Shopify, Gumroad, Payhip for Fitness Coaches: Selling Workout Plans & Online Courses
As a solo personal trainer, yoga instructor, or Pilates teacher, launching your online presence means selling your expertise digitally. Whether it's a 30-day workout plan, a video course, or a nutrition guide, you don't need a complex website. Gumroad and Payhip are designed for quick setup and low cost, letting you sell your first fitness program in under an hour. Shopify is for bigger setups with physical products.
READY TO TAKE ACTION?
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The Quick Answer
Choose Gumroad for the fastest way to sell your first workout guide or video course and reach new fitness clients through their platform. Choose Payhip for selling downloadable meal plans or custom training PDFs with the lowest fees on a free plan. Choose Shopify only if you also plan to sell physical items like branded resistance bands, yoga mats, or supplements, alongside your digital coaching.
Side-by-Side Breakdown
Gumroad: Free plan (10% fee per sale) or $10/month (5% fee). It offers a discover tab to help fitness enthusiasts find your "Beginner HIIT Program" or "Advanced Core Workout." Good for selling subscription-based access to your virtual studio or monthly workout challenges. Payhip: Free plan (5% fee per sale) or $29-99/month (0% fee). Ideal for new trainers selling a "7-Day Detox Meal Plan" PDF or a "Pilates At Home" e-book. Handles EU VAT automatically for international clients buying your "Online Mobility Workshop." Shopify: Starts at $39/month, plus extra app costs for digital downloads. This platform is best if you're mixing digital products like your "12-Week Transformation Guide" with physical products like branded workout shirts, water bottles, or resistance bands.
When to Choose Gumroad
You are a solo fitness professional launching your first "5-Minute Daily Stretch Routine" PDF or a short video course like "Kettlebell Basics." You want to be discovered by people looking for fitness content through Gumroad's network. You want to offer "pay-what-you-can" pricing for a charity workout event or take pre-orders for your upcoming "Seasonal Recipe Book." You're selling specific digital fitness items like a "30-Day Yoga Challenge" guide or a "Strength Training Program" e-book.
When to Choose Payhip
You need a simple setup like Gumroad but want lower fees for selling your "At-Home Bodyweight Program" (5% fee vs. Gumroad's 10% on free plan). You have clients in Europe buying your "Online Nutrition Plan" and need automatic EU VAT handling. You are sensitive to costs and want to test the waters with your first "Custom Macro Guide" before committing to monthly fees. You might want to sell a branded t-shirt or water bottle through print-on-demand services alongside your digital workout plans.
When to Choose Shopify
Your online fitness business sells physical items like branded resistance bands, shaker bottles, or workout apparel in addition to your "Advanced Strength Program" digital download. You already use Shopify for your fitness brand and want to add digital products like an "Exercise Library" or a "Flexibility Workshop" as downloadable files. You need a fully branded website with custom design options, not just a simple page for your "Pilates On-Demand" video series.
The Verdict
For solo personal trainers and yoga instructors focusing only on digital products like workout plans or online courses, Payhip's free plan (5% fee) is the best low-cost start. Gumroad is strong if you want new clients to find your "Fat Loss Guide" or "Yoga Flow Series" directly through their platform. Shopify is too much for just selling digital fitness programs. Save the $39/month and use a platform built for digital sales first.
How to Get Started
Gumroad: Go to gumroad.com, sign up, create a new product (e.g., "30-Day Core Challenge"), upload your workout PDF or video link, set your price (e.g., $19), and your product page is ready for clients in under 30 minutes. Payhip: Go to payhip.com, sign up, add your first product (e.g., "Beginner Strength Program" e-book), set up your simple store page, and link your PayPal or Stripe for payments. Both services handle getting your digital fitness products to your clients automatically after they buy.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does Gumroad handle taxes?
Gumroad collects and remits US sales tax and EU VAT on behalf of sellers as their merchant of record. This is a significant advantage for creators who do not want to manage tax compliance themselves.
Can I use my own domain on Gumroad?
Yes. Gumroad allows custom domains on the $10/month plan. Your store can be at store.yourdomain.com instead of yourbrand.gumroad.com.
Is Payhip really free?
Yes. Payhip's free plan lets you sell unlimited products with no monthly fee. They take 5% of each sale. The paid plans reduce this fee to 2% (Plus at $29/month) or 0% (Pro at $99/month).