Gumroad fees: what 10% of every sale actually costs you
Gumroad takes 10% of every sale and charges no monthly fee, so the cost never shows up as a bill. Here is the side-by-side against flat $29/mo, 0% platforms, at three revenue levels, with the breakeven stated plainly.
At a glance
| Platform | Monthly fee | Per-sale platform fee | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gumroad | $0 | 10% (+$0.50/sale, not counted below) | Percentage |
| Beacons (standard) | $0 / $10 | 9% | Percentage |
| Stan | $29 | 0% | Flat |
| Creatdrop | $29 | $0 | Flat |
Beacons also sells a Store Pro tier at ~$30/mo with 0% fees. At that point it is itself a flat ~$30/mo product, the same model argued for here.
The 12-month cost, at three revenue levels
Percentage platforms charged on gross sales; flat platforms charged the subscription only.
At $500/month in sales ($6,000/year)
| Platform | Paid to the platform in a year |
|---|---|
| Gumroad (10%) | $600 |
| Beacons (9%) | $540 |
| Stan ($29/mo, 0%) | $348 |
| Creatdrop ($29/mo, 0%) | $348 |
At $2,000/month in sales ($24,000/year)
| Platform | Paid to the platform in a year |
|---|---|
| Gumroad (10%) | $2,400 |
| Beacons (9%) | $2,160 |
| Stan ($29/mo, 0%) | $348 |
| Creatdrop ($29/mo, 0%) | $348 |
At $5,000/month in sales ($60,000/year)
| Platform | Paid to the platform in a year |
|---|---|
| Gumroad (10%) | $6,000 |
| Beacons (9%) | $5,400 |
| Stan ($29/mo, 0%) | $348 |
| Creatdrop ($29/mo, 0%) | $348 |
Who is actually cheapest? (the honest read)
The gap is not Creatdrop versus everyone. It is the percentage model versus the flat model. Stan and Creatdrop land in the same place on price because both charge a flat $29/month and take 0% of sales. If you are choosing between Stan and Creatdrop, fee math will not decide it. Choose on the product. Where the math does decide it is the moment you compare a flat fee to a percentage cut.
And it is genuinely two-sided. A percentage with no monthly fee is cheaper while you are small. Below roughly $300/month in sales, Gumroad's or Beacons' percentage costs less than a $348/year flat fee, and we are not going to pretend otherwise. The point is what happens after you cross that line: the percentage does not stop. It scales with you, in the wrong direction.
The breakeven, stated plainly
A flat $29/month is $348/year. A percentage platform with no monthly fee stays cheaper until your sales get big enough that the percentage passes $348.
- vs Gumroad (10%): breakeven at $3,480/year in sales, about $290/month. Below that, Gumroad is cheaper. Above it, the flat fee wins and the gap widens every month.
- vs Beacons (9%): breakeven at about $3,867/year, roughly $322/month.
Run your own numbers
Enter your monthly sales and current platform and see your exact 12-month difference.
Want the full first-person breakdown? Read the analysis.
Figures exclude payment processing (Stripe/PayPal, about 2.9% + $0.30/sale), which is similar on every platform. Gumroad's additional $0.50 per sale is not counted, so its real cost is slightly higher than shown. Competitor pricing verified 2026-05-16 against each platform's public pricing page.
See all comparisons — full Gumroad vs Creatdrop fee calculator