“What are the best platforms for selling handmade crafts and custom products online?”

Here’s a quick, up-to-date guide to the best places to sell handmade and custom products online, grouped by what they’re best for and what they cost.

Big marketplaces (built-in traffic)

• Etsy — Best overall handmade marketplace and discovery. Costs: $0.20 listing fee per item (4-month term), 6.5% transaction fee on the order total, plus U.S. payment processing (typically 3% + $0.25). If a sale comes via Offsite Ads, Etsy also takes 12–15% on that order. (etsy.com)
• Amazon Handmade — Best for reach and Prime‑savvy buyers. No listing fee; 15% referral fee per sale (or $0.30 minimum), and the $39.99/month Pro seller fee is waived for approved Handmade sellers. Application/approval required. (sell.amazon.com)
• eBay — Good for one‑of‑a‑kind items, vintage craft supplies, and auctions; huge buyer base. Fees vary by category; you’ll pay an insertion fee (after free monthly allotments) and a final value fee percentage plus a per‑order amount. (ebay.com)
• TikTok Shop — Strong for creators who sell via short video/live; frictionless in‑app checkout. Current U.S. seller commission listed as 6% per sale. (seller.tiktok.com)

Your own branded storefront (more control, you drive traffic)

• Shopify — Best all‑around for a standalone craft store that can scale. Monthly plans plus payment processing; if you use Shopify Payments you avoid extra “third‑party transaction” surcharges that apply when using other gateways. (shopify.com)
• Squarespace Commerce — Great when you want a polished site + simple store. Commerce plans remove Squarespace’s extra transaction fee (Business plan has one), and processing rates vary by plan and provider. (support.squarespace.com)
• Big Cartel — Maker‑friendly, simple, and inexpensive (including a free plan for small catalogs). Big Cartel itself takes 0% per‑sale platform fees; you only pay your payment processor. (my.bigcartel.com)
• WooCommerce (WordPress) — Maximum flexibility and ownership if you don’t mind setup/maintenance. The core plugin is free; you’ll pay for hosting, any paid extensions, and payment processing (for example, WooPayments/Stripe around 2.9% + $0.30 per U.S. card). (woocommerce.com)

Wholesale to boutiques and retailers

• Faire — Purpose‑built wholesale marketplace for makers. 0% commission on orders you bring via your Faire Direct link; marketplace orders carry commission, and a one‑time $10 “new customer” fee may apply on a buyer’s first order through the marketplace. (faire.com)

How to choose (quick picks)

• Just starting, want buyers fast and low setup: Etsy or eBay. (etsy.com)
• You’re video‑forward and can sell live or with short clips: TikTok Shop. (seller.tiktok.com)
• You want full brand control and plan to build your own audience: Shopify or Squarespace Commerce. (shopify.com)
• You sell to boutiques at wholesale: Faire. (faire.com)
• You want the simplest low‑cost personal shop: Big Cartel. (my.bigcartel.com)
• You’re technical or already on WordPress and want maximum flexibility: WooCommerce. (woocommerce.com)

Fee tips to watch

• Etsy’s Offsite Ads fee only applies if the buyer came via Etsy’s external ad; it’s 12–15% and can materially change your margins. Price with this in mind. (help.etsy.com)
• On Shopify, using Shopify Payments avoids extra “third‑party transaction” fees that otherwise layer on top of normal card processing. (help.shopify.com)
• Squarespace’s Business plan charges an extra commerce transaction fee; upgrade to Commerce plans to remove it. (support.squarespace.com)
• Amazon Handmade waives the monthly Pro fee for approved Handmade sellers but still takes the standard referral fee on each sale. (sellercentral.amazon.com)

If you tell me:

• what you make,
• your average price and order size, and
• where you’re comfortable promoting (search, social video, email),

I can recommend a specific platform mix and a simple launch checklist tailored to you.

The best platforms depend on whether you want built-in buyers, brand control, or both. Most successful makers use more than one channel.

Top platforms

Etsy is the strongest starting point for most handmade and custom sellers. Buyers already search there for unique, personalized, and gift-oriented items, so you get discovery without building an audience from scratch. It supports personalization fields well, which fits custom orders.

Typical US fees (as of recent seller policies): about $0.20 per listing, a 6.5% transaction fee on the item price plus shipping, and payment processing around 3% + $0.25. Offsite Ads can add another 12–15% on attributed orders (optional under a sales threshold, mandatory above it). Competition is high, and Etsy owns the customer relationship.

