Gumroad vs LemonSqueezy: Which One Fits Your Solo Dev Stack?
Free tier limits, real costs for 1-10 users, and honest "not for" warnings. The Solo Dev decision guide for Gumroad vs LemonSqueezy.
⚡ Quick Verdict
LemonSqueezy edges ahead with a 4.6/5 rating. However, the best choice depends on your team size, budget, and workflow needs. Read on for the full breakdown.
💰 Cost by Team Size
| Team Size | Gumroad | LemonSqueezy |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ Free to use. 10% flat fee on all sales. | ✅ Free to use. 5% + $0.50 per transaction. |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Gumroad | LemonSqueezy |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Free | $0/mo | $0/mo |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Gumroad | LemonSqueezy |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Product Sales | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Pros & Cons
Gumroad
✅ Pros
- No monthly fees — only pay when you sell
- Dead simple setup (5 minutes to first product)
- Built-in email marketing and workflows
- Handles taxes and VAT automatically
- Great for courses, ebooks, templates
❌ Cons
- 10% flat fee is high at volume
- Limited storefront customization
- Basic analytics
- No physical product support
- Customer support can be slow
LemonSqueezy
✅ Pros
- Merchant of record — handles all tax compliance globally
- Beautiful checkout experience
- Built-in affiliate management
- Lower fees than Gumroad (5% vs 10%)
- Software license keys built-in
❌ Cons
- 5% + $0.50 per transaction still adds up
- Fewer integrations than Shopify
- Relatively new — smaller community
- Limited storefront customization
- No physical product support
Who Should Use What?
✅ Choose Gumroad if...
- You are a creators selling digital products
- You are a course creators and educators
- You are a side projects testing product-market fit
🚫 Skip if...
- Physical product sellers
- High-volume sellers (10% fee adds up)
- Those wanting a branded storefront
✅ Choose LemonSqueezy if...
- You are a indie developers selling saas and apps
- You are a digital product creators
- You are a anyone wanting hassle-free tax compliance
🚫 Skip if...
- Physical product sellers
- Large businesses (Stripe is cheaper at volume)
- Those needing extensive customization
🏆 Our Verdict
Both Gumroad (4.4/5) and LemonSqueezy (4.6/5) are excellent tools in their category. LemonSqueezy takes a slight edge overall, but the best choice ultimately depends on your team's specific needs, budget, and existing tool ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gumroad better than LemonSqueezy?
It depends on your needs. Gumroad excels in some areas while LemonSqueezy has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does Gumroad pricing compare to LemonSqueezy?
Gumroad starts at Free / $0/mo, while LemonSqueezy starts at Free / $0/mo. Both offer different value propositions — check our pricing comparison section for a detailed breakdown.
Can I migrate from Gumroad to LemonSqueezy?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. LemonSqueezy typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from Gumroad.
Which is easier to use, Gumroad or LemonSqueezy?
Ease of use depends on your team's experience and workflow preferences. We evaluated both tools on usability — see our feature comparison scores above for details.
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