media profiles. Unlike Fourthwall, which works best with YouTube, Stan Store was created specifically for converting TikTok and Instagram followers.

Why I picked Stan Store

Stan Store solves a very common creator problem: it helps you monetize your views. Instead of funneling your followers through a complicated system of multiple tools, you have a neat storefront that combines checkout, email collection, and bookings – all in one simple link optimized for socials.

What testing felt like

Setting up a coaching offer and mobile checkout genuinely took a few minutes. Stan Store really was one of the fastest. Yet there’s really no customizing storefront beyond choosing from a set number of background colors, so not much more to tell.

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Standout features

• Link-in-bio storefront with built-in checkout
• Supports digital products, courses, coaching, and memberships
• One-tap mobile checkout optimized for social traffic
• Calendar bookings for calls and services
• Upsells, funnels, and affiliate tools (in Pro plan)
• Built-in lead-capture tools
• Simple analytics and audience insights

Pricing

Starter Plan: Creator

• $29 a month
• Unlimited online course builder (with course analytics)
• Recurring subscriptions/memberships
• Lead magnets/email collection
• Community features
• Stan AutoDM for Instagram responses

Best Value Plan: Creator Pro

• $99 a month
• Everything from Creator, plus:
• Advanced marketing tools (upsells, order bumps, limited offers, discounts, etc.)
• Affiliated management
• Advanced email marketing (import contacts, broadcasts, flows)
• Pixel tracking for Meta, Google, Pinterest, TikTok

Pros and Cons

Curious about other link-in-bio tools? Read the full roundup of Stan Store alternatives before committing.

FAQ

What is the best Fourthwall alternative?

It depends on your particular flavor of online presence and monetization strategy. The simplest free Fourthwall alternatives are Ko-fi and Patreon. The most versatile and robust competitors for building a business are Sellfy and Shopify. If you’re only after POD, Spring might be the answer.

What are Fourthwall’s main competitors?

The main Fourthwall alternatives for custom creator-focused merch and membership support are Sellfy, Spring (Teespring), Shopify, and Patreon. Spring is a lean POD tool, Shopify is the most robust enterprise-level platform, and Sellfy is the most balanced option that covers all sides of a creator’s online business.

Is there a free alternative to Fourthwall?

Fourthwall does have a free tier, but if you need a lower-commission alternative to Fourthwall, Payhip and Ko-fi take the same or less in fees. If you have grown your sales and fees model doesn’t fit anymore, consider switching to a solution with affordable monthly payments like Sellfy, removing percentage fees completely.

What apps are most similar to Fourthwall?

Among apps like Fourthwall, Sellfy, and Payhip are the best all-in-one alternatives that support digital products, subscriptions, and print-on-demand merch. Spring is the most similar if you are interested purely in POD. Ko-fi is best for accepting tips, and Gumroad is great for beginners without an established following.

Are there stores like Fourthwall with lower fees?

Most stores like Fourthwall take the same (5% for Payhip and Ko-fi), or even bigger cut (industry standard 10% for Patreon and Gumroad). If fees start eating into your earnings, consider getting a reasonably priced monthly subscription with a store like Sellfy and keep the entirety of your profits.

What are the best sites similar to Fourthwall?

Sellfy is the most well-rounded among the sites similar to Fourthwall. It gives creators all the tools they need to sell digital products, memberships, courses, and POD merch, along with built-in marketing and analytics. If you need a free tool to accept donations, Ko-fi is the best alternative, while Stan Store is a no-frills link-in-bio solution.

What are the best alternatives to selling on Fourthwall?

Both Sellfy and Shopify are great alternatives to selling on Fourthwall if you plan on building a serious business. Sellfy is leaner and more suited for individual entrepreneurs and small teams, while Shopify has a more robust corporate infrastructure. If you only sell memberships, Ko-fi and Patreon are great low-risk options too.

Which Fourthwall alternatives are best for beginners?

For absolute novices who have never sold online, Gumroad and Ko-fi are the most casual and low-risk options, being free. However, if you already have one or two products ready and some social media following, you can go for a lean all-in-one subscription-based solution like Sellfy that will give you plenty of room to grow.

Can I build a full website with a Fourthwall alternative?

Absolutely! Sellfy, Payhip, and Shopify are all-in-one solutions with a website builder and full online store functionality. Payhip has a free tier, Shopify provides the most professional features for managing multiple stores with complex inventories, and Sellfy is the most well-rounded and lightweight golden medium.

The post 8 Best Fourthwall Alternatives in 2026 (I Tested All of Them) appeared first on Sellfy.

When a knee injury ended Elijah Owens’ track and cross country career, he picked up a camera. What started as something to fill the void quickly became something much bigger.

At 18, Elijah photographs athletes and teams, produces content for social media and branding, and runs a thriving online store selling presets and digital resources for other photographers.

By pairing storytelling-driven sports photography with consistent social media content, he’s built a strong personal brand — and crossed $20,000 in digital product sales through his Sellfy store in under a year.

We sat down with Elijah to hear how it all started, how he built a business while still in school, and what he’d tell other creators looking to monetize their work online.

How would you describe what you do?

I’m a freelance photographer who specializes in sports storytelling. That means I focus on capturing more than just the action — I try to tell the full story behind the game through my visuals. The intensity during competition, the emotion after a big play, the smaller moments people might not notice, but that still matter.

I work with athletes, teams, and sporting events, creating photo and video content for social media, branding, and media coverage. The goal is always visuals that feel real and impactful, not just technically clean, but something that actually connects with people and represents the athlete or team at a high level.

Over time, I’ve also built my personal brand through social media, which has opened doors to working with higher-level athletes and programs. So my work is really a combination of the creative side, capturing strong visuals, and the business side, where I use those visuals to build my brand and create opportunities.

How did you get into photography, and when did you decide to make it a business?

I got into photography the summer before my junior year of high school. I’d been dealing with a knee injury from running track and cross country, so I suddenly had nothing to focus on.

I found my mom’s old camera and started messing around with it. For my 16th birthday, I got my own camera, and that’s when things got more serious.

Not long after, a friend asked me to shoot his football game. That was my first time on the field, and once I experienced that environment and started capturing live action, I fell in love.

That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue sports photography. Monetizing it happened pretty naturally — a few friends asked me to shoot their basketball games for $20.

After that, I started shooting as much as I could — free high school events, offering free photos to players and parents — to build connections, grow my portfolio, and get my work on Instagram.

A month after buying my first camera, I borrowed $1,500 from my mom and upgraded my camera lens to an EF 70-200 f2.8. I promised her that I would make the money back from photography and pay her back. This upgrade improved my quality a ton, and at that point, I realized there was real value in what I was doing, so I started charging for my work and treating it like a business instead of just a hobby.

What was it like getting paid for the first time?

The first time was about a week after I upgraded my lens. I wasn’t fully confident in my work yet, so I kept prices really low — around $5 to cover my ticket and another $5 for photos.

For me, it wasn’t really about the money at that stage. I was using those opportunities to get reps, meet new people, and start putting my work out there. Looking back, that phase was really important because it helped me build connections, grow my confidence, and slowly turn photography into something more serious.

How do you balance photography with being a full-time student?

I do photography full-time while also being a full-time college student. I take all of my classes online, which gives me the flexibility to travel and be available for shoots. I try to stay disciplined with my schedule, so I usually spend Monday and Tuesday focusing on school and getting most of my assignments done, which frees up the rest of the week for photography work. 

Photography is my only job, and I’ve built multiple income streams around it. My main sources of income come from photoshoots and video projects, but I also make money through my preset packs, my social media platforms, and my online course. So it’s a mix of both client work and digital products, which allows me to stay fully focused on photography while continuing to grow my brand.

Photography has been your only job. What skills has it taught you that a traditional job might not have?

I actually haven’t worked a traditional job before. I started photography when I was 16, and it’s been my only job since then. Some people might not view it as a typical job, but for me, it’s always been something I’ve taken seriously as both a craft and a business. 

Photography has taught me how to communicate with clients, manage my time, handle finances, market myself, and build relationships. Before I started, I was very shy and introverted — but putting myself in environments where I had to interact with athletes, clients, and other creatives pushed me to grow. Over time, it helped me become much more confident, not just in my work, but in how I carry myself and communicate with others.

How do you approach marketing and growing your audience?

My approach to marketing and promotion is mainly centered around social media, especially Instagram and TikTok. I focus on consistently posting high-quality content that not only showcases my work but also gives people a look into my process, whether that’s behind-the-scenes clips, edits, or breakdowns of how I got a shot. 

I try to balance both creativity and strategy. For example, I use reels and trending formats to reach new audiences, and carousel posts to keep people engaged and show more of my work. I’ve found that consistency, timing, and understanding what people actually want to see all play a big role in growth. 

At the same time, I don’t rely only on content. Networking matters too — building relationships with athletes, teams, and other creatives, because a lot of opportunities come from who you know. It’s really a mix of posting consistently, creating valuable content, and putting myself in the right environments to be seen.

What has and hasn’t worked?

Honestly, everything has worked for me so far, but only when I’m consistent with it. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have been my main marketing channels, and I’ve seen the most growth from posting reels, carousel posts, and behind-the-scenes content. 

When I’m posting consistently and staying active, I notice a big difference in reach, engagement, and opportunities. I’ve also found that networking in person works really well. Just being at events, talking to people, and putting myself out there has led to a lot of connections and opportunities that I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. 

As for what hasn’t worked for me, I’d say it’s usually not the platform or the strategy itself, it’s inconsistency. If I’m not posting regularly or not putting in the effort, nothing really performs. So for me, it’s less about finding a “perfect” tactic and more about staying consistent and intentional with whatever I’m doing.

What keeps you motivated in posting content and keeping your online store running?

Honestly, it’s the impact I have on other photographers. When I started out, I looked up to creators on YouTube and TikTok who pushed me to improve — I never imagined I’d be in that position for someone else. Getting messages from people saying my content inspired them or helped them level up their work is what keeps me consistent.

Seeing my own growth over time feeds that too. Whether it’s the quality of my work, the size of my audience, or the business I’ve built, it’s a reminder that the effort is paying off.

You’ve crossed $20,000 in sales through your Sellfy store. How did you get there?

It came from selling my preset packs, but what’s important to understand is that it didn’t happen overnight. It came from consistently posting content, building trust with my audience, and creating products that actually provide value. Once I had that foundation, turning my audience into customers got a lot easier.

What’s next for your store and your brand?

I want to keep building my store into a platform that genuinely helps other photographers grow — especially beginners who are trying to figure it all out on their own. A big focus is creating resources that give them a clear path to improve instead of having to reverse-engineer everything from scratch.

At the time of this interview, I actually have a new online course that will be available in my Sellfy store in two days. It’s something I’ve been working on to break down everything I’ve learned, from shooting and editing to growing a brand and making money through photography. 

Moving forward, I want to keep expanding on that by creating more digital products and content that continue to educate, inspire, and provide real value to my audience.

Why did you choose to use Sellfy?

The day after I graduated high school, I decided to go all in on photography. Before that, I was selling my presets through Instagram DMs — which worked, but wasn’t efficient and was getting hard to manage as things started growing.

I graduated on May 27, 2025, and by May 28 my Sellfy store was live. The main reason I chose Sellfy was automation — a professional storefront where sales could happen at any time, from anywhere, without me manually tracking every order. It let me focus on creating content and growing my brand instead of managing transactions.

Which Sellfy features have made the biggest difference for you?

The most helpful feature for my business has been the ability to automatically deliver my digital products to customers. It saves a lot of time and makes the whole process seamless, since customers receive their files instantly after purchasing. 

Another big benefit is being able to keep track of all my sales in one place. It makes everything much more organized and allows me to oversee my product performance, manage orders, and focus more on creating content and growing my brand instead of handling everything manually.

Who would you recommend Sellfy to?

Anyone selling digital products. It’s especially useful for creators who want a simple, automated way to deliver their work — whether that’s presets, courses, or any type of digital content. You get a professional storefront without the manual work, so you can focus on creating.

What’s been the hardest part of the journey so far?

Balancing school with my photography business. I’m passionate about what I’m building, but I also understand how important it is to finish my education.

During my senior year of high school, there were times where I would skip school to travel out of state for shoots, which made things difficult to manage. Once I started college, I made the decision to switch to online classes so I could have more flexibility and better balance both. That definitely helped, but it’s still something I work on. 

Managing deadlines, travel, and client work simultaneously is still something I work on. But staying organized and disciplined with my schedule has made it work — it’s an ongoing process.

What advice would you give to a creator who wants to start monetizing their work online?

Be genuinely passionate about what you do. Building something online takes time and consistency — if you don’t actually enjoy it, staying committed long-term is going to be hard.

Second, use trends and social media to your advantage. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are powerful tools, and if you learn how to create content that fits what’s currently working, you can reach a much larger audience and grow faster. 

And treat it like a business from the start. Stay organized, think about how you can provide value, and take it seriously — the sooner you adopt that mindset, the easier it becomes to turn your creativity into real income.

The post From Sidelines to Six Figures: How 18-Year-Old Elijah Owens Built a Photography Business Online appeared first on Sellfy.

Are you an artist looking for an easy way to sell artwork online? But, you’re having trouble deciding between Big Cartel and Etsy? Well, no worries. I’ve got you—this blog post was put together to help you out!

It’s not easy to decide when both platforms have their pros and cons.

And, that’s exactly why I’m not going to waste your time by comparing almost every identical feature. Instead, we’ll briefly summarize what both platforms offer and then focus on the main dealbreakers to help you come to a final decision.

So, let’s dive in!

Quick breakdown: Big Cartel vs. Etsy

While Big Cartel and Etsy were both built for creators who want to sell digital downloads and physical products, there are some major differences between them.

The biggest difference is that Etsy isn’t an eCommerce platform like Big Cartel—it’s a creative marketplace that lets artists and crafters open an online shop to sell handmade and vintage items.

Of course, in addition to handmade and vintage stuff, it’s also possible to sell digital downloads. But, most of their customer base is there to shop for handcrafted products.

Big Cartel, on the other hand, tends to be more popular with small businesses that want to sell digital products. And, I can see why—Big Cartel’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for anyone to build a hosted storefront with minimal effort.

Still, Etsy has one key advantage over Big Cartel: an established customer base. With an Etsy store, you don’t need to have an existing social media following to make sales.

As long as you know how to optimize your listings with SEO keywords, you can probably attract enough customers.

Read on to learn more about the similarities and key differences between Big Cartel and Etsy: their dealbreakers, main features, etc.

To help you see how the two platforms compare to each other and other alternatives, we’re also going to cover a third eCommerce platform—Sellfy.

Big Cartel and Etsy are similar (in a way)

Both Big Cartel and Etsy offer an easy way for artists to create and sell artwork online, whether it’s on an eCommerce platform that lets you have your own online store with a custom domain (Big Cartel) or a digital marketplace with an established customer base (Etsy).

However, aside from the fact that both platforms serve the same purpose, there are some differences worth considering before you make a final choice.

Sell art products with Sellfy

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Sell art products with Sellfy

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1. A simple & smooth setup process

Nothing beats Sellfy when it comes to signing up and building a store. Launching a store with Sellfy is literally a piece of cake thanks to the user-friendly interface.

To start selling digital and physical products, all you have to do is upload your products, set prices, and add your images and descriptions. That’s it!

Sellfy creator and award-winning underwater photographer Tobias Friedrich agrees:

It’s super easy to set up and it’s also very easy to upload digital products. I like how convenient the whole platform is—my customers will just get a download link after a purchase is made. I don’t have to do anything manually. Everything is automated, which is great for me because I travel a lot.

2. Powerful & completely free promotional tools

Both Big Cartel and Etsy offer the absolute bare minimum when it comes to built-in marketing features. In fact, most of their promotional tools are just external apps or services that you have to pay for.

Sellfy has everything you need to promote your online store: email marketing, discount codes, upselling, cart abandonment, pay-what-you-want pricing, store and Google analytics, multiple payment gateways, and other powerful features.

3. Affordable pricing & no hidden fees

Aren’t you sick of the fact that every other solution has hidden transaction fees? Because I certainly would be if I was in your shoes.

Well, here’s the good news:

Sellfy has flat and transparent pricing!

This means that you can focus on selling without worrying about losing your profits. Your only expense will be the cost of your monthly (or yearly) subscription plan.

With Sellfy, you can sell unlimited digital products, use built-in marketing features, enjoy store customization, and even use print-on-demand without hidden transaction fees on any of the plans.

Plus, you can have instant access to payouts!

4. A support team available at your fingertips

Sellfy’s customer support team is available 24/7. And, not only is the team available at any time, but they’re also incredibly helpful.

Sellfy creator and photographer Megan Hein agrees:

I was also blown away at how quick your customer support was to respond. I thought it would take a week or two before I heard back from them, but that immediate response kept my business up and running.

So, if you ever run into a problem, you know that you can reach out to Sellfy’s support team!

5. Store themes & advanced customization features

Unlike Big Cartel and Etsy, Sellfy comes with advanced store customization.

It’s not just drag-and-drop store building, it’s more than that—you get an excellent selection of professional-looking store themes! And, every single one of those themes is customizable, so you’ll have complete control over your online store.

Plus, every theme has a mobile-first design, which means that your store will look great on both desktop and mobile. Win-win!

FAQ: Big Cartel vs. Etsy

Is a digital marketplace better for selling than an online store?