Shopify (or similar store builders) is best once you want your own brand and customer list. You control the design, checkout, email marketing, and margins. There is no marketplace transaction fee if you use Shopify Payments—mainly a monthly plan (often starting around $29–$39) plus payment processing (roughly 2.9% + $0.30). The tradeoff is that you must drive your own traffic through social media, SEO, ads, or marketplaces. Apps can add sophisticated custom-product builders (text, photos, live previews).

Amazon Handmade gives access to a huge shopping audience and buyer trust. Sellers must apply and show that items are genuinely handmade or customized. The main cost is a 15% referral fee in the US (or $0.30 minimum per unit, whichever is greater); the usual monthly Professional selling fee is typically waived after the first month for approved Handmade sellers. It suits products that can handle volume more than highly bespoke, low-volume work. Branding and customer ownership are limited.

Big Cartel is a lighter, lower-cost option for your own shop, especially with a small catalog. It has a free tier for a limited number of products and paid plans that often charge no extra transaction fee beyond payment processing. It lacks Etsy’s built-in traffic.

Social commerce works well alongside the above:

• TikTok Shop — strong for visual crafts (process videos, “how it’s made”). Referral fees are often lower than Etsy or Amazon (commonly cited in the low-to-mid single digits depending on category and promotions). Success depends on consistent short-form content.
• Instagram Shopping and Facebook — useful if you already have followers or want local/regional sales. Local Marketplace listings are often free; shipped checkout can involve a fee.
• Pinterest — better as a long-term traffic driver to your Etsy or Shopify store than as a primary checkout.

Other useful options

Niche handmade marketplaces exist, but many struggle to match Etsy’s traffic. GoImagine, for example, closed in 2026.

How to choose

• Just starting, no audience — Begin on Etsy. It is the fastest way to test demand for handmade and custom goods.
• Personalized or made-to-order items — Etsy first (buyers expect customization and messaging). Add Shopify when you want better workflows and repeat customers.
• Building a brand and email list — Shopify (or Big Cartel / Squarespace) as the home base, with Etsy or social for discovery.
• Proven products and volume — Add Amazon Handmade.
• Strong on video — Layer in TikTok Shop and Instagram.
• Selling to stores — Explore Faire.

A common pattern is Etsy for discovery + your own store for ownership, then social channels for traffic. Price each channel so fees still leave a healthy margin—Etsy’s stacked fees often land around 10–12% on a normal sale before ads, while Amazon Handmade is a flatter 15%.

Fees, rules, and availability change, so confirm current rates on each platform’s official seller pages before you list. Product photos, clear customization options, shipping policies, and response time matter as much as the platform itself.

Best Platforms for Selling Handmade Crafts & Custom Products Online

🏆 Marketplaces (Built-in Audience)

1. Etsy — Still the default choice for most makers. For most new makers, Etsy is the best starting platform: it has a built-in buyer audience, low upfront cost, and the fastest path to your first sale.

Etsy is the most well-known platform for selling crafts online, with over 90 million active buyers. Keep in mind that in April 2022, Etsy raised its transaction fee from 5% to 6.5%, sellers organized a strike, thousands signed petitions, but the fee increase stayed.

2. Amazon Handmade — Sellers also use Amazon Handmade to reach different kinds of buyers , and artists who ultimately choose Handmade Amazon will do so because of the support and platform offered.

3. TikTok Shop — The fastest-rising option in 2026. TikTok Shop is the fastest-growing commerce channel for handmade sellers in 2026 — if your products have visual appeal and you're willing to make short videos, it can drive sales at a speed that's genuinely hard to match through traditional SEO or marketplace discovery. Fee-wise, referral fees are 2–8% depending on category, which is significantly lower than Etsy or Amazon. It works because post a video, tag products from your shop, viewers can purchase without leaving the app.

4. eBay — eBay suits you better if you want more flexibility, quicker sales, or a mix of handmade and other products, and if you want wider exposure or quick testing, eBay can still work well.

5. Niche/emerging marketplaces:

• Goimagine —

a US-only handmade marketplace with a social mission where 100% of marketplace profits are donated to children's charities, founded in 2020 and catering exclusively to US-based artisans selling handmade, vintage, and craft supplies.

• Folksy —

a strong option for its celebration of British craftsmanship, well-suited for sellers of traditional crafts, jewelry, homewares, and gifts with a British aesthetic.

• Cratejoy — Best if you want to sell via subscription boxes rather than single items:

it works differently from everything else — it is not for single items, it is the largest marketplace built specifically for subscription boxes.

