Paddle vs Gumroad
Paddle 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 Paddle if
- Established software or digital businesses that want tax handled and can wait for monthly payouts.
Choose Gumroad if
- Individual creators who want the simplest setup and accept a high fee.
Side by side
| Paddle | Gumroad | |
|---|---|---|
| Handles sales tax and VAT (merchant of record) | Yes | Yes |
| Card fee | 5% + 50¢. Custom pricing for products under $10. Payouts are free for most countries; some pay a $15 SWIFT fee. | 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 | cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer, Alipay, WeChat Pay, UPI, Pix, iDEAL, BLIK | cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal |
| Recurring billing | Subscriptions by card, PayPal and wallets. | Memberships renew automatically by card or PayPal. |
| Who can sign up as a seller | Most countries except sanctioned ones | Most countries; bank payouts in 100+ (including Kenya), PayPal elsewhere |
| Payouts | Wire transfer or Payoneer, monthly, $100 minimum | Local bank account or PayPal |
| Free test mode | Yes | Not stated |
| Connecting it to Ubunya | Paste an API key and client-side token. We add the webhook for you. | Paste an access token. We subscribe to Gumroad's pings for you. |
| Prices on your community | Your Paddle prices, subscription or one-time. | Your Gumroad products and memberships. |
| Renewals in Ubunya | Renews automatically. | Memberships renew automatically. |
| Members' billing page | Paddle's customer portal. | Gumroad's library and subscription page. |
From Paddle'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, Paddle or Gumroad?+
Both are merchants of record: they sell to your members and handle VAT and sales tax for you.
Can members pay with M-Pesa on Paddle or Gumroad?+
Paddle: not that we could find on its website. Gumroad: not that we could find on its website.
Can I use Paddle or Gumroad with Ubunya?+
Yes, both. Connect your own account under Manage → Payments. Paddle: Paste an API key and client-side token. We add the webhook for you. 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.