Free selling guide
Sell Digital Products for Free No monthly subscription. No platform fee. Just Stripe's standard processing fee. Here's how to start selling digital products without paying platform rent.
What "free" actually means in digital sales Most platforms advertise a free plan. But many "free" plans still take a cut of every sale.
There are two types of costs to watch:
Monthly subscription - a fixed fee, paid whether you sell or notPlatform fee - a percentage taken from each saleTruly free selling means both are zero. You only pay the payment processor (Stripe), because that's the actual card transaction cost.
Free tier fee breakdown (2026) Here's how popular "free" plans compare when selling digital products:
Platform Platform fee Monthly cost You keep at $1,000/mo Gumroad (free) 10% + Stripe $0 $859.00 Ko-fi (free) 5% + Stripe $0 $909.00 Payhip (free) 5% + Stripe $0 $909.00 Payhook 0% + Stripe $0 $959.00
Assumes avg $25 order and Stripe fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
What you keep at different revenue levels This is where the difference becomes obvious. Even a 5% platform fee compounds fast.
Monthly revenue Gumroad Ko-fi Payhip Payhook $500/mo $429.50 $454.50 $454.50 $479.50 $1,000/mo $859.00 $909.00 $909.00 $959.00 $3,000/mo $2,577.00 $2,727.00 $2,727.00 $2,877.00 $10,000/mo $8,590.00 $9,090.00 $9,090.00 $9,590.00
At $10,000/month, a 5% platform fee costs $500 every month. That's $6,000 per year. A 10% fee costs $1,000/month or $12,000/year.
How Payhook is different 0% platform fee on every plan $0 monthly subscription Stripe-powered checkout Instant, secure digital file delivery Built-in marketplace listing Full REST API and webhooks on every sale You keep your revenue minus Stripe processing. No hidden percentage. No forced paid tier to reduce fees. No cap penalty.
Step-by-step: set up a free Payhook store 1
Create your free account at /auth/signup
2
Connect Stripe so payments go directly to your account
3
Upload your product file (PDF, ZIP, video, template, code, etc.)
4
Set your product title, description, and price
5
Publish and copy your product link
6
Share the link in your bio, email list, and social posts
Most sellers are live in under 10 minutes.
What to sell first If you're starting from zero, launch one small product first. Do not build a giant catalog before your first sale.
A single template solving one clear problem A short practical guide with immediate implementation steps A bundle of prompts or scripts for a niche workflow A starter kit with files, examples, and setup instructions The goal is speed-to-feedback. Ship fast. Get sales data. Then expand.
Common questions Is it really free to sell on Payhook?
Yes. No monthly fee. No platform percentage. You only pay Stripe's standard card processing fee.
Do I need a business to start?
Not always. Many sellers start as individuals and formalise later. Check local tax and legal requirements for your country.
What file types can I sell?
PDF, ZIP, PNG, MP4, audio files, design files, code bundles, docs, templates. If it is a digital file, you can sell it.
How quickly do buyers receive files?
Immediately after successful payment. Delivery is automatic through secure signed download links.
Can I migrate from Gumroad, Ko-fi, or Payhip?
Yes. Upload your files to Payhook, set pricing, and replace your links. Most migrations take under 30 minutes.
Start free with no platform cut Sell digital products with 0% platform fee. Keep more of every sale from day one.
How to sell digital products Gumroad pricing 2026 Gumroad alternative Payhip alternative Ko-fi alternative