How to choose the best Stan Store Alternative

Need a better Stan Store alternative for your online courses, membership site and online education business? Here's our complete guide.

Joanna TaylorJoanna Taylor

By Joanna Taylor  •  Updated 5 October 2024

Stan Store AlternativeStan Store Alternative

If you're a creator looking to monetize your audience through courses, coaching and content, you might have taken a look at Stan Store. 

Although it's a popular choice with creators, there are now other alternatives worth considering for your online business.

In this guide, we'll explore the top 9 Stan Store alternative tools to meet your needs.

Why choose a Stan Store alternative

Stan Store may have traction among creators, but it has limitations. Here’s why you might consider an alternative online platform to Stan Store:

Limited Customization: Stan Store restricts how much you can personalize your storefront, which can limit branding.
High Costs for Advanced Features: Many features are only available on the expensive Creator Pro plan, adding significant cost to the Stan Store cost.
No White-Labeling: You can’t use custom domains or white label, meaning you advertise Stan's platform rather than your brand.
Basic eCommerce Functionality: Stan Store is more like a checkout page than a full website, limiting growth potential.
File Size Limitations: A 4GB cap on digital product uploads can be restrictive for larger files like video content or digital art.
Lack of Integration: You can’t embed Stan Store or use a “Buy Now” button on existing websites, limiting third-party integrations.
No Anti-Piracy Features: Lack of anti-piracy protection can be a concern for digital creators selling digital products.
Limited Product Types: Stan Store focuses on digital products and memberships, limiting diversification.
Scalability Issues: As your business grows, Stan Store’s basic functionality becomes limiting, hindering growth.
Limited landing pages: Landing page designs use a fixed and limited format that doesn't allow for much customization

Which Stan Store Alternative is right for you?

We've collated the best 9 Stan Store Alternatives for your review. Each platform has been reviewed based on features provided, and pros and cons of each platform. 

Where possible, we have focused on analysis for online creators, experts and education entrepeneurs, so this list is for you if you're looking for the right solution to launch your course, community or digital product business.

1. Kourses

Sellfy Alternative - Kourses

Kourses is a membership platform that helps you create branded membership portals for selling and delivering access to your online courses, digital products and communities.

Kourses stands out as the best Stan Store alternative due to its feature set, attractive pricing and focus on providing a personal service to all their customers.

Kourses focuses on handling the very core functionality of what a course-based membership site needs: course creation, content hosting, access control, community building, and member retention.

Kourses Features

Digital Product Builder: Easily create and sell digital products, including courses, eBooks, and exclusive content.
Membership site creation and customization: Build a fully functional membership site with complete control over design and branding.
Detailed Analytics: Gain insights into customer data and sales performance with reporting features.
Content Release Controls: you can drip-feed your content, release everything to your members, or create both scheduled and self-paced courses.
Membership Levels: control access to individual courses or groups of courses by setting up different membership tiers.
No code required: Create beautiful membership sites, online courses, communities and checkout flows with simple interface (no code required)
Conversion-optimized Checkouts: Accept payments with your own conversion optimized checkout flows.
Integrations: you can seamlessly connect your membership site with your existing software apps for email marketing, CRM, autoresponder services, and more.

Kourses Advantages:

User-friendly platform with extensive customization options.
No additional transaction fees on sales, meaning you keep more of your revenue.
Multiple product types supported, including digital downloads, online courses, communities and memberships.
Attractive pricing options during early access release.

Kourses Pricing

The platform is currently in closed early access. Still, you can register as an early adopter to gain access to premium features as they are released at no extra cost.

Consider Kourses for your community or membership

Start building a better membership site.

The power to create beautiful membership portals that make your content the star of the show. Engaging experiences. Powerful business tools.

2. Sellfy

Stan Store alternative - Sellfy

Sellfy is an eCommerce platform offering everything digital creators need to sell digital downloads and physical products.

As an alternative to Stan Store, Sellfy stands out with its versatility, allowing creators to sell digital downloads, subscriptions, physical goods, and print-on-demand items—all from a customizable online store.

