I Tested 8 Digital Product Platforms in 2026. 3DIMLI Had the Best Direct-Payout Fit.
7 min read
I spent the first two months of 2026 selling the same digital product across eight different platforms. I tracked every fee, every payout delay, and every hidden cost. Here is exactly what I found - and why I moved everything to one platform by the end.
The Problem Every Digital Creator Knows
If you sell digital products online - ebooks, templates, courses, audio, graphics, software, or anything else - you have probably felt this sting: you price a product at $25, a customer buys it, and you get $21. Or $22. Or sometimes less.
Every platform takes a cut. Some call it a "transaction fee." Others call it a "platform fee." Some charge you monthly just for the privilege of having a store. And the worst part? Most platforms also delay your payouts for days or even weeks.
I wanted to find a platform where I could lower platform fees, connect my own payment account, and get paid directly. So I tested them all.
What I Tested: 8 Platforms, One Product, Real Numbers
I took a simple digital product - a design template bundle priced at $25 - and sold it across eight platforms. I tracked exactly what each platform charged me per sale and how long it took to actually receive my money.
The platforms: Gumroad, Payhip, Sellfy, Lemon Squeezy, Ko-fi, Podia, Stan Store, and 3DIMLI.
The Fees Comparison: Sell a $25 Product 100 Times
This is where it gets real. $2,500 in gross revenue. Here is what you actually keep:
| Platform | Fee Structure | You Keep (of $2,500) | You Lose | Payout Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gumroad | 10% flat | $2,250 | $250 | Weekly |
| Payhip (Free) | 5% per txn | $2,375 | $125 | Instant (PayPal) |
| Sellfy | $29/mo starter | $2,152 | $348/yr | Via PayPal/Stripe |
| Lemon Squeezy | 5% + 50c/txn | $2,275 | $225 | Bi-weekly |
| Ko-fi (Free) | 0% (PayPal fees only) | ~$2,390 | ~$110 | Instant (PayPal) |
| Podia | $39/mo + 5% free plan | $2,032 | $468/yr | 2 business days |
| Stan Store | $29/mo Creator | $2,152 | $348/yr | 3-5 business days |
| 3DIMLI | Flexible: 8% of finalized sales. Fixed: $25/mo or $250/year with 0% platform fee on sales | $2,300 on Flexible or $2,475 on Fixed monthly | $200 on Flexible or $25 on Fixed monthly | Direct gateway payout |
Note: Payment processor fees (Stripe/PayPal/Razorpay) apply on all platforms including 3DIMLI. This table compares platform fees before standard processor fees.
On Gumroad, you lose $250 out of $2,500 to platform fees. On 3DIMLI Fixed, the platform cost would be $25 for that month. On Flexible, it would be $200 with no monthly fee. The better plan depends on volume.
Why 3DIMLI Stood Out
After testing all eight platforms, I moved everything to 3DIMLI. Here is why.
Transparent Plans - 8% on Flexible (only on finalized sales) or 0% on Fixed ($25/month, annual saves 17%)
3DIMLI has two simple plans. Flexible has no monthly fee and an 8% platform fee on finalized sales. Fixed is $25/month or $250/year and has 0% platform fee on sales. Payouts go directly to your connected account.
That means low-volume sellers can start without a monthly bill, while higher-volume sellers can switch to Fixed when the math works better.
Instant Payouts
On most platforms, you sell something Monday and get paid Friday. Or next week.
On 3DIMLI, payments go directly to your connected payment account (PayPal, Stripe, or Razorpay) the moment a buyer completes the purchase. No "withdrawal request" step. No waiting period.
8 Product Types - Not Just for 3D Artists
The name might suggest it is only for 3D modelers. It is not. The platform supports:
- 3D Models - For game devs, architects, and artists
- E-Books - PDF, ePub, Mobi formats
- Audio - Music, SFX, sample packs
- Graphics - Icons, textures, illustrations, digital art
- Software - Apps, plugins, tools with license key support
- Video - Tutorials, stock footage, motion graphics
- AI Models - LoRAs, checkpoints, neural networks
- Link Products - The game-changer (keep reading)
Link Products - Sell Literally Anything with a URL
Link Products are what make 3DIMLI work for any digital creator. Instead of uploading a file, you provide a URL that buyers receive after purchase.
You can sell:
- Online courses - Link to Teachable, Udemy, or your private course
- Community access - Discord, Slack, Telegram group invites
- Notion/Canva templates - Link to your template page
- Google Drive files - Share download links
- Booking links - Sell consultations via Calendly or Cal.com
- Software licenses - Link to your license portal
- Premium newsletters - Exclusive content access
- Anything with a URL - If it lives online, you can sell it
This is useful when the real deliverable already lives somewhere else. Instead of forcing a big file into an upload form, you can sell access through a link product and keep the buyer journey in your store.
Product Variants and Flexible Pricing
Each product can have multiple license types (Standard, Commercial Redistribution, Editorial Use Only, CC BY 4.0), each with its own pricing. You can offer fixed pricing, pay-what-you-want with min/max/suggested amounts, or make some variants free.
Three Payment Gateways
PayPal, Stripe, and Razorpay. The Razorpay option is a big deal for Indian creators who have been stuck with limited payout options on Western-centric platforms.
Bulk Upload via Desktop App
Large catalog? Use the 3DIMLI desktop app with a watch folder. Drop files in, they get uploaded automatically.
What 3DIMLI Does NOT Do (The Honest Part)
- No marketplace discovery. Buyers do not browse 3DIMLI to find products the way they browse Etsy. You bring your own audience. If you have a social following or email list, this does not matter. Starting from zero? A marketplace might help more initially.
- No course builder. No lesson player, no student tracking. But you can sell courses via Link Products - host on Teachable, then sell access through 3DIMLI using Flexible or Fixed pricing.
- No tax compliance. 3DIMLI does not handle VAT or sales tax. Lemon Squeezy does this as Merchant of Record. On 3DIMLI, tax is your responsibility.
- USD only. No multi-currency support yet.
Who Should Use 3DIMLI?
| Creator Type | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Ebook authors | Upload PDF/ePub directly and sell from a branded product page |
| Template creators | Sell Notion/Canva/Figma templates as Link Products |
| Course creators | Sell course access via Link Products |
| Audio producers | MP3, OGG, WAV - sell beats, SFX, sample packs |
| Graphic designers | Icons, textures, illustrations - all supported |
| Software devs | Apps, plugins, tools with license management |
| 3D artists | Full 3D model support with format detection |
| AI/ML creators | Sell LoRAs, checkpoints, trained models |
| Video creators | Stock footage, tutorials, motion graphics |
| Community builders | Sell Discord/Slack access via Link Products |
The bottom line: if you sell digital products and you are tired of giving away 5-10% of your revenue, 3DIMLI is worth trying. It is free to sign up, with Flexible available at no monthly fee.
Get Started
Setting up takes about 15 minutes. Create an account, connect your payment gateway, upload your first product, and you are live.
Create your free 3DIMLI store here
Check out the features page to see everything the platform offers. The Link Products guide shows how to sell URL-based products. And the comparison page lets you see how 3DIMLI stacks up against other platforms.
I am done paying platforms for the privilege of selling my own work. If you feel the same way, give it a shot.