Lemon Squeezy vs Gumroad

Key Points

Lemon Squeezy: For SaaS and subscription-focused sellers‍
Gumroad: For simple, fast digital product sales

Lemon Squeezy and Gumroad are the two MoR platforms for SaaS owners and digital product sellers.

Stripe acquired Lemon Squeezy in 2024 and fully integrated its payment methods in 2025.
Gumroad, on the other hand, increased its commission rates and started serving as MoR in 2024.

After these changes, now is the right time to compare these two major competitors.

I’ll focus directly on the things you actually care about:

Refund policies, how much money you are charged, user experience and more.

Let's go!

1. Target audience

Lemon Squeezy and Gumroad are both platforms for freelancers, solopreneurs and digital content creators. The difference between them is what they focus on.

Lemon Squeezy is better suited for selling SaaS software, managing complex subscriptions, etc. So if you have a SaaS product, it's better for you.

Gumroad, on the other hand, targets beginners, those looking for simplicity, and digital content creators who want to sell more digital products. Still, selling SaaS on Gumroad is possible.

But it's still useful to know what and who these platforms focus on.

2. Platform overview

Before we jump into the actual comparison, I wanted to offer a quick comparison for our readers who don't have the time, and this table will help you get a rough idea.

3. Pricing and fees

Lemon Squeezy deducts 5% + 50 cents per sale.‍
Gumroad deducts 10% + 50 cents per sale.

Honestly, Gumroad's rates were more than enough to shatter my heart. It won us over with its simplicity, but unfortunately, the pricing is a major downside.

But do the rates stop there? No, I can't, because some fees are also kept secret.

Commission fees may not bother you in the first sales period.

Until you reach hundreds of sales.

Shall we do some simple math?

Let's take a scenario where you get 100 sales and $1000 profit.

Lemon Squeezy will deduct $100 (excluding additional bank charges)
Gumroad will deduct $150 (excluding bank charges)

Note: As the number of sales increases, fixed fees (+ deduction per cent) "weigh".

4. Refunds & chargebacks

Refund policies for digital products can be a bit tricky. I actually think sellers need more protection here.

Why, because as you might imagine, digital products are more vulnerable to abuse and fraud. And also, are you aware of the bad consequences for your store, like the suspension of your account?

Just imagine this scenario:

You sold a digital product.
The customer unfairly demanded a refund.
They were refunded, but they still have access to the product.

They also use stolen credit cards to buy goods from you, then demand a refund and convert the money on the credit card directly into cash.

That’s why creators hate this whole refund loophole, and honestly, I totally get it. I also like that MoR platforms are taking the vendor’s side on this issue.

So, what about Lemon Squeezy and Gumroad?

In fact, both allow you to create your own return policies.

You can proactively protect yourself by saying "No refunds".
Gumroad also offers a "partial refund" option (which can sometimes be useful for reconciliation).

But there are some exceptions that even Gumroad and Lemon Squeezy can't intervene. And that's credit card processors. So if your client requests a refund through the bank, boom: chargeback.

By the way, Lemon Squeezy can appeal and defend a refund claim on your behalf. But this may not be worth it, as it costs you $15 to initiate a dispute... (probably the product price is lower).

And guess what, if the appeal is not successful, you lose 15 dollars in addition to the price of the product.

Conclusion,

In terms of return policies, Gumroad gives more control to the seller and has a compromise with partial refunds.‍
Lemon Squeezy, on the other hand, takes an active role in the dispute process, but the $15 defense fee may cause you to suddenly see a negative balance on your store.

5. Fraud protection

As you may have noticed, this topic is related to the previous one. I told you that your account can even be suspended due to chargebacks. So, do these platforms stand behind you, or do they leave you alone?

First of all, what does a scam look like? Let me explain:

Some malicious actors use stolen credit cards to create fake accounts on Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy.

And then:

They "pretend" to buy products with stolen cards.
Then they request a refund.