🏗️ Your Own Store (Full Control)

Shopify — The top choice for branded, owned storefronts: if you're thinking about setting up your own online store, you've probably heard of Shopify — it's super popular, with over 4.8 million sites using it to power their businesses. Standalone stores make sense especially for custom work since higher-priced or custom work often sells better on a branded site or through social channels where you can tell your story.

WooCommerce — Ideal if you already use WordPress: WooCommerce is free to download and install.

Other builders: BigCommerce ( designed for merchants managing larger catalogs or complex operations, offering more built-in features than most platforms ) and PrestaShop ( best for developers or teams with technical experience, fully customizable and suited for multilingual, international, or B2B setups ).

🎨 Print-on-Demand for Custom Products

If you're doing custom/personalized items (mugs, apparel, phone cases, etc.):

• Printful —

Choosing the best platform depends on whether you want an established marketplace with built-in traffic or an independent storefront where you own your brand and customer relationships.

Here is a breakdown of the best platforms for handmade crafts and custom products, categorized by how they work:

1. Established Marketplaces (Built-In Shopper Traffic)

These platforms already attract millions of active buyers, making them ideal if you don't have an existing audience.

• Etsy
• Best for: Beginners, general handmade goods, personalized gifts, and vintage items.
• Pros: The undisputed global standard for handmade crafts with massive search traffic; easy setup and recognizable buyer trust.
• Cons: Highly competitive; increasing transaction, listing, and payment processing fees; strict algorithm dependence; risk of competing against mass-produced items masquerading as handmade.
• Amazon Handmade
• Best for: Makers who can scale production and want access to Amazon Prime shoppers.
• Pros: Massive built-in audience; allows integration with Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA); waives the standard $39.99/month Professional selling plan fee for approved artisans.
• Cons: Strict application and approval process (all items must be genuinely handmade); Amazon keeps customer data, limiting your ability to build an email list.
• MakerPlace by Michaels
• Best for: US-based crafters, DIYers, and artisans offering classes or patterns alongside products.
• Pros: Backed by craft giant Michaels; lower fee structures compared to Etsy; allows sellers to sell finished crafts, digital guides/patterns, and host online crafting classes.
• Cons: Audience is smaller and primarily US-focused; still growing compared to Etsy’s global reach.
• GoImagine
• Best for: US artisans seeking an ethical, strictly handmade alternative to Etsy.
• Pros: Dedicated 100% to genuine handmade items (no mass-produced goods allowed); donates 100% of marketplace profits to children’s charities; supportive maker community.
• Cons: Currently limited to US sellers and buyers; smaller search volume, so you may need to drive some of your own traffic.

2. Standalone E-Commerce Stores (Full Brand Control)

If you already have a social media following or want to build a long-term, independent brand without marketplace fees or competitor ads on your listings, host your own store.

• Shopify
• Best for: Serious creators building a scalable, standalone brand.
• Pros: Complete control over branding, customer emails, and the checkout experience; endless integrations with shipping carriers, marketing tools, and Print-on-Demand (POD) providers; handles complex product customization options via apps.
• Cons: Monthly subscription cost ($39/mo base); zero built-in traffic—you must drive all your own visitors via social media, ads, or SEO.
• Squarespace / Wix
• Best for: Artists, visual makers, and custom commission businesses wanting an aesthetic portfolio store.
• Pros: Drag-and-drop website builders with visually stunning templates; easy to set up contact forms for custom commissions or bespoke project inquiries.
• Cons: E-commerce tools and inventory management are less advanced than Shopify.
• WooCommerce (WordPress)
• Best for: Tech-savvy sellers who want maximum customization and lowest ongoing platform fees.
• Pros: Open-source, highly flexible, no monthly platform subscription (only hosting and payment gateway fees).
• Cons: Requires technical management, updates, and maintenance.

3. Niche & Specialty Channels

• TikTok Shop & Instagram Shop:
• Best for: Visual makers who create process videos, pottery reveals, woodworking time-lapses, or behind-the-scenes content.
• Why it works: Social commerce lets customers purchase directly through short-form video and live streams without leaving the app.
• Folksy (UK Only):
• Best for: UK-based artisans. It is often described as the "British Etsy," with a loyal local audience and strict handmade criteria.
• Faire:
• Best for: Wholesale orders. If you want to sell your handmade goods in bulk to independent gift shops and boutiques worldwide, Faire is the leading wholesale platform.

