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Digital product platform comparison

Payhip vs Sellfy for Digital Products: Free Plan vs Print-on-Demand

Sellfy has no free plan — you're paying $29/mo before your first sale. Payhip has a free plan at 5% per transaction, drops to 0% on Plus ($29/mo). Sellfy adds print-on-demand and video streaming. Payhip adds a course builder and a built-in affiliate program. The right platform depends on what you're actually selling.

This comparison covers the fee structure, free plan availability, and product fit differences between Payhip and Sellfy. No sponsored conclusions. Sellfy is not a Nightcore Pro partner.

Affiliate disclosure. Nightcore Pro may earn a commission if you choose Payhip through a link on this page. Sellfy is not a Nightcore Pro partner. Comparison facts are sourced from each platform's public pricing pages.
Free plan availability comparedNo paid rankingsPrint-on-demand vs affiliate program explainedPayout timing covered
Side-by-side comparison

Payhip vs Sellfy: the key differences

All data sourced from public pricing pages as of mid-2026. Verify current pricing before signing up.

CategoryPayhipSellfy
Free planYes — sell immediately with a 5% transaction fee and no monthly chargeNo free plan with 0% fees — paid plans start at $29/mo (Starter)
Transaction fee5% on free plan; 0% on Plus ($29/mo) and Pro ($99/mo)0% on all paid plans (Starter $29/mo, Business $79/mo, Premium $159/mo)
Print-on-demandNo print-on-demand — digital products and memberships onlyBuilt-in print-on-demand (t-shirts, mugs, posters, apparel) alongside digital products
Video streamingNo native video streaming — video files can be delivered as downloadsBuilt-in video streaming so buyers watch without downloading the file
Subscription productsMembership products on Plus and Pro plansSubscription products on Business plan and higher
Affiliate programBuilt-in affiliate management on all plansNo built-in affiliate program
Email marketingBasic buyer list — no built-in broadcast or automation toolsBuilt-in email marketing with product emails on Business plan
Custom domainCustom domain on Pro plan ($99/mo)Custom domain on Business plan ($79/mo)
StorefrontProduct pages and a basic store; no full branded storefront themeCustom storefront with branded themes and embedded store option
Payout scheduleInstant via PayPal or Stripe after saleWeekly payouts via PayPal or Stripe — no instant payout
Course builderCourse builder on Plus and Pro plansNo course builder — digital download and streaming products only
Best product fitPDFs, templates, ebooks, software, courses, memberships — all digitalDigital products plus physical print-on-demand and video streaming
Decision guide

When each platform fits better

Choose Payhip when

  • You want to start selling immediately with no monthly fee — Payhip's free plan (5% per sale) has no equivalent on Sellfy.
  • You need a built-in affiliate program — Sellfy has no native affiliate management on any plan.
  • Your product is a course, membership, or needs a structured course builder.
  • You want instant payouts — Sellfy pays weekly; Payhip pays immediately via PayPal or Stripe.
  • You're selling pure digital downloads, templates, or software keys with no need for print-on-demand.
  • You want the lowest entry cost for 0% fees: Payhip Plus at $29/mo matches Sellfy Starter at $29/mo but adds a course builder and affiliate program.

Choose Sellfy when

  • You want to sell print-on-demand physical products (apparel, prints, mugs) alongside your digital products from one platform.
  • You need native video streaming so buyers watch content without downloading the file.
  • Your digital product catalog includes a lot of video-based content and streaming delivery matters.
  • You want built-in email marketing without adding a separate tool — Sellfy's Business plan includes it.
  • You want a storefront with more branded theme options and an embeddable store widget.
  • You're building a product business that combines digital and physical merchandise.
Where they overlap

What both platforms handle well

Digital file delivery: both deliver PDFs, ebooks, templates, software, and other digital files automatically after payment.

International sales: both support international buyers and handle multiple currencies.

Discount codes: both support percentage and fixed-amount discount codes.

