Short answer: Lightroom presets sell best as packaged XMP/DNG profiles with clear licensing, watermarked before/after previews, and ZIP delivery after PayPal payment. Payloadz handles secure download delivery; you handle previews that show results without leaking preset files. See the photo sales hub for broader direct-sales strategy.
What to package and sell
- XMP presets: Standard for Lightroom Classic; folder structure matters for buyer install.
- DNG profiles: Camera Raw / mobile-friendly; clarify which app versions you support.
- Bundle tiers: Starter (10 presets), pro pack (50+), niche collections (wedding, portrait, landscape).
- License PDF: Personal vs. commercial use; max client count; no resale of presets—consult a lawyer for template language.
- Install guide: Short PDF or video link for Windows and Mac paths.
Previews without leaking presets
- Export before/after JPGs at web resolution—never ship XMP in preview folders.
- Use watermarked sample edits on sales page; full-res originals stay in the paid ZIP.
- Offer 1–2 free teaser presets via email signup if you want lead capture—separate from paid pack files.
- Do not embed preset data in publicly linked ZIPs or unlisted URLs buyers could guess.
Workflow: pack, list, deliver
- Organize presets in clear folder names; zip with readme + license PDF.
- Build sales page with before/after gallery and supported Lightroom versions.
- Create Payloadz listing with PayPal checkout; attach ZIP as deliverable.
- Test purchase on desktop and mobile; confirm download and folder opens in Lightroom.
- Promote via Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, or email—presets rarely sell without your traffic.
Platform fees compared (verified August 2026)
Payloadz Premium is $49 per month with 0% Payloadz transaction fees (no percentage cut and no per-order flat fee from Payloadz on standard orders). You still pay PayPal’s own processing fees on each sale—Payloadz does not add a platform cut on top. Sources and caveats below; always re-check the linked official pricing pages before you decide.
| Platform | Monthly platform fee | Platform cut per sale | Payment processing | Tax / MoR model | Source (verified 2026-08-02) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payloadz Premium | $49 | 0% Payloadz fee (no per-sale % cut) | PayPal fees charged by PayPal (not by Payloadz) | You remain seller of record | payloadz.com/#pricing |
| Payloadz Basic | $0 | 0% Payloadz fee | PayPal fees | Seller of record | Same page — $50/mo transaction limit, 1 GB storage |
| Gumroad (direct / profile links) | $0 | 10% + $0.50 | Included in Gumroad’s published fee model on pricing page; confirm processor details in Gumroad help | Gumroad positions as merchant of record for tax (since 2025) | gumroad.com/pricing |
| Gumroad Discover | $0 | 30% when buyers find you via Discover | Per Gumroad pricing page | MoR (per Gumroad) | gumroad.com/pricing |
| Payhip Free | $0 | 5% Payhip fee | PayPal/Stripe fees still apply | Payhip collects/remits EU VAT & UK VAT on your behalf (per Payhip) | payhip.com/pricing |
| Payhip Pro | $99 | 0% Payhip fee | PayPal/Stripe fees still apply | Same tax tools as Free | payhip.com/pricing |
| Lemon Squeezy | $0 ecommerce | 5% + $0.50 (additional fees may apply in edge cases) | Bundled into MoR platform fee | Merchant of record — Lemon Squeezy handles VAT/sales tax liability | lemonsqueezy.com/pricing; fee docs |
| SendOwl Launch | From $39/mo (higher tiers for higher volume) | 0% SendOwl revenue cut | Stripe/PayPal gateway fees | Seller of record | sendowl.com/pricing |
| Sellfy | From $29/mo (volume tiers) | 0% Sellfy transaction fee | PayPal/Stripe fees | Seller of record | sellfy.com/pricing |
| Digistore24 (US reseller) | $0 | Typically 7.9% + $1 per sale (higher if chargebacks exceed thresholds) | Included in reseller margin | Reseller / merchant of record | digistore24.com/features; Digistore24 help “Costs on Digistore24 Inc. (US)” |
Cost example (illustrative)
Assume 100 sales of a $50 product in one month ($5,000 gross). Ignoring payment-processor fees that you would pay on any PayPal/Stripe cart:
- Payloadz Premium: $49 platform fee + $0 Payloadz cut ≈ $49 total platform cost (~1.0% of revenue).
- Gumroad direct: 100 × (10% × $50 + $0.50) = 100 × $5.50 = $550 (~11% of revenue).
- Payhip Free: 5% × $5,000 = $250 (~5%).
- Payhip Pro: $99 + $0 Payhip cut = $99 (~2.0%).
- Lemon Squeezy: 100 × (5% × $50 + $0.50) = 100 × $3.00 = $300 (~6%), with MoR tax handling included in that model.
- SendOwl Launch: $39 flat (if within plan volume caps) + gateway fees.
- Digistore24 US: 100 × (7.9% × $50 + $1) = 100 × $4.95 = $495 (~9.9%), reseller model.
At this volume, a flat $49 / 0% Payloadz plan undercuts percentage-heavy platforms once you already bring your own traffic. Choose Lemon Squeezy or Digistore24 when merchant-of-record / reseller tax and affiliate infrastructure matter more than minimizing platform cut. Choose Gumroad or Payhip Free when you want $0 monthly until sales prove out.
Editorial note: Fee figures above were checked against the linked official pages on 2026-08-02. Payloadz Basic remains free with a $50 monthly transaction limit. Re-verify before publishing ads or contracts—vendors change plans without notice.
Why sellers choose Payloadz
Payloadz Premium pricing (verified 2026-08-02): $49/month with 0% Payloadz transaction fees (no percentage cut from Payloadz). PayPal still charges its own processing fees. See official Payloadz pricing.
Pros: ZIP delivery for preset packs; PayPal checkout; you own sales page and audience.
Cons: No hosted preset marketplace; not MoR; you create previews and license docs.
When Gumroad is better: You want a single hosted link with built-in audience features and accept 10% + $0.50 per direct sale.
Related reading on talk.payloadz.com
- Selling pictures without microstock sites — photo hub
- How to sell Canva templates
- Sell Notion templates
- Sell printables online
- How to sell digital products
- Payloadz software review
List your first preset pack: Create a Payloadz seller account and run a test purchase before promoting live.