IntaSend vs Gumroad
IntaSend or Gumroad for your paid community?
Both work with Ubunya: members who pay are let in automatically, and lose access when their membership ends. Here's how they differ on fees, payment methods, tax and payouts.
The short answer
Choose IntaSend if
- Kenyan communities whose members pay mostly by M-Pesa.
- You'd rather be the seller yourself and keep tax in your own hands.
- Your members pay with M-Pesa.
- Members are happy to pay again each month or year rather than save a card.
Choose Gumroad if
- Individual creators who want the simplest setup and accept a high fee.
- You want Gumroad to handle sales tax and VAT as the merchant of record.
- Members should manage their own card and cancel without asking you.
Side by side
| IntaSend | Gumroad | |
|---|---|---|
| Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record) | No, you do | Yes |
| Card fee | 3% (M-Pesa and mobile money). KSh 100 per M-Pesa payout. Its pricing page says it doesn't process card payments, though its developer docs describe cards. | 10% + 50¢ (direct sales). 30% for sales through Gumroad Discover. PayPal payouts cost 2%. Whether card processing is extra wasn't confirmed. |
| Members can pay with | M-Pesa, Airtel Money, MTN Mobile Money, Orange Money, bank transfer, Pesalink | cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal |
| Recurring billing | Has subscription plans in its API, but those charge cards, which its site says it doesn't process; mobile money can't auto-renew. | Memberships renew automatically by card or PayPal. |
| Who can sign up as a seller | Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC | Most countries; bank payouts in 100+ (including Kenya), PayPal elsewhere |
| Payouts | M-Pesa, bank account, Paybill or Till (payouts limited to Kenyan clients) | Local bank account or PayPal |
| Free test mode | Yes | Not stated |
| Connecting it to Ubunya | Paste your publishable and secret keys, then add our webhook in IntaSend with a challenge word. | Paste an access token. We subscribe to Gumroad's pings for you. |
| Prices on your community | You type the prices in: monthly, yearly or one-time. | Your Gumroad products and memberships. |
| Renewals in Ubunya | Each payment buys one month or year; members pay again by M-Pesa when it ends. | Memberships renew automatically. |
| Members' billing page | None: members pay again from your community page. | Gumroad's library and subscription page. |
From IntaSend's and Gumroad's own websites, checked November 2026. Prices change; check theirs before you sign up. Compare all 11 providers.
Questions
Which handles tax, IntaSend or Gumroad?+
Gumroad is a merchant of record and handles VAT and sales tax for you; with IntaSend you're the seller and tax is yours to handle.
Can members pay with M-Pesa on IntaSend or Gumroad?+
IntaSend: yes. Gumroad: not that we could find on its website.
Can I use IntaSend or Gumroad with Ubunya?+
Yes, both. Connect your own account under Manage → Payments. IntaSend: Paste your publishable and secret keys, then add our webhook in IntaSend with a challenge word. Gumroad: Paste an access token. We subscribe to Gumroad's pings for you.
What happens when a member stops paying?+
Their access stays until the end of what they paid for, plus the grace days you set (three by default). Then the community closes to them. Staff never lose access.
More comparisons
Charge for your community with the account you already have
Connect it under Manage → Payments. Paying members are let in automatically.