Recommended Strategy for Most Makers

• 1.Start on a Marketplace: Begin on Etsy (and apply to Amazon Handmade) to validate product demand, test pricing, and learn how to package and ship orders reliably using existing customer traffic.
• 2.Collect Your Audience: Include branded packaging inserts with every order (e.g., a card offering a discount code or free care guide if they sign up for your email newsletter).
• 3.Graduate to Your Own Store: Once you have steady demand and a growing email/social following, launch your own Shopify or Squarespace store to reduce third-party fees and build long-term brand equity.

The best platforms depend on whether you want the biggest audience, the easiest setup, or more control over your brand. For most sellers, Etsy and Amazon Handmade are the strongest starting points, while Shopify is best if you want to build your own store and brand.^4671819

• Etsy: Best overall for handmade crafts and custom products because it is widely recommended for beginners and is known for attracting shoppers specifically looking for unique, handmade, and custom items.^12451118
• Amazon Handmade: Best for reaching a very large customer base while still selling handcrafted goods; it is repeatedly recommended as a strong option for makers who want broad reach.⁶⁷⁸
• Shopify: Best if you want full control over branding, customer experience, and your own storefront rather than competing inside a marketplace.⁷¹⁶¹⁹
• Faire: Good for wholesale-focused sellers who want to sell to retailers rather than directly to consumers.⁷
• eBay: Useful for one-of-a-kind handmade items and for sellers who want access to a massive general marketplace.¹⁴
• Facebook Marketplace / social commerce: Helpful for local or fast-turnover sales, especially if you want to sell without a dedicated storefront.⁹¹⁵
• iCraft: A niche handmade marketplace with a global focus, especially for handmade goods across categories like jewelry, clothing, gifts, and home décor.¹²²⁰

If you want the simplest recommendation:

• Start with Etsy if you are new or want direct handmade buyers.⁴⁵¹⁸
• Choose Amazon Handmade if you want scale and large traffic.⁶⁷⁸
• Choose Shopify if you want to build a long-term independent brand.⁷¹⁹

If you want, I can also rank these platforms by fees, ease of use, traffic, or best product type.

The “best” platform depends on whether you want built-in marketplace traffic or your own branded store. The three strongest options for handmade and custom products are Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and Shopify.

How to choose

• If you need traffic fast: Start with Etsy. It already has an audience shopping for handmade, vintage, and custom items. etsy.com
• If you want Amazon-scale reach: Apply to Amazon Handmade. The fee waiver and FBA option can be attractive, but you must qualify and follow Handmade guidelines. sell.amazon.com
• If you want your own brand and customer list: Use Shopify. You control the storefront, but you’re responsible for driving traffic. forbes.com
• If you sell personalized/custom products: Etsy is custom-friendly, and Amazon offers Amazon Custom for personalization. However, Amazon Custom products must be seller-fulfilled and can’t be fulfilled through FBA. etsy.com sell.amazon.com
• If you already sell on Etsy: Amazon Handmade lets you transfer product details from Etsy to Handmade, which can make cross-listing easier. sell.amazon.com

Other options worth considering

Beyond those three, many sellers also use:

• Big Cartel, Squarespace, Wix, or WooCommerce for branded/DIY storefronts.
• Instagram/Facebook Shops, TikTok Shop, or Pinterest for social selling.
• Faire for wholesale to boutiques.
• Niche marketplaces like Folksy, ArtFire, Zibbet, or GoImagine.

A common strategy is to use Shopify as your home base and then cross-list to Etsy and Amazon Handmade for discovery. Just check current fees, category rules, and customization limits before committing.

Here’s a quick, up-to-date cheat sheet. “Best” depends on whether you need built‑in buyers, the lowest fees, or more control.

Marketplaces (built‑in demand, higher take)

• Etsy (digital downloads): Pro—huge buyer base; Con—fees stack (listing $0.20, 6.5% transaction, plus payment processing e.g., 3% + $0.25 in the U.S.). Best for low‑touch printables/templates if you can stand the fees. (help.etsy.com)
• Gumroad Discover: Pro—hands‑off storefront, PWYW, taxes handled; Con—highest cut on marketplace‑sourced sales (30%). Direct sales use regular Gumroad pricing. Good for creators with simple catalogs. (gumroad.com)

Simple “no‑code” storefronts (sell direct, fast setup)

