ChatGPT answers, unedited
"I'm a hobby photographer selling presets and short courses, what free/low-cost platform avoids platform fees and supports downloads?", asked on ChatGPT about once a day from the United States. The last 15 answers, newest first, exactly as given: the raw data behind the Online Course Platforms live demo.
Week of 24th to 30th Aug 2026 (in progress)
For a hobby photographer selling Lightroom presets + short photography courses, I’d shortlist these:
| Platform | Monthly cost | Platform fee | Downloads | Courses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip | $0 | 5% | ✅ | ✅ | Best overall |
| Ko-fi | $0 | 5% | ✅ | Somewhat | Best if you also want tips/community |
| Ko-fi Gold | $12/mo | 0% | ✅ | Somewhat | Once you're making enough sales to justify it |
My pick: Payhip
Payhip's free plan gives you unlimited products and unlimited revenue, with a 5% transaction fee. It supports digital files, courses, bundles and memberships, and customers can download digital products after purchase. payhip.comhelp.payhip.com
That's a particularly good fit for presets because you can sell something like:
- $12 — Lightroom preset pack
- $19 — 20-preset bundle + PDF guide
- $29 — preset collection + mini video course
- $49 — complete beginner photography mini-course
You can also offer a free preset as a lead magnet; Payhip supports free digital products and collects the customer's email address. payhip.comhelp.payhip.com
Ko-fi is the other one I'd seriously consider
Ko-fi Shop lets you upload digital products directly, has no listing/monthly fee on the free tier, and charges 5% on shop sales plus normal payment-processing fees. ko-fi.com
Its advantage for a photographer is that you can combine presets + courses/tutorials + tips + memberships on one creator page. If you eventually reach the point where $12/month is worthwhile, Ko-fi Gold has 0% service fees. ko-fi.compayhip.com
One important distinction
If by "avoids platform fees" you mean literally 0%, the realistic choices change:
- Ko-fi Gold: $12/mo, 0% platform fee
- Payhip Pro: $99/mo, 0% transaction fee
- But Stripe/PayPal processing fees still apply. ko-fi.compayhip.com
For a hobby business, I wouldn't pay either subscription initially. I'd start with Payhip's free plan, get your first 20–50 sales, and only then reconsider the economics.
If you tell me roughly what you expect to charge for your presets ($10–$30?) and courses ($30–$100?), I can compare Payhip vs Ko-fi vs Gumroad and show you exactly how much you'd keep at $500, $1,000, and $5,000/month.
Behind this answer: 4 searches, 30 results retrieved, 2 tracked brands mentioned
Searches ChatGPT ran
Search results ChatGPT retrieved
| # | Page | Used in the answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | https://more.ko-fi.com/shop?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 2 | https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009712917-Ko-fi-Shop-Sell-digital-physical-products?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 3 | https://ko-fi.com/home/pricing?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 4 | https://ko-fi.com/digital_product?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 5 | https://ko-fi.com/commissions?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 6 | https://ko-fi.com/Features?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 7 | https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004000994-What-is-Ko-fi?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 8 | https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360016170433-What-are-Ko-fi-Commissions?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| and 22 more results | ||
Tracked brands mentioned
Week of 17th to 23rd Aug 2026
Answer 2 of 15, 23rd Aug 2026, unknown, mentions 2 tracked brands
For your mix of Lightroom presets + short photography courses, I’d shortlist these:
| Platform | Monthly cost | Platform fee | Digital downloads | Courses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| payhip.com | $0 | 5% | ✅ | ✅ | Best overall |
| ko-fi.com | $0 | 5% | ✅ | ⚠️ Better for simple video/file products | Creators with an existing audience |
| gumroad.com | $0 | Higher | ✅ | ✅ | Easiest setup |
My pick: Payhip
For a hobby photographer, Payhip is probably the sweet spot. Its free plan has no monthly charge, unlimited products and unlimited revenue, with a 5% transaction fee. It supports digital files and specifically markets the platform for selling photos/digital products. Payhip Payhip
You could structure it as:
- Preset packs — ZIP containing
.xmpfiles + installation PDF - Mini courses — downloadable video lessons, PDFs, worksheets, or links to hosted videos
- Bundles — e.g. Golden Hour Presets + Editing Mini-Course
- Free preset — use it as an email-list lead magnet
- Pay-what-you-want products for small freebies or tip-style offerings
One important distinction: “no platform fee” doesn't necessarily mean zero fees overall. Payhip's Pro plan eliminates its transaction fee at $99/month, but Stripe/PayPal processing fees still apply. Payhip
Ko-fi is worth considering
ko-fi.com is particularly attractive if most of your customers come from Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or your photography site. You can sell digital downloads with no listing or monthly fee, but sales carry a 5% Ko-fi fee plus normal payment-processing fees. Ko-fi Ko-fi Help
Ko-fi also pays directly into your PayPal/Stripe account rather than holding payouts. Ko-fi Help
What I'd do in your situation
I'd start with Payhip Free. At your stage, paying $0/month while testing which presets/courses actually sell is more valuable than optimizing for a theoretical 0% fee.
If you eventually reach roughly $2,000+/month in sales, then it's worth comparing Payhip's $29/month Plus plan (2% fee) against staying on Free. At about $2,000/month, the Plus plan saves roughly $31/month in platform fees, before considering payment processing. Payhip's current plans are $0/5%, $29/2%, and $99/0%. Payhip
If you tell me roughly how many presets/courses you expect to sell per month and their price range, I can work out the cheapest setup—including the point where each platform becomes worthwhile.
