Gumroad allows creators and freelancers or small businesses to sell their digital products, subscription services or physical products online. For those who need alternatives, we will explore other options in this article,
Gumroad Alternatives
Whether you’re looking for better payment options, higher flexibility, or additional features, there are several Gumroad alternatives available
Shopify
Shopify is a well known ecommerce platform for creators to set up a store and sell their service or products easily. It is not a complicated tool, easy to set up and showcase. Shopify offers more customization and scalability. It supports both physical and digital goods. And it is a very integration friendly platform, easy to integrate with other platforms so business owners can target growth easily.
Benefits of Shopify
- Full customization of online stores.
- Extensive e-commerce features, such as inventory management, product variants, and customer management.
- Integrated payment processing and a global reach.
However, Shopify comes with a monthly subscription fee, which can be costly for those just starting.
Etsy
Etsy is a well-known marketplace for handmade items, vintage products, and digital goods. For freelancers selling physical products or printables, Etsy can be an excellent alternative to Gumroad. It also allows digital products like printables and design files.
Benefits of Etsy
- Huge marketplace with built-in traffic, which can help you reach potential customers.
- No upfront fees to create a shop.
- Built-in tools for marketing and promoting your products.
The downside is that Etsy charges listing fees and transaction fees, which can add up over time, especially for low-priced items.
Sellfy
Sellfy is another strong alternative to Gumroad, especially for creators who want to sell digital products, subscriptions, and physical goods. It’s a simple-to-use platform that allows you to create a store in minutes, and it offers unlimited products with one simple pricing plan.
Benefits of Sellfy
- Easy to set up and use.
- Unlimited products with the basic plan.
- Built-in marketing tools like discount codes, email marketing, and abandoned cart recovery.
Sellfy offers a more comprehensive set of e-commerce features compared to Gumroad, including the ability to sell physical products.
Payhip
Payhip is an e-commerce platform focused on helping creators sell digital downloads and subscriptions. It provides an easy setup and some great features like pay what you want kind of a pricing, discount coupons, and affiliate marketing.
Benefits of Payhip
- Very low fees compared to some other platforms (only 5% transaction fee for the free plan).
- Pay-what-you-want pricing for more flexible sales strategies.
- The ability to sell subscriptions and memberships.
Payhip’s main focus is digital products, and it doesn’t have the physical product options that Gumroad or Shopify offer. Still, it’s a great option for creators of digital content.
Big Cartel
Big Cartel is a straightforward e-commerce platform designed for artists and creators who need a simple way to sell their products online. It’s great for small businesses and independent creators who don’t need a complex online store. Big Cartel offers customizable themes and no monthly fees for up to five products.
Benefits of Big Cartel
- Simple to set up with a focus on creatives and artists.
- No transaction fees and no monthly subscription fee for small stores (up to 5 products).
- Customizable storefronts.
However, the free plan comes with limitations, such as fewer product listings, and if your store grows, you’ll need to switch to a paid plan.
Teachable
For creators who want to sell online courses, Teachable is an excellent alternative to Gumroad. Unlike Gumroad, which is more general, Teachable focuses on online courses and coaching services. It’s great for freelancers and creators who have knowledge to share.
Benefits of Teachable
- Powerful course creation tools.
- A strong focus on teaching and learning, which includes quizzes, certificates, and assessments.
- Payment collection and tax management tools.
Teachable is ideal if you’re looking to monetize knowledge, and it also offers the ability to create memberships and subscriptions.
Payment Collection and Invoicing
Most of the platforms mentioned above come with built-in payment collection features. Shopify, Etsy, and Big Cartel, for example, all integrate payment processing systems like PayPal, Stripe, and credit card payments. For digital goods, platforms like Payhip and Sellfy offer quick checkout systems that make it easy for customers to make payments, while Payhip provides the option for flexible pricing.
Global Invoicing is another key factor for freelancers selling digital goods or services internationally. Many platforms, including Gumroad and Payhip, provide automated invoicing to make it easier for you to track sales and taxes. This simplifies your accounting and ensures that you are compliant with international tax laws.
Additionally, freelancers can use freelance invoice templates or services like Ruul to ensure they get paid on time and keep track of their earnings across various platforms.
Beneficial Sites for Freelancers
If you’re a freelancer looking for a marketplace to offer your services, there are alternatives to Gumroad that cater specifically to freelancers. Sites like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer.com allow you to find clients and offer your services across a range of categories.
Fiverr is particularly popular for freelance services, offering everything from graphic design and writing to web development and marketing. The platform is easy to use, and as a freelancer, you can create listings (known as "gigs") offering your services at various price points.
Upwork and Freelancer are also platforms where you can find high-paying freelance jobs across various industries. These sites give you the ability to bid on projects and create a profile that highlights your skills and experience. Freelancers can also integrate payment collection features and invoice management into their workflow using these platforms.
Tax and Invoicing
Freelancers are responsible for paying their own taxes, which is why it's important to stay organized. Freelancer’s tax varies depending on your location, but generally, freelancers need to keep track of their income and expenses, file self-employment taxes, and manage invoices to ensure proper reporting.
Many of the Gumroad alternatives, like Shopify and Payhip, provide tools for generating invoices. However, it’s still essential for freelancers to understand the basic principles of taxation. This includes estimating tax payments, keeping proper records, and filing tax forms. Freelancers may also want to consult an accountant to ensure they are compliant with tax laws.
Ruul is the perfect solution for this matter. Ruul offers global standards freelance invoice in 190 countries for freelancers. With this way, freelancers can sell their digital products, issue invoices with global standards and get paid easily and securely with Ruul’s multiple payment collection options including credit cards.
Whether you choose platforms like Sellfy and Payhip, or sites like Fiverr to offer freelance services, you can find a solution that fits your needs. Consider your specific needs and goals to choose the best platform for your freelancing journey!