• Gumroad: No monthly fee; flat per‑sale fee and strong creator features (memberships, bundles, PWYW). Great if you already have an audience. (gumroad.com)
• Payhip: Very easy setup; collects/remits EU/UK VAT; pricing tiers so you can trade monthly cost for lower transaction fees. Good balance of simplicity and control. (payhip.com)
• Sellfy: All‑in‑one hosted store focused on digital/POD; paid plans advertise 0% transaction fees. Good if you want a branded storefront without plugins. (sellfy.com)
• Lemon Squeezy: Built for digital products and subscriptions; handles global taxes and recurring billing. Strong fit for software, licenses, and SaaS‑like offers. (docs.lemonsqueezy.com)

Full storefronts (max control, more setup)

• Shopify + Digital Downloads app: Pro—scales well, huge app/marketing ecosystem; Con—monthly plan + app reliance; avoid extra Shopify “transaction fees” by using Shopify Payments. Best when you want a full brand site with email, SEO, and upsells. (help.shopify.com)
• WooCommerce (WordPress): Pro—no platform transaction fee, sell any digital type, total flexibility; Con—manage hosting, security, and extensions yourself. Great long‑term value at scale if you’re comfortable with WordPress. (woocommerce.com)

Course/membership platforms

• Podia: All‑in‑one for courses, downloads, and community; straightforward pricing and current plan limits documented. Ideal if courses are central to your offer. (podia.com)

Quick picks by situation

• I want the most buyers with minimal setup: Etsy (accept higher fees). (help.etsy.com)
• I have an audience and want fast, simple checkout: Gumroad or Payhip. (gumroad.com)
• I sell software/keys/subscriptions globally: Lemon Squeezy. (docs.lemonsqueezy.com)
• I want a branded store I can grow with apps/SEO: Shopify. (help.shopify.com)
• I want maximum control and lowest platform fees at scale: WooCommerce (budget for hosting and a payment gateway). (woocommerce.com)

Fee tip

• Fixed per‑transaction fees hit low‑priced items hardest; bundles or higher AOV help margins. This is especially noticeable on platforms that add a fixed $0.xx component per sale. (fees.tools)

If you tell me what you’re selling, average price, and whether you already have traffic, I can recommend a shortlist and estimate your take‑home after fees.

The best platform for selling digital products depends on what you are selling (e-books, templates, software, courses) and whether you already have an audience or need a platform with built-in search traffic.

1. Best for Creators & Digital Downloads (Fastest Setup)

These platforms provide standalone storefronts or checkout pages designed specifically for digital files (PDFs, templates, presets, software).

• Lemon Squeezy
• Best for: Digital downloads, software/SaaS, and international sales.
• Why it’s great: It acts as a Merchant of Record (MoR), meaning it automatically calculates, collects, and remits global sales tax and EU VAT for you. It also offers clean checkout pages, license key generation, and subscription billing.
• Pricing: Pay-as-you-go transaction fee (roughly 5% + 50¢ per transaction).
• Gumroad
• Best for: Beginners, indie hackers, and creators with a newsletter or social following.
• Why it’s great: Extremely fast to set up. It handles file delivery, pay-what-you-want pricing, discount codes, and international tax compliance (MoR).
• Pricing: Flat 10% fee per transaction (plus standard payment processing fees).
• Payhip
• Best for: Low-cost selling of e-books, downloads, and simple memberships.
• Why it’s great: Features built-in EU VAT handling, PDF stamping (stamps the buyer's email on pages to deter piracy), and an easy-to-use storefront builder.
• Pricing: Free plan with a 5% transaction fee, or monthly plans ($29–$99/month) with lower or zero transaction fees.
• Stan Store
• Best for: Social media creators (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts).
• Why it’s great: Designed specifically as an all-in-one “link-in-bio” mobile checkout. It lets you sell digital downloads, 1-on-1 coaching calls, and courses directly inside social app browsers without losing visitors to an external site.
• Pricing: Flat monthly subscription (from $29/month) with 0% transaction fees.

2. Best Built-in Marketplaces (If You Don’t Have an Audience)

If you don't have an email list or social media following, building a standalone store can be tough. These marketplaces have built-in search engines with millions of ready buyers.

• Etsy
• Best for: Printables, planners, Notion/Canva templates, wedding invitations, and design assets.
• Why it’s great: Massive built-in search volume. If you optimize your listings for SEO, you can get sales organically without paying for ads.
• Trade-off: High competition, listing fees ($0.20/item), and transaction/processing fees (~6.5% + processing).
• Creative Market / Envato Elements
• Best for: Graphic designers, fonts, website themes, 3D assets, and photography.
• Why it’s great: Niche audience of agencies, designers, and marketers willing to pay for high-quality creative assets.
• Trade-off: Requires an application/curation process to get approved as a seller.
• Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
• Best for: E-books, low-content books, and audiobooks.
• Why it’s great: The undisputed king of book sales with massive global distribution.

