Fee teardowns, pricing experiments, and growth tactics for Etsy, Gumroad, and Shopify, written from first-hand seller data.
8.13 million active Etsy sellers. $12.59B in GMS. Average fee load of 11.3%. We pulled the latest verified Etsy data and broke down what it actually means for sellers in 2026.
Net revenue tables for Etsy, Gumroad, and Shopify across every common price point. We ran the math so you don't have to guess what your real take-home looks like.
We looked at sellers who list the same product on both platforms. The answer isn't just about fees — traffic, conversion rates, and audience behavior all matter.
Etsy's fee structure is more confusing than it needs to be. I broke down exactly what you keep at $10, $25, and $50 price points — and the offsite ads gotcha that still catches people off guard.
I tested dozens of Etsy seller tools over the past year. Here are the 10 that are actually worth your time — with honest pricing, pros, and cons for each.
Etsy's dashboard shows your gross revenue. Your bank account tells a very different story. Here's how to find your real numbers and why it matters more than you think.
Gumroad's official fee is a flat 10% per sale — no $0.50 addon, no monthly fee. Here's the exact breakdown of what you keep at every price point, plus how it compares to Etsy.
Shopify's pricing looks straightforward until you start adding payment processing, apps, and third-party provider surcharges. Here's what digital product sellers actually pay.
Your Etsy dashboard shows revenue. Your profit is a very different number. Here's how to calculate what you actually earn — including the cost most sellers completely ignore.
Most template sellers price based on gut feeling or what competitors charge. Here's the formula I use — and why underpricing is quietly killing your business.
If you sell on Etsy, Gumroad, and Shopify, your real revenue is scattered across three dashboards. Here's how to see combined net revenue in one place — and what your spreadsheet is hiding.
Should you sell your printable planners and templates on Etsy, Gumroad, or both? We ran the actual fee math at $5, $10, $15, $25, and $50 price points.
Most Gumroad creators don't realize they're paying 30% on Discover sales instead of 10% on direct ones. Here's how to figure out where your sales actually come from.
Every blog says 'diversify your platforms.' But is that actually the right move for you right now? Here's a framework for deciding based on your actual numbers.
Etsy charges you 15% on sales from their offsite ads, and you can't opt out if you make over $10K. Here's how to figure out whether they're helping or hurting your business.
Etsy has no monthly fee but takes a bigger cut per sale. Shopify charges monthly but takes less per transaction. Here's exactly where the crossover happens.
A step-by-step guide from someone who went from zero to $2,800/month selling digital products on Etsy. No fluff, just what works.
Gumroad is the simplest way to sell digital products online. No marketplace, no algorithm. Just you, your product, and a checkout page. Here's how to make it work.
I got Star Seller in month 4. It did almost nothing for my sales. Here's what the badge requires, what it actually affects, and whether you should chase it.
Canva templates are one of the fastest-growing categories on Etsy. Here's how to create, list, and sell them, including the delivery method most guides skip.
Not theory. Not guesswork. These are digital product categories where real sellers make real money on Etsy, Gumroad, and Shopify.
I sell on Etsy. I looked hard at Amazon Handmade. Here's why I stayed, what Amazon gets right, and when it actually makes sense to switch.
Gumroad takes 10% flat. Patreon takes 5-12% depending on plan. After using both, here's the real fee math at $10, $25, and $50 price points — and which platform actually earns creators more.
Gumroad has been around forever. Lemon Squeezy is the newer alternative everyone keeps recommending. I tested both. Here's the real difference.
Shopify is easy but expensive. WooCommerce is cheap but complicated. For digital product sellers, the right choice is less obvious than you'd think.
Two Etsy keyword tools that do almost the same thing at different price points. I paid for both, tested them side by side, and cancelled one.
Not hypotheticals. Not screenshots from top 1% sellers. My actual revenue, expenses, and take-home from 14 months selling digital products on Etsy.
