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SamCart is a checkout and sales-page platform for creators, coaches and info-product sellers. It shines at high-converting checkouts with order bumps and one-click upsells. But in 2026 those upsell tools sit on the $199/month Pro plan, so it is pricey for beginners.
Last updated: October 2026 · How we researched this: we checked SamCart’s official pricing page, read recent user reviews on Capterra, and compared its fees with Payhip and SendOwl.
Key takeaways
- SamCart has two self-serve plans in October 2026: Core at $79/month and Pro at $199/month, plus a custom “Done For You” plan. Both come with a 7-day free trial.
- Order bumps, 1-click upsells, A/B testing and the affiliate center are listed under Pro, not Core.
- SamCart does not take a cut of sales on top of processing. Its SamPay processing rate is 2.9% + 30¢.
- If you sell under about $5,000 a month, cheaper tools often cost less overall.
What is SamCart?
SamCart is a hosted checkout builder. You create a product, design a checkout page, connect payments and share the link. Buyers pay on SamCart’s page and get access to your product.
It is popular with people who sell:
- Online courses and digital downloads
- Coaching packages and paid communities
- Subscriptions and payment plans
- Physical products sold through a single offer page
SamCart also has a built-in Courses App, cart abandonment tools and an AI assistant that helps design product pages.
SamCart pricing in 2026
Here is what the official SamCart pricing page shows (checked October 2026). A yearly billing toggle advertises up to 25% off.
| Core | Pro | Done For You | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $79 | $199 | Custom |
| Free trial | 7 days | 7 days | — |
| SamPay processing | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.9% + 30¢ | Custom rates |
| Team seats | 1 | 10 | Unlimited |
| Order bumps and 1-click upsells | No | Yes | Yes |
| A/B testing | No | Yes | Yes |
| Affiliate center | No | Yes | Yes |
| API and third-party processors | No | Yes | Yes |
The page also lists a tax collection fee of 50 basis points (0.5%) on Core and 35 (0.35%) on Pro. Dedicated live support is a $19/month add-on.
Heads-up: SamCart has renamed and repriced its plans several times. Many older articles still show “Launch, Grow and Scale” plans. Trust the official page, not old reviews.
SamCart pros and cons
Pros
- Clean, fast checkout pages built to convert.
- Unlimited products, pages and checkouts on both plans.
- Strong upsell funnel tools on Pro (order bumps, post-purchase upsells, A/B tests).
- Subscription Saver on Pro helps recover failed recurring payments.
- No extra percentage taken on top of processing.
Cons
- Expensive for a starting creator. There is no free plan.
- The upsell features SamCart is known for need Pro.
- Not a full website builder. You still need a site or blog elsewhere.
- Email marketing is basic, so most users connect a separate tool such as MailerLite.
- Reviewers on sites like Capterra mention the price and the learning curve of funnels.
What SamCart really costs at different sales levels
The plan price matters less than the total you pay. This table shows only the platform fee per month (payment processing of roughly 2.9% + 30¢ applies on all of them).
| Monthly sales | SamCart Core | SamCart Pro | Payhip (cheapest plan for that level) | SendOwl (plan required) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $79 | $199 | $49 (Plus: $29 + 2%) | $87 (Grow) |
| $5,000 | $79 | $199 | $99 (Pro plan: 0% fee) | $159 (Scale) |
| $10,000 | $79 | $199 | $99 (Pro plan: 0% fee) | from $299 (Business) |
SendOwl caps annual sales per plan, which is why the required plan rises with revenue. Payhip charges a percentage on its cheaper plans. SamCart’s flat fee becomes good value once you sell more, especially on Core.
Who should use SamCart?
Good fit
- Course creators and coaches with an audience who want to raise order value with upsells.
- Marketers running paid ads to a single offer page.
- Teams that need A/B testing and several user seats.
Who should NOT use SamCart
- Beginners with no sales yet. A free or low-cost tool is a safer start; our guide on how to make money online for beginners covers first steps.
- Store owners with many physical products and inventory. A store platform like Shopify fits better.
- Sellers who need a full course platform with communities and quizzes.
A 4-question decision checklist
- Do you need upsells and order bumps? If yes, budget for Pro at $199/month.
- Are your monthly sales above roughly $3,000–$5,000? If not, compare with Payhip first.
- Do you already have a website and email tool? SamCart works best as the checkout layer on top of them.
- Do you need non-SamPay processors? Third-party processor support is listed on Pro.
SamCart alternatives
- Payhip: free to start, with a store, courses and memberships. Best for small creators.
- SendOwl: simple digital delivery with no transaction fees, but sales caps per plan. See our SendOwl review.
- ThriveCart: a checkout tool sold with a one-time price instead of a subscription. Check current terms on its site.
- Kajabi or Thinkific: better if courses are your main product.
SamCart FAQ
How much does SamCart cost per month?
In October 2026 SamCart Core costs $79/month and Pro costs $199/month, with yearly billing advertised at up to 25% off. A custom Done For You plan is also available.
Does SamCart have a free plan?
No. SamCart offers a 7-day free trial on Core and Pro, but there is no free forever plan.
Does SamCart charge transaction fees?
SamCart does not take an extra cut of sales. You pay processing through SamPay at 2.9% + 30¢, and the pricing page lists a small tax collection fee of 0.5% on Core and 0.35% on Pro.
Is SamCart worth it for beginners?
Usually not. Beginners pay $79 to $199 a month before making sales, and the best upsell tools need Pro. Start with a cheaper tool and switch once you have steady revenue.
Conclusion
SamCart is a polished checkout platform for creators who already sell and want higher order values. Core is fine for simple sales, but the features that make SamCart stand out are on Pro. If you are just starting, a cheaper tool like Payhip or SendOwl will cost less until your sales grow.