3. Best for Online Courses & Memberships

If your product involves video modules, community interaction, or structured learning:

• Kajabi
• Best for: High-ticket courses, coaching programs, and all-in-one business scaling.
• Why it’s great: Combines website hosting, landing pages, email marketing funnels, course delivery, and community in one robust suite.
• Trade-off: Premium price point (starting around $149/month).
• Podia
• Best for: Budget-friendly course and download hosting.
• Why it’s great: Much simpler and more affordable than Kajabi, with an intuitive interface for hosting courses, webinars, and simple downloads.
• Skool or Circle
• Best for: Community-first digital products and cohort-based courses.
• Why it’s great: Combines a modern discussion forum/community feed with an integrated classroom for course material.

4. Best for Full Brand Control & Scale

• Shopify
• Best for: Brands selling both physical and digital products, or scaling large digital stores.
• Why it’s great: Industry-standard e-commerce features, unlimited scalability, and thousands of apps (like Filemonk or SendOwl for delivering digital files).
• Trade-off: Requires monthly plan fees, app fees, and you must manage your own sales tax/VAT configuration.
• WooCommerce + Easy Digital Downloads (WordPress)
• Best for: Developers and businesses wanting 100% data ownership and no revenue cuts.
• Why it’s great: Completely open-source, customizable, and has no platform transaction fees.
• Trade-off: Requires technical maintenance, separate hosting, and manual security management.

Summary Recommendation: Which Should You Choose?

Based on current comparisons, here's a breakdown of the top platforms for selling digital products, organized by what they're best suited for:

All-in-One Storefronts (Beginner-Friendly)

Gumroad – The frictionless launching pad for newbies, free to start, 5 minute setup, no website required, 10% flat fee on each sale.

Payhip – The best free alternative to Gumroad, with a fully customisable shopfront builder, PDF security stamping and only a 5% cut. It's also noted as a popular eCommerce platform to sell digital products, online courses, coaching, memberships, and even physical products, with no monthly fees and automated tax handling.

Sellfy – Described as the best hybrid engine for creators who want to sell digital files with print-on-demand merchandise without handling physical inventory ($22/mo, 0% platform fee).

Full E-Commerce Control (Scaling a Brand)

Shopify – A household name in e-commerce that has evolved into a powerhouse among platforms to sell digital products, offering a full-fledged online store experience, making it an ideal choice for serious creators and businesses aiming to build a substantial brand presence and scale their operations.

It's perfect for businesses needing full control and branding, with robust tools, app ecosystem, and 24/7 support — though it comes with monthly fees and a steeper learning curve.

Squarespace – Rated as the best all-rounder for creators, small businesses, and beautiful design , giving you the tools to create a full website and online shop, so you can build out your online presence, add extra pages, improve your SEO, share content, and sell your digital products all in one place.

Marketplaces with Built-In Traffic

Etsy – Has evolved into a strong digital product marketplace, especially for creative products — if your products include templates, planners, or design files, Etsy gives you access to a ready audience with built-in traffic, easy discovery, and niche-focused buyers. It's best for designers and creators selling visual or printable products.

Online Courses & Education

Teachable – A specialized platform designed specifically for online courses, offering a free plan to get started and tools tailored to course creators, making it a strong choice over general-purpose platforms like Payhip or Gumroad.

Kajabi – Recommended for established education-based businesses where Teachable or Kajabi are much better suited to courses and student access.

Social Media Creators

Stan Store – The best option for Instagram and TikTok creators, designed as a sleek mobile-native link-in-bio checkout that converts in 2 taps for $29/mo with 0% platform take-rates.

Sales Funnels & Conversion Optimization

ThriveCart – The direct response marketer's dream, with high converting sales funnels, dynamic order bumps and 1-click upsells ($495 one-time lifetime license).

Lightweight Delivery Tool

SendOwl – A headless checkout & digital delivery engine you can plug directly into any existing website or custom CMS ($9/mo).

Quick Recommendation Guide

• Just starting out, no website? → Gumroad or Payhip
• Want a polished branded store? → Shopify or Squarespace
• Selling printables/templates? → Etsy
• Teaching courses? → Teachable or Kajabi
• Social media creator (IG/TikTok)? → Stan Store
• **Need

There isn’t one best platform. The right choice depends on what you sell, whether you already have an audience, and how much tax paperwork you want to handle yourself. Fees change, so confirm current pricing before you commit.

