Gumroad vs Lemon Squeezy: Which is Cheaper in 2026? (The Real Fee Calculation)

Gumroad vs Lemon Squeezy: Which is Cheaper in 2026?

It used to be an easy choice. Gumroad was the king of simplicity. But after their controversial price hike to a flat 10%, creators are looking for alternatives. Is Lemon Squeezy the savior we needed?

For a decade, Gumroad was the darling of the creator economy. You uploaded a file, got a link, and got paid. But in 2023, they removed their tiered pricing structure and standardized a massive 10% fee for everyone.

Enter Lemon Squeezy. A platform built specifically for software (SaaS) that pivoted to attack Gumroad's digital product market. They promise lower fees, better tax handling, and a more professional checkout.

What is a "Merchant of Record" (MoR)? Both platforms are MoRs. This means they are the legal reseller of your goods. They collect and pay the VAT/Sales Tax to governments worldwide so you don't go to jail. This service is worth paying for, but how much?

The Fee Breakdown: Do the Math

Let's cut through the marketing fluff and look at the actual numbers for a single transaction.

Gumroad Fees

Gumroad charges a flat 10% on every sale, plus credit card processing fees (usually 2.9% + 30¢).

• Platform Fee: 10%
• Processing Fee: ~2.9% + $0.30
• Total hit: ~12.9% + $0.30

Lemon Squeezy Fees

Lemon Squeezy charges 5% + 50¢ per transaction.

• Platform Fee: 5% + $0.50
• Processing Fee: Included (mostly)
• Total hit: ~5% + $0.50

Scenario: Selling a $100 Course

If you sell a $100 digital product, here is what you keep:

GUMROAD: $100 - $10 (10% fee) - $3.20 (Processing) = You keep $86.80 LEMON SQUEEZY: $100 - $5 (5% fee) - $0.50 (Fixed) = You keep $94.50

Winner: Lemon Squeezy. You save almost $8 per sale.

Scenario: Selling a $5 E-book

Does Lemon Squeezy always win? Not necessarily. The fixed 50¢ fee hurts on low-ticket items.

GUMROAD: $5 - $0.50 (10%) - $0.45 (Processing) = You keep $4.05 LEMON SQUEEZY: $5 - $0.25 (5%) - $0.50 (Fixed) = You keep $4.25

Winner: Lemon Squeezy (Just barely). However, if your product is $2 or $3, Gumroad might actually be cheaper due to the lower fixed cost structure.

Beyond Price: The Feature War

Price isn't everything. Here is where the user experience differs:

Feature	Gumroad	Lemon Squeezy
Customization	Low (Standard page)	High (Popup, Overlay, Custom Domain)
Upsells	Basic	Advanced (1-click workflows)
Affiliate Center	Good	Excellent (Hub for affiliates)
SaaS Support	No (Just memberships)	Yes (License keys management)

The Verdict: When to Switch?

If you are a hobbyist selling a $5 PDF once a month, Gumroad is fine. Its "Discover" marketplace might even bring you a few accidental sales (though they take a 30% cut on those).

However, if you are a serious creator doing over $1,000/month, the 10% Gumroad tax is unjustifiable. Lemon Squeezy offers a more professional "Apple-like" checkout experience and saves you significant money at scale.

My Recommendation: Use Lemon Squeezy for your main storefront. Use Gumroad only if you need their specific marketplace traffic.

Download January Skills: Digital Product Pricing Calculator