LicenseManagerGumroad alternative
Gumroad vs LicenseManager
Gumroad and LicenseManager both issue license keys. This page compares them with the data each vendor publishes.
We build LicenseManager. Prices and features come from each vendor's public pricing page and documentation, checked on 2026-10-25. Report an error.
LicenseManager
Our productLicensing service
License keys for desktop apps, created from Stripe payments and validated with one request.
- Free tier
- Up to 100 active licenses
- Paid plans from
- €29 / month
- Fee per sale
- None
- Billed on
- Licenses active in the last 90 days
Best for: Indie developers and small teams selling desktop apps with Stripe, who want licensing without building a backend.
Gumroad
Merchant of record with license keys
A store for creators selling digital products, with optional license keys.
- Free tier
- No monthly fee, 10% + $0.50 per sale
- Paid plans from
- -
- Fee per sale
- 10% + $0.50
- Billed on
- Sales only
Best for: Creators selling small apps, plugins or assets, who want the simplest setup.
Compare the cost
Enter your price and monthly sales to see the monthly cost of each tool, with the cheapest plan that fits.
Monthly revenue: €9,900.
- Gumroad is 4.7x more expensive than LicenseManager: you'd save €1,057 per month with LicenseManager.
Per month, excluding VAT. Assumes one-time purchases and customers using your app for 4 months, with Stripe's fees for the tools that aren't a merchant of record.
What LicenseManager does differently
Cheaper at every volume we tested
LicenseManager costs less than Gumroad in all 12 scenarios we computed. For example, with 10 sales a month at €99: Gumroad is 5.2x more expensive than LicenseManager: you'd save €109 per month with LicenseManager.
Offline validation
Unlike Gumroad, LicenseManager lets your app check a license offline. Ed25519-signed tokens, checked offline.
Machine activation limits
Unlike Gumroad, LicenseManager enforces a number of devices per license.
Stripe integration
LicenseManager creates licenses from Stripe payments without code. Gumroad has no native Stripe integration. Each Stripe payment or subscription creates a license and emails the key.
No fee per sale
With LicenseManager, a higher license price doesn't mean higher fees. Gumroad takes at least 10% + $0.50 per sale.
Official SDKs
Official LicenseManager SDKs exist for Electron, Tauri, Swift, JavaScript, Go, Python, Ruby, Java, C# (.NET), and PHP, with no Gumroad equivalent.
Subscription licenses
LicenseManager keeps licenses valid while a subscription is paid, and stops them when it ends. Gumroad leaves renewing licenses with subscription payments to your own code. Recurring Stripe prices, valid while paid, every update included.
A free plan
LicenseManager has a free plan with no fee on sales, up to 100 active licenses. Gumroad has no free tier without fees.
What Gumroad does well
Merchant of record
Gumroad is the merchant of record and handles sales tax and VAT. LicenseManager leaves sales tax and VAT to you.
Built-in checkout
Unlike LicenseManager, Gumroad includes a hosted checkout.
File hosting and downloads
Gumroad hosts your installers and downloads, while LicenseManager doesn't host your files.
Also included
Gumroad also has outgoing webhooks and open source, which LicenseManager doesn't.
Feature by feature
"Not documented" means we couldn't find it in the vendor's public documentation.
