Payhip vs Etsy
Payhip or Etsy for your digital downloads?
On Payhip you keep more of each sale and can sell files up to 5 GB. Etsy brings buyers who search for what you sell. Here is how to choose.
The short answer
- Etsy search brings your buyers? Stay on Etsy. Moving to Payhip leaves that search behind.
- You bring your own buyers from Instagram, YouTube or an email list? Payhip costs less per sale and sells courses and memberships too.
- Your only problem is Etsy's 20 MB limit? Keep Etsy and deliver the big files with OrderFiles.
Etsy vs Payhip vs Etsy with OrderFiles
Three real options, side by side. Payhip wins some rows. We say so.
| Feature | Etsy only | Payhip | Etsy + OrderFiles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | None | $0, $29 or $99 by plan | €9 for OrderFiles |
| Fee per sale | 6.5% transaction fee + payment processing | 5% (Free), 2% (Plus) or 0% (Pro) + PayPal/Stripe fees | Etsy's fees as today. OrderFiles takes no cut |
| Listing fee | $0.20 per listing, renewed after each sale | None listed. Unlimited products | Etsy's $0.20 as today |
| File size | 20 MB per file | 5 GB per file | 5 GB per file |
| Files per product | 5 | Multiple files | No file-count cap |
| Storage and bandwidth | Not a factor at 20 MB a file | No storage or bandwidth limits | 50 GB storage, 100 GB delivered a month |
| Found in Etsy search | Yes | No. Your own store | Yes. Your listings stay on Etsy |
| Your Etsy reviews | Yes | Don't come with you | Yes |
| Digital VAT / sales tax | Etsy collects it where the law requires | Collects EU/UK VAT and US/Canadian sales tax | Etsy, as today |
Checked 21 October 2026. Payhip: pricing, file size, storage. Etsy: Fees & Payments Policy, digital listings.
Payhip fees vs Etsy fees
Payhip has three plans. Every plan gets every feature. Only the monthly fee and the cut per sale change (Checked 21 October 2026, payhip.com/pricing):
- Free: $0 a month, 5% per sale
- Plus: $29 a month, 2% per sale
- Pro: $99 a month, no transaction fee
PayPal or Stripe charge their own processing fees on top, on every plan. Etsy charges $0.20 to list an item and 6.5% of each sale, plus payment processing that depends on your country (Etsy's fee policy). A digital listing with more than one in stock renews for another $0.20 after each sale.
On a $10 download that works out to $0.85 a sale on Etsy, $0.50 on Payhip Free and $0.20 on Payhip Plus, before processing. Payhip is cheaper per sale. Etsy's fee pays for the buyers it sends you.
Is Payhip better than Etsy?
It depends on where your buyers come from. Payhip is your own store: you get a store builder, connect your own domain for free, and sell courses, memberships and 1:1 coaching alongside downloads. It also collects and remits EU/UK VAT and US/Canadian sales tax for you.
What you leave behind is Etsy's marketplace. On Etsy, buyers find you by searching. On your own Payhip store, your followers, email list and links do that job. Your Etsy reviews and sales history stay on Etsy. If most of your sales start with an Etsy search, moving means starting that traffic from zero.
Can I use Payhip and Etsy together?
Yes. Payhip is a separate store, so you can sell the same products in both places and point your own followers to Payhip. One rule matters: Etsy prohibits moving an Etsy transaction off Etsy (section 2 of its fee policy). Don't send buyers who found you on Etsy to pay on Payhip instead.
If you're looking at Payhip only because your files are too big for Etsy, you don't need a second store. OrderFiles delivers the files for your Etsy orders. You keep the listing, the reviews, the search traffic and Etsy's checkout.
Does Payhip have a file size limit?
Yes: 5 GB per file, with no storage or bandwidth limit (Payhip help, features page). Etsy allows five files of 20 MB each (Etsy help). OrderFiles takes files up to 5 GB each, with no cap on files per product and 50 GB of storage. Not sure how far over Etsy's limit you are? The Etsy file size limit guide covers the free fixes first.
Over the limit right now?
Drop your files into the free checker to see exactly how far over you are. Nothing uploads, it reads the sizes in your browser.
Which should you pick?
Stay on Etsy only
Your files fit in five files of 20 MB and Etsy search brings your buyers. Change nothing.
Move to Payhip
You have your own audience, want a store on your own domain, or sell courses and memberships.
Keep Etsy, add OrderFiles
Etsy brings your buyers but your files are too big. Buyers get a link from Etsy and unlock it with their order number.
More comparisons: Sellfy vs Etsy, all comparisons, or check your files with the free Etsy file checker.
Keep your Etsy shop. Send the big files.
Files up to 5 GB, delivered for your Etsy orders. €9/month after a 14-day free trial. Cancel before it ends and you pay nothing.
Start Your Free 14-Day Trial