Introduction

Stan Store is a great platform for those of you who are looking for an ecommerce solution at a smaller scale. Today, I’m going to cover some other tools similar to Stan Store for setting up your online shop. Whether you're finding that Stan Store doesn't quite meet all your needs or you're just curious about what else is out there, I've got you covered. In this post, I’ll share my picks for the 5 best alternatives to Stan Store, breaking down what makes each of them stand out.

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Choosing the right platform can make a big difference in how easily you can set up your shop and start selling, and each option has its own strengths. So, let’s explore these alternatives together and find out which one could be the best fit for your business needs!

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1.Gumroad

Let's dive into our first alternative to Stan Store: Gumroad. I've been checking out different platforms to see how they stack up, and Gumroad has some pretty cool features, especially if you're into selling digital products or looking for a straightforward way to get started. Here’s a breakdown of what Gumroad offers, along with its pros and cons, to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your business.

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Gumroad is an online platform that makes it super easy to sell both digital products and physical goods directly to your audience. It’s designed to be simple to use, so you can set up your store quickly and start selling without a lot of technical hassle.

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Features of Gumroad

Simple Setup: One of the biggest draws of Gumroad is how easy it is to get your store up and running. You don't need any technical skills to start selling.
Direct Sales to Your Audience: Gumroad allows you to sell directly to your customers through your website, social media, or even with a link, which is great for content creators who interact directly with their followers.
Built-in Analytics: The platform includes analytics tools that help you track sales, customer engagement, and more, so you can see what’s working and what might need tweaking.

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Pros of Gumroad

User-Friendly: It’s very straightforward and user-friendly, making it perfect for beginners or those who prefer not to deal with complex ecommerce setups.
Supports Various Content Types: Whether you're selling ebooks, music, software, or even physical books and crafts, Gumroad can handle it.
Community and Support: Gumroad has a strong community of creators, and they offer good support, which can be really helpful if you’re just starting out.

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Cons of Gumroad

Limited Customization: While it's easy to use, there aren’t a lot of options to customize your storefront. If you want your shop to have a unique look, you might find Gumroad a bit limiting.
Fees: Gumroad takes a percentage of each sale, which can be higher compared to some other platforms, especially as your sales volume increases.

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Gumroad Pricing Explained

Gumroad offers two main pricing plans, which are designed to cater to different needs and stages of business. Here's a quick breakdown:

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1. Free Plan:

Fee: 8.5% + 30¢ per transaction.
Features: This plan allows you to start selling without any upfront costs. It includes basic features like the ability to build a product page, accept payments, and deliver your products digitally. It’s great if you’re just starting out and testing the waters with your products.

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2. Premium Plan:

Monthly Fee: $10/month.
Transaction Fee: 3.5% + 30¢ per transaction.
Features: The Premium Plan includes everything in the Free Plan plus some additional features like HD streaming for videos, the ability to remove Gumroad branding, add custom CSS to your product pages, and use third-party analytics like Google Analytics.

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Who Should Use Gumroad?

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For Beginners and Those Testing the Market: If you’re new to selling online or if you’re experimenting with a new product line, the Free Plan is a great place to start. You can set up your products and start selling with minimal financial commitment.

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For Established Sellers Looking for More Features: If you’ve got a steady flow of sales and you’re looking for more customization and fewer transaction fees, the Premium Plan makes a lot of sense. The monthly fee can easily be offset by the savings on transaction fees if you’re making numerous or high-priced sales.

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2. LemonSqueezy

Another great alternative to Stan Store is called LemonSqueezy. This platform has caught my eye with its cool features and focus on digital products, making it a strong contender for those looking to sell online. Let's explore what LemonSqueezy offers, along with its pros and cons, to see if it might be the best fit for you.

LemonSqueezy is a platform designed specifically for selling digital products like software, ebooks, and digital downloads. It’s all about making it easy for creators to get their products out there without getting bogged down in technical details.

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Features of LemonSqueezy

Easy Digital Product Sales: LemonSqueezy is tailored for digital products, which means it handles things like secure file delivery and license keys really well.
Marketing Tools: It comes with built-in marketing tools, including email marketing integrations and discount code capabilities, which can help you promote your products effectively.
Subscription Models: If you’re looking to offer subscriptions or memberships, LemonSqueezy supports these too, allowing for recurring payments which are great for generating consistent revenue.