Behind this answer: no web searches, 2 tracked brands mentioned
ChatGPT answered from its own knowledge, without searching the web.
Tracked brands mentioned
Answer 3 of 15, 22nd Aug 2026, unknown, mentions 2 tracked brands
For your use case—Lightroom presets + downloadable short photography courses—I’d shortlist these:
- payhip.com — best overall. Free plan is $0/month + 5% per sale, with unlimited products and revenue. It supports digital downloads and explicitly supports selling photos/digital assets. Stripe/PayPal processing fees are additional. Payhip Payhip Payhip
- ko-fi.com — best if you already have an audience on Instagram/YouTube. No listing or monthly fees, 5% per sale, and you can upload digital products for automatic delivery. Payments go directly to your PayPal/Stripe account. Ko-fi Ko-fi Help
- gumroad.com — easiest, but expensive. No monthly fee and excellent for digital products/courses, but direct sales cost 10% + $0.50, plus payment processing; marketplace/discovery sales are 30%. Gumroad Gumroad
What I'd choose
Start with Payhip. At your stage, the free plan gives you essentially everything you need without a monthly commitment. You could have:
- Preset pack — $15–30
- Lightroom mobile preset bundle — $20–40
- Mini course — $39–79
- Presets + course bundle — $59–99
- Free preset as an email-list lead magnet
If you're specifically trying to get as close to zero platform fees as possible, Payhip's $99/month Pro plan has 0% transaction fees, while the free plan is probably the better starting point until sales justify upgrading. Payhip
One important distinction: none of these are literally fee-free—you'll generally still have Stripe/PayPal/card-processing fees. Payhip and Ko-fi are much closer to what you're asking for than Gumroad.
If you tell me roughly how many sales/month you expect and your typical preset/course price, I can calculate which platform leaves you with the most money.
Behind this answer: no web searches, 2 tracked brands mentioned
ChatGPT answered from its own knowledge, without searching the web.
Tracked brands mentioned
Answer 4 of 15, 21st Aug 2026, unknown, mentions 2 tracked brands
For a hobby photography business selling presets + short courses, I’d narrow it to these:
| Platform | Monthly cost | Platform fee | Downloads | Courses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| payhip.com | $0 | 5% | ✅ | ✅ | Best overall |
| ko-fi.com | $0 | 5% | ✅ | ⚠️ More content/membership oriented | Cheapest/simple storefront |
| fourthwall.com | $0 | 3% digital | ✅ | ⚠️ | Creator storefront |
| gumroad.com | $0 | 10% + $0.50 | ✅ | ✅ | Very easy, but expensive |
My pick: Payhip
For your use case, Payhip is probably the sweet spot. Its free plan is $0/month with a 5% transaction fee, unlimited products and unlimited revenue. You still pay the normal Stripe/PayPal processing fee. Payhip Payhip
It supports digital files, so you could sell:
- Lightroom presets (
.xmp,.dng, etc.) in ZIP downloads - Photoshop actions
- PDF cheat sheets
- Video lessons
- Short photography courses
- Bundles combining presets + videos + PDFs
It also has coupons, affiliates, customer updates, and other useful selling features on the free plan. Payhip
Ko-fi is worth considering
ko-fi.com is particularly attractive if most of your sales come from Instagram/TikTok/YouTube and you want a simple link-in-bio storefront.
Its free plan charges 5% on shop sales, has no listing fees, and automatically delivers digital files to buyers. Free accounts can currently have up to 600 products, with up to 2 GB per item and 25 GB of asset storage. Ko-fi Ko-fi Help
The big advantage is that payments go directly to your PayPal or Stripe account rather than being held by Ko-fi. Ko-fi
One I'd skip: Gumroad
Gumroad is extremely easy and handles tax collection as a merchant of record, but its current direct-sale fee is 10% + $0.50 per transaction, before payment-processing costs. Gumroad Gumroad
For inexpensive preset packs, that $0.50 fixed fee plus 10% can eat a surprisingly large chunk of your margin.
Example: On a $15 preset pack, Gumroad's platform fee alone is $2.00, whereas Payhip's is $0.75.
The interesting option: Fourthwall
Fourthwall currently lists 3% on digital products, with no monthly fee, plus card processing. Fourthwall That's attractive if you're building a more polished creator brand and may eventually sell prints, merch, or other physical products alongside presets.
Bottom line: I'd start with Payhip. It's inexpensive enough for a hobby business, gives you a proper storefront, handles automatic downloads, and leaves you room to expand into courses. If you primarily sell through social media and want something extremely lightweight, Ko-fi is my second choice.
If you tell me roughly how much you expect to charge for a preset pack ($10, $20, $30) and your course ($30, $50, $100+), I can compare the actual take-home amount on Payhip vs Ko-fi vs Gumroad vs Fourthwall.
Behind this answer: no web searches, 2 tracked brands mentioned
ChatGPT answered from its own knowledge, without searching the web.