Basic analytics: both provide sales and revenue tracking dashboards.

Multiple payment methods: both accept major cards via Stripe and PayPal.

Free product pages: both let buyers discover and purchase without a separate website.

Common mistakes

Where this decision goes wrong

Choosing Sellfy over Payhip without noticing there's no free plan. If you're testing your first product, Payhip's free plan (5% per sale) lets you validate without a monthly commitment. Sellfy's lowest plan is $29/mo — that's $348/year before you've made a sale.

Choosing Payhip when print-on-demand is part of the business model. Payhip is digital-only. If you want to sell a t-shirt, poster, or mug alongside your PDF or ebook, Sellfy handles both from one checkout. Payhip doesn't.

Overlooking the affiliate program gap. Payhip's affiliate management is built in on all plans — it's one of its strongest features for creators who want partners promoting their products. Sellfy has no native affiliate program. This is a significant operational difference if your distribution strategy involves affiliates.

Assuming Sellfy's video streaming matters for a PDF creator. If you're selling ebooks, templates, or software, you don't need Sellfy's streaming infrastructure. Don't pay for infrastructure your product doesn't need.

Comparing only the transaction fee without checking the monthly fee. At $29/mo, Payhip Plus and Sellfy Starter have the same monthly cost but different included features. Payhip includes a course builder and affiliate program. Sellfy includes print-on-demand and email marketing. The right choice depends on which feature set matches what you're building.

What to use for simple digital product selling

Payhip: free plan, instant payouts, built-in affiliates, 0% fees on paid plans

If the comparison above points toward a pure digital product platform — downloads, templates, ebooks, courses, memberships — with a free plan, instant payouts, and a built-in affiliate program, Payhip covers it. Sellfy is not a Nightcore Pro partner. This CTA goes to Payhip only.

Affiliate disclosure. Nightcore Pro may earn a commission if you choose a partner through this link.
FAQ

Payhip vs Sellfy questions

Does Sellfy have a free plan?

No. Sellfy does not offer a free plan — all plans require a monthly subscription starting at $29/mo. Payhip has a free plan with a 5% transaction fee and no monthly charge. For creators testing their first product or validating demand before committing to a monthly fee, Payhip's free plan has no equivalent on Sellfy.

Does Payhip have print-on-demand?

No. Payhip is designed for digital products — ebooks, PDFs, software, templates, courses, and memberships. It has no print-on-demand capability. Sellfy's print-on-demand lets you sell physical products like t-shirts, mugs, and posters fulfilled by Sellfy's production partners, alongside your digital products. If print-on-demand is part of your product mix, Sellfy is the better fit.

Which platform has a better affiliate program?

Payhip. It has built-in affiliate management on all plans, including the free plan. You can set commission rates, track affiliates, and pay them directly through the platform. Sellfy has no native affiliate program — you would need a third-party solution to run an affiliate program on Sellfy.

How do payouts compare between Payhip and Sellfy?

Payhip pays out instantly via PayPal or Stripe immediately after a sale. Sellfy pays weekly — the balance is paid out on a weekly cycle. If cash flow matters or you're doing a product launch where you want funds available immediately, Payhip's instant payout is a real operational advantage.

Can I sell video courses on Payhip or Sellfy?

Payhip supports courses on Plus and Pro plans with a course builder — but delivers video as downloadable files, not streaming. Sellfy supports native video streaming so buyers watch without downloading. If streaming delivery is important for your video product, Sellfy handles it natively. If a downloadable course is fine, Payhip's course builder on the Plus plan ($29/mo) covers it.

Is Payhip or Sellfy cheaper for a high-volume seller?

At high volume on 0% fee plans: Payhip Pro is $99/mo; Sellfy Business is $79/mo. Sellfy's Business plan is $20/mo cheaper at that tier. However, Sellfy Business also includes email marketing and subscription products, while Payhip Pro includes a course builder, affiliate program, and custom domain. Compare which feature set your business actually uses before optimizing for monthly fee alone.

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