Contra: A modern Lemon Squeezy alternative for digital product creators

Contra Tips
January 27, 2026
· 3 min read
Key takeaways
Contra charges 0% commission on digital product sales, so creators keep more revenue compared to Lemon Squeezy’s platform fees.
Every sale on Contra strengthens your reputation and visibility, turning product sales into long-term credibility rather than isolated transactions.
Payments, payouts, and tax handling are built in, reducing the operational overhead of selling digital products independently.
Table of Contents:
Are you considering Lemon Squeezy to sell digital products like templates, tools, SaaS add-ons, or creator assets, but unsure if it’s the right long-term platform? You’re not alone. Many creators are actively looking for alternatives that help them keep more of their earnings, offer more flexibility, and support reputation growth alongside product sales.
Whether you’re selling Framer templates, online courses, micro-SaaS products, or downloadable resources, choosing the right platform matters. Let’s break down why more creators are moving from Lemon Squeezy to Contra to sell digital products, commission-free.
What is Lemon Squeezy, and why creators look for alternatives
Lemon Squeezy is a platform built for selling digital products and software, with built-in payments, subscriptions, and tax handling. It’s especially popular with SaaS founders and developers who want a quick way to start monetizing without building a custom checkout system.
While Lemon Squeezy covers the basics well, many creators eventually run into limitations as they scale. Platform fees, rigid workflows, and a focus on transactions over visibility can push creators to explore alternatives that better support growth and brand building.

Why creators look for Lemon Squeezy alternatives
Here are some common reasons creators start searching for options beyond Lemon Squeezy:
Platform fees that scale with your success
Lemon Squeezy charges a percentage fee on each transaction. As sales volume grows, those fees add up quickly, cutting into margins on high-performing products.
Limited brand and audience building
Lemon Squeezy is optimized for checkout and delivery, not for helping creators build a public reputation or ongoing visibility from each sale.
Rigid product and sales flows
Creators often want more flexibility in how products are shared, bundled, or positioned alongside services. Lemon Squeezy’s structure can feel restrictive for creators who don’t fit a pure SaaS model.
Transaction-focused, not relationship-focused
For creators who want product sales to lead to long-term opportunities like consulting, freelance work, or partnerships, Lemon Squeezy’s transactional focus can feel limiting.
These gaps are why many creators look for Lemon Squeezy alternatives that help them earn more and grow beyond individual checkouts.
Introducing Contra’s digital products: a modern Lemon Squeezy alternative
If you’re rethinking where to sell digital products, Contra offers a different approach. Instead of acting as a standalone checkout tool, Contra combines digital product sales with reputation, visibility, and creator profiles in one ecosystem.
Here’s what makes Contra a compelling alternative to Lemon Squeezy:
Sell digital products without a traditional storefront
Contra lets you sell directly from your profile or through shareable payment links. No separate storefront or checkout setup required. You can embed or share product links anywhere your audience already exists.
Keep more of your revenue with 0% commission
Unlike Lemon Squeezy, Contra doesn’t take a commission on digital product sales. Creators only pay standard payment processing fees, which means more money stays in your pocket as sales grow.
Every sale builds your reputation
On Contra, product sales aren’t just transactions. Each sale contributes to your credibility and visibility across the platform, helping you stand out to potential clients, collaborators, and buyers over time.
Share products anywhere
Contra product links work anywhere: personal websites, blogs, social media, Framer template pages, newsletters, or Notion docs. You’re not locked into a closed ecosystem.
Secure payments and tax handling included
Contra handles secure payments and tax compliance behind the scenes, so creators can focus on building and selling without worrying about operational complexity.
Contra | Gumroad | Lemon Squeezy | Polar | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Platform fee | Max $29 per payment | 30% marketplace sales | – | – |
Processing fee | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 5% + $0.50 | 4% + $0.40 |
Variable fees | 1.5% international cards | 10% direct link sales | 5% abandoned cart | 1.5% international cards |
Flexible payment links | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Merchant of record | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Built for creatives | ✓ | – | – | – |
Sales boost reputation | ✓ | – | – | – |
Who Contra is best for
Contra’s digital products are especially well suited for:
Freelancers and independent creators selling products alongside services
Designers and developers offering templates, tools, or digital assets
Creators who want sales to increase long-term visibility and credibility
Entrepreneurs who want to minimize fees as their revenue scales

Sell smarter, earn more, and grow beyond transactions
If your priorities include keeping more of your revenue, building reputation with every sale, and selling flexibly across the internet, Contra stands out as a strong Lemon Squeezy alternative.
Instead of treating digital products as isolated transactions, Contra helps creators turn sales into momentum, visibility, and long-term growth that compounds over time.
Ready to sell digital products on your terms?

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