TPOP vs Gumroad: which one to choose to sell your products (physical or digital)

The world of e-commerce is constantly evolving, and today offers a multitude of specialized platforms for selling digital or physical products. Among these solutions, Gumroad has made a name for itself with content creators and artists looking for a fast way to market their digital works or training courses. For its part, TPOP is gradually establishing itself as a complete Print on Demand (POD) and e-commerce player, while also opening up to digital products. With this approach, TPOP promotes a zero-commission policy (starting with the €19.99 offer), simplified management and a strong commitment to eco-responsibility.

In this article, we'll make an in-depth comparison of TPOP and Gumroad to help you identify the platform best suited to your needs. Whether you're a creator looking to offer e-books, video training or music, or an e-merchant looking to sell print-on-demand products, it's essential to know the strengths and limitations of each solution. In particular, we'll look at the extent to which TPOP can replace Gumroad for the sale of digital products, while offering a range of complementary functionalities (store creation, SEO management, integrated POD, etc.).

Looking for alternatives to Gumroad?

Gumroad was born in 2011 with the idea of offering a minimalist, efficient tool for digital creators. Its concept is based on a quick set-up: one account, one downloadable product or subscription, and the ability to sell directly to your fans or audience without having to go through a complex website. Gumroad has become a benchmark for the sale of e-books, video training, digital comics, music and audio. Its uncluttered interface aims for simplicity.

However, Gumroad focuses almost exclusively on the sale of digital products and subscriptions. While this is an asset for independent creators, some users would like a wider range of functionalities to develop a real e-commerce store, including the sale of physical products, the implementation of advanced marketing campaigns or even more in-depth SEO optimization. On top of this, Gumroad charges a percentage per sale (particularly on free offers and low-volume plans), which can slow down the designer's growth as the volume of transactions increases.

TPOP, on the other hand, offers a different positioning: while remaining simple to use, the French and European solution covers e-commerce, Print on Demand (POD) and, more recently, the sale of digital products. This is accompanied by a zero-commission policy (starting with the €19.99 Unlimited package) to enable designers and merchants to optimize their revenues. Thanks to this global approach, TPOP is winning over more and more entrepreneurs, influencers and artists looking not only to sell digital products, but also to manage an inventory of physical items, whether printed on demand or not.

Comparison table

To highlight the specific features of Gumroad and TPOP, here's a table summarizing the main characteristics of each platform.

From this picture, we quickly see that Gumroad emphasizes extreme simplicity when it comes to selling digital content. This minimalist vision is accompanied, however, by higher per-transaction fees and more limited personalization. TPOP, on the other hand, doesn't just offer digital content: the platform is designed to support the entire e-commerce activity, from Print on Demand to the sale of external products and digital files. All with zero commission, starting with the Unlimited offer.

TPOP highlights

To understand why TPOP can be a solid alternative to Gumroad for selling digital products (and more), let's take a closer look at the major strengths of this "all-in-one" platform.

Zero commission (from Unlimited offer)

One of the criticisms voiced by some Gumroad users concerns the commission charged on each sale, which varies according to volume and plan. If the designer sells a digital product for €50 and Gumroad retains a percentage plus fixed costs, margins can suffer.

With TPOP, things are different: starting with the Unlimited package (€19.99 per month), the platform applies no commission on your sales, whether physical or digital. This means you retain full margins on every transaction. This is particularly advantageous for creators and entrepreneurs with high sales volumes or higher selling prices.

Sales of digital, printed and "external" products

Gumroad is ideal if you're simply selling an e-book or video course. However, if you're planning to offer physical products (printed books, goodies, personalized textiles, etc.), Gumroad comes up against a major limitation. You'll have to use other tools, or handle the shipping yourself.

TPOP is positioned as a unified ecosystem:

• Here you can offer digital products such as PDFs, videos, music and graphic files.
• The platform also specializes in Print on Demand, thanks to the native integration of a catalog of customizable textiles and accessories (t-shirts, sweatshirts, tote bags, mugs, etc.).
• Finally, you retain the possibility of selling "external" products (other physical items) thanks to the inventory and logistics management included in the Unlimited and BUSINESS formulas.

It's this flexibility that appeals to many designers, who want to bring everything together under the same banner, without having to multiply platforms or extensions.

Eco-responsibility

While Gumroad isn't particularly interested in environmental issues, TPOP has made eco-responsibility one of its main pillars. The site is hosted on green servers, and the brand offers water-based printing, organic cotton textiles and zero plastic packaging. This ecological orientation is increasingly valued by consumers, who appreciate knowing that their purchases (including digital or print-on-demand products) respect a certain environmental ethic.

For brands and designers sensitive to these issues, TPOP's green commitment represents a solid marketing argument. It can be emphasized as part of a brand's communication strategy, and is a crucial point of differentiation.

Easy to install

One of Gumroad's acknowledged qualities is its simplicity: a product page, a "Buy" button and that's it. TPOP has also taken care of this essential point, offering a turnkey environment. Registration is free, and you can start setting up your store almost instantly, thanks to the FREE offer.

TPOP's all-in-one logic translates into :

• All-inclusive hosting, with no server to manage and no complicated installation to perform.
• Access to a comprehensive dashboard to manage orders (physical and digital), track shipments or retrieve sales statistics.
• An intuitive interface for uploading digital files, configuring printed products and customizing the look and feel of your store.