Their aim is to launder money or exploit the system to turn stolen credit card limits into cash.

Lemon Squeezy uses AI software to protect sellers against these kinds of scams. If they notice an abnormal registration, a request for a refund, they block it, and obviously this is very important for you to feel safe.

‍Gumroad also regularly checks for fraud detection, though they mention that it’s not a foolproof system. If Gumroad teams see an abnormal sale in your store, you will receive an email similar to the one below:

I don't know if Gumroad has AI-powered detection software. Probably not. In that case, the fraud protection might not work as well as with Lemon Squeezy.

Finally, no matter what, you have the right to do business on a trusted platform where you can protect yourself from scams, and I think you can do that on Lemon Squeezy and Gumroad (to some extent).

6. Tax compliance

For those who don't know, one of the first things MoR platforms manage is sales taxes. They automatically calculate the VAT rate of the countries and include it in the sales price. This way, you don't need to do country-based research and manually edit product prices.

And yes, both Lemon Squeezy and Gumroad are VAT tax compliant because they operate as MoR. But in my research, I couldn't see any significant difference between the two platforms in terms of tax compliance.

Let me also clear up something many users misunderstand:

MoR platforms only manage sales tax and invoicing.

The money you earn from the platform is in the income tax category, and you need to declare it and pay your tax.

In short,

MoR manages the VAT on the product the customer buys.
You manage the tax on the money you earn from the customer.

7. User experience

User experience affects everything from speed to scalability. That's why it really matters how Gumroad's and Lemon Squeezy's interface makes you feel.

The most obvious difference is that both are designed with vibrant colors, Gumroad looks more fun. Clicking on the site makes you want to sign up for it.

But visuals are not everything.

First of all, registering with Gumroad is really simple. You join immediately by email, and it gives you instructions on what to do to get started.

We've come to Lemon Squeezy. Here, too, an email and a password are enough for registration.

But there is one difference from Gumroad: You realize that you are coming to a place that is professional and more scalable.

When you log in, the first thing that greets you is a chart. Here you can access lots of data about your sales.

Meanwhile, after signing up, you'll be asked for authentication and payment information to create your store. Once you've taken care of these typical processes, you can go to the “design page” to customize sections such as adding a logo and store name.

My comparison:

Gumroad is ideal for simplicity and a fast start.
Lemon Squeezy is for professionalism and customizability.

8. Transition

You may already be using one of these platforms and want to move. From Gumroad to Lemon Squeezy or from Lemon Squeezy to Gumroad.

At times like these, you want to carry everything, but is it possible?

You can move it from Gumroad to Lemon:

Products
Customers
License keys

But it is not possible to move subscriptions.

And the sales data?

Yes. The way to do this is to export the data from your Gumroad account in CSV format and send the file to hello[at]lemonsqueezy[dot]com. The data will arrive at your new store within 3 days.

What about moving from Lemon Squeezy to Gumroad? The platform hasn't shared any information or guidance about this. If I wanted to transition, I would want to know how that would happen.

Lemon Squeezy wins this round.

Switching between platforms should be easy. Lemon Squeezy has done something about this, but it's not good that Gumroad doesn't have an informative guide (when digital migration is so common)

9. Getting paid

Gumroad

To get paid on Gumroad, you need to have earned a minimum of $10.

There are two ways:

Bank deposit, or
PayPal.

Currently, Gumroad does not support different payment methods such as Payoneer, Wise. Bank payments are only supported in 50 countries. To find out if your country is included in this list, click here.

Payments on Gumroad are made on Fridays. Here is the payment schedule shared by the platform:

If you've made a sale, 7 days must pass before the money is available. This means that payments include sales made up to the previous Friday.

In addition, once your withdrawal request is processed, it takes 2-7 business days to reach the bank account and 1-3 business days to reach PayPal.

Obviously, these are really long waiting times.

