Gumroad vs Payhip vs Lemon Squeezy vs IndieStand: Which Platform Is Best for 2026?
A comprehensive comparison of the top digital product platforms. Discover which one fits your needs based on fees, features, customization, and long-term goals.
If you're a creator selling ebooks, templates, software, music, or other digital products, you've probably considered Gumroad, Payhip, Lemon Squeezy, or newer platforms like IndieStand.
But which one is actually best in 2026?
The truth: Each platform excels at something different — and depending on your goals, fees, and how much control you want, one may fit better than the others.
This guide breaks down:
- Pricing & platform fees
- Features
- Customization
- Checkout & payments
- VAT / sales tax handling
- Ownership & limitations
- Which platform fits which type of creator
- Where IndieStand fits into the landscape (without sugarcoating)
Quick Comparison Table (2026)
The most useful creator-focused comparison table online today — designed to be accurate, skimmable, and SEO-friendly.
Feature / Platform | Gumroad | Payhip | Lemon Squeezy | IndieStand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Platform Fees | 10% + $0.50 per sale | 0–5% depending on plan | 5% + $0.50 (includes card fees, MoR) | 0% platform fees ($12+/mo subscription), Stripe processing fees apply |
Payment Processing | Included (MoR since 2025) | Stripe + PayPal | Included (MoR) | Stripe Connect (seller owns payments) |
Merchant of Record | Yes (handles VAT/sales tax) | No | Yes — handles VAT/sales tax | No (creator is merchant) |
Payout Schedule | Configurable (default weekly) | Stripe: 2-7 days then per settings; PayPal instant | Twice-monthly ($50 min) | Instant via Stripe |
Product Types | Digital goods, memberships, courses | Digital goods, courses, subscriptions | Digital goods, software licensing | Templates, ebooks, digital goods, software, courses |
Storefront Customization | Limited | Moderate | Limited (custom domain option) | High — customizable themes + domains |
Branding Control | Gumroad-branded | Good | Lemon Squeezy branded (custom domain option) | Full branding + custom domain |
File Delivery | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent (R2-backed) |
Courses | Basic | Yes (course builder) | No | Early support (upload + deliver) |
Licensing / Software | Basic | None | Advanced (API licensing) | Basic (Stripe integration) |
EU VAT Handling | Handled automatically (MoR) | Tools available; not MoR | Handled automatically | Seller responsibility (Stripe Tax optional) |
Best For | Creators who don't mind fees | Beginners & budget-friendly sellers | Software + global tax compliance | Creators who want 0% fees + full ownership |
Deep Dive: Platform-by-Platform Analysis
Gumroad in 2026
Gumroad has been one of the most popular digital product platforms for over a decade. Now a Merchant of Record since 2025, it handles worldwide taxes automatically but charges 10% + $0.50 per sale.
Strengths:
- Extremely simple setup
- Huge brand familiarity
- Good for small, lightweight digital products
- Built-in audience browsing (small but present)
- Quick to get first product online
Limitations:
- High fees (10% + $0.50 + processing)
- Limited customization
- Storefront heavily Gumroad-branded
- Limited advanced product types or sales funnels
- Limited control over checkout experience
Best for:
Creators who want the simplest possible setup with automatic tax handling. Good for testing an idea quickly.
Payhip in 2026
Payhip is a popular low-fee alternative with a generous free plan (5% fees).
Strengths:
- 0% platform fee on higher plans ($99/mo Pro)
- Free plan option available
- Offers digital products, courses, memberships
- Supports both Stripe and PayPal
- Simple built-in VAT tools (seller responsible)
- Affordable for beginners
Limitations:
- Storefront design is limited
- Not a true merchant of record
- Analytics and customization are basic
- Stripe payouts: 2-7 days pending then per settings
- Limited advanced features
Best for:
Budget-conscious creators who want versatility and PayPal support. Great middle ground between simplicity and cost.
Lemon Squeezy in 2026
Lemon Squeezy exploded in popularity among developers and indie hackers as a full Merchant of Record.
Strengths:
- Merchant of Record — handles VAT, GST, sales tax automatically
- Beautiful UI and modern user experience
- Great for software: licensing keys, updates, subscription billing
- Accepts global payment methods without creator setup
- Embeddable storefront widgets
- Excellent developer documentation and API
Limitations:
- 5% + $0.50 fee includes everything but adds up
- Limited storefront customization
- Heavy Lemon Squeezy branding
- Twice-monthly payouts ($50 minimum)
- Higher total costs for high-volume sellers
Best for:
Developers selling software globally who want licensing and tax automation.