Tracked brands mentioned
Answer 5 of 15, 20th Aug 2026, gpt-5-6, mentions 2 tracked brands
For a hobby photographer selling presets + short courses, I’d narrow it to Payhip, Ko-fi, and Fourthwall. The catch is that essentially no platform gives you literally zero fees on free/low-cost plans—payment processors still take their cut.
| Platform | Free plan | Platform fee | Downloads | Courses | My take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip | $0/mo | 5% | ✅ | ✅ | Best overall |
| Ko-fi | $0/mo | 5% on shop sales | ✅ | ⚠️ Better for links/content than courses | Best for simple creator shop |
| Fourthwall | $0/mo | 5% digital* | ✅ | ⚠️ | Best if you want a polished storefront |
| Gumroad | $0/mo | 10% + $0.50 | ✅ | Limited | Easy, but relatively expensive |
🥇 I'd pick Payhip
For your specific business, Payhip is probably the sweet spot. Its free plan is $0/month, gives you unlimited products and revenue, and charges 5% per transaction, plus the normal PayPal/Stripe processing fee. payhip.com
More importantly, it handles the things you're actually selling:
- Lightroom presets → sell as downloadable ZIP files
- Preset bundles → downloadable digital products
- PDF guides → downloadable products
- Short courses → Payhip supports courses
- Free preset/sample → useful as an email-list lead magnet; Payhip supports free digital downloads. help.payhip.com
- Coupons/discounts and affiliates → useful once you start promoting your presets
The nice part is that you don't need to build a separate website initially.
🥈 Ko-fi if you want ultra-simple
Ko-fi Shop is particularly attractive if most of your traffic comes from Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc. You can upload digital products directly and share a product/shop link. There's no monthly or listing fee, with a 5% fee on shop sales. ko-fi.com
I'd choose Ko-fi if your model is basically:
Instagram → “link in bio” → preset → checkout → automatic download
rather than building a substantial course business.
🥉 Fourthwall
Fourthwall is worth considering if you want your store to feel more like a real photography brand website. It has no monthly fee and supports digital downloads including ZIP files and PDFs. Its current published pricing says 5% for digital products, although Fourthwall's pricing materials have shown different digital rates in different places, so I'd verify the rate displayed when you sign up. fourthwall.com
I wouldn't choose Gumroad for this
Gumroad is extremely easy, but its current direct-sale fee is 10% + $0.50 per transaction, on top of payment processing. gumroad.com
That gets painful for photography products. For example, on a $15 preset, a 10% + $0.50 platform fee is already $2.00 before payment processing.
My recommendation: start with Payhip's free plan. Put your presets there, offer a free mini preset/sample to build an email list, and use its course functionality when you're ready to sell your short courses. You can upgrade later if your sales volume makes the lower transaction fee worthwhile.
If you tell me roughly what you charge for presets ($10? $20? $40?) and courses ($30? $100?), I can compare the actual take-home amount on Payhip vs Ko-fi vs Fourthwall at your expected sales volume.
Behind this answer: 4 searches, 30 results retrieved, 2 tracked brands mentioned
Searches ChatGPT ran
Search results ChatGPT retrieved
| # | Page | Used in the answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | https://fourthwall.com/features?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 2 | https://fourthwall.com/creators?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 3 | https://fourthwall.com/make-your-own?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 4 | https://fourthwall.com/what-is-fourthwall?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 5 | https://fourthwall.com/launch-guides?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 6 | https://webflow.fourthwall.com/faq?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 7 | https://fourthwall.com/seasons/go-to-market?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 8 | https://fourthwall.com/merch-made-easy?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| and 22 more results | ||
Tracked brands mentioned
Answer 6 of 15, 19th Aug 2026, gpt-5-6, mentions 2 tracked brands
For a hobby photographer selling Lightroom presets + short courses, I’d prioritize low/no monthly cost, digital downloads, simple checkout, and low transaction fees.
| Platform | Monthly cost | Platform fee | Presets/downloads | Courses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip | $0 | 5% | ✅ | ✅ | Best overall |
| Ko-fi | $0 | 5% | ✅ | Somewhat | Simple creator shop |
| Lemon Squeezy | $0 | 5% + $0.50 | ✅ | ✅ | Taxes/VAT + polished checkout |
| Gumroad | $0 | 10% + $0.50 | ✅ | ✅ | Easiest, but relatively expensive |
My pick: Payhip
Payhip is probably the sweet spot for you. Its free plan is $0/month, includes all features and unlimited products/revenue, and charges 5% per transaction. It supports digital products and courses, and you still pay the normal PayPal/Stripe processing fee. payhip.com
So you could have:
- Preset pack: $15–25
- Premium preset bundle: $35–50
- Mini course: $29–79
- Free preset: as an email-list lead magnet
- Your Instagram/TikTok → Payhip product page → automatic download
The big advantage is that you don't need to pay $20–$50/month before you've proven people will buy.
Ko-fi is worth considering
If your business is more "photographer + creator + community," Ko-fi is attractive. Its Shop supports digital products, has no listing fees or monthly charge, and takes 5% on Shop sales on the free setup. Payments go directly to PayPal or Stripe. ko-fi.com
I'd choose Ko-fi if you also want tips, memberships, commissions, and behind-the-scenes content alongside your presets.
One important distinction
If by "avoids platform fees" you mean literally 0% platform fee, the free options above don't quite do that. Payhip and Ko-fi take 5%; Lemon Squeezy takes 5% + $0.50. payhip.comwww.lemonsqueezy.com
Payhip's $99/month Pro plan eliminates its transaction fee, but that only makes sense once you're doing substantial volume. payhip.comwww.lemonsqueezy.com
For your situation, I'd start with Payhip. It's inexpensive enough that you can test your presets and course without committing to a monthly SaaS bill, while still giving you a proper storefront and automatic digital delivery.
If you tell me roughly what you expect to charge for presets/courses and how many sales you expect per month, I can calculate which platform would actually leave you with the most money.
