Payhip vs Sellfy (2025): Which Platform Is Better for Creators Selling Digital Downloads?

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Dec 11

With digital downloads becoming one of the most profitable income streams for creators, two platforms consistently rise to the top: Payhip and Sellfy. Both are built for creators selling ebooks, PDFs, templates, presets, music, and digital products but they take very different approaches:

Payhip: Ultra-low cost, full-featured, transparent fees
Sellfy: Premium storefront tools and customization

So, which one is better for selling digital downloads in 2025? This deep comparison breaks down pricing, fees, features, payouts, customization, and creator tools with long-tail keyword optimization to help you outrank competitors.

Payhip vs Sellfy: Quick Comparison (2025)

  
        Feature
        Payhip
        Sellfy
      
        Monthly Cost
        $0, $29, $99
        $29, $79, $159
      
        Transaction Fees
        5%, 2%, or 0%
        0%
      
        Payment Fees
        Stripe/PayPal: 2.9% + $0.30
        Stripe/PayPal: 2.9% + $0.30
      
        Unlimited Products
        Yes
        Yes
      
        Digital Downloads
        Excellent
        Excellent
      
        Store Customization
        Basic
        Strong
      
        Marketing Tools
        Included
        Included (better upsells)
      
        Courses
        Yes
        No
      
        Memberships
        Yes
        Yes
      
        VAT/GST Handling
        Automatic
        Manual setup
      
        Best For
        Beginners, cost-sensitive creators
        Branded storefronts & established creators

Payhip Overview (2025)

Pricing Model:

Free plan: $0/month, 5% per sale
Plus: $29/month, 2% per sale
Pro: $99/month, 0% per sale

Strengths:

All features available on all plans
Unlimited digital downloads
Automatic VAT/GST collection
Courses, memberships, bundles
Embeddable checkout buttons
Perfect for low-budget creators

Sellfy Overview (2025)

Pricing Model:

Starter: $29/month
Business: $79/month
Premium: $159/month
0% transaction fee on all plans

Strengths:

Beautiful storefront designs
Strong upsells and marketing tools
Better branding & customization
Physical product support
Merch integration + print-on-demand

Payhip vs Sellfy: Pricing & Fees (2025)

If you’re optimizing for lowest fee structure, Payhip wins.

Payhip Fees:

Free: 5%
Plus: 2%
Pro: 0%

Sellfy Fees:

0% (but much higher monthly cost)

Who Pays Less?

If you're making under $1,000/month → Payhip Free wins
If you're making under $5,000/month → Payhip Plus usually wins
If you're making over $5,000/month → Sellfy may break even
If you're making over $10,000/month → Sellfy becomes competitive but only if you fully use their marketing tools

Payhip vs Sellfy: Features for Digital Downloads

  
        Category
        Payhip
        Sellfy
      
        Digital Downloads
        Unlimited, secure delivery
        Unlimited, secure delivery
      
        Storefront Customization
        Limited
        Strong
      
        Courses
        Yes
        No
      
        Memberships
        Yes
        Yes
      
        POD Integration
        Basic (via embeds)
        Integrated Print-On-Demand
      
        VAT Handling
        Automatic
        Manual
      
        File Hosting
        Unlimited
        Unlimited

Winner for digital product sellers?

Payhip: More flexibility, lower cost, and built-in courses.

Payhip vs Sellfy: Marketing Tools

  
        Feature
        Payhip
        Sellfy
      
        Coupons
        Built-in coupons
        —
      
        Upsells & Bundles
        Upgrades + bundles
        Stronger built-in upsells
      
        Affiliate Program
        Affiliate program
        —
      
        Social Discounts
        Social discounts
        —
      
        Email Capture
        Email capture
        Email marketing built-in
      
        Abandoned Cart
        Abandoned cart recovery
        —
      
        Store Customization
        —
        Better store customization
      
        Branding
        —
        Advanced branding

Winner?

If you value store aesthetics: Sellfy

If you value tools per dollar: Payhip

ScaleUp Tip

Which Platform Should You Choose in 2025? Verdict

Choose Payhip if you want:

Lowest fees
To sell digital downloads with minimal cost
Courses + memberships + digital products
Automatic VAT
Unlimited uploads
A platform that grows with you

Best for: new creators, low–mid revenue, and creators selling templates, PDFs, presets, ebooks.

Choose Sellfy if you want:

A fully branded storefront
Print-on-demand merch built-in
A more “Shopify-like” experience
Strong native email marketing & upsells

Best for: established creators, storefront-first brands, and sellers needing physical/digital hybrid stores.

FAQs

1. Is Payhip better than Sellfy for beginners? Yes, Payhip is cheaper, easier to start with, and includes full features on all plans.

2. Which is cheaper: Payhip or Sellfy? Payhip is significantly cheaper for most creators unless you're earning over $10k/month.

3. Can Payhip handle digital downloads well? Yes, unlimited storage, secure delivery, instant download links.

4. Does Sellfy charge transaction fees? No, Sellfy charges $0 in platform fees but requires a paid plan starting at $29/month.

5. What’s better for selling eBooks and templates? Payhip, due to lower fees, automatic VAT, and better digital delivery tools.

The Editors