To sell a digital product (an ebook, spreadsheet, template, video course or content membership) you need three things: the finished material, a place that charges buyers and delivers the file, and a way to bring buyers to it. As of October 2026, per-sale costs run from roughly 3% on your own checkout to 30% when a platform’s marketplace finds the buyer, and the hard part is finding people who want it.
What kinds of digital products can you sell?
Gumroad’s features page lists downloads, ebooks, courses and monthly memberships, plus software license keys and pay-what-you-want pricing, where the buyer chooses the amount. One product can have several file versions, such as PDF and ePub. Buyers get access right after payment.
Before you record or write anything, test the idea. In our view, products sell when they solve a specific problem for an audience you can already reach. A pricing spreadsheet for marketplace sellers has a better chance than a “general guide to selling.”
Which route: a platform or your own checkout?
There are two main routes.
1. Ready-made platform. It hosts the product, charges, delivers and, in some cases, handles sales tax. Gumroad charges 10% plus $0.50 per transaction on sales through your profile or direct links, and 30% per transaction when a new customer buys through Discover, its marketplace. Per its pricing page there is no monthly fee, and since January 1, 2025 Gumroad collects and remits sales tax worldwide.
2. Your own checkout with a payment processor. You build the page and use something like Stripe. As of October 2026, Stripe’s standard online card rate in the US is 2.9% plus 30¢ per successful transaction, with no monthly or setup fees. Some payments cost more: international cards add 1.5%, currency conversion adds 1%, and manually entered cards add 0.5%. On this route, file delivery, the sales page and tax setup are your job.
How much is left from a sale? Worked examples
For a $20 ebook:
- Gumroad, direct link: 10% is $2.00, plus $0.50, so fees are $2.50 and you keep $17.50.
- Gumroad, through Discover: 30% is $6.00, leaving $14.00.
- Stripe checkout, US card: 2.9% is $0.58, plus $0.30, so fees are $0.88 and you keep $19.12. A card from outside the US adds 1.5%, or $0.30 more.
Gumroad’s pricing page does not list a separate processing fee, but it says the payout method varies by country, so check what your own payout costs. And the Stripe route leaves out what Gumroad does for you: hosting, delivery and tax handling.
The comparison shows why bringing your own audience matters. The same sale costs far less when the buyer comes from your own channel than when a marketplace finds them.
Step by step: publish your first product
- Pick a problem and an audience. Write in one sentence what the buyer can do after using it.
- Build a minimum version. A well-made PDF or a tested spreadsheet beats a long course nobody asked for.
- Choose where to sell. A ready-made platform for low technical work; your own checkout once you have traffic and want lower fees per sale.
- Write the sales page: what it is, who it is for, what is inside the file, the price and how to get help.
- Set the price and a refund policy and state both clearly.
- Promote where your audience already is: a profile, a channel, a group, a blog. See how to sell on Instagram to link your profile to your page.
- Track what happens: visits, sales, refund requests. Adjust before you make a second product.
What about taxes?
That depends on your situation, and we can only offer general information. If you will sell regularly, read about Form 1099-K for online sellers and talk to a tax professional. Each platform handles sales tax differently, so read the terms of the one you choose.
Common mistakes
- Making the product before checking that anyone wants it.
- Relying only on a platform’s marketplace. The fee is much higher when the customer comes through it.
- Ignoring the fixed per-sale fee on cheap products. 30¢ matters more on a $5 file than on a $100 one.
- Promising results on the sales page. Describe what is inside, not what the buyer will earn.
- Selling content you do not own. Sell only what you made or have rights to sell.
Who is this not for?
It is not for anyone looking for fast money without something useful to teach or deliver, or for people who do not want to handle promotion and customer questions. It is also not for reselling material that is not yours.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a business entity to start?
It depends on the platform and on how much you sell. Read the platform’s terms and ask a tax professional about the setup that fits you.
What is the cheapest way to get paid?
From the official rates cited here, your own checkout on Stripe is the lowest per sale on a $20 item ($0.88 versus $2.50 on Gumroad). But you also take on delivery and tax work, which Gumroad covers.
Can I sell a membership?
Yes, on platforms that offer it. Gumroad lists monthly memberships and subscriptions as possible products. Check the platform’s rules before promising ongoing access.
How long until my first sale?
Nobody can predict it. It depends on your audience, price and promotion. Treat the first month as a learning test.