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Pros of LemonSqueezy

Focus on Digital: Since it’s designed specifically for digital products, you’ll find that everything from the product setup to the checkout process is optimized for selling downloads and online services.
Built-in Protection: LemonSqueezy includes piracy protection to help ensure your digital goods are secure, which is a big plus for anyone selling software or exclusive content.
User Interface: The platform has a modern, user-friendly interface that makes it easy to manage your products and sales.

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Cons of LemonSqueezy

Niche Focus: Because it’s so focused on digital products, it might not be the best choice if you also want to sell physical goods.
Newer on the Scene: LemonSqueezy is relatively new compared to other platforms, which might mean fewer integrations and a smaller community at this stage.
Cost Structure: While it offers a lot of features, the pricing might be a bit higher, especially as you scale up or if you need advanced features.

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LemonSqueezy Pricing Explained

LemonSqueezy offers a range of pricing plans to suit different business sizes and sales volumes. Here's a look at what they offer:

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1. Starter Plan:

Cost: Free setup, then pay-as-you-go with a 5% + 50¢ transaction fee per sale.
Features: This plan is great for those just starting out or for businesses testing the digital product market. It allows you to sell products without any monthly fees, making it risk-free to try and scale as you grow.

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2. Standard Plan:

Monthly Fee: $29/month.
Transaction Fee: 2.9% + 50¢ per transaction.
Features: Aimed at growing businesses, this plan reduces transaction fees and adds more advanced features such as email marketing tools, custom domains, and enhanced analytics.

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3. Pro Plan:

Monthly Fee: $79/month.
Transaction Fee: 2.9% + 50¢ per transaction.
Features: This plan is best for established businesses with higher sales volumes. It includes everything in the Standard Plan plus premium features like API access, priority support, and more integrations.

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Who Should Use LemonSqueezy?

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For Startups and New Businesses: The Starter Plan from LemonSqueezy is perfect for newcomers to the digital product space. Since there's no upfront monthly fee, you only pay when you make a sale, which is ideal for those who are just building their audience or testing new products.

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For Growing and Established Businesses: If your business is picking up steam and you're looking for more features to help manage and expand your digital sales, the Standard and Pro Plans offer reduced transaction fees and a suite of tools that can help streamline operations and boost your marketing efforts.

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3. Sellfy

Sellfy is an eCommerce platform that’s designed especially for creators who want to sell digital products, physical goods, and subscriptions all in one place. It’s super user-friendly, which means you can set up your store quickly and start selling without any hassle.

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Features of Sellfy

Sell Everything: One of the coolest things about Sellfy is that it allows you to sell digital products, physical goods, and even subscriptions. This makes it a versatile choice if you offer a range of products.
Built-in Marketing Tools: Sellfy comes with marketing features like email marketing, discount codes, and upsells which can help you boost your sales without needing extra software.
Instant Payouts: Unlike some platforms that make you wait for payouts, Sellfy offers instant payouts, so you get your money right away when you make a sale.

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Pros of Sellfy

Ease of Use: Sellfy is incredibly straightforward, making it great for those who aren’t tech-savvy. Setting up a store can be done in just a few clicks.
Embed Options: You can embed your Sellfy store or product widgets directly into your website or blog, which is great for integrating sales with your existing online presence.
Strong for Video Content: If you sell video content, Sellfy handles streaming, which can be a big plus.

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Cons of Sellfy

Limited Customization: While it’s easy to use, Sellfy offers limited customization options compared to more robust eCommerce platforms. If you want a highly customized store, you might find Sellfy a bit restrictive.
Fees: Sellfy charges a subscription fee, and depending on your sales volume, it can get pricey compared to platforms with lower fees.
Basic Analytics: The analytics tools are somewhat basic. If you need deep insights and data, you might need to integrate with another tool.

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Sellfy Pricing Explained

Sellfy offers three main pricing plans that cater to different levels of business needs, from beginners to more established sellers. Here’s what you need to know about each plan:

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1. Starter Plan:

Monthly Fee: $29/month (when billed annually).
Features: This plan is perfect for those just starting out or for businesses with up to $10,000 in annual sales. It includes all the essential features like unlimited products, digital, physical, and subscription sales, as well as a custom domain.

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2. Business Plan:

Monthly Fee: $59/month (when billed annually).
Features: Aimed at growing businesses, this plan supports up to $50,000 in annual sales. It includes everything in the Starter Plan plus product upselling, cart abandonment, and 10,000 email credits for effective marketing campaigns.

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3. Premium Plan:

Monthly Fee: $129/month (when billed annually).
Features: Best for established businesses with sales up to $200,000 annually. This plan includes all features of the Business Plan with the addition of priority support and 50,000 email credits for advanced marketing.