The choice between a digital marketplace and an online store depends on your goals and products. A digital marketplace like Etsy has an existing audience and brand recognition, making it seem like a better choice for artists. On the other hand, an online store like Big Cartel offers more control over branding and customization, ideal for creators looking to establish their unique identity and sell digital and physical products.

Does Etsy charge transaction fees?

Yes, Etsy charges a transaction fee for each sale that you make. In addition to the standard listing fee, sellers are charged a percentage of the sale price and payment processing fees. It’s essential to consider these fees when pricing your products and comparing the overall cost of selling on Etsy with other platforms.

Is there a better alternative to Big Cartel and Etsy?

Sellfy is a strong alternative to both Big Cartel and Etsy. It offers a comprehensive platform for selling digital and physical products with no transaction fees, customizable storefronts, and powerful marketing features. Sellfy’s ease of use and wide range of product options make it a top choice for creators looking to grow their online business and reach a global audience.

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]]> https://sellfy.com/blog/etsy-vs-big-cartel/feed/ 0 https://sellfy.com/blog/sell-recipes-online-now/ https://sellfy.com/blog/sell-recipes-online-now/#respond Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:06:49 +0000 https://blog.sellfy.com/?p=4864 Wondering if you can become the next Emily Mariko, the American TikTok star famous for her viral salmon bowl recipe? Well, according to Statista, that may not be such a far-fetched dream—recipes sell, and an entire 43% of internet users worldwide get meal inspiration from recipe websites. That’s a huge percentage! So, if you’ve got … Continued

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Wondering if you can become the next Emily Mariko, the American TikTok star famous for her viral salmon bowl recipe?

Well, according to Statista, that may not be such a far-fetched dream—recipes sell, and an entire 43% of internet users worldwide get meal inspiration from recipe websites.

That’s a huge percentage!

So, if you’ve got great cooking skills or a passion for food, why not take advantage of the potential and make money selling recipes online?

In this article, I’ll show you how to get started, and also give you some product ideas to inspire your own.

Can you sell recipes online?

The short answer is—yes, you can! And, you absolutely should if you enjoy cooking and already have some followers.

Thousands of food bloggers are making a living by selling recipes online. Some rely on Instagram, while others promote their recipes on TikTok. Plus, more and more content creators are setting up online stores to sell their own recipes.

Even Instagram’s data suggests that 58% of users have a strong interest in food and cooking, and 36% feel inspired to try new things related to food.

So, if the market demand is clearly there, why not go ahead and monetize it?

You could start selling recipes online to:

• Foodies
• Health-conscious consumers
• Diet-conscious consumers
• Chefs & cooks
• Food businesses

Learn how to sell recipes with zero hassle

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Selling recipes to a food business (pros & cons)

You might be wondering:

Should I sell recipes to food businesses like supermarkets, grocery stores, restaurants, etc.? Let’s find out!

If you want to submit recipes to a food business, then there are a couple of things you need to evaluate before you approach a food company.

One of the first things you will need to determine is what food category your recipes fall in (salads, soups, desserts, etc.).

You will also need to evaluate whether your recipes are ethnic dishes or meant for a specific diet (keto, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.).

You will even need to check whether your recipes fall into sub-categories such as hot dishes, cold dishes, and so on.

What’s more, you’ll have to be mentally prepared for the tough competition—your recipes must stand out in order to be selected or featured. And, in the food business, there are thousands of competitors.

Next, you’ll have to be on the lookout for a buyer (a restaurant, cafe, grocery store, bakery, etc.) that sells the types of recipes that you have.

This can be a challenging task because, again, there’s lots of competition, it’s time-consuming, and the pay may not be sustainable enough for a recipe business owner.

For instance, some food blogs will let you earn via pay-per-click royalties or revenue shares. While this may sound like a good deal, the truth is that you won’t be 100% in control of the profit you earn.

You’ll also have no control over the marketing, as you’ll be dependent on a third party’s way of doing things. In other words, the food companies will be the ones to decide on the final pricing of your recipes.

If you’re cool with that, then you could give it a try. But, if you’d rather set your own prices and have flexibility, then selling recipes online through your own store may be more worthwhile in the long run.

Think about it:

With a store of your own, you’ll be able to reach a global audience online as well as have control over everything: the pricing, the sales, and the marketing.

Should you even bother with online marketplaces (eBay, Etsy, etc.)?

Another question that naturally pops up when you think about selling recipes online is:

Should I sell on marketplaces like eBay or an Etsy shop?

As always, I think it’s a good idea to look at the pros and cons—there are several factors that you should take into consideration. Let’s start with the pros.

The pros of selling recipes on an online marketplace:

• An already established market
• Large customer base
• An international reach
• No restrictions on what types of files you can sell

And, now, let’s look at the cons.

The cons of selling recipes on an online marketplace:

• The list of built-in marketing tools is poor
• Product pages are barely customizable
• Almost impossible to integrate external services or apps
• The pricing is quite steep
• Over-saturated & hard to stand out against competitors
• No actual control over your own store
• Delayed payouts
• Restrictive marketplace rules

It’s also important to keep in mind that a lot of these marketplaces come with hidden fees—Etsy will charge a hefty percentage of your online sales, and so will eBay. And, if you’re only just starting out, you will want to optimize your expenses as much as possible.

So, I’d say that selling recipes on a marketplace is only worth it as long as you don’t have an audience and you’re starting from scratch. If you do have an existing audience, then it’s better to open an online store or recipe website so that you can have full control over your own site.

Learn how to sell recipes with zero hassle

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The best way to get sales? Create content around your recipes!

One of the best ways to sell recipes online is to first create engaging content around them on social media. And, of course, the better your content—the more followers you’ll attract.

Of course, if you were selling recipes on a marketplace like Etsy, you wouldn’t need to do that because they already have an existing customer base.

But, let’s be honest:

As easy as it sounds, that would take the fun out of being a content creator, wouldn’t it?

Also, there’s no guarantee that your product will ever end up on the first or second search page. It’s just safer to first build an audience on your own platform or social media profile, and then later create an online store and start selling recipes.

So, if you’re looking for ideas on how to create content around your recipes online, then let’s start with a couple of inspirational examples from successful Sellfy food bloggers.

Take Sellfy creator Ashley Renee. She’s a successful food blogger whose recipes are in high demand. Also known as the Messy Eats Blog on Instagram, Ashley has 522K+ followers on this platform and she actively uses it to sell her keto diet cookbooks.

How did she manage to reach such a wide audience? Well, first, she started off with TikTok where she currently has 611,6K followers. In Ashley’s own words, this is the exact formula she used:

“I noticed something unique about TikTok—creators were blowing up overnight. So, I started learning about viral sounds and how many times you’re supposed to post. Then, I created my first keto TikTok. It went viral and I got 15K followers. It was crazy how fast I blew up.”

So, as you can see, adding trending songs to every new recipe video on TikTok helped her go viral. Aside from that, she also made sure that her food videos were as aesthetically pleasing as possible.

According to Ashley, a viral food video will have three important components:

1. Cool music (a viral sound)
2. Great food
3. Great video quality

She also says that good quality photos will go a long way. So, pay attention to photo quality when you shoot pictures!

Then there’s Sellfy creator Victoria (Kulinary Effect). Victoria has really taken advantage of the power of social media—she has diversified creating content by showing behind-the-scenes footage, sharing cooking tips and free recipes, doing great recipe reviews, and even hosting a podcast.

By doing all of this, she lets her followers see the many sides of her food business and what it takes to be a food blogger. I think we can all agree that creating a personal experience for your audience is a great way to build a following!

How to sell recipes online

We’ve talked about selling recipes on a marketplace vs an online store. So, what is the best website for recipes?

Well, let me make it simple for you and introduce you to Sellfy!

Sellfy is an easy-to-use eCommerce platform for creators looking to start an online business. You can sell anything with Sellfy (not just recipes!)—digital downloads, subscriptions, physical goods, and even print-on-demand merchandise.

Sellfy also has powerful sales and marketing tools, beautiful pre-made store themes, built-in analytics, and so much more.

Here’s a full list of the pros of selling recipes with Sellfy:

• Fully customizable storefront
• Built-in marketing features & SEO
• Effortless & quick setup
• Mobile-first design
• No hidden monthly fees
• Instant access to earnings
• Advanced VAT & tax settings
• Multiple payment options
• 24/7 customer support
• Complete control over your own store
• App integrations

So, if Sellfy sounds like a good fit for you, then let’s move on to preparing your recipes for selling online!

1. Create & prepare your recipes for selling

Another great thing about Sellfy is that you can prepare as many as 50 files per product—you don’t have to upload your recipes one by one.

Or, if you’d prefer to offer your product as single or multiple recipes, you can create compressed .zip or .rar folders.

Sellfy also supports all static file formats, and your file size can be up to 10 GB per product. Plus, we have unlimited bandwidth and storage!

2. Open a Sellfy store to start selling recipes online

Now, the next step is to open a Sellfy store so that you can sell your recipes online. I’ll show you how to build and customize your store in less than 5 minutes.

Here’s how to start selling recipes online with the easiest eCommerce platform ever:

1. Sign up for one of Sellfy’s paid plans, or start a 14-day free trial—all you need is a valid and verified email address. If you need access to more features, you can always upgrade to a paid plan later.
2. Choose one of our premade store themes, or use Sellfy’s Store Customizer tool to create your store design from scratch.

Learn how to sell recipes with zero hassle

See how

3. Finally, upload your recipes!

Now that you’ve set up your own website, you can start uploading your recipes! Locate the option to add digital products under your dashboard’s PRODUCTS section. Then, click Add new product and start uploading your product files.

Once you’ve created your products, you can generate mockups with Sellfy, use your own product images, or mockup resources such as Clint English or Placeit.

Creating mockups with Sellfy is super easy—we provide product images that you can preview and download on the Edit product page.

Pricing: How much is a recipe worth?

So, how much can you sell recipes for? I’d say it’s entirely up to you since prices tend to vary wildly from one creator or food blogger to another.

For example, Sellfy store The Expat Kitchen sells one cookbook for $25 whereas the Messy Eats Store sells her best-sellers for $11.99, $12.99 and $13.99.

But, overall, a value-based pricing strategy tends to work best for recipes or just about any type of digital product in general.

Here’s why:

According to a study conducted by ResearchGate, value-based pricing is the most suitable approach for a business aiming to make money and optimize profitability.

With value-based pricing, you emphasize quality over quantity. So, instead of pricing your recipes according to the cost of production and distribution, you price them according to their actual worth or value.

Value-based pricing allows you to price your recipes above the market average, which will help you earn more profit in less amount of time. And, that’s because, for a lot of people, higher pricing implies higher quality.

But, to really make this strategy work for you, you will need to first convince your customers, and ensure that they have a clear understanding of what value you are offering.

You can do that by highlighting what’s different about your recipes.

Ask yourself:

What’s special about my recipes? Am I able to offer unique recipes? Why should people buy my recipes instead of somebody else’s?

3 product ideas for your recipes

Now, last but not least, if you want to expand your product line beyond plain old recipes, then I have at least three different product ideas that you can use. Let’s check them out!

Cookbooks

What comes to your mind first when you think about selling recipes online? Probably recipe books.

This is the most common way for food bloggers to make money from their recipes, and for a good reason: original recipes are in huge demand! And, that’s because delicious food plays such a significant role in our lives that many of us will check out a cookbook for recipe ideas at least once.

If you’ve signed up for Sellfy, then you can easily sell your own cookbooks as eBooks.

For example, Sellfy store GlowBodyPT sells cookbooks in two categories: standard-priced cookbooks ($20) and then “$1 recipes”. This way, her followers can pick according to their budget—a great marketing tactic!

Cooking videos

It’s worth mentioning that, as of 2023, online videos make up more than 83% of all consumer internet traffic. Moreover, US residents spend an average of 5+ hours per week consuming video content—on mobile phones alone!

People love to watch videos, so why not sell cooking videos with Sellfy and offer subscriptions for on-demand video content? This is a great product idea for someone who has already gone viral on a video platform like TikTok or a YouTube channel and wants to monetize their videos.

For instance, the Sellfy store CarnalDish has added instructional recipe videos to its low-carb recipe book.

Shopping lists

Did you know that, aside from recipes with cooking measurements, a lot of people also need help with shopping lists? There’s a surprisingly big market demand for shopping lists, so this is definitely something that you could turn into a product!

Better yet—why not sell your recipe book and include shopping list as a bonus?

For example, Sellfy store The Expat Kitchen sells a special cookbook with individual recipes from all over the world, including a shopping list, wine pairings, and even a playlist. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a super fun cookbook to me!

Ready to create recipes & make money selling recipes online?

As you can see, starting an online recipe business is just a matter of a few simple steps:

1. Sign up for a Sellfy plan that best fits your needs
2. Write recipes & upload them
3. Promote & sell recipes online!

Do you have more questions? Sellfy Help Center has answers to the most frequently asked questions, and you’re always welcome to reach out to our support team at support@sellfy.com at any time.

FAQ

How do I sell my recipes?

The post How to Sell Recipes Online in 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide) appeared first on Sellfy.

Gank covers several monetization paths in one place, including tips, memberships, pay-per-view posts, and shop listings, including commissions. But based on the current evidence, it feels closer to a creator profile with monetization tools than to a full standalone store.

So I looked at the most promising Gank competitors and narrowed them down to the five that actually make sense for creators selling exclusive content. The five I’d seriously look at if my income depended on the setup.

My selection and testing process for Gank alternatives

I did not want a random pile of sites similar to Gank. I wanted platforms that could realistically replace Gank for memberships, pay-per-view content, commissions, downloads, or manga. I also weighed the scope of each platform on purpose, because this article is about building an exclusive-content business, not just posting a locked file and calling it a strategy.

My testing steps for each platform:

1. I signed up for the cheapest available plan or the free trial.
2. I set up a basic creator page or shop.
3. I customized the page to check how much control I have over my store’s branding, layout, and ease of use.
4. I added at least one test offer/product.
5. I previewed the page, the dummy product(s), and the store checkout as a customer to get a feel of the buyer experience.
6. I tested the main selling tools, such as gated content, discounts, bundles, memberships, and messaging features.
7. I compared pricing, transaction fees, clearly verified integrations, the ease of use, the level of control and customizability, and the overall value against Gank.

Finally, I scored each Gank alternative based on its standout features, its ease of use, its storefront design, and its level of control and customization, while taking into consideration its integrations, its marketing and sales tools, plus its pricing and transaction fees.

Quick overview of sites like Gank

Here’s the summary of the platforms and stores like Gank that, in my opinion, made the final cut.

Top 5 Gank alternatives

Here’s the full breakdown. Each of these alternatives does at least one thing better than Gank.

Sellfy: The best Gank alternative for selling online

In my experience, Sellfy is the best overall Gank competitor because it lets you build a proper shop, not just a profile page with a payment button.

Gank can handle several monetization types, but it still feels closer to a creator profile with monetization tools. What makes Sellfy different is that it puts several selling tools in one place. You can upload digital products, run subscriptions, sell physical goods, and add print-on-demand products, then manage discounts, upsells, email campaigns, analytics, and affiliate tools without switching setups.

So, if you are looking to expand your business and turn your art into a serious and reliable source of income beyond a simple supporter page, Sellfy is the go-to as a Gank alternative.

Why I picked Sellfy

One of the reasons I think Sellfy is better than Gank is its small but valuable workflow details for product selling. Digital products can use flexible previews, editable URLs, categories, variants, pay-what-you-want pricing with a minimum, custom fields, and files up to a combined 10 GB. Sellfy also offers stamping the pages of your PDFs with the buyer’s email as a practical anti-piracy measure to protect your work from getting shared around for free.

Plus, the Sellfy store customizer beats Gank’s as it behaves a lot like a web builder and gives me a lot more control over the storefront itself. I was able to edit my built-in pages (like Home, Product, and Purchase Confirmation) and add more sections to my store (like hero blocks, newsletter, and product grids), as well as connect my social links, and even drop in some custom code. I also appreciated being able to preview the final result in tablet mode, not just in desktop and mobile modes. In plain English, it elevates your creator page to a content store that looks like a legit website, much more professional than Gank’s lighter profile setup.

Finally, Sellfy’s built-in selling tools make it one of the best places to sell other than Gank. You can run coupons, timed sales, upsell popups, marketing newsletters, product update campaigns, cart abandonment emails, and affiliate programs with recurring commissions for subscriptions.

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Standout features

• Web-builder-like storefront customization with built-in and custom pages
• Powerful product settings like categories, variants, pay-what-you-want pricing, and custom fields
• Digital protection, like PDF stamping
• Coupons, discounts, and upsells
• Advanced marketing perks (like cart abandonment and affiliate tools)
• Useful analytics covering purchases, conversions, revenue, traffic sources, and countries

Products you can sell

Digital downloads, subscriptions, physical goods, and print-on-demand products.

Integrations

Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Twitter Ads, Google Merchant Center, Zapier, and API/Webhooks.

Pricing

Starter Plan ($29/month)

• $22/month if billed yearly
• 0% transaction fees
• Up to $10k in annual sales
• Unlimited number of products
• Digital products, physical merch, and subscriptions
• Custom domain
• Email marketing
• Core marketing features

Business Plan ($79/month)

• $59/month billed yearly
• 0% transaction fees
• Up to $50k in annual sales
• Product upselling
• Cart abandonment
• Affiliate program

Note: Sellfy has no free plan. But the 14-day free trial can be enough for you to test things out for yourself. That trial will probably feel more useful if you already have an audience, clients, or fans to sell to. But even if you are starting from scratch, $1/day may still be fair and worth it as a long-term investment.

