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Payhip is an all-in-one platform for selling digital downloads, online courses, memberships, coaching and even physical products. You can start for free and pay a 5% fee per sale, or pay a monthly plan to lower or remove that fee. It is one of the easiest ways for a new creator to start selling.
Last updated: October 2026 · How we researched this: we checked Payhip’s official pricing and features pages, read third-party reviews, and compared its fees with SendOwl and SamCart.
Key takeaways
- Three plans in October 2026: Free ($0, 5% fee), Plus ($29/month, 2% fee) and Pro ($99/month, 0% fee).
- Every plan includes all features, unlimited products and unlimited revenue.
- Stripe or PayPal processing fees apply on top of Payhip’s fee.
- Payhip collects and pays EU and UK VAT for you. Other taxes, such as US sales tax, remain your job.
What is Payhip?
Payhip is a hosted store builder for creators. You add products, customize a storefront and share links. Buyers pay through your connected Stripe or PayPal account, and Payhip delivers the product instantly.
According to the Payhip features page, you can sell:
- Digital downloads (ebooks, templates, presets, music, software)
- Online courses with lessons and quizzes
- Memberships and subscriptions
- Coaching sessions (with Zoom and Calendly integrations)
- Physical products and bundles
It also includes a drag-and-drop website builder, custom domains, coupons, order bumps, abandoned cart recovery, license keys, PDF stamping and a built-in marketplace.
Payhip pricing and fees in 2026
These plans come from the official Payhip pricing page (checked October 2026).
| Plan | Monthly price | Payhip transaction fee | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Forever | $0 | 5% | All features |
| Plus | $29 | 2% | All features |
| Pro | $99 | 0% | All features |
On top of Payhip’s fee, Stripe or PayPal charge their normal processing fee (often around 2.9% + 30¢ in the US). So on the Free plan, your total cost per sale can be around 8% or more.
Which Payhip plan is cheapest? The break-even points
Because all plans share the same features, the only question is cost. Here is the math, based on your monthly sales (Payhip fees only):
- Free vs Plus: 5% of sales equals $29 + 2% at about $967 a month. Above that, Plus is cheaper.
- Plus vs Pro: $29 + 2% equals $99 at $3,500 a month. Above that, Pro is cheaper.
| Monthly sales | Free plan cost | Plus plan cost | Pro plan cost | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300 | $15 | $35 | $99 | Free |
| $1,000 | $50 | $49 | $99 | Plus (barely) |
| $2,500 | $125 | $79 | $99 | Plus |
| $5,000 | $250 | $129 | $99 | Pro |
| $10,000 | $500 | $229 | $99 | Pro |
A simple rule: stay on Free until you sell about $1,000 a month, move to Plus, then switch to Pro once you pass $3,500. You can change plans at any time.
Payhip pros and cons
Pros
- Free plan with every feature, so you can test ideas with no monthly cost.
- No limits on products or revenue on any plan.
- Automatic EU and UK VAT handling, which is a big time saver for global sellers.
- Fast payouts: money goes to your Stripe or PayPal account as sales happen.
- Courses, memberships, coaching and downloads in one place.
Cons
- Not a full merchant of record. Outside EU and UK VAT, tax compliance is on you.
- Only Stripe and PayPal as payment providers, so some local payment methods are missing.
- Chargebacks land on your own Stripe or PayPal account.
- Course and membership tools are basic compared with dedicated course platforms.
- Storefront designs are simple; heavy branding needs more work.
Who should NOT use Payhip
- Large course businesses that need communities, cohorts and advanced quizzes. A dedicated course platform fits better.
- Sellers who want a full merchant of record that handles all global taxes and disputes.
- Physical product stores with big catalogs and complex shipping. A store builder like Shopify or Ecwid is a better match.
- Marketers who need advanced checkout A/B testing and one-click upsell funnels, where SamCart is stronger.
Payhip vs SendOwl vs SamCart
| Payhip | SendOwl | SamCart | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $0 | $39/month | $79/month |
| Platform fee per sale | 5% / 2% / 0% | 0% | No extra % (tax collection fee listed) |
| Sales caps | None | Yes, per plan | None listed |
| Built-in store and website | Yes | Basic | Checkout pages only |
| Best for | New and growing creators | Delivery on your own site | High-converting funnels |
Read more in our SendOwl review and SamCart review.
How to get started with Payhip
- Create a free account (no credit card needed).
- Connect Stripe and/or PayPal under payment settings.
- Add your first product, upload the file and set a price.
- Turn on PDF stamping or download limits for files you want to protect.
- Add a coupon and share your product link in your bio, blog and emails. An email tool such as MailerLite helps you build a buyer list.
If you are just starting to sell online, our guide on how to make money online for beginners covers how to pick a first product.
Payhip FAQ
Is Payhip really free?
Yes. The Free Forever plan costs $0 a month and includes all features, but Payhip takes 5% of each sale. Stripe or PayPal processing fees are charged on top.
How does Payhip pay you?
Payhip uses your own Stripe or PayPal account, so the money goes straight to that account when a sale completes. Payhip then collects its fee based on your plan.
Does Payhip handle VAT?
Payhip collects and pays EU VAT and UK VAT on your behalf automatically. Other taxes, such as US state sales tax, are still your responsibility.
Is Payhip better than Gumroad?
It depends on your needs. Payhip offers lower fees once you upgrade, a website builder and automatic EU and UK VAT handling, so many creators find it a good value alternative. Compare current fees on both sites before you choose.
Conclusion
Payhip is one of the easiest and most flexible ways to sell digital products in 2026. Start on the Free plan, then upgrade when the break-even math says so. Just remember that taxes outside the EU and UK, and chargebacks, are still yours to manage.
