Best Stan Store Alternatives (2026): 7 Options, Incl. Free

Why people look beyond Stan

Stan is a polished link-in-bio store: digital products arrive in the buyer’s confirmation email^[3], coaching calls sync with Google Calendar^[4], and Stan itself takes 0% of sales^[2]. The complaints are about the fixed cost and the money flow:

• No free plan. Creator is $29 a month or $300 a year, and Creator Pro, which adds discount codes, upsells, payment plans and email flows, is $99 a month or $948 a year^[1]. You pay whether you sell or not.
• Your card sales sit in Stan first. Stan uses a Stan-managed Stripe account, so card sales collect in your Stan balance and you cash out from there^[5]. Stan’s cash-out article, since taken down, gave 2–7 business days before funds are available in the US and a $10 minimum^[6]. PayPal sales go straight to your PayPal account^[7].

If $29 a month is small next to your sales, those are minor points. If you are starting out, a free plan with a per-sale fee usually costs less until your sales grow. Our Stan Store pricing breakdown does the maths.

The 7 alternatives, one by one

1. The Leap

The closest free match to Stan. The Leap is a link-in-bio storefront^[13] with a free plan for up to three live products and paid plans at $19 and $59 a month; it takes 0% of sales on every plan^[9]. Buyers get an automatic access email^[11], and its “Book My Time” product has a built-in availability calendar, including on Free^[12]. Payments run through your own Stripe account at 2.9% + 30¢^[10].

Best for: creators who want Stan’s store-plus-booking setup without a subscription.

2. Payhip

Every Payhip plan has every feature; you choose between paying per sale or per month. Free Forever takes 5% of each sale, Plus ($29 a month) takes 2% and Pro ($99 a month) 0%^[15]. Buyers are sent to a download page automatically^[17], and sales land in your own PayPal or Stripe immediately^[16]. Coaching is sold through Payhip but scheduled with Calendly, Zoom or another service^[18].

Best for: digital products such as ebooks, templates and courses, with money paid out instantly.

3. Ko-fi

Free to use, with a 5% fee on shop sales; Gold costs $12 a month and removes the fee^[20][21]. Digital files are delivered automatically, and payments go straight to your PayPal or Stripe^[22]. There is no booking calendar: appointments work through a booking link you share^[23]. New creators start on a setting that charges 5% on tips too, unless they opt out^[20].

Best for: artists and creators who mix tips, memberships and a small shop.

4. Gumroad

No monthly fee at all, but 10% + $0.50 per direct sale, plus card processing of 2.9% + $0.30^[26][27]. Delivery is automatic by email^[29], and Call products have built-in scheduling once your account is 30 days old^[30]. The catch is payouts: sales go into a Gumroad balance with a $100 minimum and a 7-day hold on weekly, monthly and quarterly payouts^[28]. More in our Gumroad alternative guide.

Best for: occasional sellers who would rather pay per sale than per month.

5. Beacons

A link-in-bio builder with a store: Free and Creator ($10 a month) take 9% of sales, Creator Plus ($30) and Creator Max take 0%^[34]. Downloads are delivered after checkout and by email, with links that stay active for seven days^[36]. Appointments can be booked and paid for in the store^[37], and money goes straight to your own Stripe or PayPal^[35]. The full plan breakdown is in Beacons pricing.

Best for: creators who also want Beacons’ media kit and email tools.

6. Podia

Not cheaper than Stan, but broader: courses, downloads, coaching, a website and email. Mover costs $49 a month and takes 5% of sales; Shaker ($99) and Earthquaker ($179) take 0%^[40]. Files are delivered instantly^[42], coaching is scheduled through Calendly or a similar tool^[43], and money goes to your own Stripe or PayPal^[41]. Link-in-bio pages are built with its website builder^[44].

Best for: course creators who want a website and email in the same subscription.

7. MinglyLink

Our own tool, and a different trade-off. MinglyLink is a free link-in-bio page with a shop (cart and orders) and a booking calendar on the only plan there is. 0% MinglyLink fee: you’re paid via your own payment link, processor fees only. It also sells physical products and services, not just downloads.

Honest limits: there is no built-in card checkout and no automatic file delivery yet, so for digital products you send the file yourself after the order arrives. Bookings have no payment step, and a small “Powered by MinglyLink” line stays in the footer.

Best for: small shops, service providers and creators who want one free page for products, bookings and links. See selling digital products for free and the free store option.

Stay with Stan if…

• you sell enough that $29 a month is small next to your revenue;
• you want checkout, instant delivery and coaching calls in one polished product, without connecting your own Stripe account;
• you use Creator Pro features such as upsells, payment plans or email flows^[1].

Comparing Stan with a full store instead? Read Stan Store vs Shopify. For what every link-in-bio tool charges per sale, see the link-in-bio fees table.

How to switch from Stan in an afternoon

1. List your products with their files, prices and descriptions, and note any coaching-call settings.
2. Create the new account and connect payments (your own Stripe or PayPal, or a payment link).
3. Rebuild the products and your booking availability, then place a test order.
4. Swap the link in your Instagram and TikTok bios, and keep Stan until your paid period ends.