How Much You Actually Keep: Gumroad vs Stan Store vs Beacon vs Clima
Most creators don't realize this:
You can lose $29/month before making a single sale.
Or give away 10% of every sale without noticing.
At first, it doesn't seem like much. But over time, it adds up fast.
Let's break down what you actually keep with Gumroad, Stan Store, Beacon, and Clima.
Quick Comparison: What You Actually Keep
At first glance, most platforms look similar. The difference becomes obvious when you look at how and when you actually get paid.
| Platform | Monthly Fee | Platform Fee | Payout Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gumroad | $0 | ~10% + $0.50 (per sale) | Delayed | $100 threshold, identity verification required |
| Stan Store | $29+ | 0% | Instant | You pay even if you make $0 |
| Beacon | $0–$75 | 9% (free plan) | Instant | 0% platform fee requires $25/month plan |
| Clima | $0 | 5% | Instant | $1 minimum withdrawal, no holding funds |
All platforms use Stripe for payments, so standard card processing fees apply equally and are excluded from this comparison.
Real Money Breakdown
Let's say you make $250/month selling digital products.
Stan Store: $2,652 / year kept
- $250 − $29 monthly fee = $221/month
- Yearly: $3,000 − $348 = $2,652
You pay the $29 whether you make $0 or $2,000. Every month—before a single sale.
Gumroad: $2,700 / year kept
- ~10% fee on $250 = ~$225/month (plus $0.50 per sale, which depends on the number of transactions)
- Yearly: $3,000 − $300 = $2,700
But the number on paper isn't the full story — keep reading.
Beacon (free plan): $2,730 / year kept
- 9% fee on $250 = ~$227.50/month
- Yearly: $3,000 − $270 = $2,730
Looks like the best deal so far, until you realize it's nearly identical to Gumroad's fees, but without the same level of marketplace reach. And to get 0% fees, you'd need to pay $25/month, bringing your yearly cost to $300 in subscriptions alone.
Clima: $2,850 / year kept
- 5% fee on $250 = $237.50/month
- Yearly: $3,000 − $150 = $2,850
No monthly fee. No payout thresholds. No waiting for approvals. Your money goes directly to your Stripe account the moment a sale happens.
Why Getting Paid on Gumroad Takes Longer Than You Think
The math above makes Gumroad look reasonable. But here's what the numbers don't show.
Gumroad payouts work like this:
- Net, Not Gross: Payouts are calculated on net earnings. If you sell a $100 product, you don't have $100 toward your threshold—you have $89.50 after fees (10% + $0.50 per sale, excluding payment processing).
- The $100 Wall: There is now a $100 minimum withdrawal threshold. Your balance can sit at $99.99 for months, and you legally cannot touch it.
- The Verification Step: Even after hitting the payout threshold, identity verification is required before any funds are released. In some cases, this process can delay withdrawals for weeks while your account is being reviewed.
But there’s another issue. In a move that blindsided the community, Gumroad raised the threshold from $10 to $100. Many creators reported discovering this change only when they went to withdraw their funds—finding a "new number" where the $10 limit used to be, with no prior email or announcement to help them prepare.
For a new creator, this is a massive cash-flow bottleneck. Your early earnings are effectively locked in their system until you hit their growth milestone. You are essentially giving Gumroad an interest-free loan while you wait for permission to access your own money.
The Hidden Cost of Stan Store’s “0% Fee”
Stan Store charges no platform fee, which sounds great—until you realize you’re paying $29/month no matter what you earn.
Here's what that actually means:
- At $0/month revenue: You lose $348/year
- At $100/month revenue: You lose $348/year to Stan, keeping $852 (that's a 29% effective fee)
- At $250/month revenue: Effective fee drops to ~12% (only if you're already making consistent sales)
- At $500+/month revenue: The $29/month finally starts to make sense
Stan Store is built for creators who are already making consistent money. If you're just starting out, you're paying for validation that hasn't happened yet, and that psychological pressure to "make it work" is real.
Beacon's Free Plan Trap
Beacon looks attractive at first glance — $0/month, just like Clima. But on the free plan, they charge 9% per sale. That's nearly identical to Gumroad's fees.
Here's how their plans actually break down:
- Free: $0/month, 9% seller fee
- Creator: $8.33/month (billed annually), fee unclear
- Creator Plus: $25/month, finally 0% seller fees
- Creator Max: $75/month, 0% fees + premium features
So to escape the 9% fee, you need to pay $25/month. You're essentially paying a monthly subscription just to stop overpaying on every sale.
For a creator making $250/month, Beacon's free plan costs nearly as much as Gumroad in fees—but without the same level of marketplace reach.
Why Clima Is Different
Clima does one thing differently from other platforms: your money goes directly to your Stripe account the moment a sale happens.
-
$1 minimum withdrawal: your first sale is immediately accessible
-
No monthly fee: you pay nothing until you make a sale
-
5% platform fee: half of what Gumroad charges
-
No platform holding funds: payments go straight through to Stripe
And unlike platforms that delay payouts:
Verification is handled directly by Stripe, and It typically takes just a few minutes (ID + quick face check).
No waiting weeks for manual approval. No thresholds, no delays, and no surprise policy changes.
So Which Platform Actually Makes You More Money?
Here's the honest breakdown:
Clima is the lowest-risk starting point. You pay nothing to join, nothing to withdraw from on day one, and only 5% when you actually make money. There's no threshold, no surprise policy changes.
Gumroad works if you're already established on the platform and the fees aren't hurting you, but go in with eyes open about the $100 threshold, and the history of policy changes without notice.
Stan Store makes sense only if you're already generating consistent revenue and want an all-in-one ecosystem. At low revenue, you're unnecessary paying a premium for potential.
Beacon's free plan is a trap. The 9% fee makes it one of the most expensive options on this list. Their paid plans are more competitive, but then you're back to paying a monthly subscription before seeing results.
The Bottom Line
The platform that costs you nothing to join and nothing to withdraw from on day one is the lowest-risk place to start.
Run the math for your own revenue level. But if you're just starting out, or tired of platforms holding your money hostage—the answer is already in the numbers.
