I’m starting a new experiment: selling my ebooks on Payhip. I’ve relied on Amazon for years, but with sales and page reads dropping lately, I’ve decided to look at other options. Amazon excels at discovery, but you don’t truly own your audience there. It’s time to diversify and take back control.
Enter Payhip.
This straightforward platform lets you sell digital products directly, without massive cuts from middlemen. No monthly fees to start, automatic delivery, and you keep way more of your earnings.
I’m just getting set up, but I’ll share my real results (sales, challenges, wins) in upcoming updates.
It’s Stupidly Easy To Get Started
- Sign up for free at payhip.com. No card required.
- Connect Stripe or PayPal (buyers appreciate the choices).
- Add your ebook: Upload PDF, EPUB, or any format. Set your price, upload a killer cover, and write an eye-catching description.
- Build your store: Keep it simple but professional.
- Add extras: Coupons, affiliates, bundles. Embed buy buttons on your site or in emails.
- Go live and promote. Payhip handles instant delivery.
The Upsides
- You keep 95% of sales on the free plan (just 5% fee + standard Stripe/PayPal processing).
- Own your customers: Collect emails properly and build a list that’s truly yours.
- Fully automated: VAT handled for you, secure file delivery, easy updates pushed to buyers.
- Easy to scale: Add courses, memberships, or more without switching platforms.
- Fast payouts: no waiting weeks for your money.
- Direct sales feel empowering. No algorithm deciding your visibility or fate.
The Downsides
- Fees on the free plan: 5% per sale + payment processing. Upgrade to Plus ($29/mo) for 2%, or Pro ($99/mo) for 0% Payhip fee.
- The store design is basic and functional, and not as flashy as Shopify.
- No built-in traffic: You drive all promotion via email, social, ads, etc.
- Relies on Stripe/PayPal: Any issues there affect you directly.
Payhip is low-risk with high control, which is perfect for indie authors diversifying beyond Amazon. If your sales are stalling, it’s worth a shot. Head to payhip.com and give it a try.
Let me know if you need help setting up, or if you’ve tried it yourself; I’d love to hear your experiences!