Note: PayPal payments are charged a 2% transaction fee. US residents can also request instant payment with a 3% fee.

Lemon Squeezy

The minimum earning threshold on Lemon Squeezy is $50. As with Gumroad, you can get paid via bank and PayPal.

Lemon Squeezy supports bank payment in over 130 countries and PayPal in over 200 countries. If your country does not have PayPal, you will not be able to receive payments. To check your country, click here.

However, unlike Gumroad, the waiting time here is 13 days, not 7. In addition, it takes between 1-5 days for your money to arrive in your account after a payment request.

Ruul is used in 190 countries and supports 140 currencies + crypto payments. It sends your money to your account in 1 day at the latest, without keeping you waiting for days.

Disadvantages of getting paid from Lemon Squeezy and Gumroad

If you're selling on these platforms as a supplementary income, waiting times, commissions, and various obstacles may not bother you. But I know that many freelancers and content creators want low commissions, fast and stable payouts.

This makes Lemon Squeezy and Gumroad a "temporary" solution for freelancers who have dedicated their careers to freelancing.

Some reasons for this

1. High commissions:

From your income,

5/10% + 0.50 USD
Bank commissions are deducted.

These rates can be financially difficult for you in the long run.

2. No instant access to payments:

Gumroad: Payments become available 7 days after the sale.
Lemon Squeezy: This period is exactly 13 days.
In addition, the 1-7 business day transfer process.

If you need to pay your bill, if you have an urgent need for cash, having to wait for this period of time doesn't really fit the model of self-employment...

Which is better for selling digital services?

You can sell your digital services on both platforms.

Freelancers, especially those who offer project-based services, can create a service package and send it to their client for purchase. Or if you are an instructor, you can offer your recorded training videos here.

Some examples of digital services:

Graphic Design (Logo design, social media visuals, banners, etc.)
Software Development and Web Design (Custom software solutions, website setup, theme/plugin development)
Content Writing and Translation (Article writing, blog posts, website texts, translation services)
Digital Marketing and Consulting (SEO consultancy, social media management, ad campaign setup)
Online Training and Coaching (Video lectures, live workshops, one-to-one coaching sessions)
Video and Audio Production (Video editing, podcast editing, voiceover)

There is no difference between the two platforms in terms of digital service coverage, but if commission rate is your priority, it wouldn't make much sense to go with Gumroad. Maybe you can try Lemon Squeezy for that.

Which is better for selling SaaS and digital products?

Both platforms can help you sell SaaS and digital products. But Lemon Squeezy gives you access to more comprehensive subscription fees because it focuses on SaaS growth. Otherwise, you might find Gumroad's features a bit limited.

If your priority is simplicity and ease, Gumroad is also enough to sell digital products and launch your SaaS project.

But think about how high commissions and scalability will affect you when your business grows. Because if you want to switch, you can't move subscriptions from Gumroad to Lemon Squeezy.

To summarize

If you're selling SaaS or care about fraud protection and licensing. Lemon Squeezy is a safer bet.
If you’re a digital creator looking for a fast and simple way to sell e-books, courses, or art. Gumroad may still be the easiest way to start.

Either way, understanding the actual cost and as you can see, the interface is clean, simple, and every button you would want to access is positioned on the left side. Products, sales, analytics, and payments... Nothing feels complicated here. is key before choosing.

Why can Ruul be your best MoR platform?

Focus on profits, not commissions.

Ruul is one of the most powerful MoR solutions designed for freelancers, solopreneurs and digital content creators.

Whether you provide freelance services, sell SaaS with license keys or downloadable digital products, Ruul's door is open.

The best rate on the market: Commission is charged only per transaction.‍
Don't wait for payment: 7 days on Gumroad, 13 days on Lemon Squeezy? At Ruul, your money is in your account in 1 day at the latest.‍
Lightning fast: This system is designed for freelancers who deserve to get the most out of their money.