Gumroad published their creator stats. Most people misread them. Here's what the numbers actually mean, plus my own Gumroad revenue over 12 months.
Everybody calls digital products passive income. After 14 months of selling them, I can tell you which parts are passive and which parts are work.
I went from 3 views a day to 150+ by fixing my Etsy SEO. Here's exactly how Etsy search works and what to do about it.
Your Etsy title is not a product name. It's a search query. Here's how to write titles that actually show up in Etsy search results.
Not trend predictions. Not wishful thinking. These are the printable categories where real sellers are making real money on Etsy right now.
Notion templates are a $10M+ market. Here's how to create them, where to sell them, and what price points actually work.
Etsy's fees are confusing on purpose. Here's the plain math for digital product sellers, with real examples at $5, $10, $15, $20, and $25 price points.
Most sellers price too low because they're afraid of scaring buyers away. I was one of them. Here's the framework that fixed my pricing.
Spreadsheets are the least glamorous digital product. They're also some of the most profitable. Here's how to create and sell them on Etsy and Gumroad.
Selling a $5 product on Etsy? Here's the exact fee breakdown and why low-priced items lose the most to fees.
What does Etsy take from a $10 sale? Here's the math, with and without offsite ads.
A $20 digital product on Etsy costs you $2.35 in fees. Here's the exact breakdown and what happens if offsite ads are involved.
Selling a $50 product on Etsy? The fee math works in your favor at this price. Here's exactly what Etsy takes.
A $15 Etsy sale costs you $1.88 in fees. Here's the breakdown and why $15 is a solid starting price for digital products.
At $25, Etsy's fees drop to about 11.3%. Here's the exact math and how it compares to Gumroad and Shopify.
Here's exactly what you keep after selling a $30 digital product on Etsy, with and without offsite ads.
Selling a $100 digital product on Etsy? Here's what you keep and why the fee percentage barely changes above $25.
Gumroad takes 10% of every sale. On a $10 product, that's $1. Here's how it compares to Etsy and when Gumroad makes more sense.
At $25, Gumroad takes $2.50 and you keep $22.50. Here's how that stacks up against Etsy and Shopify.
At $50, Gumroad takes $5 and you keep $45. Here's when premium pricing on Gumroad makes sense.
Shopify's per-transaction fees are low, but the $39/month subscription changes the math. Here's when it works for digital sellers.
At $50 per sale, Shopify's math gets attractive fast. Here's the breakdown and when the subscription pays for itself.
Running a sale on Etsy? Fees are calculated on the discounted price, not the original. Here's the exact math and what it means for your margins.
Digital products have no shipping. But Etsy's fee structure still references shipping in ways that confuse sellers. Here's what actually applies to you.
Selling to international buyers on Etsy? The transaction and listing fees are the same, but payment processing rates vary by country.
I make about $2,800/month selling digital products on Etsy as a side hustle. Here's the honest breakdown of what works, what doesn't, and whether it's worth your time.
I've sold digital products on Gumroad for a year. It made me $6,200. Here's what works, what doesn't, and who should bother.
Etsy Plus costs $10/month and gives you shop customization features. I tried it for 3 months. Here's whether it moved the needle.
Everbee shows estimated revenue for any Etsy listing. That's powerful for product research. But is it worth $30/month? Depends on where you are.
Canva Free works fine for most things. But Canva Pro has 3 features that save me real time every week. Here's whether the upgrade makes sense for you.
Everyone says printables are saturated. The data says something different. Some niches are overcrowded. Others still have room. Here's how to tell the difference.
Etsy fees went up. Competition grew. AI-generated products flooded the market. Is it still worth starting an Etsy shop in 2026? For most people, yes.
Shopify's per-sale fees are the lowest of any platform. But the $39/month subscription needs volume to justify. Here's exactly when it makes sense.
At $200/month, Etsy is the obvious choice. At $5,000/month, your own site makes sense. Here's the decision framework at every revenue level.
