Gumroad Alternative: Compare Fees, Tax and File Delivery
PayRequest can replace Gumroad’s direct-sale workflow when you bring your audience and want payment links with digital delivery. First decide who will handle sales tax: Gumroad is a merchant of record; PayRequest is a billing and selling platform connected to your payment provider. This comparison covers payments through your own connected provider. Separately approved PayRequest Merchant of Record membership products have their own eligibility and terms; they are not included here.
Compare the full job, not just the fee
| Decision | PayRequest | Gumroad |
|---|---|---|
| Direct sales | Share a product or payment page with your audience | Sell through a profile or direct link |
| Platform pricing | Free: 2%, capped at €25 per standard successful payment; paid-plan terms below | Published direct-sale charge: 10% + $0.50; Discover: 30% |
| Sales-tax collection and remittance | You remain responsible for your seller obligations; verify your tax setup | Merchant of record handling applicable sales-tax collection and remittance |
| Audience discovery | Bring your customers and choose your own channels | Discover can bring marketplace customers at a different charge |
| Migration | Set up products and delivery; verify billing consent separately | Keep order records and resolve existing memberships before moving |
Worked example: 100 direct sales at $20
Assume $2,000 revenue from 100 successful direct sales. Gumroad’s published 10% + $0.50 charge is $250. PayRequest Free’s standard platform fee is $40, below the per-payment cap in this example. This is a platform-charge comparison only: it excludes payment processing, tax services, refunds, disputes, currency conversion and other applicable charges. Premium costs €5/month and Business €20/month; convert those subscription prices at your actual exchange rate before comparing. Provider charges still apply.
A low-risk switching checklist
- Step 1
Choose one existing file and keep its original license, version and customer instructions. Check that you own the rights to sell it.
- Step 2
Set up the product and delivery in PayRequest, connect your receiving account and verify your tax obligations.
- Step 3
Review the product page on mobile. Confirm the exact price and currency, file contents, contact details and delivery terms.
- Step 4
Test the purchase-to-download path using an appropriate test environment or an authorized transaction. A preview is not a completed payment.
- Step 5
Replace one direct link first. Keep historical receipts and support routes available. Existing subscribers and payment consent require a separate migration decision.
When keeping Gumroad may be the better choice
If you rely on marketplace discovery or merchant-of-record tax handling, a lower platform percentage may not outweigh the replacement work. Compare the value of those services before moving your catalog.
Compare standard platform charges
Illustrative estimate for equal-sized successful payments. Provider fees, tax, refunds, FX charges and commission-payment exceptions are excluded. Paid plans must be active.
| Platform / plan | Monthly platform cost |
|---|---|
| PayRequest Free | $40.00 |
| PayRequest Premium (active) | $5.50 |
| PayRequest Business (active) | $22.00 |
| Gumroad | $250.00 |
Buy Me a Coffee: published 5% platform charge. Gumroad: published direct-sale 10% + $0.50. PayRequest paid plans are priced in EUR; use your actual conversion rate for USD comparisons. The €25 cap is converted at that same illustrative rate.
Plans and fees
Free is €0/month with a 2% standard platform fee per successful payment, capped at €25 per transaction. Premium is €5/month and Business €20/month, with 0% standard platform fees while active. Payment-provider fees, taxes and commission-payment exceptions are separate. Selecting a paid plan does not activate it; complete setup and checkout.
Receiving payments requires a supported, approved payment-provider account. Available methods depend on your country, provider and product.
This comparison covers payments through your own connected provider. Separately approved PayRequest Merchant of Record membership products have their own eligibility and terms; they are not included here.
Questions before you start
Does PayRequest take over Gumroad’s merchant-of-record role?
In the own-provider workflow described here, No. Do not assume a payment link transfers sales-tax reporting or remittance obligations to PayRequest.
Can I move existing subscribers by changing a link?
No. Confirm provider support, customer consent and the old cancellation schedule to avoid missing or duplicate charges.
Is the worked example the final amount I receive?
No. It compares stated platform charges only; processing and other applicable costs remain separate.