Pros and cons

Ko-fi: Best Gank alternative for commissions

Quick overview

Simple and super easy to use, Ko-fi is a Gank alternative for creatives, offering commissioned work tailored to their clients’ preferences. Ko-fi lets you list your commissions, collect your buyer’s custom instructions, and receive your payments in one place. And it also allows you to communicate with your buyer throughout the process using a private chat for feedback and follow-up.

Why I picked Ko-fi

Ko-fi is my top Gank competitor for commissions because it makes converting one-off buyers into monthly supporters simple. The “member-only” badge shown on exclusive listings can nudge clients to unlock them by joining your membership tiers. That makes perks and behind-the-scenes content accessible while supporting a steadier and more predictable income between commissions.

Another cool thing for commission creators is that Ko-fi also sends payments upfront and directly to PayPal or Stripe, skipping the 2-to-7 business-day wait with Gank. This is particularly convenient if your commissions need pre-production material.

Standout features

• Up to 15 add-ons per product for customization
• Automatic countdown cap
• Availability status for all commissions
• Sliding scale or “Pay What You Want” pricing
• Coupon codes and customizable discounts
• One-time tips and monthly support
• Discord monetization through offering exclusive roles and invites
• Engagement with supporters using interactive polls
• Alternative labels for “Commissions” on your page (like “Requests”, “Services”, etc.)
• Ko-fi logos, badges, buttons, and tip widgets

Products you can sell

Commissions, digital products, memberships, and physical items.

Integrations

Discord, Google Analytics, Ko-fi tip widget, WordPress, Twitch and YouTube chats, GitHub, API/Webhooks, and Zapier.

Pricing

Ko-fi Contributor ($0/month)

• Free to start
• 0-5% Ko-fi service fee
• All core features included

Ko-fi Gold ($12/month)

• 0% Ko-fi service fee
• All core features included

Note: Processing fees still apply to all PayPal or Stripe payments.

Pros and cons

Buy Me a Coffee: Best Gank alternative for memberships and subscriptions

Buy Me a Coffee is a strong Gank competitor as a light and simple membership-first platform. You can run monthly memberships, yearly pricing, and one lifetime membership option, then pair them with member-only posts, special prices on digital products, broadcast messages, and a lightweight shop, all without paying a monthly platform fee.

Why I picked Buy Me a Coffee

Buy Me a Coffee is similar to Gank to me in one important way: I could set up a lightweight creator page quickly and get straight to memberships and supporter perks without building a full store first. The page is simple, customization is minimal (like choosing the theme color and rearranging the sidebar), the main earning tools are already there, and it works well if what you want is one place for recurring support, gated posts, and a few member benefits.

However, Buy Me a Coffee is a much better fit over Gank when it comes to memberships, as it allows you more control and flexibility. You can create multiple monthly membership tiers, add yearly pricing, limit member numbers, offer a free trial on monthly tiers, assign Discord roles, and add a lifetime membership for a one-time payment. It also supports free, public, and gated posts, including image galleries, polls, audio, and broadcast messages.

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Standout features

• Multiple monthly and yearly membership tiers, plus one lifetime membership option
• Member-only, supporter-only, follower-only, or public posts
• Membership giveaways allowing free access to family and close friends.
• Private messages, broadcasts, galleries, polls, and audio posts
• Discord-role support, Zapier, widgets, and stream alerts
• Customization of the button texts, the “coffee” metaphor, and the widgets
• Custom thank-you message and optional video message after payment
• The ability to pause a membership for 1, 3, or 6 months if needed
• No monthly platform fee

Products you can sell

Memberships, digital products, Instagram close-friends access, physical items, one-time support and services (such as private Zoom calls), and event tickets.

Integrations

Discord, Zapier, Twitter Shout-outs, WordPress, IFTTT, webhooks, website buttons and widgets, and stream alerts. You can also connect your Buy Me a Coffee page to your Google Analytics.

Pricing

Free to start ($0/month)
Buy Me a Coffee has no tiered creator pricing ladder here, which is part of the appeal.

• 5% transaction fee + Stripe Express processing fees
• All core features included

Pros and cons

Patreon: Best Gank alternative for pay-per-view (PPV)

Patreon is my top Gank competitor for pay-per-view-style selling because fans can buy locked posts, digital products, and collections without joining a subscription. Patreon does not call this “PPV” in its own language, but in practice, it gets pretty close.

Why I picked Patreon

Patreon is better than Gank for the PPV category because it gives creators more than one way to charge for one-off access. You can sell a post, a product, or a collection. And in testing, I liked that I could place the paywall after a preview instead of forcing buyers to purchase blind. That makes it easier to sell a single video, audio drop, or content bundle without pushing everyone into a monthly tier.

Patreon also allows you to go live using third-party streaming services such as OBS, Zoom, YouTube, Vimeo, and Crowdcast. Livestream access is flexible. You can leave it open to everyone, limit it to free members, restrict it to certain paid tiers, or charge one-time access. There is also an auto-moderation option for spam, abuse, and disruptive chat messages, which can help you lock your focus on your content and engagement.

Finally, Patreon felt more customizable than Gank when I tried it, even if the editor itself is still pretty modest. I could change the header, move the layout around, and adjust the top menu without much trouble. I could also add custom tabs for things like merch, outside links, and featured posts. And before publishing, I could check how the page looked on desktop and on phone, then switch between public, free-member, and paid-member views. That part was genuinely useful as I could see right away what each visitor type would actually land on.

Standout features

• Locked paid posts with adjustable preview
• One-time purchases for posts, digital products, and collections
• Native video, audio, podcasting, and livestream tools
• Monthly and annual memberships
• Embedded tools for community-building (like DMs and newsletters)
• Diverse promotion and marketing perks (like discounts, promo codes, early-bird offers, sales, and free trials)
• Autopilot for the automation of community growth and the retention of your existing members
• Strong podcast tools with Spotify integration and RSS distribution
• Flexible page layout, navigation, and audience-view controls

Products you can sell

Memberships, one-time purchases, paid posts (or PPV), digital products, collections, podcast access, downloadable attachments in diverse formats, and other gated creator content.

Integrations

Discord and Vimeo, plus podcast distribution to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and RSS.

Pricing

Patreon no longer charges fixed monthly subscription fees per plan tiers for new creators.

Free to start ($0/month)

• You pay when you earn
• 10% platform fee for creators published after August 4, 2025
• Membership tiers and one-time purchases
• Monthly and annual subscriptions
• Automated growth tools plus analytics and insights
• Chats and exportable email lists
• Support for multiple podcasts, including importing and syncing

Note: The 10% platform fee excludes payment processing fees, payout fees, currency conversion, and taxes when they apply. Older creators may still be on legacy pricing (retaining the lower platform fees of 5%, 8%, or 11%).

Pros and cons

GlobalComix: Best Gank alternative for manga

GlobalComix is one of the strongest manga-native Gank competitors I’ve seen for both readers and creators, as it is built for comics and around the reading experience, instead of treating comics and manga episodes like just another digital file in a general storefront.

Why I picked GlobalComix

Being on GlobalComix felt like entering a large library and marketplace in one, where manga and comics creators get serial publishing tools, PDF sales, and reader-focused discovery features. I did not get the sales flow right away. It took some clicking around before it started to make sense. But after that, I could price individual releases, create bundles, and deal with discounts and promo codes in one place.

Then, I discovered that GlobalComix can generate a certificate-of-purchase page for each buyer and that it supports mobile-friendly reading, scheduled publishing, and multi-language releases. All these plus the built-in discovery tool make GlobalComix feel like part publishing platform and part digital sales tool, unlike other general creator monetization platforms like Gank.

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The main tradeoff is that your creator page cannot be customized beyond basic identity details and links. Here, you’re not owning and designing your own shop like Gank. Instead, your manga gets to find its place on the shelves of a large international library built specifically for comics and manga readers, which may be exactly what you’re looking for as a manga creator.

Standout features

• Built specifically for comics and manga
• Traditional and vertical reading support
• Gold access and recurring donations
• Monthly crowdfunding goal
• Individual PDF download sales and bundles
• Revenue-splitting tools for collaborations
• A buyer-unique purchase certificate page has been added to sold PDFs
• Follower-growth tools with QR code and email-signup marketing pages
• Unlimited team members with customizable roles and permissions

Products you can sell

Serialized manga/comics as single PDF downloads or bundles.

Integrations

Google Analytics tracking ID, internal marketing tools, basic website and social links, and a handful of partnerships.

Pricing (Starter Plan and Best Value Plan)

Free Plan ($0/month)

• 65% content revenue share
• 92% donation revenue share
• Unlimited free comic uploads
• Mobile-optimized comics
• Readership analytics
• Scheduled and multi-lingual comics publishing

Professional Plan ($19.99/month)

• 70% content revenue share
• 95% donation revenue share
• Support for third-party physical sales
• Detailed revenue, engagement, and email analytics
• Country-specific publishing and licensing tools
• Custom discussion forums per comic
• Customer support via email
• Tax support

Pros and cons

Which Gank alternative is the best?

If I had to give one final pick, Sellfy would still stay near the top for me. Not because it beats every other platform across the board, because it doesn’t. Buy Me a Coffee is easier for straightforward memberships and tips. Patreon does more with paid content and community features. Ko-fi is the better option for commissions. And for manga, I would look at GlobalComix first.

Where Sellfy pulls ahead is in the store itself. It gives you more of a real storefront, more room to shape the page, support for more product types, and more built-in selling tools in the same place. If it’s Gank vs any other platform, my pick is pretty clear. Gank works better if you want one page for tips, memberships, pay-per-view, and a bit of shop activity. But if what you want is a fuller online store with a wider selling range, Sellfy may be what you’re actually looking for.

FAQ

Is Gank really free to use?

Yes, Gank charges 0% platform fees on its core features, which is part of its appeal. You’ll still pay the usual processing cut to PayPal, Stripe, or GCash on each transaction, though. In my testing, that “free” label is real, but it doesn’t mean the cheapest payout — some alternatives end up netting more once you factor in built-in marketing tools.

What’s the best free Gank alternative?

Ko-fi is the closest free Gank alternative I’d recommend. It has a forever-free plan, supports tips, memberships, commissions, and a small shop, and only charges a small service fee unless you upgrade to Gold. Buy Me a Coffee is a strong second if memberships are your main focus — also no monthly fee.

Which Gank alternative is best for selling digital products?

Sellfy is the one I’d pick for digital products. It works more like a real store than a profile page, supports files up to 10 GB, PDF stamping, variants, pay-what-you-want pricing, and upsells — none of which Gank handles well. The 0% transaction fee on paid plans is the tiebreaker for me.

Can I sell pay-per-view content on a Gank alternative?

Yes. Patreon is the best fit if you want to lock individual posts, videos, or collections behind a one-time price instead of a monthly subscription. Patreon doesn’t call it “PPV,” but the mechanics are the same — and you can place the paywall after a preview, which usually converts better than forcing a blind purchase.

Is there a Gank alternative designed specifically for manga and comics?

GlobalComix is the most manga-native platform I tested. It’s built around the reading experience, with serial publishing, vertical-scroll support, PDF bundles, scheduled releases, and multi-language publishing. The tradeoff is page customization, and you won’t own a storefront here. You’ll list your work inside a large comics library instead.

Which Gank alternative charges the lowest fees overall?

Sellfy on a paid plan is the cheapest once you’re doing real volume: 0% platform fees on all sales. Ko-fi Gold is also 0% for $12/month. The catch: platforms like Patreon and Buy Me a Coffee look cheaper upfront because there’s no monthly fee, but their per-sale cut (5–10%+) adds up fast at scale.

Do I need to pick just one Gank alternative?

Not at all, I’d actually recommend stacking two. Most creators I’ve seen use Sellfy (or Patreon) as the main store and pair it with Ko-fi or Buy Me a Coffee for tips and smaller supporter perks. Just make sure your main CTA everywhere — bio, videos, newsletter — points to the one platform you want to grow.

The post 5 Best Gank Alternatives I Tested for Selling Exclusive Content appeared first on Sellfy.

If you are an artist, blogger, writer, or any other type of creator, you must have heard of Gumroad. It’s made selling digital products simple and accessible—no complicated setup or coding required.

Nevertheless, you might run into some significant issues that leave you searching for alternatives:

• High transaction fees. Gumroad takes a hefty cut from every sale, plus credit card processing fees.
• Payment limitations. PayPal cut ties with Gumroad, leaving creators without a widely used payment option.
• Unreliable payouts. Gumroad only pays sellers once a week, and if you’re in an unsupported country, you might face even longer delays.
• Payout threshlold. Some users report that they can’t set their threshold to the $10 minimum at all, finding it stuck at odd amounts like $31.66.
• Limited features. Essential e-commerce tools like bump offers and product upselling are missing.

With these drawbacks, Gumroad might not be the reliable, cost-effective platform it seems. That’s why we’ve compiled 11 of the best alternatives to Gumroad—each offering unique features to help you build, manage, and grow your online store.

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TL;DR — the best Gumroad alternatives in 2026

Short on time? Here’s the cheat sheet:

• Best overall (digital + physical + print-on-demand). Sellfy has flat monthly pricing, no transaction fees, built-in print-on-demand, and email marketing.
• Best for SaaS, subscriptions & license keys: Lemon Squeezy is a Merchant of Record that handles global tax for you, 5% + $0.50 per sale, no monthly fee.
• Best for physical products at scale: Shopify offers a massive app ecosystem, complete store control, but needs apps (and money) to match Gumroad’s simplicity.
• Best for courses & memberships: Podia offers courses, downloads, communities, and email under one roof.
• Best free starting point: Payhip has a genuinely free plan, 5% transaction fee until you upgrade.

How did I review Gumroad alternatives?

I looked at this from a creator angle, not a “build a big store” angle.

Gumroad is all about simplicity. You upload a product, share a link, and start selling. So I focused on tools that either keep that same low-friction feel or improve on things like checkout, subscriptions, and control.

I tested each platform as if I were actually trying to sell something, not just reading feature pages. Here’s what I paid attention to:

1. How easy it is to start. Can you go from signup to selling in minutes, or does it feel like work?
2. Whether it actually fits creators. Digital downloads, memberships, simple product pages… the basics Gumroad does well.
3. Checkout experience. Does it help you sell more with upsells, bundles, better payment options?
4. Pricing and fees. Are you paying monthly, giving up a % of every sale, or both?
5. How much control you get. Branding, customer data, and how “yours” the experience feels.
6. Built-in stuff vs needing tools. Email, affiliates, analytics… do you get them or have to bolt them on?
7. Flexibility. Can it handle subscriptions, bundles, different product types without hacks?

How I tested each platform

1. Sign up for the free tier or trial period.
2. Build a basic store with available templates.
3. Add digital and/or physical products.
4. Test integrated marketing and automation tools (emails, funnels, popups, and upsells).
5. Publish a demo store and view how it performs on desktop and mobile.

Since I had only days to test and verify all listed features, I based some of my evaluations on each platform’s potential to grow with your business rather than long-term live performance. For example, marketing efficiency, customer conversion, and analytics were assessed this way based on my prior experience in the niche.

Disclaimer: All the pricing, features, trial periods, and stats I offer here are based on the data publicly available at the time of my researching and writing this article. Things change quickly, so some details might be different by the time you read this. For getting the most up-to-date information, please always check directly with the platform.

Best Gumroad alternatives at a glance

12 best Gumroad alternatives

1. Sellfy

Here’s what makes Sellfy a good Gumroad alternative:

It was initially developed as a platform for selling digital downloads and has quickly become a leader in that niche. Later on, Sellfy was transformed into a full-fledged hosted e-commerce solution for creators and artists. Now, on par with its top competitors, Sellfy allows you to sell just about any type of product—digital, physical, subscriptions, and even print on demand.

Sellfy’s setup is even more effortless than Gumroad’s—something I wish I had known back in the day when I was trying to set up a shop on the same platform.

With Sellfy, you can start selling your products almost instantly—it won’t take you more than 10 minutes to build an online store from scratch. All you need to do is upload your first product, choose a payment method and start selling.

It’s also important to note that Sellfy stores are fully customizable—you’ll be able to make your store look the way you want just by using the Store Customizer tool.

Built-in print on demand is one of the coolest Sellfy features. So, if you decide to sell custom print-on-demand products you won’t have to look for external solutions or costly integrations (like you’d have to do with Gumroad). Moreover, Sellfy will take care of everything—after you make a sale, each order is automatically fulfilled, printed, and shipped to your customers worldwide. With Sellfy’s print on demand, you won’t have to make any upfront investments or worry about the unsold leftovers—you’ll be charged for product fulfillment only after you sell something.

Unlike Gumroad, Sellfy doesn’t take a part of your income in commission, transaction fees, or any other way. You also never have to worry about unnecessary or hidden costs. Plus, Sellfy offers flexibility with payments by supporting both PayPal and Stripe for transactions and payouts—something Gumroad recently struggled with due to issues with PayPal support. This makes it easier for you to receive funds smoothly, with payment options that suit both you and your customers. 