My first listing sat for 11 days with zero sales. Here's what I changed that got the first sale, and how to speed up the process if you're stuck.
My conversion rate doubled when I switched from flat screenshots to mockup photos. Here's how to make them for free or cheap.
You don't need design skills or expensive software. Here's my exact process for creating printable products that sell, using mostly free tools.
I went from 15 sales/month to 120+ without running a single ad. These are the 7 things that actually moved the needle.
3 listings won't cut it. 200 listings is overkill. Here's the real relationship between listing count and revenue, based on my data.
If your Etsy shop has single-digit daily views, the problem is almost always one of three things. Here's how to diagnose and fix each one.
Reviews drive sales on Etsy. But asking for them feels awkward. Here are 5 methods that get reviews naturally without begging.
Your first month on Etsy will probably be disappointing. Here's what actually happens, what's normal, and what to focus on.
SVG files for craft cutting machines are one of Etsy's most profitable digital product niches. Here's how to create, list, and sell them.
Wedding invitations are one of the highest-revenue digital product categories on Etsy. Here's what sells, how to price, and what brides actually want.
Resume templates are an evergreen product with year-round demand. Here's what formats sell, how to price them, and which platforms work best.
Wall art is the most hands-off digital product on Etsy. No updates, no customer questions, no seasonal refreshes. Just upload and earn.
Etsy's offsite ads add 15% to your fees on attributed sales. If your shop makes under $10K/year, you can turn them off. Here's how.
Etsy updated their AI policy. Some AI-generated products are fine. Others will get your shop shut down. Here's where the line is.
Yes, Etsy income is taxable. No, Etsy doesn't handle your income tax. Here's what digital product sellers need to track and report.
Digital planners for iPad apps are a growing niche with buyers willing to pay $10-30. Here's how to create and sell them.
Google Sheets templates are underrated on Etsy. Here's how to create, deliver, and price them for maximum profit.
Some people quit their jobs after 6 months of selling digital products. Most can't. Here's the honest math on when full-time becomes realistic.
Instagram post templates, Pinterest pin designs, LinkedIn carousels. Social media templates are in constant demand from business owners who can't design.
You don't need to pay for tools when you're starting out. These free tools cover keyword research, fee calculation, and listing optimization.
Shopify costs $39/month but has lower per-sale fees. Gumroad is free until you sell. Here's when each one makes sense.
Both sell digital design files. Etsy has more buyers but lower prices. Creative Market has professional buyers willing to pay more. Here's how to choose.
Your shop name doesn't matter as much as you think. But picking a bad one can hurt. Here's how to choose one that works.
I spent $150 on Etsy Ads over 2 months. Made about $180. Here's what I learned about when ads work and when they're a waste.
Coloring pages are one of the simplest digital products to create. Low effort, steady demand. Here's what works and what the market looks like.
Ko-fi takes 0% on sales (paid plan: $6/month). Gumroad takes 10%. The math seems obvious. It's not.
Good mockup photos doubled my conversion rate. Here are the tools I use and recommend, from free to premium.
Ebooks sell on Etsy, but not the way you might think. PDF ebooks as digital downloads work. Here's the process and what sells.
Both sell educational resources. TPT has the teacher audience. Etsy has everyone else. Here's which one to pick (or use both).
The difference between 5 views a day and 150 is usually keyword research. Here are the exact methods I use to find tags that drive traffic.
Lightroom presets are a high-margin digital product for photographers. Here's how to create, package, and sell them.
Email converts better than social media for selling digital products. Here are the tools worth paying for and the ones that are overkill.
Presentation templates sell to business professionals, teachers, and students. Here's what formats to offer and where to sell them.
The complete setup process from creating your account to publishing your first digital download. Takes about 30 minutes.
Tracking your Etsy income and expenses doesn't have to be complicated. Here's what I use at each revenue stage.
Etsy, Gumroad, Shopify, connected, normalized, and analyzed in one dashboard.