IndieStand in 2026
IndieStand is the newest platform — designed for creators who want full ownership, custom branding, and 0% platform fees (requires $12+/mo subscription).
Strengths:
- 0% platform fees — creators keep what they earn; Stripe standard payment processing fees apply
- Uses Stripe Connect (instant payouts, full ownership)
- Full storefront customization with themes
- Custom domains included
- Clean, modern UI
- No marketplace noise — your own branded site
- Fast, secure file delivery powered by Cloudflare R2
- Full control over pricing, bundles, offers
Limitations (honest & transparent):
- No Merchant of Record — handle taxes yourself (Stripe Tax optional)
- Paid subscription required ($12+/mo Starter)
- Newer ecosystem (fewer integrations)
- No marketplace discoverability
- Courses/memberships developing
- Slightly more setup than "upload and go"
Best for:
Serious creators who want 0% fees, full brand ownership, and long-term control.
Which Platform Should You Choose? (By Use Case)
For selling digital downloads (ebooks, templates, presets)
- IndieStand → Full control + 0% fees (Stripe fees apply)
- Gumroad → Simplest setup + auto taxes
- Payhip → PayPal + budget pricing
- Lemon Squeezy → If VAT compliance matters
For selling software, plugins, extensions
- Lemon Squeezy → Best licensing + taxes
- IndieStand → No fees + own domain (Stripe fees apply)
- Gumroad → Basic option
- Payhip → Not ideal
For creators who care about branding & design
- IndieStand (custom domains + themes)
- Payhip (moderate customization)
- Lemon Squeezy (limited)
- Gumroad (least control)
For creators who want the lowest cost
- IndieStand (0% + $12/mo sub; Stripe fees apply)
- Payhip (0% Pro plan)
- Lemon Squeezy (5% + $0.50)
- Gumroad (10% + $0.50)
For global tax compliance with minimal work
- Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy (true MoR)
- Others require Stripe Tax or similar
For course creators
- Payhip → Best built-in features
- IndieStand → Simple file delivery
- Gumroad → Basic support
- Lemon Squeezy → Not built for courses
Cost Comparison: What You Really Pay
$1,000 monthly sales:
Platform | Platform Fee | Payment Fees | Your Take |
|---|---|---|---|
Gumroad | $105 (10%+$0.50×20) | Included | ~$895 |
Payhip (Pro) | $0 (+$99/mo) | ~$29 | ~$971 |
Lemon Squeezy | $55 (5%+$0.50×20) | Included | ~$945 |
IndieStand | $0 (+$12/mo) | ~$29 (Stripe fees) | ~$971 |
$10,000/month: Gumroad ~$8,895; Payhip/IndieStand ~$9,710; Lemon ~$9,450 (subs fixed, fees scale).
The math is clear: Platform fees compound quickly as you scale.
Final Recommendation (No-Bias Version)
Choose Gumroad if:
Upload in 5 minutes with automatic taxes.
Choose Payhip if:
Budget-conscious with PayPal/courses.
Choose Lemon Squeezy if:
Software + global tax automation.
Choose IndieStand if:
0% fees, custom domain, full ownership ($12+/mo sub), Stripe fees still apply.
Switching Platforms: Is It Worth It?
Switch if:
- $500+/month sales
- Want branded domain
- Building long-term
- Own customer data
Stay if:
- Testing first product
- <$200/month
- No migration time
- Need MoR taxes
Migration: Export data, import products, redirect links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use multiple platforms?
Yes! Gumroad for discovery, IndieStand for direct sales.
Do I need Stripe for IndieStand?
Yes — owns your payments/customer data.
Customer support?
All offer email; Gumroad/Lemon have extensive docs.
Subscriptions?
- Gumroad: Basic memberships
- Payhip: Yes
- Lemon Squeezy: Excellent
- IndieStand: In development
Affiliates?
- Gumroad: Built-in
- Payhip: Available
- Lemon Squeezy: API
- IndieStand: Coming soon
The Bottom Line
No universal "best" — choose by your situation.
Starting: Payhip/Gumroad
Software: Lemon Squeezy
Preferring predictable pricing: IndieStand
Ship your product. Platform matters less than value created.
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