1️⃣Stripe
Stripe turned traffic into revenue with fast, trusted checkout. Payment links, subscriptions, and invoicing let me sell in hours, not weeks. Payouts hit quickly so cash flow stayed smooth.
Address: San Francisco, USA
- Highest checkout trust and conversion
- Payment links and hosted checkout in minutes
- Subscriptions and invoices built in
- Global cards
- wallets
- and Apple Pay
- Fast payouts and solid fraud protection
- Great API but also no-code options
- Occasional account reviews can pause features
- Per-transaction fees add up at huge volume
- Requires KYC verification
2️⃣Shopify
I launched products and started collecting orders the same day. High converting themes, Shop Pay, and one click upsells lifted AOV. The app ecosystem covered everything from bundles to affiliates.
Address: Ottawa, Canada
- Fast storefront setup with proven templates
- Shop Pay checkout boosts conversion
- One click upsells and post purchase offers
- Massive app ecosystem for bundles
- subscriptions
- and affiliates
- Reliable analytics and order management
- Scales from first sale to big campaigns
- Monthly plan and app fees stack up
- Theme customization can require a developer
- App bloat can slow pages if unmanaged
3️⃣Gumroad
For digital products and licenses, Gumroad let me start selling without touching code. Email capture and simple landing pages made quick launches easy. It shines for creators but less for complex brands.
Address: San Francisco, USA
- No code setup and instant product pages
- Built in VAT handling and license keys
- Email capture and discounts included
- Higher fees than running your own cart
- Limited design control and branding
- Basic analytics compared to dedicated tools
4️⃣Google Ads
When I needed sales now, Google Ads delivered purchase intent on demand. It scaled fast, but only after tight tracking and pruning. Profit depends on constant testing and ruthless budgeting.
Address: Mountain View, USA
- Immediate targeted traffic
- Robust keyword and geo targeting
- Powerful conversion tracking and scripts
- Costs rise quickly in competitive niches
- Learning curve is real and mistakes are expensive
- Account or ad disapprovals can disrupt campaigns
5️⃣ConvertKit
Email kept revenue predictable, and ConvertKit made automation simple. Visual sequences, tags, and broadcasts nurtured leads into buyers. Monetization is solid, but price climbs with list size.
Address: Boise, USA
- Strong deliverability and simple automation
- Clean editor and fast broadcasts
- Commerce for paid newsletters and tips
- Pricing jumps as subscribers grow
- Design flexibility is limited
- Native reporting is basic without integrations