Behind this answer: 4 searches, 30 results retrieved, 2 tracked brands mentioned
Searches ChatGPT ran
Search results ChatGPT retrieved
| # | Page | Used in the answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/getting-started/fees?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 2 | https://www.lemonsqueezy.com/ecommerce/digital-products?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 3 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/getting-started/getting-paid?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 4 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/products/pricing-models?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 5 | https://www.lemonsqueezy.com/help?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 6 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/payments/sales-tax-vat?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 7 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/marketplace?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 8 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/products/adding-products?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| and 22 more results | ||
Tracked brands mentioned
Answer 7 of 15, 18th Aug 2026, gpt-5-6, mentions 2 tracked brands
For a hobby photographer selling presets + short courses, I’d narrow it to these:
| Platform | Monthly cost | Platform fee | Downloads | Courses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip | $0 | 5% | ✅ | ✅ | Best overall starter |
| Lemon Squeezy | $0 | 5% + $0.50 | ✅ | ✅ | Taxes + international sales |
| Gumroad | $0 | 10% + $0.50 | ✅ | ✅ | Simplest setup |
My pick: Payhip
Payhip's free plan gives you unlimited products and unlimited revenue, with a 5% transaction fee. It specifically supports selling photos/digital products, and buyers can download digital files immediately. It also supports courses, bundles, memberships, coupons, and pay-what-you-want pricing. payhip.com
That's a particularly good fit for something like:
- $15 Lightroom preset pack
- $29 "Moody Portraits" preset collection
- $49 60-minute photography mini-course
- Free preset → email signup → paid preset/course
The catch is that "avoids platform fees" and "free" aren't quite the same thing. Payhip's free tier takes 5% per sale, plus the normal Stripe/PayPal processing fee. Its $99/month Pro plan eliminates Payhip's transaction fee, but that's probably excessive for a hobby business until you're doing substantial volume. payhip.com
Why I'd probably skip Gumroad
Gumroad is very easy, but its current fee is 10% + $0.50 per transaction for sales through your profile/direct links, and 30% when customers discover you through its marketplace. gumroad.com
So a $20 preset sale can lose a surprisingly large chunk to fees.
When Lemon Squeezy wins
Lemon Squeezy charges 5% + $0.50 per transaction, with no monthly ecommerce fee. It supports digital downloads and courses, and—importantly for a small creator—it acts as merchant of record, handling sales-tax/VAT collection and remittance. www.lemonsqueezy.com
That's attractive if you expect international customers and don't want to think much about digital-sales tax.
Bottom line: I'd start with Payhip. It's probably the sweet spot for a hobby photographer: inexpensive, downloadable products, courses, simple storefront, and enough room to grow without paying a monthly subscription. payhip.com
If you tell me roughly how much you expect to charge for presets/courses and how many sales you expect per month, I can also calculate which platform would leave you with the most money.
Behind this answer: 4 searches, 30 results retrieved, 2 tracked brands mentioned
Searches ChatGPT ran
Search results ChatGPT retrieved
| # | Page | Used in the answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/getting-started/fees?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 2 | https://www.lemonsqueezy.com/ecommerce/digital-products?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 3 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/getting-started/getting-paid?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 4 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/payments/sales-tax-vat?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 5 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/products/pricing-models?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 6 | https://www.lemonsqueezy.com/help?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 7 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/products/adding-products?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 8 | https://www.lemonsqueezy.com/ecommerce/online-stores?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| and 22 more results | ||
Tracked brands mentioned
Answer 8 of 15, 17th Aug 2026, gpt-5-6, mentions 2 tracked brands
For a hobby photographer selling presets + short courses, I’d shortlist these:
| Platform | Monthly cost | Platform fee | Presets/downloads | Courses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip | $0 | 5% | ✅ | ✅ | Best overall starting point |
| Lemon Squeezy | $0 | 5% + $0.50 | ✅ | ✅ | Tax handling + polished checkout |
| Gumroad | $0 | 10% + $0.50 | ✅ | ✅ | Simplest setup, but expensive |
| Payhip Pro | $99/mo | 0% | ✅ | ✅ | Higher-volume sellers |
My pick: Payhip
For your situation, Payhip's free plan is probably the sweet spot. It gives you unlimited products and revenue, supports downloadable files, and includes courses and memberships; the tradeoff is a 5% Payhip transaction fee, plus Stripe/PayPal's normal processing fee. payhip.com
That means you could have:
- Preset packs → ZIP files containing XMP/DNG/LUTs, etc.
- Mini courses → hosted course content + downloadable PDFs/videos/resources
- Bundles → e.g. "Moody Lightroom Presets + 45-minute Editing Course"
- Free preset/sample → useful for building an email list; Payhip supports free digital products with immediate downloads. help.payhip.com
- Your own Instagram/website links pointing directly to your Payhip checkout.
One important distinction
If by "avoids platform fees" you mean literally 0%, the free options don't really accomplish that.
Payhip reaches 0% platform fee at $99/month, while Lemon Squeezy charges 5% + $0.50 per transaction. payhip.com
Gumroad is considerably worse on fees for your use case: 10% + $0.50 on direct sales, and 30% if the customer comes through its Discover marketplace. gumroad.com
So I'd think about it this way:
Starting out / occasional sales → Payhip Free
Growing sales + want tax administration handled → Lemon Squeezy
Consistently doing enough volume to justify $99/mo → Payhip Pro
One caveat: no platform can eliminate payment-processing costs entirely unless you're handling payments yourself. Payhip explicitly notes that Stripe/PayPal fees still apply even on its 0%-platform-fee plan. payhip.com
If you tell me roughly how much you expect to make per month (e.g. $200, $1k, $3k), I can calculate which platform leaves you with the most money after fees.