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Who Should Use Sellfy?

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For New Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses: The Starter Plan from Sellfy is ideal if you’re just breaking into online sales or if your operation is still on the smaller side. It gives you the essential tools you need without a huge investment.

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For Growing Businesses: If your business is growing and you're looking to expand your reach and enhance your marketing efforts, the Business Plan offers additional features like upselling and cart abandonment tools that can help increase your sales and customer engagement.

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For Established Businesses: The Premium Plan is suitable for larger businesses that need high-level features like advanced email marketing and priority support to maintain their growth and handle a larger volume of sales efficiently.

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4. Payhip

Payhip is an eCommerce platform that specializes in selling digital downloads and memberships. It’s designed to be incredibly user-friendly, allowing creators like you and me to set up shop quickly and start selling our products with minimal fuss.

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Features of Payhip

Direct Sales: Payhip lets you sell any type of digital product, from eBooks and software to design assets and music.
Membership Features: One of Payhip’s standout features is the ability to sell memberships. This is great if you have content that you want to offer on a subscription basis.
Marketing Tools: Payhip comes equipped with marketing tools that help you promote your products, such as affiliate marketing, discount codes, and social media integration.

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Pros of Payhip

Ease of Use: Payhip is super easy to set up and manage, which is perfect if you’re not tech-savvy or just prefer a straightforward approach.
No Monthly Fees: Unlike some other platforms, Payhip doesn’t charge a monthly fee. They only take a small percentage of your sales, which means you don’t pay anything until you start selling.
Instant Payouts: You get paid instantly with Payhip, which is a huge plus if cash flow is important to you.

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Cons of Payhip

Basic Design Options: While Payhip is easy to use, it offers limited options for customizing the look of your store. If you want a unique and highly tailored storefront, you might find Payhip a bit too basic.
Limited Third-Party Integrations: Payhip doesn’t have as many integrations with other tools and platforms compared to some of its competitors. This could be a drawback if you rely on automating your business with other software.
Simple Analytics: The analytics on Payhip are fairly basic. If you need deep insights into your sales and customer behavior, you might need to use additional tools.

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Payhip Pricing Explained

Payhip offers three clear and straightforward pricing plans that cater to businesses of all sizes. Here’s a breakdown of each:

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1. Free Forever Plan:

Transaction Fee: 5% per transaction.
Features: This plan is excellent for those just starting out or for businesses that prefer not to commit to a monthly fee. It includes access to all the essential features such as instant downloads, unlimited products, and basic analytics. You can sell both digital and physical products, as well as memberships.

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2. Plus Plan:

Monthly Fee: $29 per month.
Transaction Fee: 2% per transaction.
Features: Designed for growing businesses, this plan reduces the transaction fee and includes everything in the Free Forever Plan. It also adds features like removing Payhip branding from your pages, which can help with your site’s professionalism and brand consistency.

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3. Pro Plan:

Monthly Fee: $99 per month.
Transaction Fee: No transaction fee.
Features: Best for established businesses with higher sales volumes, this plan eliminates transaction fees entirely. It includes all the features of the Plus Plan and adds premium features like affiliate marketing, which can significantly boost your sales by enabling others to promote your products.

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Who Should Use Payhip?

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For Beginners and Hobbyists: The Free Forever Plan is ideal if you’re just starting out or if you're running a side hustle that you're not ready to invest heavily in yet. It’s also great for testing new products in the market without upfront costs.

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For Growing Businesses: If your sales are picking up and you’re looking to enhance your professional image while reducing transaction costs, the Plus Plan is a fantastic choice. The reduced transaction fee and the ability to remove Payhip branding can help elevate your customer's shopping experience.

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For Established Businesses: The Pro Plan is suitable for businesses with substantial sales who want to maximize their profits by eliminating transaction fees. The addition of affiliate marketing tools also makes this plan a smart choice for those looking to leverage broader marketing strategies.

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5. SendOwl

SendOwl is an eCommerce platform that makes it super easy for anyone to sell digital products, physical goods, and subscriptions directly from their website or social media platforms. It’s designed to be simple and efficient, focusing on making the selling process as smooth as possible for both sellers and buyers.

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Features of SendOwl

Versatile Selling Options: SendOwl allows you to sell a variety of products including digital downloads, physical goods, and memberships or subscriptions.
Easy Integration: One of SendOwl’s strongest features is its ability to integrate seamlessly with your existing website or blog. It doesn’t matter if you’re using WordPress, Shopify, or even just social media; SendOwl fits right in.
Affiliate Marketing: SendOwl supports affiliate marketing, so you can set up your own affiliate program and let others help promote your products for a commission.

