Circle vs Payhip: Which is right for you? (1970)
TL;DR
- Choose Circle if paywall conversion optimization is the priority.
- Choose Payhip if keeping fees low matters most.
- Both work for: courses, memberships.
Circle
Professional from $89/month. 0% transaction fee.
Clean community platform for creators and coaches. Courses, live streams, events, and memberships in one place. 0% transaction fee on all plans.
Payhip
Free: 5% fee. Plus $29/mo: 2%. Pro $99/mo: 0%
More customizable than Gumroad with better fee structure at volume. Does not handle VAT globally.
Pricing comparison
Feature comparison
Best for
Circle is best for Communities, Courses, Memberships, Creators, coaching, Digital products. Payhip is best for ebooks, templates, Courses, Memberships, Creators, Digital products.
FAQ
Is Circle better than Payhip?
Neither is universally better. Circle is the right pick if paywall conversion optimization is the priority; Payhip wins if keeping fees low matters most.
Which is cheaper, Circle or Payhip?
Payhip ranks higher on fee competitiveness (4/5). Circle pricing: Professional from $89/month. 0% transaction fee.. Payhip pricing: Free: 5% fee. Plus $29/mo: 2%. Pro $99/mo: 0%.
Can I switch from Circle to Payhip?
Yes — most subscription and billing tools support migration via CSV import or API. Expect to reconfigure webhooks, paywalls, and entitlements. Check both vendors' migration docs before committing.
Does Circle handle sales tax?
No. Circle does not handle tax registrations — you handle those yourself or via a separate tool.
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