Behind this answer: 4 searches, 30 results retrieved, 2 tracked brands mentioned
Searches ChatGPT ran
Search results ChatGPT retrieved
| # | Page | Used in the answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | https://www.lemonsqueezy.com/pricing?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 2 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/getting-started/fees?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 3 | https://www.lemonsqueezy.com/help?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 4 | https://www.lemonsqueezy.com/buildspace?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 5 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/payments/sales-tax-vat?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 6 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/getting-started/getting-paid?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 7 | https://www.lemonsqueezy.com/blog/saas-billing-software?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 8 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/products/adding-products?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| and 22 more results | ||
Tracked brands mentioned
Week of 10th to 16th Aug 2026
Answer 9 of 15, 16th Aug 2026, gpt-5-6, mentions 2 tracked brands
For a hobby photographer selling Lightroom presets + short photography courses, I’d shortlist these:
| Platform | Monthly cost | Platform fee | Downloads | Courses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip | $0 | 5% | ✅ | ✅ | Best overall |
| Ko-fi | $0 | 5% on shop sales | ✅ | Some content/membership options | Simple creator shop |
| Fourthwall | $0 | 3% digital products | ✅ | More limited | Branded creator storefront |
| Gumroad | $0 | 10% + $0.50 | ✅ | ✅ | Easiest, but expensive |
🥇 My pick: Payhip
Payhip is probably the best fit for you.
Its free plan is $0/month, unlimited products and unlimited revenue, with a 5% transaction fee. It also supports digital downloads, including multiple files, with files up to 5 GB each. payhip.com
For your setup, you could have:
- $15–30 preset packs → automatic ZIP download
- $5–15 mini guides → PDF download
- $29–79 short courses → hosted course
- Free preset/sample → email-list lead magnet
- Bundles → e.g. “Presets + Editing Mini-Course”
Payhip also lets you use pay-what-you-want pricing, which could work nicely for a free sample preset ($0+) or inexpensive beginner resource. help.payhip.com
🥈 Ko-fi if you want something very simple
Ko-fi is particularly nice if most of your sales will come from Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or your photography website. It has no monthly/listing fee, supports digital products, and sends payments directly to your PayPal or Stripe account. Shop sales have a 5% service fee on the free plan. ko-fi.com
It's more of a creator/supporter hub than a dedicated course platform, though.
💰 If your priority is zero platform percentage
Payhip eventually has a $99/month Pro plan with 0% platform transaction fees, while Ko-fi Gold is $12/month with 0% service fees. Payment processor fees still apply to both. payhip.com
For a hobby business, I'd start free rather than paying monthly.
For comparison, Gumroad's current direct-sale fee is 10% + $0.50, making it considerably more expensive for lower-priced presets. gumroad.com
Bottom line: Start with Payhip Free. It gives you the best combination of preset downloads + courses + storefront + no monthly cost, and you can move to a lower-fee plan only if sales become substantial. payhip.com
If you tell me roughly how much you expect to charge for presets/courses and how many sales you expect per month, I can calculate the actual fees for Payhip vs Ko-fi vs Fourthwall and tell you which is cheapest.
Behind this answer: 4 searches, 30 results retrieved, 2 tracked brands mentioned
Searches ChatGPT ran
Search results ChatGPT retrieved
| # | Page | Used in the answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002506494-Does-Ko-fi-take-a-fee?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 2 | https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009712917-Ko-fi-Shop-Sell-digital-physical-products?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 3 | https://shop.ko-fi.com/pricing?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 4 | https://shop.ko-fi.com/features?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 5 | https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004000994-What-is-Ko-fi?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 6 | https://more.ko-fi.com/commissions?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 7 | https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/29745501815709-Beginner-FAQs?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 8 | https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013140633-Supporter-payments-FAQ?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| and 22 more results | ||
Tracked brands mentioned
Answer 10 of 15, 15th Aug 2026, gpt-5-6, mentions 2 tracked brands
For a hobby photographer selling Lightroom presets + short video/PDF courses, I’d shortlist these:
| Platform | Monthly cost | Platform fee | Downloads | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip | $0 | 5% | ✅ | Best overall |
| Ko-fi Shop | $0 | 5% | ✅ | Simple creator storefront |
| Fourthwall | $0 | 5% on digital | ✅ ZIP/PDF/etc. | More polished branded shop |
| Gumroad | $0 | 10% + $0.50 | ✅ | Very easy, but expensive |
🥇 My pick: Payhip
Payhip's free plan gives you unlimited products and unlimited revenue for $0/month, with a 5% transaction fee plus the normal Stripe/PayPal processing fee. It supports digital downloads and courses, so you could sell things like:
- Lightroom preset ZIPs
- Camera profiles
- PDF guides
- Short video courses
- Preset + course bundles
- Free sample presets for email-list building
The big advantage is that you don't have to pay a monthly subscription just to get started.
🥈 Ko-fi — great if you're already on social media
Ko-fi is particularly attractive for a hobby creator because you can combine tips, digital products, memberships and commissions in one place. Its shop has no listing fees and charges 5% when you make a sale; digital files can be uploaded directly. ko-fi.com
I'd choose Ko-fi if your Instagram/TikTok/YouTube audience is the primary way people will discover your presets.
