Updated 1 October 2026 · Pludor team · 4 sources
Gumroad is a simple digital-product platform that acts as merchant of record, so it collects and pays sales tax and VAT for you; Pludor is a free all-in-one store that also sells physical products, bookings and courses. On a typical $25 sale their fees are close, so choose Gumroad if tax handling matters most and Pludor if you sell more than downloads.
From each platform's published pricing.
| Gumroad | Pludor | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $0 | $0; optional plans lower the sales fee (pricing) |
| Fee per sale | 10% + 50¢ on direct sales; 30% on Discover marketplace sales (Gumroad) | 4.99% + 90¢ per order plus Stripe 2.9% + 30¢ (pricing, Stripe) |
| Sales tax and VAT | Handled as merchant of record (Gumroad) | Not handled for you |
| What you can sell | Digital products, memberships, courses | Digital and physical products, bookings, courses, subscriptions |
| Extras | Discover marketplace | AI receptionist, AI content, live selling, shoppable video |
Fees checked 1 October 2026.
Many sellers pay for several tools to cover these jobs. Pludor includes them in one free store, with free amounts every month and pay-as-you-go past them (pricing).
| Job | Usual separate tool | On Pludor |
|---|---|---|
| Digital downloads | Gumroad, 10% + 50¢ per sale (Gumroad) | Included; downloads delivered after payment |
| Online courses | Teachable Starter, $39 a month plus a 7.5% transaction fee (Teachable) | Included: courses and paid challenges |
| Bookings and deposits | Calendly Standard, $10 per seat a month billed yearly (Calendly) | Included; 30 bookings free each month, then pay as you go |
| Email marketing | Mailchimp Essentials, from $13 a month (Mailchimp) | Included; 500 marketing emails free each month |
Monthly subscriptions in this table add up to about $62.00 a month before any per-sale fees; on Pludor the same jobs start at $0 a month plus 4.99% + 90¢ per paid order and card processing (pricing). Prices checked 1 October 2026 on each tool's pricing page.
Both let you sell a download in minutes. The differences are tax handling, what else you sell, and how the fee is charged.
Work out both at your average order and monthly sales (Gumroad, Pludor).
Charge VAT at the buyer's country rate for EU consumers and file through the One Stop Shop (Your Europe).
Download your files and product details, recreate the products, and tell your audience.
Use one store that supports both, so buyers of a guide can book a session on the same page.
Drive your own traffic and build an email list.
Price on the value of the result, then check what you keep after fees.
There is no monthly fee; Gumroad charges 10% + 50¢ per direct sale and 30% on Discover sales (Gumroad).
No. Gumroad acts as merchant of record; on Pludor you are responsible for tax where it applies.
Gumroad focuses on digital products and memberships; Pludor sells physical and digital products in one cart.
On a $25 order they are close; on cheap items Gumroad's 50¢ fixed fee is lower than Pludor's 90¢; Pludor's paid plans lower its percentage (Gumroad, Pludor).
Yes. Some creators keep downloads on Gumroad and run bookings or physical products elsewhere.
On your own Pludor store you own and can export it; check Gumroad's current terms for exports.
If you sell to many countries, a merchant of record saves registration and filing work. Put a value on that time when comparing fees.
Fixed per-order fees take a smaller share of larger orders. Bundles and tiers raise the average order.
Marketplace sales may cost more per sale (Gumroad Discover takes 30%, Gumroad), so treat them as a discovery channel.
Whichever platform you use, keep an email list so your income does not depend on one site.
Fees and features change. Re-run the numbers each year.
AI helps you create and sell digital products on either platform.
Purely AI-generated material is not protected by US copyright (US Copyright Office); add your own expertise.
Pludor sells downloads, physical products, bookings and courses from one free store, with AI tools for covers, copy and customer replies.
Free to start - no card, no item limit. Pay only for what you use past the monthly free amounts.
Open my free storeChecked 1 October 2026. Fees and rules change; follow the links for the latest.