- Gumroad is a focused digital-product marketplace and storefront — pay-as-you-go, transaction fees, no monthly subscription.
- Stan Store is a link-in-bio + storefront combo — monthly subscription, no per-sale fees on paid plan, integrated email and follow-up.
- Pick Gumroad if you sell rarely or have low margins. Pick Stan if you sell consistently and want one tool that doubles as your link-in-bio.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Gumroad | Stan Store |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes — pay per sale | 14-day trial only |
| Subscription | None | $29/mo+ |
| Transaction fee | 10% (free) / 5%–10% paid | 0% on paid plan |
| Acts as link-in-bio | No | Yes |
| Email marketing | Built-in (basic) | Built-in |
| Course delivery | Yes | Yes |
| Marketplace discovery | Yes — "Discover" | No |
| Best for | Occasional sales | Frequent sales + bio link |
How Gumroad Works
Gumroad is a marketplace and storefront combined. You upload a product, set a price, and either send the link directly to customers or list in Gumroad's Discover marketplace. There's no monthly subscription — Gumroad takes a percentage of each sale (10% on free, lower on paid plans).
The model is friendly to creators who sell rarely or unpredictably. If you make 10 sales a month at $20 each ($200 revenue), Gumroad takes $20. No revenue, no fee.
How Stan Store Works
Stan is paid-only after a 14-day trial. $29/mo gets you a full storefront that doubles as your social bio link. Sales aren't taxed beyond Stripe's standard fee — Stan takes 0% on its paid plans.
The model is friendly to creators who sell consistently. If you make $2,000/mo in sales, Stan's $29/mo flat fee is dramatically cheaper than Gumroad's percentage cut would be.
The Break-Even Point
Roughly: $300/mo in sales is where Stan starts winning on cost. Below that, Gumroad's pay-per-sale model is cheaper. Above that, Stan's flat $29/mo plus 0% fees works out better.
Marketplace vs Bio Link
Gumroad's Discover marketplace gives some organic traffic to listed products. It's not huge, but real — a long-tail of buyers browsing for templates, e-books, and similar.
Stan replaces your link-in-bio entirely. The trade-off is you can't easily use Stan for a multi-destination bio (videos + store + newsletter); the layout pushes everything toward purchase.
When to Pick Gumroad
- You sell occasionally — once a month, once a quarter.
- Below $300/mo in sales.
- You want marketplace discovery (Discover listings).
- You already have a separate link-in-bio.
When to Pick Stan Store
- You sell consistently — $1,000+/mo.
- You want one tool that's both your bio link and your storefront.
- You value 0% transaction fees on a flat monthly cost.
Using Both
Some creators sell on Gumroad (for marketplace discovery and listings) and use Stan or UniLink as their bio link, with buttons that direct to the Gumroad listings. The two tools don't conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gumroad free?
Yes — pay only when you sell. Free plan takes 10% per sale. Paid plans (from $10/mo) reduce the cut.
Is Stan Store free?
14-day trial then $29/mo minimum.
Which has more discovery?
Gumroad — its Discover marketplace surfaces products organically. Stan has no marketplace.
Which is better for courses?
Both deliver courses. Stan's UI is more polished; Gumroad is functional but plainer.
Key Takeaways
- Gumroad = pay-per-sale, no subscription, marketplace discovery.
- Stan Store = $29/mo, 0% fees, doubles as bio link.
- Break-even is roughly $300/mo in sales.
Free bio link with Stripe checkout
If you want a clean bio link separate from your storefront — try UniLink free →