Quick picks by situation

Best for getting started

Gumroad is the fastest “upload a file and share a link” option. There is no monthly fee. Direct sales cost 10% + $0.50, plus card processing (about 2.9% + $0.30 in the US). Sales through its Discover marketplace cost a flat 30%. Since January 2025 it has acted as merchant of record, so it collects and remits sales tax and VAT. That simplicity is worth the higher cut while you are testing. At higher volume, the percentage gets expensive.

Payhip is often the better fee deal for the same kind of products (ebooks, templates, small courses, memberships). Plans are roughly:

• Free: 5% per sale
• Plus (~$29/month): 2%
• Pro (~$99/month): 0%

Payment processing (Stripe or PayPal) is extra on every plan. All features are available on the free tier. Plus usually beats Free once sales are around $1,000/month; Pro starts to win around $3,500/month.

Best if you need buyers, not just a checkout

Etsy is the standout when you sell printables, SVGs, planners, presets, or digital art and don’t yet have an audience. For a typical US seller, fees are about $0.20 per listing (renewed when it sells), 6.5% transaction fee, and 3% + $0.25 payment processing—often roughly 10–15% all-in, higher on cheap items and if Offsite Ads apply. You trade margin and branding for search traffic.

Marketplaces like Creative Market can work for design assets, but commissions are much higher (often around half the sale).

Best for software

Lemon Squeezy charges 5% + $0.50 as an all-in merchant-of-record fee (processing and global tax included), with small add-ons for international cards, PayPal, and subscriptions. Stripe acquired it in 2024; it was still operating in 2026 while merchants were being pointed toward Stripe Managed Payments. If you want the same “they handle tax” model with more certainty, also look at Paddle and Polar.

Best for courses

• Teachable — focused course tools (curriculum, quizzes, certificates). Lower plans often include a transaction fee; higher plans drop it to 0%.
• Podia — courses plus downloads, email, and community in one place.
• Kajabi — premium all-in-one (funnels, email, coaching). Higher monthly cost, usually 0% platform fee. Best once the business is already working.

Avoid generic file hosts for serious courses; student experience and drip content matter.

Best for social creators and for scaling

Stan Store (about $29/month Creator, $99/month Pro) takes 0% of sales. You still pay Stripe or PayPal processing. It fits creators who already get traffic from a bio link and want downloads, courses, and bookings in one page. You remain responsible for sales tax.

Shopify (often around $29–39/month billed annually, plus ~2.9% + $0.30 with Shopify Payments) wins when you want a real brand, your own customer list, and room to add physical products. Percentage platforms are usually cheaper below roughly $1,000/month; a flat subscription plus processing usually wins after that, depending on order size.

Sellfy is a simpler hosted store with 0% platform fees and a monthly plan. WooCommerce (WordPress) gives the most control and 0% platform fees, at the cost of hosting, plugins, and maintenance.

How to choose

• 1.No audience + searchable files (printables, templates) → start on Etsy.
• 2.You can send people a link → Gumroad or Payhip. Prefer Payhip if fees matter more than Discover traffic and full worldwide tax handling.
• 3.Software sold worldwide → a merchant of record (Lemon Squeezy, Paddle, or similar).
• 4.Courses are the product → Teachable, Podia, or Kajabi.
• 5.Consistent revenue and you want the brand → Shopify, Sellfy, or WooCommerce.

Many sellers use two channels at once (for example Etsy for discovery and their own store for repeat buyers). Always check the live pricing page—platform fees, tax roles, and plan names shift.

Best Platforms for Selling Digital Products Online

There's no single "best" platform — the right choice depends on whether you want a standalone storefront, access to an existing marketplace audience, or a tool that doubles as your email/newsletter engine. Here's how the landscape breaks down.

All-in-one platforms built for digital products

These give you a storefront, file hosting and delivery, checkout, and marketing tools in one place:

• Easytools — tops several 2026 rankings for both paid and free digital selling platforms.
• Gumroad — a favorite of artists, musicians, and creators. Clean seller interface with advanced analytics to track sales and project earnings, and low transaction fees at 3.5% + $0.30 per transaction.
• Payhip — offers a generous forever-free plan with all selling features, no monthly fees, and no upfront costs. Standouts include built-in affiliate marketing, pay-what-you-want pricing, license key delivery, customizable checkout pages, and its own built-in marketplace as an extra sales channel.
• Sellfy — a complete online store with basic email marketing built in; came out as the top overall choice in one hands-on comparison.
• Podia, Samcart, SendOwl, Stan Store, Teachable — all appear on 2026 "best of" lists, with Teachable leaning toward course creators and SendOwl best for sellers who already have a website.

