Base vs Gumroad
Gumroad sells a product, usually files the buyer downloads and keeps. Base sells access to a knowledge base: buyers read it in the browser or connect it to their own AI, ask questions that are answered with quotes from your documents, and see new material as you add it. Gumroad is the better shop for files, courses and a marketplace audience. Base fits when what you are selling is a body of research people need to query and that keeps growing.
Updated October 7, 2026
At a glance
| Base | Gumroad | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Selling access to research and documents people query | Selling digital products, memberships and courses |
| What the buyer gets | Access to an overview, cited facts, a timeline and the documents you allow | The product, typically files to download |
| Pricing | One-time or monthly, from $1 | One-time products and memberships |
| Fee | 10% of the price plus card processing (2.9% + 30¢); $8.41 of a $10 sale reaches you | 10% + 50¢ per direct sale; 30% on sales through its Discover marketplace |
| Before buying | The link shows how many facts the Base holds, the shape of its knowledge graph, the span of its timeline and its document types, without the words | A product page you write |
| Buyers' own AI | They connect the Base in Claude, ChatGPT or any MCP app, under the access they paid for | They can upload downloaded files to whatever AI they use |
When Gumroad is the better choice
- You sell files, templates, courses or software that the buyer should own outright.
- You want buyers to find you through a marketplace.
- You want a merchant of record that handles sales tax in every country for you.
When Base is the better choice
- What you sell is research, data or a reference that buyers need to search and question, not read once.
- The material grows. Add a document and every buyer sees it, and monthly buyers keep getting what you add.
- Buyers will use AI on it. A Base gives their AI answers with sources instead of a pile of files to upload.
- You would rather not hand over the originals. Downloads are a switch, so buyers can read and question the Base without saving the files.
Questions
Can I sell a Base on the free plan?
Yes. Selling is open on every plan, including Free. Base keeps a share of each sale instead.
What does Base keep from a sale?
10% of the price plus card processing (2.9% + 30¢). $8.41 of a $10 sale reaches you, paid out to you through Stripe.
What happens if a buyer asks for a refund?
You can refund a buyer from the Base, which removes their access. Base returns its fee on a refund, so refunding does not cost you more than the sale.
Sources checked on October 7, 2026
Try it with your own documents
Free for your first Bases, no card. Every new account starts with a Base that explains Base, so there is a cited answer to inspect right away.