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Gumroad vs MemberPress: Which is right for you? (1970)

TL;DR

  • Choose Gumroad if you want global taxes and compliance handled for you.
  • Choose MemberPress if keeping fees low matters most.
  • Both work for: courses.

Gumroad

10% + $0.50 per transaction (direct). 30% via Gumroad marketplace. MoR since January 2025 — handles all global tax.

Fastest path from idea to first sale. Built-in marketplace gives discovery. Now a Merchant of Record (since Jan 2025) — handles all global tax compliance. High fees (10% + $0.50) are the trade-off for zero setup friction.

MemberPress

Basic $179/year. Plus $299/year. Pro $399/year.

The most popular WordPress membership plugin. Handles subscriptions, content restriction, course selling, and drip content. Works with Stripe, PayPal, and others.

Pricing comparison

Pricing model
percentage
flat_annual
Detail
10% + $0.50 per transaction (direct). 30% via Gumroad marketplace. MoR since January 2025 — handles all global tax.
Basic $179/year. Plus $299/year. Pro $399/year.

Feature comparison

Gumroad
MemberPress
Merchant of record
Yes
No
Paywalls
No
Yes
A/B testing
No
No
Tax handled
Yes
No
No-code
Yes
Yes
Open source
No
No
Ease of setup
5/5
4/5
Fee competitiveness
2/5
4/5
Conversion tooling
3/5
3/5
Advanced billing
1/5
2/5

Best for

Gumroad is best for ebooks, templates, Courses, indie creators, marketplace discovery, Creators. MemberPress is best for WordPress, Memberships, Courses, content paywalls, independent publishers, Publishers.

FAQ

Is Gumroad better than MemberPress?

Neither is universally better. Gumroad is the right pick if you want global taxes and compliance handled for you; MemberPress wins if keeping fees low matters most.

Which is cheaper, Gumroad or MemberPress?

MemberPress ranks higher on fee competitiveness (4/5). Gumroad pricing: 10% + $0.50 per transaction (direct). 30% via Gumroad marketplace. MoR since January 2025 — handles all global tax.. MemberPress pricing: Basic $179/year. Plus $299/year. Pro $399/year..

Can I switch from Gumroad to MemberPress?

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 Gumroad handle sales tax?

Yes. Gumroad handles global sales tax and VAT for you.

All Gumroad alternatives →All MemberPress alternatives →

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