🥉 Fourthwall — nicest if you want a real storefront
Fourthwall lets you create a customizable storefront and sell digital products such as ZIP files and PDFs. Its current published information says digital products have a 5% fee on the free offering (with 0% available through Pro), plus payment processing. payhip.comko-fi.comfourthwall.com
It's more attractive if you eventually want to add prints, merch or other physical photography products alongside your presets.
I'd skip Gumroad for your use case
It's extremely easy to use, but its current direct-sale fee is 10% + $0.50 per transaction, before applicable payment-processing costs. gumroad.com
For a $10 preset, that fixed $0.50 matters quite a bit.
Bottom line: Start with Payhip. It gives you the best combination of $0 upfront + downloads + courses + low fees + room to grow. If your sales are mostly impulse purchases from Instagram, I'd seriously consider Ko-fi instead.
If you tell me roughly whether your presets are $5, $10, $20+ and whether your courses are video, PDF, or hosted lessons, I can also compare the actual take-home amount per sale across these platforms.
Behind this answer: 4 searches, 30 results retrieved, 2 tracked brands mentioned
Searches ChatGPT ran
Search results ChatGPT retrieved
| # | Page | Used in the answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | https://fourthwall.com/what-is-fourthwall?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 2 | https://fourthwall.com/make-your-own?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 3 | https://fourthwall.com/creators?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 4 | https://fourthwall.com/websites?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 5 | https://fourthwall.com/companies?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 6 | https://fourthwall.com/artists?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 7 | https://fourthwall.com/merch-made-easy?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 8 | https://fourthwall.com/seasons/go-to-market?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| and 22 more results | ||
Tracked brands mentioned
Answer 11 of 15, 15th Aug 2026, gpt-5-6, mentions 2 tracked brands
For your use case—presets + short photography courses + downloadable files—I’d shortlist these:
| Platform | Free/low-cost option | Platform fee | Downloads | Courses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip | $0/mo | 5% | ✅ | ✅ | Best overall |
| Ko-fi | $0/mo | 5% | ✅ | Limited | Simple creator shop |
| Fourthwall | $0/mo | 5% on digital | ✅ | Limited | Branded creator storefront |
| Gumroad | $0/mo | 10% + $0.50 | ✅ | ✅ | Easy setup, but expensive |
My pick: Payhip
Payhip's free plan is $0/month + 5% per sale, with unlimited products and revenue. It supports digital downloads and also has native courses, bundles, memberships and coaching, which makes it particularly well suited to your combination of presets and mini-courses. payhip.com
For example, you could have:
- $15 preset pack → customer automatically downloads the ZIP
- $29 Lightroom/Photoshop mini-course → hosted course with lessons
- $49 bundle → preset pack + course
- Free preset → email-capture lead magnet; Payhip supports free digital downloads and collects the buyer's email. help.payhip.com
The important caveat: "no platform fee" usually doesn't mean zero fees altogether. Payment processors such as Stripe/PayPal still charge their processing fees. Payhip's own platform fee can eventually reach 0% on its $99/month Pro plan, but you'd need enough sales for that subscription to make sense. payhip.com
Ko-fi is another attractive option if you mainly want a lightweight storefront attached to your Instagram/TikTok/website. It charges 5% on shop sales and supports uploaded digital products. ko-fi.com
I'd skip Gumroad for this particular business unless its simplicity is worth the cost: its current direct-sale fee is 10% + $0.50 per transaction, before payment processing. gumroad.com
Bottom line: Start with Payhip. It's probably the closest match to "I want my own little photography shop, sell ZIP presets and courses, and avoid a monthly bill/platform taking a huge cut."
Behind this answer: 4 searches, 30 results retrieved, 2 tracked brands mentioned
Searches ChatGPT ran
Search results ChatGPT retrieved
| # | Page | Used in the answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | https://fourthwall.com/faq?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 2 | https://fourthwall.com/make-your-own?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 3 | https://fourthwall.com/artists?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 4 | https://fourthwall.com/what-is-fourthwall?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 5 | https://fourthwall.com/launch-guides?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 6 | https://fourthwall.com/companies?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 7 | https://fourthwall.com/creators?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 8 | https://fourthwall.com/seasons/go-to-market?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| and 22 more results | ||
Tracked brands mentioned
Answer 12 of 15, 15th Aug 2026, gpt-5-6, mentions 2 tracked brands
For a hobby photographer selling presets + short courses, I’d narrow it to these:
| Platform | Monthly cost | Platform fee | Downloads | Courses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip | $0 | 5% | ✅ | ✅ | Best overall |
| Ko-fi | $0 | 5% | ✅ | Limited/basic | Easiest setup |
| Fourthwall | $0 | 5% digital | ✅ ZIP/PDF/etc. | Limited | Creator storefront |
| Gumroad | $0 | 10% + $0.50 | ✅ | ✅ | Simple, but expensive |
My pick: Payhip. Its free plan has unlimited products and revenue, supports digital downloads, courses, bundles and memberships, and charges 5% per transaction plus the normal PayPal/Stripe processing fee. payhip.com
For your use case, you could have:
- Preset packs → ZIP downloads
- Mini courses → hosted course + downloadable worksheets/presets
- Free Lightroom preset → $0 lead magnet
- Bundles → course + presets together
- Your Instagram/TikTok bio → one Payhip storefront link
Ko-fi is also attractive if you're primarily building through social media: it has no listing or monthly fees, supports digital products, and takes 5% when you make a sale. ko-fi.com