Finally, Sellfy offers a great set of marketing tools to help you grow your business:

• Discount and coupon codes feature that allows you to issue discount codes, discount separate products, and even customize your sales by adding start/end time, changing the look of SALE badges, etc.
• Sellfy’s built-in email marketing tool is the best for email marketing automation. You’ll be able to craft your own email campaigns, send out newsletters with the latest product updates, and thank customers for shopping in your store.
• You’ll be able to send cart abandonment emails and offer additional discounts to customers who left your store without checking out.
• Instead of offering freebies, you can just use pay-what-you-want pricing and let your customers decide how much they want to pay for your product.
• There’s an upselling and cross-selling feature to offer an additional (discounted) product to the buyer when they add one of your products to the cart.

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Is Sellfy right for you?

As the best Gumroad alternative, Sellfy is a perfect solution for all types of creators and artists. Everyone looking for an e-commerce platform with an effortless setup and tons of useful features will find Sellfy an excellent fit.

How much does Sellfy cost?

In January 2023, Gumroad implemented a pricing change from a tiered to a flat 10% fee system, excluding payment processing fees. Many big sellers left the platform, as the new pricing left some of the sellers with a fee that’s now four times higher. 

Sellfy, on the other hand, does not have any additional fees. As a creator, you would only need to pay the subscription fee. Sellfy offers three paid plans with a starting price at $22/mo if you take a yearly subscription).

Pros and cons

2. SendOwl

SendOwl has proven to be one of the best Gumroad alternatives for people looking for a simple way to sell digital downloads. Its main focus has always been to provide a straightforward and clean checkout solution for creators and small businesses. And they’re doing it pretty well.

SendOwl is super easy to use. All you have to do is create an account and upload your product. Once it’s done, you immediately get a Quick Sell link, a possibility to share your product on social media, and a generated code snippet that allows you to embed a Buy Now button on your website or blog.

To make your life easier there are some use cases and demos on their home page that will help you understand how their service works.

Apart from that, SendOwl offers a bunch of useful marketing features like upselling, cart abandonment, discounts and vouchers, pay-what-you-want pricing, and gift certificates. SendOwl also works well with most e-commerce solutions and external marketing services.

But, there’s one very important thing that’s worth mentioning:

Even though SendOwl offers a simple and quick way to start selling online, you won’t be able to build a storefront with this platform. So, if you’re looking for a way to create an online store you’ll find platforms like Gumroad or Sellfy much more useful.

Is SendOwl right for you?

If you’re looking for an e-commerce back office for your existing website or a blog, you will find SendOwl a great alternative to Gumroad. Not only is it easy to use, but it also offers a solid set of e-commerce features.

How much does SendOwl cost?

SendOwl offers flexible pricing with a 7-day free trial and a $1/month fee for the first 2 months on all plans. After that, the Starter plan is $18/month with a 5% fee per order, Growth is $37/month with a $0.47 fee per order, and Pro is $89/month with a $0.28 fee per order.

Pros and cons

3. Shopify

As one of the most popular e-commerce platforms, Shopify definitely deserves a spot among Gumroad alternatives.

Shopify is an all-in-one e-commerce platform that allows you to build an online store without any previous experience or web design background. Moreover, they’ve managed to create a whole ecosystem that includes 3000+ useful apps and countless store themes.

Shopify’s main advantage is that it’s fully customizable and with the right set of app integrations, you can sell pretty much anything in your store—from tangible items to subscriptions and digital goods.

On the flip side, you should be ready for Shopify to charge you extra for most third-party app integrations. For example, Shopify’s paid store themes cost between $140–$180, while the monthly fees for the apps can vary from just a few dollars up to $100 per month. Add this to your subscription fee (Shopify doesn’t have a free plan) and you get a considerable amount of money you should be ready to pay every month.

Plus, even though Shopify gives you access to advanced marketing integrations, solutions like Gumroad and Sellfy offer much more advanced in-built marketing functionality.

Lastly, Shopify positions itself as an easy-to-use platform for building an online store. In reality, even though you don’t need to have web development skills to use Shopify, it still comes with a huge learning curve. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many “how-to” guides on starting a Shopify store.

Is Shopify right for you?

In general, almost anyone looking for a complete e-commerce solution and who is ready to invest time and money (mainly on third-party apps) will find Shopify a great fit.

How much does Shopify cost?

Unlike Gumroad, Shopify doesn’t offer a free plan and has three paid plans with prices ranging from $29-299/month.

Pros and cons

4. Podia

If you’re looking for a Gumroad alternative to sell your online courses, digital downloads, membership, or webinars then you definitely should consider Podia.

Podia is a hosted e-commerce platform with a focus on selling online courses. It allows you to sell anything digital and has a relatively clean interface that lets you construct a landing page for digital downloads—no coding, just simple drag-and-drop.

Apart from decent customization options, Podia also offers a great set of built-in marketing features including email marketing campaign, upselling and cross-selling, product bundles, coupon codes, affiliate marketing, and more. Plus, they offer speedy and clean checkout that is optimized to improve your conversion rates as it doesn’t require customers to create an account.

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Of course, there are some limitations to Podia that more experienced users may find unacceptable, like basic customization options or almost no possibility to integrate external services. It also won’t fit anyone who at one point may decide to start selling physical products (including merchandise).

One of the main differences between Gumroad and Podia is that the latter doesn’t take a part of your income in transaction fees. On the other hand, Podia’s pricing seems to be a bit too steep when compared to other solutions. So, we’ll leave it to you to decide which one is better.

Is Podia right for you?

There’s nothing much to say here. Like Gumroad, Podia is great for small business owners who focus on selling digital downloads. It’s easy to use and it doesn’t take a lot of time and effort to start selling.

How much does Podia cost?

Podia doesn’t have a free plan; instead, they offer two paid plans with prices ranging from $34-75/month. But keep in mind that the cheapest plan comes with a 5% transaction fee.

Pros and cons

5. Lemon Squeezy

Lemon Squeezy is one of the best Gumroad alternatives for people selling software, SaaS, or digital products. It launched in 2021, was acquired by Stripe in 2024, and has built a strong following among indie SaaS founders, app developers, and creators selling license keys.

What makes Lemon Squeezy stand out is that it acts as a Merchant of Record (MoR). When a customer in Germany buys your $29 download, Lemon Squeezy collects, files, and remits VAT for you. The same goes for sales tax in the US, GST in Australia, and dozens of other countries. Gumroad doesn’t handle this for most regions.

Setting up a store takes about 10 minutes. You get a hosted storefront, an embeddable checkout, license key generation, subscription billing, an affiliate program, and email automations like cart recovery and post-purchase follow-ups. The checkout runs on Stripe, so it’s fast and works well on mobile.

Apart from that, Lemon Squeezy handles refunds, fraud detection, and chargeback protection. If a customer disputes a charge, Lemon Squeezy fights it instead of you.

Lemon Squeezy works best for digital products, SaaS subscriptions, software licenses, and one-time downloads. It’s not built for physical products or print-on-demand, so if your roadmap includes merch, it’s not the right pick.

Is Lemon Squeezy right for you?

If you’re selling software, SaaS, or digital products and want someone else to handle global tax compliance, Lemon Squeezy is one of the best Gumroad alternatives out there. If you sell physical products or want flat, predictable pricing as you scale, Sellfy or Shopify are a better fit.

How much does Lemon Squeezy cost?

There’s one thing worth mentioning: the fee. Lemon Squeezy charges 5% + $0.50 per transaction with no monthly subscription. That’s lower than Gumroad’s 10%, but it’s still a per-sale cut — the more you sell, the more you pay.

Pros and cons

6. Teachable

Teachable is another great alternative to Gumroad for selling digital content. Just like Podia, the platform mainly concentrates on selling online courses, but it has also proven to be a great fit for selling digital products.

Simply speaking, Teachable is another online course platform that helps people deliver their learning and educational experiences. Teachable lets you easily create an unlimited number of online courses as well as build a website from scratch, or integrate your educational content into an existing website or blog.

Just like Gumroad, Teachable allows you to upload any type of files and content including video, audio, photos, text, PDFs, etc. However, in case you’re looking for a way to sell a mix of digital content and physical products, it’s impossible to do it on Teachable.

Teachable has a beginner-friendly setup. So, you’ll be able to quickly and easily create a sales page with their drag-and-drop builder—no previous experience is needed. Even though Teachable’s customization options are somewhat limited, there’s a tool called Power Editor that allows more experienced users to tap into the code.

Teachable offers a solid marketing toolkit that includes coupons, promotions, affiliate programs, and email marketing. You’ll also have the possibility to create bundle courses and subscriptions, as well as choose various pricing options.

On the downside, even though Teachable offers a limited free plan, it will also charge you a crazy $1 + 10% for every transaction. And even if you decide to switch to a paid plan, you’ll still have to pay a 5% transaction fee.

Is Teachable right for you?

Teachable is a great service for everyone who is ready to share their skills with the world and make some income on the side by selling their knowledge and experiences.

How much does Teachable cost?

Teachable doesn’t have a free plan, but it offers three paid plans starting at $39/month.

Pros and cons

7. Payhip

When we compare Payhip to Gumroad, it appears that these two platforms are more similar to each other than the other ones mentioned in the list. Just like Gumroad, Payhip is a basic checkout solution for artists and creatives looking to start selling digital or physical products, as well as memberships.

Payhip is an all-in-one e-commerce platform that offers a host of useful tools to start an online business. You can easily embed the service right into your website or blog, or build your own Payhip storefront to sell products directly to your audience.

Though Payhip works much better as an integration for your own website, you can still build a basic storefront for your products. However, you shouldn’t expect full customization—the storefront you get with Payhip looks very basic.

Payhip’s main benefit is that it’s fantastically easy to use. Even if you have no clue about how e-commerce works, you should feel right at home with Payhip.

On the flip side, Payhip’s ease of use and basic setup come with a few limitations when it comes to marketing and sales features. For example, there are almost no built-in marketing tools apart from discounts and discount codes. Even though Payhip has a free plan, it comes with a crazy 5% payment processing fee and other fees (that’s actually a bit less than what Gumroad will charge you).

Is Payhip right for you?

Payhip works well for anyone taking baby steps in e-commerce. But, in case you’re looking for something more than a simple checkout solution with limited sales and marketing capabilities, Payip may disappoint you.

How much does Payhip cost?

Payhip has a very simple pricing scheme. There’s a free plan with a 5% transaction fee, a Payhip Plus plan that comes at $29/month and has a 2% transaction fee, and a Payhip Pro plan that comes at $99/month and has no transaction fees. Additionally, you also have to pay the transaction fees charged by payment processors (usually 2.9%).

Pros and cons

8. SamCart

SamCart is a shopping cart software that helps creators start selling online by building an optimized product page.

Yes, there’s a reason for calling SamCart a shopping cart instead of e-commerce software. The difference is that a shopping cart may not offer the same extended functionalities as a typical e-commerce platform like Sellfy.

At first sight, SamCart seems to be a more feature-reach solution than Gumroad as they offer some great e-commerce tools to help sellers increase their conversions. For example, one-click upsells, A/B split testing, coupons and trial offers, cart abandonment, affiliate programs, and many more.

Designing your product page with SamCart won’t be a difficult task thanks to the drag-and-drop editor. Apart from that, SamCart offers a host of premade page templates you can use instead of designing from scratch.

However, SamCart will only build a simple product page instead of a fully-fledged online store. It means that this solution might not be a perfect fit for someone looking to sell various products at the same time.

Is SamCart right for you?

If you want to sell just one or a few products, SamCart might be a good fit for you. However, even with all of the built-in e-commerce features, SamCart’s pricing might appear a little too high.

How much does SamCart cost?

SamCart doesn’t have a free plan and offers three paid plans that are quite expensive when compared to many other solutions mentioned in our list. SamCart’s cheapest plan starts at $59/month.

Pros and cons

9. Stan Store

Stan Store is a platform tailored specifically for content creators and social media influencers who prioritize quick setup and seamless integration with platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Its link-in-bio style allows creators to sell digital products, subscriptions, and services directly to their followers. It is an ideal solution for those looking to monetize their content effortlessly.

Stan’s biggest strength is its simplicity. The setup process is quick—just upload your products, select a theme, tweak some colors and fonts, and you’re ready to go.

While Stan Store primarily focuses on digital downloads like PDFs, templates, and eBooks, it also supports services such as webinars via Zoom or Google Meet, coaching sessions, and eCourses. However, there are some limitations, such as a maximum file size of 4GB and basic customization options that might not satisfy users looking for more advanced features.

Stan Store also provides basic marketing tools such as discount codes, affiliate marketing, and email sequences, but these are only available on the higher-tier plan. The platform offers analytics to track store visits, revenue, and leads, although these features are not as comprehensive as those offered by Sellfy.

Want more options tailored for creators? Check out our full guide on Stan Store alternatives.

Is Stan Store right for you?

Stan Store is an excellent choice for social media influencers and content creators who want a straightforward, efficient way to sell digital products and services directly to their audience.

How much does Stan Store cost?

Stan Store operates on a subscription-based pricing model without any transaction fees. The platform offers two pricing plans: Creator at $25/month and Creator Pro at $79/month, with the latter including advanced marketing features like email flows and affiliate management.

Pros and cons

10. Etsy

Even though Etsy doesn’t seem like an obvious alternative to Gumroad, it’s still an option worth considering.

Why is that?

Well, the main reason is that Etsy is usually the first solution that pops up in people’s heads when they think about selling creative work.

But, what is Etsy? And, most importantly, what makes it so different from solutions like Gumroad?

First and foremost, Etsy is not a fully hosted e-commerce platform—it’s a creative marketplace. In other words, comparing Etsy to Gumroad is like trying to compare an art fair to a standalone art store. Plus, you should keep in mind that there’s no way to sell your services on Etsy as it’s mostly a marketplace for handmade and physical goods.

Etsy’s main benefit is that, just like most marketplaces, it has an established customer base interested in the arts and crafts. It gives you a chance to access your target audience more easily.

On the one hand, you have 30+ million potential buyers browsing Etsy who can notice your products. And, on the other hand, you have 50+ million other products to compete with.

However, Etsy offers a bit more than just a marketplace. There’s also a service called Pattern by Etsy that allows you to create a personal storefront for your products. The solution is somewhat similar to fully-hosted platforms like Gumroad, but not as advanced or customizable. It’ll cost you a monthly fee of $15, but it’s nothing more than an add-on for someone already selling their products on Etsy.

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Is Etsy right for you?

Etsy can be a great place for a small business as it’s free and easy to use. So, if you’re not looking for any complicated setups and customization (the only thing you can customize on Etsy is your logo), you should definitely give it a try.

How much does Etsy cost?

Etsy doesn’t have a subscription fee, but there’s a 6% transaction fee for every item you sell as well as a $0.20 fee for every digital download listed in your store. Use our Etsy fee calculator to compare the full cost of an Etsy sale and compare it to Gumroad fees.

11. Ko-fi

Ko-fi is another great alternative to Gumroad for digital creators. In essence, Ko-fi is a platform that resembles Patreon as it allows people to donate money to support their favorite creators. In other words, you may think of Ko-fi as a virtual tip jar.

There are several ways to earn money on Ko-fi. For example, you can set up a fan page where your audience donates your money (buy a virtual cup of coffee) in exchange for some additional content.

Apart from gathering donations from fans, you can also create your own Ko-fi Shop to sell digital and physical products (just like Gumroad). Yes, setting up a Ko-fi Shop allows you to start selling your work directly to your fans, but the number of available e-commerce features is very limited. Storefront customization is also super basic and there are almost no built-in marketing features to help you promote your products.

It goes without saying that Ko-fi is super easy to set up. You just need to pick a username, add a photo and bio, and connect a payment source like PayPal or Stripe. The whole process will literally take just a minute or two and you’ll have your page up and running.

Ko-fi doesn’t take a single cent from your donations, however, there’s a 5% transaction fee for every item you sell from your Ko-fi Shop. Do you also want a mobile app for your online store? Well, there’s also no mobile app on this platform, so you won’t be able to manage your account from your phone.

Is Ko-fi right for you?

Ko-fi is an effortless way to crowdsource your creative business. Bloggers and content creators will find this platform more suitable since they already have an audience that’s ready to support them or buy their products.

How much does Ko-fi cost?

Ko-fi is free to use, but Ko-fi Shop users should be ready to pay a 5% transaction fee for each product sold. There’s also a Ko-fi Gold plan that will cost you $6/month and will give you access to more advanced features.

Pros and cons

12. Paddle

Paddle is a service that makes it quite easy to sell apps, games, and other digital downloads. Their main focus is on helping businesses that sell software as a service with processes like handling payments, managing subscriptions, and streamlining checkouts.

Paddle allows you to easily create a checkout page for your software and digital downloads that you can integrate into your existing website. The good thing is that Paddle takes care of all the complicated stuff like managing checkout processes, invoicing, subscriptions, and recurring payment.

Padlle allows you to customize the checkout page to match your website’s overall look and feel. Plus, with the help of an overlaid checkout screen, your customers can buy your product without leaving the product page.

On the other hand, you won’t have the possibility to build your own storefront, which automatically makes this platform not suitable for those looking for a way to build an online storefront.

Is Paddle right for you?

If you create and sell apps, games, and similar software products and don’t mind the transaction fees, you should definitely give Paddle a try.

How much does Paddle cost?

