How Disciple and Gumroad compare
Disciple does the thing most community platforms charge a premium for: every plan includes your own iOS and Android app listed under your name, a synced web version, and no Disciple branding anywhere your members look. Groups, feeds, DMs, events, native video, livestreaming, courses, push notifications to segments, and a customer success manager who helps you through the app store submission. Associations, training providers, nonprofits, and membership brands that want an icon on the member's phone are who it is built for.
Gumroad is selling without ceremony. Upload a file, set a price, share a link, and Gumroad handles checkout, delivery, VAT, memberships, pay-what-you-want, discount codes, and customer emails, taking a cut only when you sell. For creators who want to sell today and not think about infrastructure, it remains the easy answer.
Where they are different
Disciple
- Disciple lives behind a login and a home screen icon.
- Disciple reaches members with push notifications and hands email to Mailchimp or ConvertKit.
- Disciple starts at $599 a month for a branded app with unlimited members.
- Disciple has courses, livestreams, tiers, and in-app purchases.
Gumroad
- Gumroad is a storefront with a profile.
- Gumroad emails customers about products.
- Gumroad has no inbox or bookings.
Choose Disciple when your members should open an app with your name on it, and a private community with groups, events, and paid tiers is the whole point.
Choose Gumroad when you sell downloads or memberships and want zero setup and no monthly fee.
Compare features
What's on Disciple and Gumroad
A check means that capability is available. Disciple and Gumroad are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteDisciple: Not includedGumroad: Included
- Custom domainDisciple: IncludedGumroad: Included
- Theme and fontsDisciple: IncludedGumroad: Included
Public content
- Shop pagesDisciple: Not includedGumroad: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceDisciple: IncludedGumroad: Included
- Marketing emailsDisciple: Not includedGumroad: Included
- Campaign workflowsDisciple: Not includedGumroad: Included
Messaging
- Built-in chatDisciple: IncludedGumroad: Not included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsDisciple: IncludedGumroad: Included
Team
- Admin usersDisciple: IncludedGumroad: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Disciple or Gumroad, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Disciple or Gumroad may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Disciple vs Gumroad pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Disciple
Current plans and prices
See what Disciple charges on their pricing page.
Gumroad
Current plans and prices
See what Gumroad charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Disciple and Gumroad
You don't pay until you publish.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own.
Common questions
Is Cardel an alternative to Disciple or Gumroad?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Disciple or Gumroad when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Disciple and Gumroad are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Disciple or Gumroad?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Disciple or Gumroad for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Disciple and Gumroad?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Disciple and Gumroad set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Disciple or Gumroad to Cardel?
Start with Build Your Site, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.