One important distinction: “no platform fee” doesn't usually mean zero fees altogether. Payment processors such as Stripe/PayPal still charge processing fees. Payhip explicitly notes this, for example. payhip.com
If your priority is the absolute lowest fees, Payhip's $99/month Pro plan has 0% platform transaction fees, but for a hobby business I'd stay on the free plan until sales justify upgrading. payhip.com
I would choose Payhip over Gumroad for you: Gumroad currently charges 10% + $0.50 per direct transaction, on top of payment processing, which gets painful on inexpensive preset packs. gumroad.com
Behind this answer: 4 searches, 30 results retrieved, 2 tracked brands mentioned
Searches ChatGPT ran
Search results ChatGPT retrieved
| # | Page | Used in the answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | https://fourthwall.com/faq?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 2 | https://fourthwall.com/creators?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 3 | https://fourthwall.com/artists?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 4 | https://fourthwall.com/make-your-own?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 5 | https://fourthwall.com/companies?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 6 | https://fourthwall.com/launch-guides?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 7 | https://fourthwall.com/merch-made-easy?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 8 | https://fourthwall.com/what-is-fourthwall?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| and 22 more results | ||
Tracked brands mentioned
Answer 13 of 15, 15th Aug 2026, gpt-5-6, mentions 2 tracked brands
Yes. For a hobby photographer selling Lightroom presets + short photography courses, I’d shortlist these:
| Platform | Free plan | Platform fee | Downloads | Courses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip | $0/mo | 5% | ✅ | ✅ | Best all-around |
| Ko-fi | $0/mo | 5% on shop sales | ✅ | ⚠️ More basic | Simple creator storefront |
| Gumroad | $0/mo | Higher per-sale fee | ✅ | ⚠️ | Very easy setup |
My pick: Payhip
For your particular mix, Payhip is probably the strongest fit. Its free plan is $0/month, gives you unlimited products and revenue, and charges 5% per sale. You still pay normal Stripe/PayPal processing fees. payhip.com
More importantly, it supports both digital downloads and courses, so you could have:
Moody Film Presets — $19Golden Hour Preset Pack — $15Complete Lightroom Preset Bundle — $39How to Edit Natural-Light Portraits — $29Photography Basics: 5 Short Lessons — $49
You can upload preset ZIP files for immediate delivery, while courses can contain video lessons and other material. Payhip also supports coupons, email marketing, memberships, and a store builder. payhip.com
One particularly nice feature: you can offer a free preset as a lead magnet, collect the buyer's email, and then market your paid presets/course to them. help.payhip.com
Ko-fi is worth considering
Ko-fi is excellent if you want something more like "my creator page + tip jar + shop" than a dedicated course business.
Its shop supports digital files, including large assets: free users currently get up to 25 GB of storage and 2 GB per item, which is plenty for most preset ZIPs and course materials. help.ko-fi.com
The catch is that shop sales have a 5% service fee on the free/standard setup, plus payment processing. Ko-fi Gold is currently $12/month with 0% service fee, so it becomes interesting once you're doing enough sales to justify the subscription. ko-fi.com
The important distinction
If by "avoids platform fees" you mean literally 0%, the free options generally don't give you that. You're still going to have payment-processing fees, and platforms like Payhip/Ko-fi charge a service fee on their free tiers.
For a small photography business, though, I'd prioritize no monthly fee over chasing 0%:
Start with Payhip → $0/month + 5% per sale → upgrade only when sales justify it.
For example, at $1,000/month in sales, the Payhip platform fee is about $50, whereas a $29/month plan with 2% would be about $20 in platform fees, before payment processing. payhip.compayhip.comko-fi.com
If you tell me roughly how many preset sales/month you expect and what you want to charge for your courses, I can work out which platform is cheapest for you at your expected revenue.
Behind this answer: 3 searches, 30 results retrieved, 2 tracked brands mentioned
Searches ChatGPT ran
Search results ChatGPT retrieved
| # | Page | Used in the answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | https://ko-fi.com/shop/?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 2 | https://ko-fi.com/supportkofi/shop?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 3 | https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004000994-What-is-Ko-fi?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 4 | https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005506873-What-is-Ko-fi-Gold?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 5 | https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/29745501815709-Beginner-FAQs?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 6 | https://more.ko-fi.com/commissions?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 7 | https://ko-fi.com/gold?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 8 | https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/11277638950045-How-to-explain-Ko-fi-to-your-audience?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| and 22 more results | ||
Tracked brands mentioned
Answer 14 of 15, 15th Aug 2026, gpt-5-6, mentions 2 tracked brands
Yes. For presets + short photography courses, I’d prioritize platforms that let you sell files/courses directly without forcing you into a full ecommerce subscription.
My shortlist
| Platform | Monthly cost | Platform fee | Downloads | Courses | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip | $0 | 5% | ✅ | ✅ | Best overall starter |
| Ko-fi | $0 | Low fee* | ✅ | Limited | Simple creator shop |
| Fourthwall | $0 | 5% on digital* | ✅ | Limited | Creator storefront/brand |
| Gumroad | $0 | 10% + $0.50 | ✅ | ✅ | Easy, but comparatively expensive |
\*Payment-processing fees can still apply.