easy.tools payoneer.com emailtooltester.com

Marketplaces (rent an audience instead of building one)

If you want built-in traffic rather than your own marketing engine:

• Amazon — massive audience and robust tools; supports eBooks, music, games, apps, plus newer features like subscriptions, recurring payments, and expanded video/audio support. Especially strong for authors.
• Gumroad — sits in both camps: marketplace reach with a simple creator interface.
• Themeforest — the go-to for website templates, PSDs, HTML, and plugins. Top sellers can earn over $1 million annually, with author fees based on exclusivity and aggregate sales.
• AliExpress — good for reaching international buyers in the Americas and Europe with designs, software, e-learning courses, and web apps.
• Lazada — no commission fees, with buyers accessing files via their dashboard.
• Apple iTunes / Apple Music, Walmart, Etsy, Creative Market — additional options depending on your product type.

payoneer.com easy.tools

Email & newsletter platforms with selling built in

A clever option if your audience lives in your inbox — sell without adding another subscription:

• Kit (ConvertKit) — ideal for creators, solopreneurs, and indie publishers selling ebooks, courses, and paid newsletters while nurturing an email list.
• MailerLite — long one of the highest-rated email platforms, now with store functionality for digital products; great for a unified funnel + email toolset.
• Beehiiv — built for creators and publishers who want to grow and monetize an audience through paid subscriptions and digital products.
• SendOwl — for those with an existing site; embed buy buttons or carts anywhere, supports license keys and PayPal/Stripe/Apple Pay (note: storefront display capped at 10 products).
• Easy Digital Downloads — a WordPress ecommerce plugin if you want full control.
• DPD (Digital Product Delivery) — the budget pick, starting around $10/month.

emailtooltester.com

How to choose

Weigh these factors before committing:

• 1.Transaction fees and commissions
• 2.Ease of use
• 3.Customization options
• 4.Payment processing
• 5.File hosting and delivery
• 6.Marketing tools (email, coupons, upsells)
• 7.Integrations (email, CRM, etc.)
• 8.Support and community

easy.tools

Quick recommendations

• Cheapest to start: Payhip (free plan, no monthly fees) or DPD (~$10/month).
• Best for creators/artists: Gumroad.
• Best for course creators: Teachable.
• Best if you already have a website: SendOwl.
• Best if you have an email list: Kit, MailerLite, or Beehiiv.
• Best for built-in traffic: Amazon, Themeforest, or Payhip's marketplace.

Most profitable digital products to sell on any of these: online courses, ebooks, templates, software and mobile apps, membership programs, and subscriptions. easy.tools

The best platforms for selling digital products depend on whether you want a marketplace with built-in traffic or a creator storefront with more control. For most sellers in 2026, the strongest options are Gumroad, Payhip, Easy Digital Downloads, WooCommerce, Podia, Sellfy, and Teachable.¹²⁴⁶⁷⁹

• Gumroad is a strong choice for simple setup and low friction, especially for creators who want to start quickly without a monthly fee.²¹⁴
• Payhip is a good all-around option with a free plan and flexible selling features, and it is often recommended for creators who want a balance of ease and control.⁶⁸
• Easy Digital Downloads is especially well-suited for WordPress users selling ebooks, PDFs, software, and templates.⁷
• WooCommerce is a strong self-hosted option if you want full control over your store and already use WordPress; one source describes it as offering digital download support, checkout, cart, and payment gateways for free.⁹
• Podia works well if you want to sell digital downloads, courses, and memberships in one place.⁴⁸
• Sellfy is useful for creators who want an easy storefront with digital delivery and built-in ecommerce features.¹⁴
• Teachable is best if your main product is online courses rather than standalone downloads.⁴⁶
• Etsy is often best for beginners who need marketplace traffic and do not yet have an audience, though it is not ideal for maximum control or margins.²³⁶

A practical way to choose is:

• Pick a marketplace like Etsy or Gumroad if you need traffic fast.³¹¹
• Pick a creator platform like Payhip, Podia, or Sellfy if you want lower fees and more branding control.¹¹
• Pick a self-hosted option like WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads if you want maximum control and can bring your own traffic.⁷⁹¹¹

If you want the shortest answer, the most commonly recommended starting points are Gumroad for simplicity, Payhip for value, and WooCommerce/Easy Digital Downloads for control.²⁶⁷⁹