There are no monthly costs for using Paddle. You will be charged a flat 5% of the transaction amount + 50 cents per transaction.

Pros

• Perfect for selling apps, games, and software
• It’s free to use
• Possibility to integrate a shopping cart into a website
• Great set of built-in e-commerce features

Cons

• No possibility to build a storefront
• Transaction fees
• Limited customization options
• Limited marketing features
• Not suitable for selling physical products

Why consider Gumroad alternatives for e-commerce?

Gumroad is simple. That’s the appeal. But once you start selling seriously, the cracks show pretty fast.

Here’s where it falls short:

High transaction fees

Gumroad takes a big cut.

You’re looking at around 10% + payment fees on every sale. That’s fine at the start, but it adds up quickly once you get traction.

At that point, you’re basically paying a premium for simplicity.

PayPal situation

This is the big one.

Gumroad lost PayPal support, which creates two problems:

• Customers can’t pay with PayPal anymore (which hurts conversions)
• Creators can’t rely on PayPal for payouts

Limited payment flexibility

No PayPal means fewer ways for customers to pay.

And fewer payment options usually mean fewer sales. Simple as that.

Weak support

The thing is that Gumroad’s support is hit or miss.

And when payments or payouts are involved, “hit or miss” is not what you want.

Missing marketing features

Gumroad keeps things minimal, sometimes too minimal.

No real upsells. No cart abandonment. No real email marketing. Which means you’re leaving money on the table every time someone buys.

Slow payouts

You get paid weekly.

Not terrible, but not great either, especially if cash flow matters.

So, if you’re looking for the best Gumroad alternatives, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve done our own research and found the 12 best Gurmoad alternatives in 2026.

Over to you

As you may have noticed, there are plenty of sites like Gumroad for you to choose from. Which of these Gumroad alternatives did you find suitable for your business?

One thing is clear:

If you’re looking for a better alternative to Gumroad that is suitable for beginners, has a better feature list, and simply performs better, you should take a closer look at Sellfy.

FAQ: best Gumroad alternatives

What is the best alternative to Gumroad?

When it comes to alternatives to Gumroad, Sellfy clearly stands out as a top choice. Sellfy offers a user-friendly platform for creators to sell digital downloads, including e-books, music, videos, and more. With its robust features, customizable store, and seamless payment processing, Sellfy provides a reliable and efficient alternative to Gumroad.

Is Gumroad free to use?

Gumroad doesn’t have a subscription fee. However, Gumroad takes a significant amount of your income in transaction fees — a crazy 10% (+ credit card fees) is deducted from your income each time someone buys your product. So, even though Gumroad doesn’t charge a monthly subscription fee, it would still cost money to use it if you actually want to sell something.

Why is Sellfy the best alternative to Gumroad?

Sellfy offers several advantages that make it a much better choice than Gumroad. Sellfy doesn’t charge transaction fees, allowing sellers to keep 100% of what they earned. Sellfy’s user-friendly interface, robust marketing tools, customizable online storefront, and secure file delivery make it a perfect choice for starting an online business. Additionally, Sellfy’s pricing plans offer flexibility and scalability to accommodate different business needs.

The post 12 best Gumroad alternatives in 2026 (free & paid) appeared first on Sellfy.

If you’re thinking about opening your online store, you’ve probably been advised to use Shopify by everyone and their granny. It’s arguably the biggest and most well-known e-commerce platform, but starting your business here might be a huge mistake.

Why? There are at least three reasons:

1. Shopify has a ton of hidden costs. It’s cheap on the surface: the basic subscription is only $29 a month. However, it’s very barebones out of the box, as you are forced to add apps to add necessary functionality and customize Shopify. An average Shopify store runs about 7 apps, costing roughly $66 a month each, so you do the math.

2. Shopify takes an extra 1-2% transaction fee from every sale through a third-party processor (GPay, ApplePay, PayPal), while their in-house gateway, Shopify Payments, is only available in 37 countries. The payment processing fees might seem small, but they constitute the majority of Shopify’s revenue – 74%. Let that sink in.

3. You don’t fully control your Shopify store. They can shut you down without warning, cutting your revenue and destroying your SEO rankings for whatever reason – for example, false copyright infringement claims by your competitors. Shopify is also very fussy about merchants’ products and pricing policies.

If you want full control over your online business, flexibility, and cost efficiency, there are many options that are better than Shopify. With this survey, I hope to help you find the best Shopify alternatives for your store.

How did I review Shopify alternatives?

I focused my attention on Shopify alternatives that are strong competition for specific use cases and business types. That said, I did my best to find apps that match Shopify’s scope of features as closely as possible.

To compare Shopify’s features with the alternatives on this list, I viewed the platforms both from the perspective of a small creator and a growing business. My main goal was to establish how well each solution serves the needs of a specific type of online seller. Here is what I assessed:

• Ease of use: how intuitive the creation of a shop and dashboard navigation is, especially for newbies with no eCommerce experience
• Native features vs. third-party apps: how versatile the platform is out of the box, do plans include native features or require plugins
• Integrations: if third-party integrations are required, how big is the choice, and how easy is it to plug them in
• Range of products: what are the capabilities for selling digital and physical items, creating courses, setting up subscriptions, etc.
• Product handling: how easy it is to add new products/variations, create categories, track inventory, etc.
• Upfront prices vs. hidden costs: how each tool’s offerings in different tiers compare in terms of value and cost, are there any fees and commissions that might crop up
• Marketing and sales: how many built-in features are there for email campaigns, automation, affiliate programs, funnels, etc.
• SEO functionality: built-in tools for researching and integrating keywords, URL management, control over the domain name, blogging features, etc.
• Analytics: what is the potential for gathering actionable data for each platform

To test each platform, I went through the following steps:

1. Sign up for the free tier or trial period.
2. Build a basic store with available templates.
3. Add digital and/or physical products.
4. Test integrated marketing and automation tools (emails, funnels, popups, and upsells).
5. Publish a demo store and view how it performs on desktop and mobile.

Since I had only days to test and verify all listed features, I based some of my evaluations on each platform’s potential to grow with your business rather than long-term live performance. For example, marketing efficiency, customer conversion, and analytics were assessed this way based on my prior experience in the niche.

Disclaimer: All the pricing, features, trial periods, and stats I offer here are based on the data publicly available at the time of my researching and writing this article. Things change quickly, so some details might be different by the time you read this. For getting the most up-to-date information, please always check directly with the platform.

Alternatives to Shopify at a glance

Platform	Best for	Features	Pricing
	Most well-rounded platform to replace Shopify	Flexibility, scalability, digital, physical, POD products, built-in email marketing, sales, and SEO tools	From $22/mo
	Large businesses	Advanced funnels and analytics, customizable checkout, native LMS, affiliate management, one-time payment, tax automation	Standard $495 (one-time); Pro+ $790 + $295/yr
	Small businesses	Drag-and-drop website builder, built-in email marketing, SEO tools, responsive design, blog, and memberships	Business $23/mo; Commerce Advanced $52/mo
	SEO and content marketing	WordPress plugin, full customization, rich blogging tools, inventory control, advanced SEO, vast plugin ecosystem	Free core; WordPress hosting from $25/mo
	Startups looking to scale up	AI website builder, 150+ templates, 0% transaction fees, built-in marketing, scalable hosting, speed optimization	Premium $2.49/mo; Business $3.29/mo (4-year term)
	Easy customization and beautiful layouts	Drag-and-drop builder, AI site creation, 100+ templates, no coding, SEO tools, built-in blog	Light $17/mo; Business $39/mo
	Easy print-on-demand creation	Built-in POD design tools, sustainable production, intuitive store builder, AI mockups, blog, marketing tools	Basic Free; Pro £10/mo (~$13.5)
	Tinkerers looking to save money	Unlimited products, advanced SEO, loyalty tools, inventory, blog, affiliate system, free migration service	Free (if using Shift4 gateway); Unlimited $41/mo
	International selling with access to a marketplace	Global marketplace, easy setup, huge customer base, low barrier to entry, community support	One-time $29 set-up fee; $0.20 per listing + 6.5% per sale
	Ease of use and coaching	Link-in-bio storefront, built-in calendar and chat, funnels, email automation, affiliate program, video sessions	Pro $29/mo; Biz $99/mo

Top 10 Shopify alternatives I tested this year

1. Sellfy: The best Shopify alternative for creators

Sellfy is a leaner and more streamlined alternative to Shopify that still has all the core features necessary for an e-commerce business. Initially created for digital products, Sellfy excels in this niche, but constantly adds new features for managing physical products, including print-on-demand.

Why I picked Sellfy

Sellfy perfectly balances versatility with newbie-friendly simplicity. It has everything that a small to medium business might need and makes it easy to fine-tune and oversee everything from your dashboard. What I experienced creating and testing my online shop is the epitome of user-friendly and effortless.

You can set up a functional and clean storefront in 5 minutes or spend time thoughtfully crafting the look of each page – it just flows. Marketing, SEO, analytics, order management, financial tools – everything is there, easy to find and apply.

Standout features

• All-in-one hosted e-commerce solution
• Intuitive drag-and-drop website builder
• 12 free themes + multiple color schemes
• Easy adding pages or modules, including an embedded “buy now” button
• Built-in advanced marketing tools (including timed promos, discounts, bundles, abandoned cart management, and affiliate program)
• Integrated email marketing tools, with unlimited templates and one-click import of your email list
• Easy product management with customizable categories and inventory
• Print-on-demand feature is built in
• Native financial tools, including automated tax handling and invoicing
• Integrated tips and information support for newbie sellers
• Multi-currency functionality for global selling

Products you can sell

Digital products (downloadables, subscriptions, pay-walled content, freebies, software), physical products (including print-on-demand), services (coaching, design, development, etc.)

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Integrations

Google Analytics, Google Merchant Center, Facebook pixel, Twitter Ads, Zapier, +DIY integrations via webhooks.

Pricing

Starter Plan: Starter ($22 a month)

• Up to $10k in sales per year
• Downloads, subscriptions, and merch
• Unlimited products
• Email marketing features
• Core marketing features

Best Value Plan: Business ($59 a month)

• Everything from Starter, plus:
• Custom fields
• Product upselling
• Cart abandonment functionality
• Affiliate marketing

Sellfy is a pleasure to work with, with seamless customization all the key features for selling and promoting under the hood. Its digital product functionality is superb, while features for physical products has some room for growth. Still, for a small to medium-sized business, Sellfy has everything. It’s an elegant self-contained solution with all the core features and no complicated corporate fluff.

For more detailed information, check out this expert review.

2. ThriveCart: Best for large businesses

ThriveCart is a platform that online businesses could graduate to after a quick start with something more casual. Websites like Shopify are popular because they offer a quick, beginner-friendly way to set up a storefront and start selling. ThriveCart, on the other hand, equips you with a professional toolkit for marketing and sales. 

Analytics, A/B testing, customized checkout experience, funnel management, etc., are particularly attractive for digital creators with a polished product that they want to promote on another level.

Why I picked ThriveCart

ThriveCart offers the most powerful sales funnel, checkout customization, and conversion features, which, combined with the built-in course builder and membership management, make it great for selling any content, including educational products, at scale.

One-time upfront payment is also beneficial for the coaching business, where demand ebbs and flows throughout the year with spikes and lean times.

Standout features

• Advanced marketing and sales customization for a tailored growth strategy
• Elegant and clean layout
• Intuitive dashboard interface
• Proprietary Learning Management System (LMS Learn) for creating and managing courses
• Built-in analytics on conversion data, traffic sources, customer profiles, etc.
• Customizable checkout pages with conversion features (countdown timers, upsell messages, personalized bundles, etc.)

Products you can sell

Digital downloads, online courses, memberships, coaching sessions, etc. There is also functionality for selling physical products.

Integrations

Google Analytics, Google Sheets, Convertri, Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, Demio, Slack, MailChimp, ConvertKit, Drip, GetResponse, Printiful, Teachable, etc.

Pricing 

Starter plan: ThriveCart Standard ($495 upfront payment)

• Customization for carts and checkout pages
• Integrations with payment processors
• Marketing tools for A/B testing, coupons, discounts, upsells, bundles, etc.
• Basic version of LMS Learn (proprietary course management system)

Best value plan: ThriveCart Pro+ ($790 upfront payment + $295 a year from year 2)

• Everything from ThriveCart Standard
• Custom domain
• Affiliate management center
• Tax and invoicing automation
• Possibility to allow crypto payments
• Advanced business analytics
• Multi-user permissions

ThriveCart is best for someone with an established business. It allows you to build a growth strategy and focus on perfecting sales tactics. A dedicated LMS Learn course builder will also benefit solo entrepreneurs with quality educational content. 

However, the platform might not be the best choice for beginners due to the steep upfront cost, no trial period, and advanced professional functionality. For those who are only starting up, Shopify is a more comfortable option.

Learn more about ThriveCart and how it compares to other e-commerce platforms in ThriveCart Vs Kajabi vs Sellfy.

3. Squarespace: Best for small businesses

Squarespace is rarely listed among sites like Shopify because it’s a website builder first, and an eCommerce platform second. Still, it has a lot to offer for a small business or a hobbyist who wants to start earning online doing what they love. It’s focused on design and offers many customization features, but takes some time to get the hang of it.

Why I picked Squarespace

Squarespace has a gentler learning curve and is more affordable than Shopify, but it still favors a determined newbie or someone with website-building experience. The interface is intuitive enough, even if it will take some tinkering to create something that fits your vision. 

It’s relatively easy to construct a course, set memberships, or create a physical product listing, and all the basic tools for marketing, analytics, and finances are there. Squarespace even offers an AI website builder, although it’s rather underwhelming compared to similar features in other platforms.

Standout features

• All-in-one website platform with e-commerce functionality
• AI-powered drag-and-drop builder
• Mobile-friendly responsive design
• Built-in email marketing tool and sales analytics
• Built-in course builder, membership functionality, blog, etc.
• SEO tools allow tracking traffic sources, search keywords, geography, engagement with site content, etc.
• Possibility to manage several websites from one dashboard

Products you can sell

Digital products like downloadable files, courses, memberships, access to paywalled content, consulting services etc., as well as physical products.

Integrations

Apple Pay, Apple News, Google Workspace, Google Analytics, Mailchimp, Disqus, PayPal, Stripe, FedEx, USPS, Facebook and Instagram, Dropbox, Weglot, Zapier, etc.

Pricing

SquareSpace has four subscription tiers, with the Personal one being the least expensive, but it doesn’t have all the eCommerce functionality apart from invoicing.

Starter Plan: Business ($23 a month)

• 0% fee on invoices, 3% fee on online store transactions
• 200+ clean templates
• Custom domain registration
• Mobile-friendly responsive design
• Unlimited bandwidth and storage
• SSL security certificate
• Video hosting
• Advanced website analytics
• Checkout, shipping, and merchandising functionality
• 24/7 support

Best Value Plan: Commerce Advanced ($52 a month)

• 0% transaction fees (yet there are credit card fees dependent on the payment processor)
• Everything from the Business, plus:
• Subscription functionality
• Advanced sales tools (bundles, promotions, product suggestions, etc.)

Squarespace will work if you are a designer at heart, prepared to spend time and effort building a nice-looking website, and want to sell a couple of core products. Choose it for fine-tuned customization to sell courses, merch, or subscriptions as a content creator or a niche boutique. However, it’s not going to support scaling up to a serious e-commerce endeavor. 

Read more about the platform in the Squarespace vs. Etsy comparison.

4. WooCommerce: Best for SEO and content marketing

WooCommerce is not an all-in-one solution like some Shopify competitors on this list, but instead a free plugin for WordPress-powered websites. It does require a bit more learning and technical expertise, but it offers unparalleled customization, lower costs, and control over your website, content, and store.

Why I picked WooCommerce

WooCommerce is perfect if you want to promote your store via content marketing and SEO tools, which yours truly is clearly partial to. While Shopify offers a native blogging feature, it’s awkward, limited, and has clunky, uncustomizable URLs, which I consider a crime against SEO. 

WordPress, on the other hand, is the best blogging platform in the world, powering about 40% of the entire internet. It can be glitchy when you add too many features, but I appreciate that keywords, tags, and descriptions are there on the surface, and you cannot ignore them, even if you try.

Standout features

• Freemium with core features available at no cost
• Extended website ecosystem with a vast library of plugins
• Works with rich website and blogging tools powered by WordPress for content marketing
• Built-in marketing tools (coupons, gift cards, promotions)
• Built-in performance and business analytics
• Inventory management
• Possibility to categorize and group products

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Products you can sell

Absolutely anything: physical goods (yours or dropshipping), print-on-demand items, downloadable files, courses, subscriptions, bundles, access to pay-walled content, etc. You can also accept donations and tips.

Integrations

Google Analytics, AutoDS, Yoast SEO, Wordfence Security, WP Super Cache, VaultPress, BackWPup, Performance Lab, Akismet Anti-spam, and countless more.