🥇 I'd pick Payhip
For your particular business, Payhip is probably the sweet spot. Its free plan is $0/month with a 5% transaction fee, and it includes all features, unlimited products and unlimited revenue. It specifically supports selling digital assets and photography, as well as courses. payhip.com
That means you could have:
- Preset packs — ZIP files containing Lightroom/ACR presets
- Individual presets — lower-priced impulse purchases
- Short courses — video lessons + PDFs/downloadable resources
- Bundles — e.g. "Moody Lightroom Presets + Editing Course"
- Free preset/sample — useful for building an email list
- Coupons and affiliate/referral features as you grow
Payhip also allows immediate downloads for digital products, so you don't have to manually email files after a purchase. help.payhip.com
The important distinction is that "no platform fee" doesn't mean no fees at all: PayPal/Stripe still charge their payment-processing fees. payhip.com
If avoiding platform fees is your #1 priority
Payhip eventually has a $99/month Pro plan with 0% transaction fee. Its Plus plan is $29/month + 2%. payhip.com
So I'd actually start free and switch plans only once your sales justify it.
For example, at $500/month in sales, 5% is $25, so paying $29/month to save that 3 percentage points doesn't make sense yet. At $2,000/month, the 5% fee is $100, so the $29 Plus plan becomes much more attractive.
One I'd skip: Gumroad
It's very easy to use, but its current direct-sale fee is 10% + $0.50 per transaction, on top of payment processing. gumroad.com For inexpensive preset packs, that can eat a surprisingly large chunk of your margin.
Bottom line: Start with Payhip Free. It's particularly well matched to a photographer selling downloadable presets and small educational products without wanting to pay for a full website/ecommerce stack. payhip.com
If you tell me roughly what you expect to charge for presets ($10? $30?) and courses ($50? $150?) and how many sales/month you expect, I can calculate which platform leaves you with the most money after fees.
Behind this answer: 4 searches, 30 results retrieved, 2 tracked brands mentioned
Searches ChatGPT ran
Search results ChatGPT retrieved
| # | Page | Used in the answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | https://fourthwall.com/pricing/?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 2 | https://fourthwall.com/faq?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 3 | https://fourthwall.com/make-your-own?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 4 | https://fourthwall.com/print-on-demand?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 5 | https://webflow.fourthwall.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 6 | https://webflow.fourthwall.com/companies?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 7 | https://fourthwall.com/memberships?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 8 | https://webflow.fourthwall.com/websites?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| and 22 more results | ||
Tracked brands mentioned
Answer 15 of 15, 15th Aug 2026, gpt-5-6, mentions 2 tracked brands
For a hobby photographer selling presets + short courses, I’d shortlist these:
| Platform | Monthly cost | Platform fee | Downloads | Courses | My take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payhip | $0 | 5% | ✅ | ✅ | Best overall |
| Ko-fi | $0 | 5% | ✅ | Limited/basic | Best if you also want tips/memberships |
| Lemon Squeezy | $0 | 5% + $0.50 | ✅ | ✅ | Best for tax/VAT handling |
| Gumroad | $0 | 10% + $0.50 | ✅ | ✅ | Easy, but comparatively expensive |
🥇 I'd pick Payhip
For your particular setup, Payhip is probably the sweet spot. Its free plan has no monthly charge, unlimited products and unlimited revenue, with a 5% transaction fee plus the normal PayPal/Stripe processing fee. payhip.com
You can sell:
- Lightroom presets as downloadable ZIP/DNG files
- preset bundles
- PDF guides
- video courses
- course bundles/memberships
- free lead magnets to build an email list
It also supports embedded checkout, coupons, affiliates and pay-what-you-want pricing. payhip.com
The important distinction: "no platform fee" and "no fees" aren't the same thing. Virtually all of these services still have payment-processing costs. Payhip's free tier takes 5% on top of those processor fees.
If you really want to minimize platform fees
Payhip's Pro plan is $99/month with 0% transaction fee, so you don't want that until your sales volume justifies it. payhip.com
For example, at $500/month in sales, paying 5% = $25, so the free plan makes much more sense. At $2,000/month, 5% = $100, making the $99 plan roughly break-even before considering payment-processing fees.
Ko-fi is another very attractive low-cost option. Its shop has no listing/monthly fees and charges 5% when you make a sale; it supports direct digital downloads and sends payments directly to your PayPal or Stripe account. ko-fi.com It's particularly nice if your Instagram/TikTok audience already knows you and you want "buy presets + tip me + commissions" all in one place.
I'd skip Gumroad for this use case unless you specifically want its ecosystem/discovery. Its current direct-sale fee is 10% + $0.50, before certain other processing costs, which is a pretty big haircut for inexpensive preset packs. gumroad.com
Lemon Squeezy is worth considering if selling internationally is important. It's 5% + $0.50, but it acts as the merchant of record and handles sales-tax/VAT obligations, which can be valuable as you grow. payhip.comwww.lemonsqueezy.com
My recommendation: start with Payhip Free, put your presets there, make one inexpensive $10–20 starter course, and use Instagram/TikTok/Pinterest to drive traffic to your Payhip store. You can move to the 0%-fee plan only once sales volume warrants it.
Behind this answer: 4 searches, 30 results retrieved, 2 tracked brands mentioned
Searches ChatGPT ran
Search results ChatGPT retrieved
| # | Page | Used in the answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/getting-started/fees?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 2 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/products/pricing-models?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 3 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/getting-started/getting-paid?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 4 | https://www.lemonsqueezy.com/ecommerce/digital-products?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 5 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/payments/sales-tax-vat?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 6 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/guides/developer-guide/usage-based-billing?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 7 | https://www.lemonsqueezy.com/help?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| 8 | https://docs.lemonsqueezy.com/help/products/pay-what-you-want?utm_source=chatgpt.com | not cited |
| and 22 more results | ||
Tracked brands mentioned
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