Finally, advanced customization (personalized domain, CSS, integrated blog) is available from the Unlimited package, offering greater design freedom than Gumroad, whose interface remains fairly fixed.

Responsive customer support and educational resources

While Gumroad provides online documentation and answers users' e-mails, TPOP goes one step further in supporting merchants. The platform offers a free online academy, detailed tutorials (store configuration, SEO, product management, etc.) and responsive customer service, which can be reached via a variety of channels. This proximity is particularly valuable for beginners, or for those new to the subtleties of Print on Demand and digital sales.

This "human" approach is in line with TPOP's values, which are to support creators and entrepreneurs at every stage of their development, and not just provide them with a technical tool.

Flexible pricing

The formulas offered by TPOP cover various levels of needs:

1. Free: Perfect for getting started without investing, ideal for testing the platform and understanding how it works.
2. Unlimited (€19.99): Allows you to benefit from a professional, commission-free site, advanced customization (CSS, custom domain, blog), and finer integration of external and digital products.
3. BUSINESS (€249.99): Reserved for higher-volume projects, this package unlocks access to an exclusive Print on Demand product catalog and includes all TPOP's advanced features, optimized for high-traffic stores.

Instead, Gumroad operates on a per-transaction commission basis, varying according to the amounts earned monthly or annually by the creator. If you don't sell much, this may seem reasonable. But as your business grows, these fees eventually become substantial.

In parallel, Gumroad offers a premium plan (Gumroad Premium) to reduce the commission, but it is often more expensive in the long run for designers with a substantial sales volume.

Why merchants prefer TPOP vs. Gumroad

1. Transparent pricing, zero commission: The absence of commission (from the Unlimited offer onwards) is crucial for creators and sellers who want to maximize their profits. Gumroad, on the other hand, retains a percentage of each sale. Over time, this model difference can add up to a significant sum.
2. Sell any type of product: Where Gumroad focuses on digital, TPOP offers a complete solution: digital products, print-on-demand items or classic physical inventory. This unified universe is invaluable for developing a global brand.
3. Eco-responsibility and green commitment: More and more designers want to associate their project with strong environmental values. TPOP offers green accommodation, organic textiles and zero-plastic packaging, but Gumroad does not.
4. Branding control: Gumroad offers little freedom in terms of design and customization. TPOP, on the other hand, offers a theme editor, the possibility of integrating your own domain name and adding CSS to shape your store to your desires.
5. Support and guidance: The TPOP academy and its dedicated customer support enable users to get to grips with the software progressively and receive personalized assistance. While Gumroad remains accessible, it doesn't rely as much on in-depth support for its users.
6. Growth and professionalization: when a business becomes profitable and attracts a high volume of sales, Gumroad quickly shows its limits in terms of marketing, SEO or advanced management. TPOP, on the other hand, is designed to adapt to the growth of an e-commerce business, with upgradable plans and integrated professional tools.

FAQ

1. Gumroad offers "in minutes" set-up. Is TPOP just as simple?

Yes, TPOP is all about simplicity too. You can create your account for free, quickly add your first products (digital or POD), set up your payment details, and start selling in record time. Unlike Gumroad, you can further customize your store and benefit from a complete e-commerce offering.

2. Is it possible to sell only digital files on TPOP?

Absolutely. You don't have to offer Print on Demand if you don't want to. You can perfectly well use TPOP to market only e-books, videos, music or any other downloadable digital content. The advantage is that if you ever decide to expand your range with physical products, you won't have to change platforms.

3. What exactly are Gumroad's commissions, and how does TPOP compare?

With Gumroad, if you stay on the free plan, you pay a commission of up to 9% (plus a fixed fee per transaction), which decreases as your monthly sales increase. Conversely, TPOP charges no commission from the Unlimited offer (€19.99) upwards. So your margins are preserved, whatever your sales.

4. How do I deliver physical products to TPOP, and what if I only want to sell digital products?

For Print on Demand, TPOP takes care of all logistics (printing, packaging, shipping). For external products, you can manage delivery yourself or via partners. But if you only sell digital products, you obviously don't have to manage the logistics: TPOP will take care of the transactional side and make the files available to your buyers.

5. What does TPOP mean by "green accommodation" and "zero plastic"?

Green hosting means that the servers used to run the TPOP platform are powered by renewable energy or offset their carbon footprint. As for zero-plastic, this mainly concerns the shipment of physical products, which is carried out in environmentally-friendly, plastic-free packaging. Even if you sell digital products, this contributes to TPOP's overall eco-responsible brand image.

6. Is Gumroad cheaper for beginners who sell very little?

If you're starting out with virtually no sales volume, Gumroad's free plan may seem attractive, since you only pay when you sell. However, as your business grows, the accumulated commissions can quickly exceed the fixed monthly cost of a TPOP Unlimited package. So it all depends on your strategy and growth projections.

7. Can I use my own domain name with TPOP and create a site that does not explicitly refer to TPOP?

Yes, with the unlimited or BUSINESS package, you can connect a personalized domain name. Your customers won't necessarily know that you use TPOP to manage your store. So you maintain a consistent, professional brand image.

8. How can I effectively promote my digital products on TPOP, compared to the virality that Gumroad can offer?

It's true that Gumroad relies heavily on the simplicity of sharing via social networks. On TPOP, you also have access to marketing tools (SEO integration, blog, promotional codes, etc.) and you can easily connect your e-mailing or advertising campaigns. This allows you to create a complete communications strategy, while taking care of your long-term SEO.