Gumroad vs Lemon Squeezy
Lemon Squeezy keeps more of each sale: $18.50 of a $20 US card sale against Gumroad's $16.62, and both act as merchant of record. Pick Gumroad anyway if you want to start selling today with no approval step, or if Lemon Squeezy's planned move to Stripe Managed Payments makes you wary of building there.
| Gumroad | Lemon Squeezy | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 10% + $0.50 per direct sale, 30% on Discover | 5% + $0.50 |
| Card processing | 2.9% + $0.30 on direct sales | Included |
| Surcharges | None listed on direct sales | +1.5% non-US buyers, +1.5% PayPal, +0.5% subscriptions |
| You keep from a $20 US card sale | $16.62 | $18.50 |
| Monthly price | $0 | $0 |
| Merchant of record | Yes, worldwide | Yes, worldwide |
| Getting started | Sell right away, account review before first payout | Store approval, typically 2 to 3 business days |
| Payout timing | Weekly to quarterly with a 7-day hold and $100 minimum, daily or instant for eligible US creators | Twice a month, 13-day hold, $50 minimum |
| Payout fees | 2% on PayPal payouts | Free to US banks, 1% to non-US banks, $0.50 or 3% capped at $30 on PayPal |
| Custom domain | Yes | Yes |
| You keep on $1,000 a month | $839 | $930 |
| You keep on $10,000 a month | $8,390 | $9,300 |
| Our score | 7.1 out of 10 | 7.1 out of 10 |
What you keep on $1,000 a month
Both platforms paid in $25 payments by US cards, each on whichever plan leaves you the most. The blue is yours. The hatched part is fees.
| Platform and plan | Share kept versus fees | You keep | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon SqueezyStandard | $930 | −$70 | |
| GumroadDirect sales | $839 | −$161 |
On $10,000 a month: Gumroad $8,390, Lemon Squeezy $9,300. How we calculate this.
Pick Gumroad if
- you want to publish a product today without waiting for store approval.
- you want buyers from the Discover marketplace.
- you would rather not build on a platform its owner plans to migrate.
Pick Lemon Squeezy if
- you sell software, plugins, or templates and want the lower fee.
- you want card processing and tax handling included in one 5% + $0.50 price.
- you are comfortable moving to Stripe Managed Payments later.
Which is cheaper, Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy?
Lemon Squeezy is cheaper on almost every sale. It charges 5% + $0.50 with processing included, while Gumroad charges 10% + $0.50 plus 2.9% + $0.30 processing. At $1,000 a month in $25 sales on US cards, you keep $930 on Lemon Squeezy and $839 on Gumroad.
Lemon Squeezy's surcharges narrow the gap. A PayPal sale to a buyer outside the US costs 8% + $0.50 there, and subscriptions add 0.5%. Gumroad's own fee drops to 5% + $0.50 after $20,000 in paid sales in a calendar month. The fee table shows both at every revenue level.
Do both handle sales tax and VAT?
Yes. Both act as merchant of record, so each collects and files sales tax and VAT worldwide as part of its fee. Gumroad has done this for all sales since January 1, 2025.
That makes this comparison unusually clean. You are choosing on price, payouts, and the platform's future, not on tax work.
Should you worry about Lemon Squeezy's future?
Yes, a little. Stripe bought Lemon Squeezy in July 2024, and Lemon Squeezy's January 2026 update says the goal is to help users migrate to Stripe Managed Payments. No deadline has been set, and new sellers can still sign up as of October 20, 2026.
Its public changelog has no entries after August 2025. If you migrate, Stripe lists Managed Payments at 3.5% on top of its standard 2.9% + $0.30, so the fee advantage over Gumroad would shrink. Read the full Lemon Squeezy review and Gumroad review before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lemon Squeezy cheaper than Gumroad?
Yes. Lemon Squeezy takes 5% + $0.50 with processing included, and Gumroad takes 10% + $0.50 plus 2.9% + $0.30 processing. On a $20 US card sale, that is $18.50 to you on Lemon Squeezy and $16.62 on Gumroad.
Are Gumroad and Lemon Squeezy both merchants of record?
Yes. Both collect and remit sales tax and VAT on your sales worldwide, so you do not register for VAT or track US state thresholds yourself.
Can new sellers still join Lemon Squeezy?
Yes, as of October 20, 2026. New stores go through a questionnaire and identity check, and approval typically takes 2 to 3 business days.