In 2011, Sahil Lavingia, a Pinterest designer, was faced with what's now a seemingly simple problem. Selling his icons directly to customers was a difficult task. However, the same weekend he ran into this problem, Sahil created a solution. All he needed was a quick link his customers could follow to complete the transaction—there was no need to build an entire storefront or website.

That very weekend, Gumroad was born. As such, it's safe to say a creator created this marketplace for creators.

What Is Gumroad?

Gumroad is a platform where almost anyone can list almost anything. The process is pleasantly straightforward and transparent, without some of the headaches that come from the more popular platforms.

To date, more than 98,994 creators have sold their work through the marketplace for over $536M collectively. These creators work in any niche you can think of, from education to music, sports to comedy. Even dance and theater enthusiasts have a home on Gumroad.

What Can You Sell on Gumroad?

Icons on a tablet and printed

When setting up your page on Gumroad, think of downloadable products. Apps, eBooks, videos, graphics, music, plans, and printables may come to mind. You'll find sewing patterns, DIY furniture templates, tickets to dance lessons, golf tips, digital and printable art, brushes and icons you can use in your creations, and much more.

Downloadable products are the central theme. However, you can also list memberships and physical products on Gumroad, making the site an alternative to the Etsy marketplace, a popular platform for creatives to sell their products.

Read more: How to Use Etsy to Buy and Sell Products

Who Can Sell Products on Gumroad?

Screenshot that illustrates some categories on Gumroad

The site states, "if you can make stuff, you can sell that stuff on Gumroad." All you need to do is sign up, and you can start selling in minutes. While it is helpful, you need not be tech-savvy or possess design skills to create your landing page. Therefore, almost anyone can join Gumroad except for some limitations from payment processors.

Currently, creators in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK can benefit from direct bank deposits. Additionally, any country where residents can receive payment via PayPal can sell on the site. Gumroad is working on expanding this list, so if your country isn't there yet, keep checking back.

Related: Great Sites Where You Can Sell Your Own Music

Gumroad is also inclusive of those who may not have the means to pay upfront because it's not a requirement. While it offered a tiered model, Gumroad now lets you customize your landing page and list your products at no cost. You only pay if you make money.

The site takes 9% of your first transactions. As you hit revenue milestones, that number decreases to 7% at $1000, 5% at $10,000, 3% at $10,000, and 2.9% at $1M. While a million may seem like a lot, six creators have made that from the platform.

Is Gumroad Overcrowded?

Screenshot of creator stories on Gumroad.

Like any other online marketplace, you need to put in some work to promote your product outside the platform. Gumroad gives you plenty of tips on how to do so. They also offer a variety of tools to help you build your audience, from importing contacts to content workflows and analytics. For those that need an extra hand, challenges, programs, and resources like the Gumroad University are available to help get you started.

What's more, you won't find your products buried in sponsored content. While you'll have criteria to meet for Gumroad to include your product in its "Discover" feature, payment is taken out of the transaction afterward, meaning you and other creators can't pay for that space. If you don't wish to use the feature, you can disable it.

Another item to note, Gumroad doesn't curate your competitor's products into the bottom of your listing in a "you may also like" fashion. Your page is all about your products and your products alone.

Related: Creative Things to Do When You're Bored

What Are Some of the Benefits of Using Gumroad?

Like StoreEnvy, it's an easy way to set up an online store. You can personalize your landing page any way you'd like, helping you stand out amongst competitors. Gumroad also allows you to embed a follow form from your page onto an existing website or blog using a simple code snippet. This will help you build interest elsewhere while managing transactions in just one place.

Listing and payment options also give you more control over what you sell. With Gumroad, you can create one listing with multiple versions of a product at different prices. You can give your customers the option to pay what they want or offer them a simple discount code. Additionally, the platform offers multiple currency settings beyond US dollars.

What Does Gumroad Offer Your Customers?

Gumroad makes checking out a cinch for your customer. If it's a download, they can enjoy your product in a matter of seconds. Post-purchase, the platform keeps a library for customers who create an account. An account will make it easy to find and download the item again.

Your customers will also benefit from options when it comes to subscriptions. They need not commit to an entire year as Gumroad gives you flexibility with your subscription options. Those options are monthly, quarterly, biannually, or yearly.

Is Gumroad for You?

While it's not as well-known as its competitor, Etsy, Gumroad is a solid marketplace for downloadables. It's made by creators for creators, and it shows. The types of products you can sell are nearly limitless, with intuitive options in how you list, customize your page, and reach your audience.

Whether you're a beginner or a pro, the platform gives you plenty of tools and tips to help you stand out from the crowd. In addition, you're entering a playing field that's much more level. Your customers will also enjoy the experience with a straightforward checkout process and optional content library.

Thanks to the internet, you have many options for selling your work to others worldwide, and a platform like Gumroad may be what you need to get started or keep you going.