Best Platform to Sell Ebooks in 2027 (I've Tried Most of Them)

When I published my first ebook, I spent two weeks trying to figure out which platform to use. I read every comparison article I could find. Most of them were affiliate-driven lists that ranked platforms by how much commission the writer would earn, not by what actually works.

I've since sold ebooks on multiple platforms. Here's the honest breakdown for 2027.

What Actually Matters in an Ebook Selling Platform

Before ranking anything, here's what I think you should actually evaluate:

Transaction fees: Some platforms take 5–10% of every sale plus payment processing fees. Others charge flat monthly fees. At low volume, monthly fees hurt. At high volume, transaction fees add up fast. Know your math before committing.

Checkout experience: A janky checkout kills sales. Mobile checkout especially — more than 60% of people browsing my sales pages are on mobile. If checkout is friction-heavy on a phone, you're losing sales.

Delivery automation: When someone buys your ebook at 3am, it should be delivered instantly without you doing anything. This is table stakes in 2027, but some platforms are still clunky about it.

Discoverability: Platforms like Amazon KDP give you distribution through their marketplace. Independent platforms don't — you bring your own traffic. This trade-off is real and depends on your situation.

Customization: Can you put your ebook in a store that looks like your brand? Or are you stuck in someone else's marketplace template?

Amazon KDP: Still the Best for Discovery, Worst for Margins

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing is the most obvious choice for ebooks, and it has a legitimate advantage: discovery. People actively browse Amazon for ebooks. You can get sales from people who've never heard of you.

The downside is brutal: 30–35% royalty rates on many price points, no customer email data, and your ebook is sandwiched between thousands of competitors.

If you're writing in a broad category (fiction, self-help, business) and you don't have your own traffic, Amazon makes sense as a distribution channel. If you're writing a niche how-to guide for a specific audience you've already built, it's the wrong choice.

Gumroad: Simple but the Fee Structure Hurts

Gumroad is extremely easy to use — anyone can have an ebook for sale in 30 minutes. The problem is the 10% transaction fee on all sales if you're on the free plan.

If you're selling a $19 ebook and paying 10% + payment processing, you're netting around $16. That's not terrible, but it adds up as volume grows. Gumroad does offer reduced fees at higher sales volume, but you don't get there immediately.

For a complete beginner who wants to test an idea fast with zero setup friction, Gumroad works. For anyone building a real ebook business, the fees eat into margins unnecessarily.

Payhip: Good Free Tier but Limited Features

Payhip offers no monthly fees and a 5% transaction fee on the free plan. Better than Gumroad's free tier. The platform is straightforward, checkout works, and delivery is automated.

The limitations: limited customization, basic analytics, and a less polished overall experience. Fine for getting started, but you'll likely feel the ceiling.

MadeThis: My Current Choice for Ebook Sales

I moved all my ebook sales to MadeThis and haven't looked back.

The platform handles everything — checkout, payment processing, instant download delivery — without the steep transaction fees that eat into margins. The storefront looks professional and is customizable to match my brand. Mobile checkout is smooth, which matters enormously for conversion.

What I especially like: the product page experience lets me properly present what the ebook contains, who it's for, and why it's worth buying. A well-designed sales page on MadeThis converts meaningfully better than a basic Gumroad link.

It's also where all my other digital products live — templates, guides, bundles — which means customers who buy one thing can easily discover everything else. That cross-sell dynamic adds real revenue without additional effort.

Teachable / Thinkific: Overkill for Ebooks

These platforms are designed for video courses. Using them to sell a PDF ebook is using a jackhammer to hang a picture. The setup complexity and monthly fees don't make sense unless you're also selling courses.

My Recommendation Depends on Your Situation

Starting out, no audience: Try Gumroad or Payhip to validate the product with minimal setup friction. Just understand the fee structure.

Have your own traffic and want to own the customer relationship: MadeThis. The checkout experience, the margins, and the ability to present your brand properly are worth it.

Writing broadly and want discovery: Amazon KDP as one channel, supplemented by a direct sales channel for buyers who come through your own traffic.

The platform you sell on matters less than the product you're selling and the audience you're selling to. But a good platform removes friction. Friction kills sales. Make the choice that removes the most friction for your specific situation.