There are two kinds of places to sell: a marketplace, where buyers are already shopping, and a shop of your own, where you bring the buyers. Most beginners do best starting with one marketplace.
The main options
| Where | Best for | What it costs (2026 guides) |
|---|---|---|
| Etsy | Being found by people already searching for printables and planners | $0.20 per listing, 6.5% of each sale, plus payment processing (3% + $0.25 in the US). Offsite ads can add a fee on sales they bring in. |
| Gumroad | Selling to people you send there from social media or email | No monthly fee. About 10% + $0.50 per sale on your own link; a higher cut on sales from its marketplace. |
| Payhip | A simple shop of your own with no monthly bill to start | Free plan takes 5% per sale, plus payment processing. Paid plans lower that fee. |
| Your own website | Moms who already have a blog or a following | Depends on your site and payment setup. Most control, but you bring every buyer yourself. |
Fees change. These come from 2026 guides; check each platform’s own pricing page before you sign up. This isn’t financial advice.
How to choose your first
- No audience yet? Start on a marketplace like Etsy, where buyers are already searching.
- You have followers or an email list? A shop like Gumroad or Payhip keeps more of each sale.
- You already run a blog? Sell from your own site and link to it from your posts.
Pick one. Running three shops at once as a beginner splits your time and teaches you nothing.
Let Claude do the math
What would I actually keep? Claude
I plan to sell a digital product for $[price]. Using these fees I checked today [paste each platform's current fees], show me what I'd keep per sale on each platform, and how many sales a month I'd need to make $[goal]. Put it in a table and show your math.
Read the rules first
Every platform has rules about AI-made products, what you can sell and how to describe it. Read Lesson 4 before you list anything.
Taxes and paperwork
Money from selling is income, and many places treat even a small shop as a business. Keep a simple record of every sale and every cost from day one. Marketplaces often handle sales tax for you, but rules vary by state and country. A short chat with a tax professional before your shop grows is worth it.
Try it tonight
Look at each platform’s current fees and run the What would I actually keep prompt for your product. Pick your first platform.