| Feature | LicenseManager | Gumroad |
|---|---|---|
| Offline validationThe app can check a license without reaching the vendor's servers, usually with a signed file or token. | YesEd25519-signed tokens, checked offline | NoKeys are verified with an API call |
| Machine activation limitsA license can be limited to a number of devices, enforced by the service. | Yes | NoThe verify API returns a uses count, your app enforces the limit |
| TrialsTime-limited licenses to let users try the app. | Yes | YesFree trials on memberships |
| Perpetual licensesLicenses that never expire. | Yes | Yes |
| Updates for a limited timeCustomers keep the versions released while their license was valid, after it ends. | YesCustomers keep the last version released in their period | Not documented |
| Customer portalA page where customers find their keys and manage their devices on their own. | YesCustomers find their keys, free machines, cancel for a refund and manage their subscription | YesCustomers find their purchases in their library |
| Money back guaranteeCustomers cancel a license on their own during a set period: it stops working and their payment is refunded. | YesSet in days on each offer, refunded through your Stripe account | Not documented |
| Subscription licensesLicenses that renew with each recurring payment and stop when the subscription ends, without code on your side. | YesRecurring Stripe prices, valid while paid, every update included | NoThe verify API returns the membership's status: your app enforces it |
| Stripe integrationLicenses are created from Stripe payments with no code on your side. | YesEach Stripe payment or subscription creates a license and emails the key | No |
| Merchant of recordThe vendor sells on your behalf and handles sales tax and VAT for you. | No | Yes |
| Built-in checkoutA hosted checkout page sold with the tool. | NoUses your Stripe checkout or payment links | Yes |
| AnalyticsDashboards of licenses, usage or revenue. | YesActive machines, versions, platforms, revenue, MRR and churn | Yes |
| Test modeA separate environment or sandbox to build the integration. | Yes | Not documented |
| Audit logA history of what happened to each license. | YesEvents on every license | Not documented |
| File hosting and downloadsThe vendor hosts your installers or packages. | No | Yes |
| Outgoing webhooksYour server is notified of license events. | No | YesPing notifications |
| Floating licensesA pool of seats shared by several machines, checked out and released. | No | No |
| Usage meteringLicenses that count consumption, like API credits. | No | No |
| SSO for your teamSign in to the dashboard with SAML or another identity provider. | No | Not documented |
| Self-hostingRun the licensing server on your own infrastructure. | No | No |
| Open sourceThe service's source code is public. | No | Yes |
SDKs compared
Licensing SDKs handle validation in your app. API clients wrap the REST API.
| Technology | LicenseManager | Gumroad |
|---|---|---|
| Electron | @licenseman/electronLicensing SDK | REST API |
| JavaScript | TypeScript SDKAPI client | REST API |
| Python | Python SDKAPI client | REST API |
| Go | Go SDKAPI client | REST API |
| Java | Java SDKAPI client | REST API |
| C# (.NET) | C# SDKAPI client | REST API |
| PHP | PHP SDKAPI client | REST API |
| Ruby | Ruby SDKAPI client | REST API |
| Swift | licensemanager-swiftLicensing SDK | REST API |
| Tauri | tauri-plugin-licensemanagerLicensing SDK | REST API |
| REST APIUsable from any language | YesWith an OpenAPI document | Yes |
Pricing plans
LicenseManager
| Plan | Per month | Active licenses (last 90 days) | API requests / month | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | €0 | 100 | 10,000 | 3 |
| Startup | €29 | 1,000 | 100,000 | 10 |
| Standard | €99 | 5,000 | 1,000,000 | Unlimited |
| Custom | Custom | Unlimited | Unlimited | - |
- Every feature is on every plan, plans only differ by their limits.
- No fee on sales: payments go to your own Stripe account.
- Over a limit, a 7-day grace period starts and the app keeps working.
Gumroad
| Plan | Per month | Fee per sale |
|---|---|---|
| Direct sales | $0 | 10% + $0.50 |
- 10% + $0.50 on direct sales, 30% on sales from the Discover marketplace.
- Card processing (2.9% + $0.30) is charged on top of direct-sale fees.
Verdict
LicenseManager suits indie developers and small teams selling desktop apps with Stripe, who want licensing without building a backend. Gumroad suits creators selling small apps, plugins or assets, who want the simplest setup. In 12 of 12 price scenarios, LicenseManager costs less than Gumroad.
The main reasons to pick LicenseManager: cheaper at every volume we tested, offline validation, and machine activation limits.
Compare with other tools
Start with LicenseManager's free plan
Up to 100 active licenses for free, every feature included, no credit card.