Pricing

WooCommerce itself is free, but it requires a WordPress-compatible hosting plan (Commerce), plus some associated costs (domain registration, SSL certificate, extensions for shipping, marketing, and premium payment processing, etc.) Hence, here is the breakdown of the WordPress plans:

Starter Plan: Business ($25 a month)

• 2% transaction fee
• 50 GB storage
• Unlimited pages, users, visitors, and bandwidth
• Priority 24/7 support
• Developer tools
• Advanced security (brute-force, spam, malware, and DDoS protection)
• Minute customization (including layouts, colors, and fonts)
• Inventory management
• Streamlined checkout
• Customized marketing tools (both built-in and available with plugins)

Best Value Plan: Commerce ($45 a month)

• No transaction fees
• Everything from Business
• Advanced features integrated without the need for plugins (design, marketing, sales, analytics, and SEO tools)

WooCommerce is not for everyone – you need to be a tech-savvy DIYer and problem solver, because things are going to break sometimes. Yet if you value freedom, flexibility, seek full ownership over your online business, and plan to lean on rich content for promoting your products, WooCommerce is one of the best solutions out there.

Find more information on WooCommerce and other ways to sell through WordPress here.

5. Hostinger: Best for fast-growing startups

Hostinger is an all-in-one hosting provider with a very intuitive and beginner-friendly AI-powered website builder that isn’t just a gimmick (looking at you, Squarespace!). It is a newer and very affordable platform that makes it very easy to set up your first e-commerce website with zero programming knowledge. Hostinger combines the ease of Shopify with the full ownership of your online store.

Why I picked Hostinger

While companies like Shopify usually target a specific niche: small businesses or larger enterprises, Hostinger is perfect for growing from the ground up. Your website, built with Hostinger, can potentially be transferred to WordPress and WooCommerce, or PrestaShop at no additional cost as your business evolves.

Standout features

• Easy drag-and-drop AI website builder
• AI-powered features for product descriptions, optimizing SEO, and generating domain names
• 150+ free templates
• 100+ payment methods
• 0% transaction fees
• Support for 8 languages
• Entry-level shared hosting solution for migrating from pricier providers
• Free SSL certificate
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Speed and uptime allow loading momentarily even with a lot on your page
• Advanced security for customer data safety

Products you can sell

Physical products (clothing, electronics, print-on-demand, books), digital products (downloadables, courses, memberships), and services (design, ads, etc.)

Integrations

Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, Hotjar, Mailchimp, Sync, Supabase, Stripe, WhatsApp, AdSense, Jira, Trello, Asana, Zapier, Hostinger Horizons, etc.

Pricing

Hostinger offers three pricing tiers for hosting: Single, Premium, and Business. While Premium allows you to sell by adding “Buy” buttons and links to PayPal or Stripe, the full e-commerce functionality is only available in “Business”.

Best Value Plan: Business ($3.29 a month and renews at $13.99 a month after 4 years)

• Up to 50 websites
• 50 GB of NVMe storage
• 5 mailboxes per website
• Daily and on-demand backups
• AI agent for WordPress
• CDN for maximum website speed
• WordPress Multisite website management

Another caveat is that Hostinger offers a whole load of tiered product ranges: hosting, domain name (.com, .io, or .shop will all cost differently), Horizons (AI product for managing and improving your website). I’ve spent some time chatting with Kodee (their AI assistant) and contacting support just to find out what I’ll really need and what the total cost is going to be after their promotion period is over.

Hostinger has a perfect mix of affordability, scalability, reliable performance, security, and openness to user feedback. It allows you to open and maintain an online store at a very modest total cost and gives you time to grow your business. On the flip side, its limited customization and caps in entry-level plans might be a deal breaker for some.

6. Wix: Best for customization and flexibility (with no coding)

Wix is one of those competitors of Shopify that give you more control over how your website looks and feels while still being affordable and easy to navigate. This website builder has been known among bloggers and photographers since 2006, but it has since then developed powerful e-commerce features.

Why I picked Wix

Wix’s responsive AI assistant adds features and shapes your website’s look and functionality based on your goals, unique propositions, and other requests. You say what you want, and Wix creates it as if by magic. Yet even without the AI, Wix has been offering many more templates and customization options than Shopify.

Standout features

• Drag-and-drop website builder
• Choice between manual control and AI-generated design
• Hundreds of free polished templates
• Auto-save and revision history
• 6 product options and 1,000 product variants
• Layouts and plugins are automatically added depending on the store’s needs
• Built-in blog and SEO features
• Built-in sales and finance features
• Native SEO and marketing analytics

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Products you can sell

Physical products (including print-on-demand and dropshipping), digital products (downloadables, memberships), and services.

Integrations

Google Analytics, Google Ads, Google Sheets, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Omnisend, Stripe, Shopify, AliExpress, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Zapier, etc.

Pricing

Starter Plan: Core ($29 a month)

• 5 collaborators
• 50 GB storage space
•  Basic e-commerce and marketing suite
• Customer accounts
•  Abandoned cart recovery
• Pre-orders, discounts, loyalty program, back-in-stock notifications
•  Advanced shipping
• Unique domain registration is free for 1 year
• Unique branding without the Wix logo
• Site analytics
• Events Calendar, Get Found Today apps free for 1 year
•  Google Ads with Wix
•  10 lead-capture forms, 50 fields each
•  24/7 customer support

Best Value Plan: Business ($39 a month)

• 10 collaborators
•  100 GB storage space
• 50,000 products with 5 additional pages per product
• Six currencies
• 25 lead-capture forms, 75 fields each
• Automated sales tax on 100 transactions per month
• Advanced features for loyalty program (tiers, loyalty points expiration, referral program)
• Unlimited “back in stock” notifications

Wix is a solid alternative to Shopify if you want a primarily content-driven website with a beautiful layout and some easy-to-use e-commerce features for a small selection of products. Creating a website was really fun for me, but I could already see the limitations on POS, dropshipping, and currencies. For bigger businesses, it’s a no.

7. Teemil: Best for print-on-demand

Teemil is created around print-on-demand, but unlike Printify or other apps, it allows building an entire website, managing designs, and selling products from one dashboard. Its other advantage is a sustainability focus: organic materials, no plastic packaging, closed-loop systems, and renewable power sources in factories and storage facilities.

Why I picked Teemil

Teemil has a user-friendly website builder, intuitive tools for designing products, managing orders, production, and shipping. It allows you to set up a store and easily sell print-on-demand items without the need for inventory management or upfront investment. It also combines clean production with affordability.

Standout features

• All-in-one eCommerce website
• Intuitive website builder
• User-friendly layout with tips and prompts
• Library of product templates and AI mockups
• Built-in marketing tools and site analytics
• Native blogging feature
• Native graphic design tool and possibility to upload your photos
• Sustainability and work rights ethic at the core of supply chain
• No need for third-party print-on-demand apps like Shopify requires
• Community support and extensive learning materials for newbies

Products you can sell

Most popular print-on-demand items: clothes (t-shirts, hoodies, kids’ clothing, vests, baseball caps, etc.), home goods (posters, mugs, towels, water bottles, jigsaw puzzles), and accessories (totes, backpacks, stickers, etc.)

Integrations

Google Analytics, Google Ads, Facebook Tracking, Instagram Shopping, Product Feed, Pinterest Catalogue, YouTube Merch Shelf, Etsy, etc.

Pricing

Starter Plan: Basic (Free)

• Allows creating a store with 5 pages and 30 products
• All the core print-on-demand options
• 150MB of cloud storage for photos
• Free design library to start from scratch
• Remill (recycled organic cotton range)
• Complete functionality with limits on scale

Best Value Plan: Teemil Pro ($13,5 a month)

• Everything from Free, plus
• Custom domain
• 10GB storage space
• Advanced mail marketing tools 
• Professional SEO tools
• Wider product range
• Thousands of AI mockups, designs, and graphics
• Etsy and TikTok Shop integrations
• Community chats with founders and experts

As a user-friendly integrated solution, Teemil is a great choice for a newbie who wants to focus on creativity and play around with designs. I also must give it some brownie points for sustainability and conscientious business practices, which seem genuine and should attract a lot of eco-aware customers. However, Shopify has more customization and scalability potential for a bigger business. 

8. Shift4Shop: Best free Shopify alternative

Shift4Shop used to be called 3dcart and has been around since 1997. It somehow never got quite as popular as Shopify, which is a shame, since it’s one of the most complete and cheapest e-commerce platforms like Shopify on the market. It has its downsides, but for the features it offers, it’s a steal.

Why I picked Shift4Shop

This is a free (with a caveat) enterprise-level platform offering advanced features that would cost an extra fee each on Shopify. Everything is included out of the box, and you don’t have to upgrade your plan or pay for third-party app integrations.

Standout features

• Fully hosted PCI-compliant platform with free SSL certificate and unlimited storage
• Free if you meet the criteria (US resident with at least $1,000 processed via the Shift4 payment gateway monthly)
• Unlimited products and staff accounts
• Built-in blogging feature
• Great SEO and content creation tools
• Sales functionality (loyalty programs, gift registries, daily deals)
• Free email marketing functionality
• Comprehensive inventory management is built in
• Built-in affiliate program
• Customizable URLs
• Multiple payment gateways can be added via Shift4, including PayPal, Apple Pay, GPay, and even cryptocurrency
• Convenient feature customization via Modules

Products you can sell

Everything you can sell on Shopify: digital products (downloadables, courses, software, music, etc.), physical products (clothing, electronics, collectibles), and services (consulting, design, etc.)

Integrations

Google Analytics, Google Cloud, Mailchimp, Axis LMS, Stripe, Klarna, PayPal, Square Payments, Katana Cloud Inventory, TrueLoyal, LiveChat, Amazon, Zapier, etc.

Pricing

Starter Plan: Free

• Standard Shift4 payment rates 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
• 100+ free mobile-friendly themes
• Unlimited staff users
• Access to all core features, including marketing, blog, SEO, inventory, etc.

Best Value Plan: Unlimited ($41 a month)

• 100+ free themes
• Advanced SEO, marketing, customer service, and inventory management toolkits
• AI-driven fraud protection
• Free migration service from your previous eCommerce website

Shift4Shop is a great choice for US-based small to medium businesses that are looking for Shopify alternatives free of immediate monthly fees. Of course, “free” doesn’t mean zero-cost, since you are going to incur payment processing fees. Still, it’s a robust and cost-effective option for a small business, especially if you don’t mind a bit of DIY.

9. Etsy: Best for international selling

What separates Etsy from other platforms like Shopify is a huge marketplace with millions of daily shoppers. It’s a powerhouse worth considering if you haven’t built a customer base yet. Etsy is commission-based, so you don’t have to splurge on a subscription to tap into this channel for sales and exposure. 

Why I picked Etsy

Etsy is best known for its handmade crafts and vintage items, so the majority of users come to the platform looking for a unique piece of clothing, home décor, or an accessory, making it the best for physical products. That said, there is a thriving community of digital artists selling downloadable files on Etsy, so it’s pretty versatile.

Standout features

• Relatively easy setup
• No monthly payments
• Renowned marketplace with nearly 100 million active buyers globally
• Allows flexibility and pivoting
• FAQs and comprehensive guides on starting out
• Huge supportive community

Products you can sell

All kinds of digital and physical products. Pretty much anything that doesn’t violate the platform’s rules on dangerous, violent, hateful items, nudity, etc. Common listings include website templates, eBooks, and courses with downloadable videos, workbooks, and journals.

Integrations

Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, Printful, Mad Mimi, ReferralCandy, TaxJar, MySocialPig, Marmalead, Billbee, Spreesy, FotoFuze, Craftybase, etc.

Pricing

Etsy doesn’t have recurring subscription fees. The platform charges a one-time $29 set-up fee to open your shop, $0.20 per listing, and 6.5% per sale, with taxes based on location.

Etsy is a good option if you are only starting and looking for a niche in the market. The platform gives you access to millions of primed buyers and allows you to find your unique place through trial and error. However, if you already have a customer base, Shopify gives you more marketing and SEO tools.

Find a more detailed comparison in a dedicated Sellfy vs Etsy article.

10. Pensight: Best for ease of use

Pensight is a link-in-bio storefront. It’s very similar to Shopify, but allows selling without building a full website. Pensight is more focused on educational content with personalized client interactions. The platform has better tools for scheduling, consultations, and client management (built-in DMs, client portal, landing page builder, calendar, etc.) 

On the flip side, Pensight doesn’t offer as much in terms of product variety, detailed analytics, or native integrations.

Why I picked Pensight

Pensight is a lighter solution than Shopify, but it offers more for creators who want to sell their expertise and digital products. There are discount codes, payment in installments for your customers, unlimited funnels, email marketing, automation, pixel tracking, and your own affiliate program. 

Standout features

• Built-in marketing features (email automation, broadcasts, funnels, affiliate program, etc.)
• Custom domain
• Unlimited links
• Unlimited video calls (+recordings)
• Customizable design (no Pensight logo, various themes, background colors, fonts, Open Graph customization)
• Advanced native analytics (earnings, page traffic, link clicks, etc.)
• Native marketing tools (partner programs, coupons, website embeds)
• Built-in chat

Products you can sell

Courses, one-on-one sessions, video Q&A, memberships, group programs, subscriptions, pay-for-what-you-want, and digital downloads.

Integrations

Pensight only supports integrations through Zapier. You can connect to Mailchimp, MailerLite, Flodesk, Sendy, Google Sheets, Google Calendar, Gmail, Outlook, ActiveCampaign, OpenAI, Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, TikTok Pixel, etc.

Pricing

Starter Plan: Pro ($29 a month)

• 0% transaction fees
• 3% Stripe fees
• Buy-now-pay-later support from Klarna and Affirm
• Analytics and marketing features
• Email collection
• Automated testimonials

Best Value Plan: Biz ($99 a month)

• Everything from the Pro plan
• Growth support package (onboarding with an expert, free courses migration, 1:1 marketing review, etc.)

Overall, Pensight wins for digital stuff, offering more features for the price. However, this might not last long, since they’ve already axed their free Basic tier. I’d recommend Pensight for building a highly personalized coaching business. Yet if you are looking for something more versatile with, say, branded merch, Shopify is more suited for that.

How to migrate from Shopify

To migrate from Shopify, you must export the data you need and use it to set up your new online store. After that, test that everything is working, tell your customers about the change, and update your links everywhere to point people to the new platform. The table below tells you what you can and cannot export from Shopify.

Steps to migrate from Shopify

1. Export everything from Shopify
Download products, customers, and orders as CSVs. Save a list of every product, with name, price, description, and images. Screenshot your homepage layout, product pages, and any checkout apps or form customizations. Copy down email flows, shipping settings, and any key rules or automations.

2. Build on your new platform
Pick your new eCommerce platform and create your store. Depending on the platform you choose, upload your product CSV if supported or add everything manually. Recreate your categories, pricing, and delivery methods. Set up payment processors, taxes, and shipping rules.

3. Test before you flip the switch
Place a test order. Make sure payment works, confirmation emails are sent, and any digital products are delivered. Double-check that your shipping, tax, and fulfillment flows are right. If you used customer accounts, test that logins and resets work as expected. Fix anything that breaks.

4. Let customers know what’s happening
Email your list and tell them about the move. Let them know how to access past purchases and what’s changing. Provide dates and instructions for logging in or reordering. Make an FAQ to explain anything important. Be ready to help anyone who needs support.

5. Make the switch
Change your domain settings so your website now points to the new store. Update all links in emails, ads, and social. Monitor orders and fix bugs fast. Keep Shopify live a little longer if needed. Once the new platform handles everything smoothly, cancel Shopify.

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The process can vary depending on the platform you’re moving to. If you’re switching to Sellfy, the steps are mostly the same, but there are a few Sellfy-specific details to know.

On the Starter plan, I’ll need to manually import my data into Sellfy after exporting it from Shopify, as product migration is only available on the Business and Premium plans. However, email list import is free and available on all plans and will take about 1-2 business days to complete. That makes it easy to let people know I’ve moved to Sellfy and keep my audience in the loop.

Which Shopify alternative should you choose?

After comparing all these platforms, I can confidently say that we have a clear winner: Sellfy gives you everything you need and some things that you didn’t even know you needed. All that without nickel-and-diming you with commissions and overall at a lower cost for the value it offers.

However, which is the perfect fit specifically for you depends largely on your vision for your online store and your unique talents. If you are laser-focused on print-on-demand, Teemil might be a good place to start as a newbie. Etsy will suit you if you want to expose your creations to a global audience. 

If you own a large business or plan on growing fast soon, ThriveCart or Hostinger might be what you are looking for, especially if you value hands-on approach or have a developer on your staff. SquareSpace, Wix, and Pensight will offer elegant and easy-to-use solutions to display your work as a small independent creator.

If saving money is your priority, Shift4Shop is a comprehensive free platform that is absolutely worth considering, despite being a bit old-fashioned and clunky. If SEO and content marketing is your superpower – go on and try to tame WooCommerce.

Every platform has its unique value and serves a specific type of seller it was created for. Try to weigh all your strengths and goals realistically before you invest any of your hard-earned money in a long-term subscription – believe me, sunken cost fallacy is very real, and choosing the right one from the start is easier than migrating.

FAQ

What is the best alternative to Shopify?

After testing all 10 platforms on this list, Sellfy was the one I’d recommend to most creators. It does pretty much everything Shopify does (storefronts, payments, marketing, analytics), but you can launch in under 10 minutes without watching a single tutorial. The big difference is focus. Shopify is built for retail merchants who ship physical inventory. Sellfy is built for creators who sell e-books, courses, presets, templates, music, software, or print-on-demand merch.

What is the cheapest alternative to Shopify?

Shift4Shop is technically the cheapest because it’s free for U.S. merchants who use its built-in payment processor. The catch is the U.S.-only requirement and the dependency on Shift4’s payments. If you’re outside the U.S., or you want flexibility on payment processors, Sellfy’s Starter plan at $29/month is the most cost-effective option I tested.

