Gumroad vs Lemon Squeezy: 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 Lemon Squeezy.
⚡ Quick Verdict
Lemon Squeezy edges ahead with a 4.5/5 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 | Lemon Squeezy |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (1 user) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Small (5 users) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Growing (10 users) | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Free Tier | ✅ No monthly fee. 10% flat rate on every sale. | ✅ No monthly fee. 5% + 50¢ per transaction. Tax collection and remittance included. |
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Gumroad | Lemon Squeezy |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Free | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Premium | $10/mo | $14/mo |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Gumroad | Lemon Squeezy |
|---|
Pros & Cons
Gumroad
✅ Pros
- Zero upfront cost — pay only when you sell
- Built-in email marketing (Workflows)
- Instant payouts via Stripe Connect
- Simple product setup in minutes
❌ Cons
- 10% fee is high for volume sellers
- Limited storefront customization
- No built-in affiliate program management
Lemon Squeezy
✅ Pros
- Handles global sales tax automatically (huge for solo devs)
- Merchant of Record — they handle tax compliance, not you
- Built-in license key management for desktop/mobile apps
- No monthly fee — only pay per transaction
- Affiliate program management included
❌ Cons
- Higher per-transaction fee (5% + 50¢) vs Stripe (2.9% + 30¢)
- Fewer payment methods than Stripe
- Dashboard and DX not as polished as Stripe
- Limited customization for checkout flow
- Newer platform — smaller community and fewer integrations
Who Should Use What?
✅ Choose Gumroad if...
- You are a creators selling digital products
- You are a solo developers selling templates
🚫 Skip if...
- Physical product businesses
- High-volume SaaS businesses
✅ Choose Lemon Squeezy if...
- You are a solo devs selling digital products who don't want to deal with taxes
- You are a saas founders who want merchant of record (no tax headaches)
- You are a indie hackers selling desktop apps with license keys
🚫 Skip if...
- High-volume SaaS (5% fee eats into margins)
- Businesses needing full payment customization (use Stripe)
- Physical product sellers
🏆 Our Verdict
Both Gumroad (4.1/5) and Lemon Squeezy (4.5/5) are excellent tools in their category. Lemon Squeezy 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 Lemon Squeezy?
It depends on your needs. Gumroad excels in some areas while Lemon Squeezy has its own strengths. Read our full comparison above to see which tool fits your specific requirements.
How does Gumroad pricing compare to Lemon Squeezy?
Gumroad starts at Free / $0/mo, while Lemon Squeezy 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 Lemon Squeezy?
Yes, most B2B tools offer data import/export features. Lemon Squeezy typically provides migration guides and sometimes even dedicated support for switching from Gumroad.
Which is easier to use, Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy?
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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