The Bitcoin-Native Alternative to Gumroad
Tired of PayPal limitations, high fees, and payment holds? Zapable lets you sell digital products with instant Lightning Network payments. No banks. No intermediaries. No limits.
New to selling for Bitcoin? Our guide to selling digital products for Bitcoin covers the basics first.
Why Creators Are Leaving Gumroad
In October 2024, PayPal cut ties with Gumroad, leaving thousands of creators stranded. But that's just one of many issues:
PayPal Dependency
When PayPal pulls out, your business stops. Traditional platforms are beholden to payment processor policies that can change overnight.
High Fees That Add Up
Gumroad takes 10% flat fee plus payment processing. Sell a $50 product and lose $5-7 per sale. That's thousands per year.
14-30 Day Payment Holds
Your customers pay today, but you wait weeks to access your money. New sellers face even longer holds.
Chargeback Nightmares
Fraudulent chargebacks cost you the sale, the product, AND a $15-25 dispute fee. Digital products are especially vulnerable.
Account Freezes
One disputed sale can freeze your entire account. PayPal's AI flags legitimate businesses constantly.
Limited Global Reach
Customers without credit cards or PayPal accounts can't buy. You're excluding billions of potential customers.
How Zapable Solves These Problems
No Third-Party Dependency
Bitcoin and Lightning are open protocols. No company can cut you off, freeze your funds, or change the rules on you.
Minimal Fees
Zapable is free to use. The only fees are Lightning Network routing costs (fractions of a cent) — and they go to the network, not us.
Instant Payments
Get paid in seconds, not weeks. Lightning payments settle instantly, directly to your wallet. No holds. Ever.
Zero Chargebacks
Bitcoin transactions are final. No fraudulent chargebacks, no dispute fees, no losing money on delivered products.
Uncensorable Commerce
You control your wallet. No platform can freeze your earnings or deplatform your business overnight.
True Global Access
Anyone with a smartphone can pay with Bitcoin. No bank account, credit card, or government ID required.
Zapable vs Gumroad: Head-to-Head
| Feature | Gumroad | Zapable |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Fee | 10% flat | Free (Pro upgrade optional) |
| Payment Processing | +3-5% (Stripe/PayPal) | Lightning routing only (~fractions of a cent) |
| Payout Speed | 7-14 days (up to 30 for new sellers) | Instant (seconds) |
| Chargeback Risk | High + $15-25 dispute fee | Zero (Bitcoin is final) |
| Account Freeze Risk | Common with PayPal/Stripe | Impossible (you hold keys) |
| Payment Holds | Yes, especially new accounts | Never |
| Global Customers | Limited by banking/card access | Anyone with Bitcoin/smartphone |
| PayPal Required | Yes (or was) | No banks needed |
Perfect for Creators Who...
Zapable is especially valuable if you:
Switching from Gumroad is Easy
Create Account
Sign up for Zapable in under 2 minutes. No approval wait.
Upload Products
Add your digital products with the same files you use on Gumroad.
Set Up Wallet
Connect your Lightning wallet to receive payments directly.
Update Links
Point your audience to your new Zapable product pages.
Switching from Gumroad: Common Questions
Can I move my Gumroad products to Zapable?
Yes. Because you keep your own product files, there's no lock-in to migrate around — upload your existing ebooks, courses, or downloads to Zapable and you're live in minutes.
How do Zapable's fees compare to Gumroad's 10%?
Gumroad charges a 10% flat fee plus payment processing. Zapable is free to start and takes no cut of your sales — the only cost is Lightning Network routing (a fraction of a cent), which goes to the network, not us.
Do my customers need Bitcoin to buy from me?
They can pay with Bitcoin over Lightning, and card payment is available where they prefer it. Bitcoin payments settle straight to a wallet you control — no PayPal account required on either side.
Will payouts really be instant, unlike Gumroad's holds?
Yes. Lightning payments settle in seconds, directly to your wallet — no 14–30 day holds, no payout schedule, and no account freezes.
Is Zapable actually free?
Yes — free to start, with an optional Pro upgrade. There's no platform cut on your sales, so you keep what you earn.