Which Shopify alternative is best for selling digital products?

Sellfy was the only platform on this list where I didn’t have to install a single app to sell a digital product properly. PDF stamping, license keys, pay-what-you-want pricing, and subscription downloads are all built in. On Shopify, every one of those features is a paid third-party app, and the per-app fees add up fast. WooCommerce is a close second if you’re already on WordPress and don’t mind plugin-stacking, but the setup is a project, not an afternoon.

Can I switch from Shopify without losing my products and customers?

Yes, and the migration is less scary than most people think. Almost every alternative accepts CSV imports for products and customers exported straight out of your Shopify admin. The part to plan carefully is SEO. Before you flip the switch, list every Shopify URL that gets organic traffic, then set up 301 redirects from each old URL to the matching page on the new platform. Update your sitemap, resubmit it in Google Search Console, and watch your traffic rebound within a few weeks. Skip the redirects, and you’ll lose rankings for months.

What are Shopify’s main disadvantages?

Three things kept coming up across my testing. First, the real cost. The $39/month sticker price is just the entry point. Add transaction fees on third-party gateways, paid apps for features that should be standard, and a paid theme, and a small store easily lands at $80 to $150 a month. Second, the learning curve. Shopify is powerful, but you’ll spend real hours figuring out apps, themes, and settings before your first sale. Third, the physical-product bias. If you’re selling digital goods, you’re constantly working around features designed for inventory and shipping you don’t have.

The post Top 10 Shopify Alternatives I Put to Test in 2026 appeared first on Sellfy.

As the world’s top photo-sharing social networking app, Instagram has quickly become the go-to platform for selling art online in 2025. 

According to Statista, Instagram has had more than 2 billion monthly active users worldwide since 2021. 60% of users go on Instagram to discover new products and 90% tend to follow a brand, business, or influencer.

This is great news for anyone wanting to use social media to sell art and connect with potential customers across the globe. So, if you’ve ever wondered how to become a famous artist on Instagram, you’ve just come to the right place on the internet.

We’re about to share some great Instagram tips for artists, and show you how to start selling art on Instagram in just four steps:

1. Set up an Instagram Creator Account
2. Link to your website
3. Get your art noticed on Instagram
4. Promote & sell your art on Instagram

Are you ready to set a new goal and become one of the top-selling artists on Instagram? Then let’s get started!

Step 1: Set up an Instagram Creator Account

The first step to selling art on Instagram is setting up an Instagram Creator Account (if you already have one, skip this part and go to step #2).

Having a professional profile provides a better marketing experience and helps fans connect to your art. According to Instagram, the Creator Account is best for public figures, content producers, artists, and influencers.

With the Creator Account, you get access to:

• Instagram Insights (an overview of your top posts and videos, audience’s demographics, overall reach, and other metrics).
• More profile information (contact options and info, category label, etc.).
• Advanced DM sorting (primary, general, and message requests).
• Promotions, branded content, etc.

As you can see, you can get so much more out of a professional profile than a personal one. 

Here’s how to set up an Instagram Creator Account for selling art:

1. Go to your profile and tap the hamburger menu on the top right of the screen.
2. Then tap  Settings at the top of the menu.
3. From your Settings menu, tap Account.
4. Scroll to the bottom and tap Switch account type.
5. If you have a Business Account, select Switch to Creator Account.
6. If you have a personal account, select Switch to Professional Account, and then the Creator box from the next menu.

Now that you’ve switched to the Creator Account, it’s time to polish the look of your profile!

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Create your Instagram aesthetic

The look and feel of your Instagram profile must stand out to attract new followers. People tend to judge a profile within seconds of seeing it for the first time (up to 90 percent of this judgment is based on color). Even Instagram has advised users to go for a cohesive look for their accounts. 

This is particularly important for artists whose profiles are viewed as portfolios of their art. In other words, treat your Instagram profile as your very own homepage and pay special attention to your:

• Feed—the perfect place for showing off your artwork and behind-the-scenes footage.
• Username—pick a name that represents your art.
• Category label—select Art, Artist, Designer, or Graphic Designer.
• Story Highlights—use your art icons as cover images for the highlights (e.g. FAQ, resources, commissions, wallpapers, reviews, tools, Q&A, etc.).
• Profile picture—an image that represents your art, logo, or username.
• Bio—write an attractive bio using relevant emojis, or special text font.

Ideally, the entire account should reflect your identity and unique art style.

And, last but not least, if you have a Facebook Page for your art, don’t forget to connect it to your Instagram account:

1. Tap Edit Profile.
2. Tap Page under Profile information.
3. Select your Facebook Page.

Step 2: Link to your website

Before you can start selling art on Instagram, you need to have a website where people can buy or download your art.

Most artists without a website tend to go for Etsy. While selling on Etsy is good for exposure due to its high traffic, the fees eventually stack up and you’ll end up with no control over your store. 

Another factor that makes it hard for artists to stand out is the tough competition. Your product needs to have a very high market demand to get found in the marketplace.

Moreover, there are no instant payouts nor store customization. As an artist, you probably want to make sure that your store matches your art, right? The only way to make that happen is to have a fully customizable website, such as a white-label Sellfy store.

What is Sellfy?

Sellfy is an easy-to-use eCommerce solution with a good deal of features made for selling custom products (like print-on-demand merchandise). One of the platform’s main attractions is its diverse range of product types—from digital items and subscriptions to physical products.

Unlike most platforms, Sellfy’s setup process is incredibly smooth and easy. You can build a mobile-ready art store in less than five minutes.

Sellfy has everything an artist needs:

• A PayPal integration (read our how to sell on Instagram with PayPal guide)
• File security and unlimited bandwidth
• Quick payment processing
• In-built marketing tools
• Unlimited products

In fact, Sellfy was specifically designed for artists like you who want to sell digital art online without any hassles.

Set up your art store with Sellfy

Ready to build your art store? 

Here’s how to sign up for Sellfy in three steps:

1. Choose a subscription plan or start a 14-day free trial (you can upgrade your account at any time to enjoy more features).
2. Once your email address has been verified, log in and go to the Products section to pick a product type (digital or physical products, print on demand, etc.), and upload your designs.
3. Customize your store to match your art, and use every Sellfy feature to your advantage (for example, you can download Sellfy’s mobile app to keep track of new orders)!

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Add your art store link to your Instagram Bio

The bio section is the first thing that people see when they find your Instagram profile. Use this to your advantage! Add your Sellfy store link to your bio so that interested customers know where to buy your art.

Follow these steps to add your store link:

1. From your Instagram profile page, tap Edit Profile. 
2. Tap Website and simply copy-paste your Sellfy store URL.
3. If the URL is too long, you can shorten it with Bitly.
4. Write “link in bio” in your captions to refer followers to the link.

Pro tip: Did you know that you can also share multiple links in your posts? With Linkin.bio, you can drive even more traffic from Instagram to your Sellfy store.

Step #3: Get your art noticed on Instagram

Now that you know how to set up an art store and link to your website, you’re probably thinking:

How do I get my artwork noticed on Instagram?

So, let’s go over a few Instagram tips for artists and find out!

Use the best Instagram hashtags for artists

Every time you make a post, use up to 30 different hashtags to get your art noticed on Instagram. But, not just any hashtags—you need to sort out which ones are the best hashtags for artists and then use them in your content.

For instance, here’s a great list of hashtags you can use to get your art noticed on Instagram:

The trick here is to use multiple low-density hashtags (below 1M) as opposed to high-density ones (more than 1M). Why? Because too many high-density hashtags will get your art lost in an endless sea of other art posts. So, you want to make sure that you only use around 1-3 high-density hashtags.

Pro tip: Another way to discover hashtags for artists is by browsing accounts similar to yours and checking what they’re using.

Tag up to 20 Instagram accounts to get featured

Aside from using Instagram hashtags, you can also tag up to 20 different artist accounts in your posts. By doing so, you might be able to get a better reach and outsmart Instagram’s algorithm should a tagged account repost your art.

To find such accounts, research one of the trending hashtags on Instagram and you’ll find posts by different artists. Check out their profiles and see if they feature art aside from their own. 

You can also search for niche accounts that regularly share art memes by all sorts of artists. For example, if your art is about mental health awareness, you can use keywords like self-care or mental health to find relevant profiles. Or, if fantasy art is your niche, you can try keywords like witchy, occult, astrology, etc. 

Add Instagram alt text to your images

You’re probably wondering what alt text is:

Simply put, Instagram alt text literally describes what is on your photo. 

Why should you care about that, though? Most Instagram users aren’t aware of this, but it’s a very clever way to rank better on Google. So, be sure to include it in your SEO strategy!

Here’s how to add alt text to your Instagram posts:

1. Tap on the + plus icon at the top to create a post.
2. Choose an image and go Next.
3. Adjust your image or add a filter and go Next again.
4. On the New post page, scroll to the bottom and tap on Advanced settings.
5. Scroll to the bottom again and tap on Write alt text.
6. Write a maximum of 100 characters to describe your image.

And voilà—now, watch Google do its SEO magic! 

Create engaging content and give out freebies

In addition to using hashtags, account tagging, and alt text, you should also keep your followers engaged with as much interactive content as possible.

There are several ways to do that. However, keep in mind that the real key to getting noticed lies in consistency and high-quality content. Instagram’s algorithm takes your level of activity into account, so the more actively you post, the higher the chances of getting noticed.

With that said, let’s jump right into how to increase your presence on Instagram!

One is to come up with art tutorials, personality quizzes, or Q&A polls. For instance, you can gamify your Instagram Stories with personality test templates featuring your art (e.g. “This or that?” or “What character are you?”), and then ask people to tag you in their results. This is one of the most effective methods for getting your art noticed on Instagram. 

Many artists also use Instagram Reels and Stories to show some behind-the-scenes footage such as packing customers’ orders, artwork in progress, new designs, etc. And, some of them go live on Instagram to connect with their followers, share important updates, or news. You can also use IGTV to tell your fans about your personal brand story or journey into art—anything that is inspirational!

If you’ve researched the best hashtags for artists, you may have noticed that reels are always featured at the very top of the Explore page. This is a major clue that video content attracts the most attention! To give your video content an artistic touch, make sure you check out Instagram’s vast collection of filters.

Another popular way to spread the word is to give out freebies or do giveaways. People love free stuff! For example, you can create a separate highlight for phone wallpapers designed by you. However, if you do that, make sure your IG username is on every freebie so that interested users can find your profile. The more people love your freebies, the more traffic you’ll get! 

Pro tip: You can also make it possible for users to get freebies directly from your Sellfy store.

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Step 4: Promote & sell your art on Instagram

With more than 1 billion people in the world scrolling through endless heaps of Instagram content, how do you make them buy your product?

There are a couple of good old marketing strategies that you can use.

But, before we dive into all that, you need to…

Figure out what products you’re going to sell

By selling art on Instagram, you’re shooting two birds with one stone—promoting your artwork while guiding followers into your sales funnel.

Most Instagram artists sell:

• Merchandise (mostly print on demand products like t-shirts, hoodies, etc.)
• Stationery or accessories (notebooks, journals, stickers, prints, etc.)
• Digital items (wallpapers, logos, fonts, portraits, Instagram Highlights icons, etc.)

With a Sellfy store, you’ll be able to upload digital art, sell photos, prints, or crafts on Instagram, and so much more.

For example, you can easily create merch with your designs using Sellfy’s print-on-demand service. All you need to do is upload your art files, add them to products, and Sellfy will take care of the rest!

Having an automated merch business is an excellent way to earn passive income as an Instagram artist. While there are several print-on-demand products available, I’d recommend selling clothing (in a recent study, Statista confirmed that clothing is the most popular online shopping category).

So, if you already have a Sellfy store, why not give print on demand (POD) a try? 

Here’s how to create your merch with Sellfy:

1. Log into your Sellfy store and head to the Products section.
2. Select Print on demand and choose one or several product categories.
3. Upload your designs and add them to products.
4. Click Continue to name your products, set prices, and write descriptions.
5. Hit Save product and check your store page.

Important note about image quality: Please follow Sellfy’s print-on-demand tips and best practices to prepare the perfect design file. This is crucial for achieving great print quality.

Remember that you can always go beyond merch and sell any type of art product on Instagram as long as you have a Sellfy store!

But, now you’re probably thinking:

How do you sell things on Instagram? How do I promote my art on Instagram? 

While the key to making money as an artist is largely tied to consistency and the products you’re selling, it’s also important to know how to market your art on Instagram.

Essentially, there are two ways to do that: using paid ads or free marketing tools. Let’s check out both.

Collect social proof & use word-of-mouth marketing

90% of people tend to buy from brands they trust and the same applies to artists. There’s nothing more convincing than fans, friends, and family members gushing about your products on Instagram!

So, go ahead and encourage them to tag you in their:

• Product reviews and feedback (e.g. posts or videos about receiving and opening your package, checking the product quality, sharing their experiences and excitement, etc.)
• Product showcasing posts (e.g. wearing your merch in their photos or videos)

Pro tip: To make social proof really work for you, keep an eye out for every single post and video about your art products on social media! Screenshot and repost everyone’s reviews in your stories, and then save them in one of your highlights. For example, you can create a highlight called “Reviews” or “Happy Fans” so that people can see how many customers love your art.

Get the most out of Instagram Stories, IGTV & Reels

At this point, I probably sound like a broken record, but I absolutely cannot stress how important it is to create video content.

Not only will it help you stay on top of Instagram’s algorithm, but you can also use videos to promote and sell your art online. For example, you can:

• Create reels to give your fans a sneak peek of an upcoming product launch.
• Go live to announce your merch and share important news.
• Promote special offers and give discounts in Stories.
• Add your Sellfy store link to your stories (if your account is verified or has more than 10,000 followers).

Adding links to your Instagram Stories is one of the most effective ways to increase store traffic.

Here’s how to add links to Instagram Stories:

1. Take a photo or video, or use an existing one in your camera roll.
2. From the stories window, tap the chain icon to add your store link.
3. Enter the destination URL and tap the checkmark when you’re done.

Pro tip: To make video content really work for you, showcase yourself wearing your merch or designs in your stories, reels, and IGTV. Not sure how to use IGTV? No worries, just head over to our article on how to use IGTV for your brand.

Do art commissions on Instagram

If you’re mainly interested in selling digital products, you can do art commissions on Instagram. While it’s more time-consuming than e.g. selling merch, it’s a sure-fire way to get sales and make your fans happy. 

Most, if not all, top-selling artists on Instagram do commissions regularly, such as:

• Logos and web branding for small businesses, bloggers, YouTube channels, etc.
• Illustrations for physical products like book covers, business cards, etc.
• Custom portraits for fans, or entrepreneurs, and social media influencers.
• Animations for Twitch streamers and gamers.

Here’s how to do art commissions on Instagram:

1. Figure out what types of commissions you want to do.
2. Use Canva’s Instagram Story templates to write down your guidelines. 
3. Share the templates in your stories to announce your commissions.
4. Add the stories to a separate highlight called “Commissions”.
5. Every now and then, make a post to refer more people to your commissions.
6. Mention it in your captions and bio.

Use Instagram Shopping and Advertising

Another bulletproof way to get more traffic and sales is to use Instagram ads. Creating an Instagram ad campaign means you’ll be posting sponsored content to reach a larger and more targeted audience.

To get started, decide on a goal and a budget for your campaign, and then pick one of the following options:

• Photo ads (e.g. an image promoting your artwork)
• Video ads (e.g. showcasing your merch or other products)
• Stories ads (more than 500M+ accounts use Stories daily)
• Carousel ads (a set of photos or videos in a single ad)
• Collection ads (a collection of your products in image or video format)
• Ads in Explore (200M+ daily users check the Explore page)
• Slideshow ads (a series of still images that play as a slideshow)

To create Instagram ads:

1. Tap Promote under your Instagram posts.
2. Use the Ad Manager on your Facebook Page.

Pro tip: Aside from ads, you can also use Instagram Shopping to sell physical goods like merch. However, you’ll have to switch from the Creator Account to the Business one to unlock it. With Instagram Shopping, you’ll be able to connect your Instagram account to your Facebook shop (if you have an existing Facebook Page for your art). Once you’ve set it up, you can start adding product tags and stickers to your Instagram posts and stories. To learn more, follow Facebook’s guide on how to set up Instagram Shopping.

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Ready to start selling your art on Instagram?

We’ve covered just about every possible way for you to promote and sell your art on Instagram—it’s up to you to make it happen! The revenue you can earn from selling art on social media is enormous, so if you’ve wanted to do this on Instagram for a while, now’s the time. Good luck and feel free to tell us about your success in the comments below!

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Brazilian illustrator Adilson Farias takes that raw, paint-on-paper feel and turns it into digital brush packs for apps like Procreate, Photoshop, and Infinite Painter. 

What began as a personal experiment to speed up his own illustration workflow soon caught the attention of thousands of artists online. Followers kept asking how he achieved such realistic digital watercolor effects, so Adilson turned his tools into products and launched his own online storefront. 

Since then, what started as a side project turned into a full-time business generating steady five figures a year. By combining his expertise and style with practical digital tools, Adilson now helps illustrators around the world bring the warmth and character of traditional art into their digital creations.

How would you describe your business to someone who has never heard about this industry?

