MadeThis vs. Every Alternative: Which Platform Is Best for You?

I've tried a lot of platforms. Not in the "I signed up for a free trial and poked around" sense — I mean actually used them to run a business. And one of the questions I get most is: how does MadeThis actually compare to [other platform]?

So here's the complete breakdown. Every major platform, who it's best for, and my honest recommendation.

The Quick Matrix

Let me give you the real picture behind each of these.

MadeThis vs. Gumroad

Gumroad is the most direct comparison. It's been around longer, has strong brand recognition, and works well for simple digital product sales.

The key difference is fees. Gumroad charges 10% on every sale. MadeThis charges significantly less, especially on paid plans.

At $1,000/month in sales, that gap is $100. At $5,000/month, it's $500. That's real money.

Gumroad's advantage: it's well-known among creators. Some buyers feel more confident checking out through Gumroad simply because they recognize the brand.

My verdict: MadeThis for fee-conscious sellers, Gumroad if brand recognition matters more than margins.

Full comparison: MadeThis vs. Gumroad

MadeThis vs. Teachable

Teachable is built for online courses. If courses are your only product, Teachable does a great job — structured lessons, video hosting, completion certificates, quizzes.

But if you sell a mix of ebooks, templates, coaching, AND courses, Teachable's course-centric structure starts to feel like wearing the wrong tool for the job. And their paid plans start at $39/month before you account for transaction fees on the free tier.

MadeThis handles courses, templates, ebooks, coaching, and memberships all in one place. For a solo creator with a diverse product library, that's a significant advantage.

My verdict: MadeThis for multi-product sellers; Teachable only if you're course-only and want advanced course features.

Full comparison: MadeThis vs. Teachable

MadeThis vs. Kajabi

Kajabi is the premium all-in-one platform. It does everything — courses, communities, email marketing, landing pages, websites. It's genuinely powerful.

It's also $149/month at minimum, and most serious users are on the $199+ tier. That's a real investment that only makes sense if you're already generating significant revenue.

MadeThis is Kajabi's little sibling — it has most of the important features, costs a fraction of the price, and is considerably easier to set up. For early-stage creators, MadeThis is the obvious choice. For established creators doing $20K+/month who want every feature possible, Kajabi might be worth the premium.

My verdict: MadeThis for beginners and intermediate sellers; Kajabi only if you've outgrown MadeThis and can justify the cost.

Full comparison: MadeThis vs. Kajabi

MadeThis vs. Shopify

Shopify is built for ecommerce — primarily physical products, though it supports digital products too. It's excellent at what it does: inventory management, shipping, multi-channel selling.

If you're selling physical goods, Shopify is the right tool. If you're selling digital products only, Shopify is overbuilt and overpriced for your needs. Their plans start at $39/month, and you'll still need apps and integrations for digital delivery.

MadeThis handles digital product delivery natively, with no extra app needed.

My verdict: Shopify for physical products; MadeThis for digital.

Full comparison: MadeThis vs. Shopify

Who Should Use MadeThis?

Here's my definitive answer:

Use MadeThis if you are:

• Just starting out and want to launch fast without a complex setup
• Selling digital products of any type (ebooks, templates, courses, coaching)
• Cost-conscious and don't want to pay for features you won't use
• A solopreneur who wants one platform that does most things well

Consider an alternative if you are:

• Doing $20K+/month and want the deepest possible feature set (Kajabi)
• Selling physical products or running a retail operation (Shopify)
• Focused exclusively on courses and need advanced course features (Teachable)

For most people reading this — especially if you're still figuring out what sells — MadeThis is the right starting point. You can always upgrade or migrate later.

Check out my full MadeThis review for a deeper look at the platform itself.

Try MadeThis free and start selling →