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Pros of SendOwl

Streamlined Checkout Process: SendOwl provides a smooth and straightforward checkout process, which can help increase conversion rates as it minimizes the chances of cart abandonment.
Security: They take security seriously, offering secure delivery of digital content and ensuring that your products cannot be downloaded without purchase.
Customer Support: SendOwl is known for its responsive and helpful customer support team, which can be a huge plus if you ever run into issues.

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Cons of SendOwl

Limited Customization: Like some other platforms, SendOwl offers limited customization options for the checkout process and digital delivery. If you want a highly customized shopping experience, you might find SendOwl a bit restrictive.
Pricing: While SendOwl has a lot to offer, its pricing structure might be a bit steep for beginners or small businesses just starting out. Make sure to evaluate if the cost fits into your budget.
No Built-In Marketing Tools: Unlike some platforms that come with built-in marketing tools like email campaigns or advanced analytics, SendOwl relies on integrations for most marketing functionalities, which might require additional subscriptions or costs.

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SendOwl Pricing Explained

SendOwl offers several pricing plans that vary based on the features and capabilities they provide. Here's a breakdown of what each plan includes, helping you to find one that fits your business size and needs:

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1. Standard Plan:

Monthly Fee: $15 per month.
Features: This plan includes the ability to sell up to 30 products and 3 subscription products. It’s perfect for sellers just starting out or those with a smaller inventory. You get access to standard features such as affiliate marketing, PDF stamping, and basic customization options.

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2. Premium Plan:

Monthly Fee: $24 per month.
Features: Suitable for growing businesses, this plan increases your product limit to 100 and subscription products to 10. It also includes upselling features, cart abandonment, and video streaming, which can help enhance your sales techniques and improve customer retention.

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3. Business Plan:

Monthly Fee: $39 per month.
Features: Designed for larger businesses, this plan supports up to 250 products and 30 subscription products. You also get advanced features like the use of multiple users, a dedicated account manager, and advanced integration capabilities for seamless operation across different platforms.

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4. Self-Hosting Plan:

Monthly Fee: Starts at $49 per month.
Features: This plan is for those who need complete control over their selling environment, offering unlimited products and subscriptions. It includes all the features of the lower plans plus priority support and the ability to self-host your checkout pages.

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Who Should Use SendOwl?

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For Startups and Small Businesses: The Standard Plan is ideal if you’re just entering the online market or have a limited number of products. It’s cost-effective and includes essential features that can help you start selling quickly and efficiently.

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For Growing Online Stores: The Premium Plan is great for businesses that are seeing growth and need additional features like upselling and cart abandonment to boost sales and customer engagement.

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For Established Businesses: The Business Plan is perfect for larger businesses with a broader product range or those needing advanced features and dedicated support to maintain their operations smoothly.

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For Maximum Control and Scalability: The Self-Hosting Plan offers the utmost in customization and control, suitable for very large sellers or those with specific needs that require hosting their own sales software.

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We’ve covered a lot today looking at the top five alternatives to Stan Store, each with its own unique set of features, pros, and cons. Whether you’re a creator, a small business owner, or just starting out, I hope this rundown helps you find the perfect platform that fits your needs.

Recap of Our Top Picks:

Gumroad: Ideal for creators looking for a simple, direct-selling approach with minimal setup.
LemonSqueezy: Great for digital product sellers focusing on secure transactions and marketing tools.
Sellfy: Perfect for those who want to sell a mix of physical and digital products with powerful built-in marketing tools.
Payhip: A good choice for those who value simplicity and have a diverse range of products, including subscriptions.
SendOwl: Best for those who need a seamless integration for selling directly from their own website or blog.

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What to Consider When Choosing Your Platform

When deciding which platform to go with, consider what’s most important for your business. Do you need something with robust marketing tools, or are simplicity and ease of setup more critical for you? Maybe you’re looking for a platform that handles both digital and physical products seamlessly. Each platform we’ve discussed offers something unique, so think about your specific needs and what will serve you best.

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Conclusion

Switching to a new eCommerce platform, or choosing your first one, is a big decision but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Take the time to assess what features are most essential for the growth of your business. Consider starting with free trials where available to get a real feel for how each platform works.

Thanks for joining me in exploring these alternatives to Stan Store. No matter which platform you choose, each one has the potential to help you streamline your sales process and grow your business. Good luck, and here’s to your success in finding the perfect fit for your online store!

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5 Best Stan Store Alternatives