Sometimes it’s difficult to explain my business to people outside the digital illustration world, because many still associate art with only physical materials.

I transform my experience with watercolor, pencils, and other traditional art techniques into digital tools for artists. I create digital brushes, files that work in apps such as Procreate, Infinite Painter, and Photoshop, allowing artists to digitally simulate the organic feel, textures, and beautiful imperfections of traditional techniques.

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My work is similar to carefully preparing an art supply box, choosing the paper type, textures, and pigments. The key difference is that instead of selling physical paints or pencils, I offer this experience in a digital environment.

When someone uses my brushes, they’re not just downloading a file. I put many years of study, testing, and my unique artistic vision into every product, and that’s what my customers are really buying.

When and how did you start creating brush packs? What motivated you to create your online store?

I come from a career as a children’s book illustrator and have always worked combining traditional and digital techniques. Much of the market I worked in was the Brazilian editorial industry, where watercolour style is highly requested.

While I was working there, I began experimenting with ways to simulate traditional watercolor in Photoshop to work faster. At first, I used only the default brushes and, after many tests and experiments, I achieved a very convincing, organic-looking result.

When I started posting my artworks on Instagram, many people asked what materials I had used, such as paper or paint brands, without realizing that the work was entirely digital. That’s when it clicked.

Over time, followers began asking me to teach this technique, which led me to create an online digital watercolor course. During this process, I realized I needed to develop my own brushes to achieve the results I was teaching.

My online course performed very well, but I soon noticed that many people were especially interested in the brushes themselves. So, I decided to sell them separately and was surprised by the demand. From that point on, I focused on developing digital brush packs, initially for Photoshop and today mainly for Procreate, which is where the majority of demand comes from.

What were the most important factors that contributed to the success of your online business?

I think it really came down to consistently building products that actually make a difference for the customer.

There are many similar products available today, but my focus has always been on developing tools that are easy to use and deliver the results artists expect. It’s not about offering just another option, but about solving a real problem and simplifying the creative process.

Another key factor was learning to deeply understand my audience. Understanding their challenges and expectations helped both in product development and in how I communicate and market my work.

For me, it was the mix of solid product quality, a smooth user experience, and messaging that actually resonated with the right audience.

Do you have a team or do you manage everything yourself?

Currently, I manage all aspects of the business myself. I have experimented with collaborating with others in the past, but since this business model does not require a large operational structure, I prefer to keep the process under my direct control.

This allows me to oversee every stage, from brush creation to customer support, marketing, and product development, ensuring consistency in quality and identity.

I don’t rule out expanding the team in the future, but for now, a lean structure gives me more freedom and speed in decision-making and execution.

How do you approach marketing? Which channels and tactics work best for you?

My marketing approach is mainly based on showing the product in use. I mostly rely on paid traffic on social media, especially short videos demonstrating the painting process, using the brushes in practice.

I’ve realized over time that my audience engages and responds much better when they can see what’s possible with my brushes, rather than traditional sales-focused campaigns. Because of that, I’d say my marketing tends to be more demonstration-based and educational than promotional.

Plus, I am quite diligent with my content. I constantly analyze audience behavior and adjust my campaigns based on engagement and conversion data. I’d say the more aggressive or overly commercial strategies haven’t worked well for me, while authentic artistic content does build trust and delivers better results.

How much revenue have you been able to generate with your Sellfy storefront?

Today, my digital product business has become my primary source of income, and it’s something I work on full-time.

Selling my digital brushes through Sellfy evolved from a side experiment into a consistent business that currently generates annual revenue in the five-figure USD range. This allowed me to reduce dependence on commissioned work and build a more scalable and predictable income stream, which I’m very grateful for. 

Thanks to this shift from freelance work to running my own business, I have so much more creative freedom to develop new products and personal projects.

Why did you choose Sellfy for your online business?

Before Sellfy, I used another e-commerce platform. However, as my business grew, their fees became too high, and the level of support they offered couldn’t keep up with my business growth.

And since I run the whole business alone, I needed a platform that doesn’t require complex management, and Sellfy offers that. 

So, I decided to migrate to Sellfy because it offers a simple, more balanced solution with predictable costs, greater storefront customization, and very practical tools for product management. 

Another important factor was the responsiveness of the support team whenever I needed assistance. They have 24/7 support across time zones, and getting in touch is very simple and quick.

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Who would you recommend Sellfy to?

I would recommend Sellfy mainly to independent creators, artists, and anyone selling digital products who want a straightforward and efficient e-commerce solution.

It’s great for self-reliant creators like me who prefer to focus on developing their products and building an audience instead of dealing with complex technical setups.

What were the most challenging situations in managing your business, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge was definitely transitioning from being a freelance artist providing services to becoming an entrepreneur.

For many years, my focus was on simply creating illustrations for clients. Building my own digital business required lots of learning about many areas outside the traditional artistic field, such as strategy, marketing, sales, and financial decision-making.

This transition wasn’t easy because I had to navigate a lot of uncertainty, but it also brought an important shift in my mindset. Over time, I realized entrepreneurship didn’t mean leaving art behind, but rather gaining control over my career and creating more sustainable ways to make a living from my creative work.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to build a digital product business in the digital brushes or visual arts niches?

My main advice would be to avoid creating just another generic product. Focus on developing products with personality and a clear purpose. 

For example, there is already a large supply of technically similar brushes in the market, so you’re unlikely to create something completely new. The real difference lies in creating tools that express a specific artistic vision and solve real creative needs. When a product has a unique identity, it becomes part of the artist’s visual language and brand rather than being just another tool.

Also, it’s important to think beyond the file itself. A strong digital product has to offer a good usability experience, clarity of purpose, and long-term consistency. Creators who treat their brushes as authorial products tend to build stronger and longer-lasting relationships with their audience.

Finally, I want you to remember that sustainable growth takes time. Success comes from continuously evolving your product, listening to the community, and maintaining a long-term vision for who you want to be and what type of products you want to build.

The post How Adilson Farias turned digital brushes into a full-time income appeared first on Sellfy.

There are plenty of people without millions of subscribers that do good numbers on YouTube. Which makes many of us wonder how many subscribers you really need to start earning an income.

In this post, you’ll learn about YouTube’s partner program and its requirements and other means of monetization that are far more lucrative.

YouTube Partner Programm

The first step in monetizing your YouTube account is joining the YouTube Partner Program. The YouTube Partner Program is a monetization program that helps creators make money when people view their videos through advertisements.

Since Google owns YouTube, the program uses Google AdSense to display ads of your choosing. With the YouTube Partner Program, you are free to choose what kind of ads and videos you want and don’t want to use to monetize your content. Your options for ads include commercials that play before your video, a banner underneath your video, or an ad above suggested videos on the right.

When a viewer watches or clicks on a commercial or ad, you receive a small commission. This could be a few cents to a couple of dollars per view or click. The amount of money you receive depends on several factors including the advertiser’s bid, the type of content being shown, and the length of your video.

The YouTube Partner Program requires you to apply to monetize your YouTube channel. But once you are accepted, you will be able to start converting your viewers and subscribers into an income!

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What are the requirements?

YouTube has recently announced several new eligibility requirements for joining their Partner Program in order to avoid spammers, impersonators, and others with bad intentions from detracting from channels with quality content.

To be eligible for the YouTube Partner Program, your channel must have:

• You’re based in a permitted country (check if your country is listed here)
• The channel must have 1000 subscribers
• The channel must have at least 40,000 watched hours

Once your account meets these requirements, you can begin the application process which involves agreeing to their terms and conditions, signing up for Google AdSense, and setting your monetization preferences.

You’re a member of the YouTube Partner Program! Now what?

According to the YouTube Partner Program requirements, you need at least 1,000 subscribers to be eligible to monetize your account through their program. However, there are a lot of factors that contribute to receiving a substantial payout from AdSense.

As you already know, the amount of money you can make on YouTube varies due to the nature of ads and what kind of viewership you have. Some ads pay per view, but many ads pay per click. To get the most out of your ad revenue, you want to have a high viewer engagement rate. The more viewers you have interacting with your ads, the more money you will make. While you can’t control how enticing each displayed ad is to your viewers, you can control what kinds of ads appear in your videos.

The success of your ads depends on how well they match your audience’s interests, as well as the length of your video. Think about it. A 30-minute video gives a viewer 30 minutes to click on an ad as opposed to a video that’s only 5 minutes. It also gives Google AdSense more chances to display relevant ads, especially when considering the timed commercials that play throughout a video.

When you initially enter your monetization and ad preferences, make sure to only choose ads that will appeal to your target audience. This includes topics, colors, and formats that are guaranteed to get your viewers’ attention.

Metrics are just as important

The best way to determine your videos’ success is by looking at your channel’s metrics and analytics. These not only tell you how well your videos are performing, but how likely you are to start increasing the money you make via ads and other monetization methods.

There are three main ratios that help you gauge how your channel is doing:

Likes to Views Ratio

The likes to views ratio shows how popular your videos are. If a viewer really likes your video, if it provided them with unique content and they found high value in it, they will take the time to give it a like. Tubular Insights states that for every 100 views, you should get at least 4 comments.

Comments to Views Ratio

Comments to views will tell you about what kind of engagement your videos are getting. Just like with ads, high engagement is an important goal. The more people who interact with your video, the more likely they are to interact with your ads. A good comments to views ratio is 5% according to Tubular Insights, so 5 comments for every 100 views.

Subscriber-to-view Ratio

Your subscriber-to-view ratio tells you what percentage of your subscribers are watching your videos. Views per video will vary widely. You could have thousands of subscribers and only receive a few hundred views for one video but 100k on the next. When you average everything together, you want to shoot for a subscriber-to-view ratio of at least 14% according to Tubular Insights.

However, the more subscribers and views you start to receive, the harder it will be to keep this ratio high. If your subscriber-to-view ratio doesn’t reach 14%, it isn’t an indication of failure. Take the popular YouTuber PewDiePie. He has 55 million subscribers and receives about 4 million views per video. That’s a subscriber-to-view ratio of a little over 7% but he is still receiving millions of views per video and making $12 million a year. Metrics like these are great measurement tools but can be subjective to your content or audience.

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Better ways to earn from your subscribers

The YouTube Partner Program is far from the only way of monetizing your YouTube channel. There are plenty of ways to make money on YouTube without ads. Below are a few.

5x your income selling digital products

One of the most profitable ways of earning money on YouTube is by selling your own digital products.

The best part?

You don’t need 100,000 subscribers for this. Heck, 1000 subscribers can be enough to get you started. We actually have a guide on this. ( 4 Step system to earn 1000$ from 1000 followers ).

You could sell items such as:

• E-books
• Lightroom Presets
• Stock Photography
• Courses

And 100 more. Here’s a list of 101 great product ideas.

And so much more! The possibilities are endless when it comes to creating and selling digital products. And the profit could be incredible! Take Sorelle Amore who made $25k by selling her presets on Sellfy. All you have to do is create your own online shop and start adding links to your YouTube videos.

Here’s more on engaging YouTube video descriptions.

Talk about different products as an affiliate

Along with linking to your own merchandise on your YouTube videos, you can also add affiliate links to make money. Affiliate marketing is when a brand or product pays you a percentage of their sales when you refer a person and they buy their product. If you do affiliate videos just right, market them to the right people, and get high video views, you could easily make several thousand dollars a month through affiliate marketing on YouTube.

Great videos to encourage affiliate sales include:

• Product Reviews
• Product Tutorials
• Product Round-Ups

If you are just starting out and don’t have a large subscriber base, this is a great way to work towards landing sponsored posts.

Sponsored videos are booming

Another popular way to earn money on YouTube is through publishing sponsored videos. Sponsored videos are a lot like affiliate marketing in that you are recommending products, except you work directly with a brand and they pay you upfront for the entire video. Your income does not rely on how many products you sell, but usually on how many people will see your message.

There is no set subscriber amount to get sponsored but, usually, the more subscribers and views you have, the better. Brands want to know that their product will be advertised to plenty of people who would be interested in it. If your account isn’t huge but you still want to work with brands, a great way to win them over is by having, and pitching them, a good engagement rate.

Another factor that would help brands want to partner with you is by having the verification badge next to your channel’s name. The verification badge means you are an established creator, brand, or business. According to YouTube’s verification guidelines, you need a certain subscriber number to get verified and that number is 100,000.

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Turn subscribers into money

Making money on YouTube is something that everyone can do! It’s not just something for those “famous” on YouTube. If your audience also lives on TikTok, the same approach works there, selling from your TikTok bio with 0% commission only takes a Sellfy store link. With hard work and the knowledge to turn subscribers into an income, you will be making money on YouTube in no time!

The post How many subscribers do you need to make money on YouTube in 2026? appeared first on Sellfy.

Lemon Squeezy is awesome… right up until it isn’t.

It’s built first and foremost as a platform for running a SaaS business: subscriptions, licenses, tax, the whole Merchant of Record (MoR) package. That part, it does really well. But when you start leaning on its online store builder to run a “normal” storefront, the cracks show.

I’ve been there. So instead of another copy-paste “top 10” list, I put the most talked-about Lemon Squeezy alternatives through a simple, store-focused test: how fast can you launch a shop, how much can you customize, what does it really cost, and does it help you sell more without duct-taping five tools together?

This guide is all about that comparison: how Lemon Squeezy’s store builder stacks up against 10 other platforms, from storefront-first tools and free starters, to course-friendly all-in-ones, conversion-driven carts, and link-in-bio stores.

If Lemon Squeezy feels a bit “too SaaS” for how you actually sell, one of these will fit better as an.

How I tested Lemon Squeezy alternatives

For each Lemon Squeezy alternative, I ran the same basic process:

1. Signed up for a free plan or a free trial
2. Built a simple store or checkout page
3. Added at least one digital product
4. Added a physical product if the tool supports it
5. Tweaked themes, colors, and layout
6. Tested discounts, coupons, and basic marketing tools
7. Checked how pricing and fees compare to Lemon Squeezy

Then I scored each alternative to Lemon Squeezy on:

• Standout features
• Ease of use
• Storefront design and customization
• Product types you can sell
• Integrations
• Marketing and sales tools
• Pricing and transaction fees

The goal is simple. If you’re wondering where to sell other than Lemon Squeezy, this list should give you a clear next step.

Note: Pricing plans below reflect public information at the time of writing. Double-check each platform’s pricing and docs before committing.

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Sites like Lemon Squeezy at a glance

Here’s a side-by-side look at the 10 platforms like Lemon Squeezy I rate highest. Ease of use and Customizability are scored on a 1–10 scale (1 = worst, 10 = best).

Platform	Ease of use (1 - 10)	Customization (1 - 10)	Best for	Pricing
	9	7	$0-budget sellers who want a real store without feature paywalls	Free ($0/month + 5% fee)
	8	7	SaaS founders selling globally who want taxes, billing, and compliance handled for them.	Free ($0/month + 5% fee)
	8	6	Solo educators building courses + community	$33/month (+ 5% fee)
	10	6	First-time sellers shipping a simple product fast (small-scale testing)	No monthly fee (10% + $0.50/transaction)
	7	8	Conversion-focused marketers selling a core offer with upsells	$79/month
	9	6	Social-first creators selling directly from Instagram/TikTok/YouTube	$29/month
	7	9	Large-scale e-commerce with growing physical catalogs	$27/month
	6	10	WordPress users who want maximum control and own the stack	Core plugin is free
	8	9	Funnel marketers who want a pay-once cart for optimized checkouts	$495 (one-time)
	9	5	Artists and makers selling a small product lineup without complexity	Free

Top 10 Lemon Squeezy alternatives I put to the test this year

Here’s my full breakdown of the 10 Lemon Squeezy competitors that held up in testing, starting with my top pick, then moving through the rest based on what each platform does best.

Payhip: Best free Lemon Squeezy alternative

If you want platforms like Lemon Squeezy but need to start on a true $0 budget, Payhip is the most generous free plan I tested.

Every feature is available on every plan, including the free one. You get a hosted storefront, course builder, memberships, affiliate tools, discounts, and automatic EU/UK VAT handling.

The tradeoff is a 5% transaction fee on the Free Forever plan, which feels very similar to Lemon Squeezy’s 5% + $0.50 MoR fee. The difference is that Payhip lets you sell physical products, coaching, and more types of digital products from the same store.

Why I picked Payhip

I picked Payhip as the “accessibility” answer to Lemon Squeezy competitors. Payhip removes every starting barrier with its free plan. It’s easy to use, has more product types than Lemon Squeezy, and has decent customization and integration options.

Standout features

• Clean, simple store and checkout
• Built-in course builder with LMS features
• 24/7 support, even for free users
• Automatic EU VAT calculation and collection
• Marketing tools are included by default

Products you can sell

• Digital downloads
• Online courses 
• Coaching services 
• Memberships 
• Physical products 

Integrations

WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Calendly, Zoom, Chat (Payhip Store) Weebly, Zapier, Make, Pabbly, MailerLite, Mailchimp, Flodesk, Brevo, Gmail, EmailOctopus, PayPal, Stripe, Square, Mollie, Mercado Pago, Paystack, Bookvault, Discord, systeme.io

Pricing

Starting plan: Free Forever ($0/month + 5% transaction fee)

• All features
• Unlimited products
• Unlimited revenue

Best value plan: Plus ($29/month + 2% transaction fee)

• All features
• Unlimited products
• Unlimited revenue

Pros and cons