Sellfy Features

Fully-hosted eCommerce platform: Set up an online store with minimal hassle.
Print-on-Demand Service: Sell custom merchandise without managing inventory.
Built-in Marketing Tools: Email marketing campaigns, discounts, and upselling boost sales.
Supports various product forms: Sell Digital, Physical, and Subscription Products to diversify your revenue streams easily.
Custom Domain Integration: Connect your own domain for a branded storefront.
Mobile-Friendly Storefront: Optimized for mobile to ensure seamless shopping.

Sellfy Pricing

Stan Store Alternative - Sellfy Pricing

Sellfy offers three pricing plans:

PlanMonthly PriceYearly Price
Premium$159/month$119/month ($1,428/year)
Business$79/month$59/month ($708/year)
Starter$29/month$22/month ($264/year)

Sellfy also has a 14-day free trial with no upfront commitment.

Sellfy Pros

Easy to set up and manage.
Built-in marketing tools for sales growth.
Print-on-demand without inventory hassle.
Supports multiple product types.
Good for physical products as an alternative to Shopify.

Sellfy Cons

Limited design customization.
Not focused on Courses with limited feature set.
No community features.
More advanced features only on higher-priced plans.

3. Shopify

Stan Store alternative - Shopify

Shopify is one of the top eCommerce platforms, providing an all-in-one platform for building an online store.

Shopify lets you create a fully customizable storefront with a wide range of integrations. Shopify’s extensive app store and themes make it versatile for businesses of all sizes.

Shopify Features

Fully customizable online store: Choose from countless themes and personalize your storefront.
Built-in Payment Gateway: Shopify Payments provides an integrated checkout experience.
Extensive App Store: Access thousands of apps to add functionality like email marketing or SEO tools.
Powerful Inventory Management System: Manage products and inventory seamlessly.
Built-in Payment Gateway: Shopify Payments provides an integrated checkout experience.

Shopify Pros

Highly customizable storefront.
Extensive app store for added features.
Scalable for growing businesses.
Multiple sales channels to reach a broader audience.

Shopify Cons

Can become expensive with added apps.
Steeper learning curve for beginners.
Transaction fees unless using Shopify Payments.
Requires third-party apps for more advanced features.
Not specifically focused on selling digital products

Shopify Pricing

PlanMonthly PriceYearly Price
Basic$39/month$29/month ($348/year)
Shopify$105/month$79/month ($948/year)
Advanced$399/month$299/month ($3588/year)
PlusStarts at $2,300/monthStarts at $2,300/month ($27k/year)

An additional 2% transaction fee is charged by Shopify if you use an external merchant, as well as the transaction fees charged for processing.

Consider Kourses for your community or membership

Start building a better membership site.

The power to create beautiful membership portals that make your content the star of the show. Engaging experiences. Powerful business tools.

4. Podia

Stan Store alternative - Podia

Podia is an all-in-one platform designed for creators who want to sell digital products, memberships, and online courses.

Podia also includes a built-in course builder, making it a strong option for educators and content creators looking to build a more interactive experience for their customers.

Podia Features

Built-in Course Builder: Create and host online courses with ease, including multimedia support.
Membership Support: Sell memberships with recurring payments to create a steady revenue stream.
Integrated Email Marketing: Reach your audience with built-in email campaigns and automation.
Live Webinar Hosting: Host webinars to interact with your audience in real time.
Customizable Storefront: Personalize your store to match your brand.

Podia Pros

Built-in course creation and delivery tools.
Membership features for consistent income.
Easy-to-use interface for beginners.
Integrated email marketing campaigns for effective audience reach.

Podia Cons

Limited customization compared to other platforms.
No native integration with external tools.
Basic design options for storefronts.
Transaction fees on lower-tier plans.
Community feature is not as strong as other platforms.

Podia Pricing

Podia Pricing - Stan Store Alternative
PlanMonthly PriceYearly Price
Free$0 + 10% fee$0 + 10% fee
Mover$39 + 5% fee$33/month ($396/year) + 5% fee
Shaker$89 + 0% fee$75/month ($900/year) + 0% fee

Podia offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required, making it easy to test the platform before committing.

5. Gumroad

Stan Store alternative - Gumroad

Gumroad is a simple and straightforward eCommerce platform that allows creators to sell digital products, physical items, and memberships.

It’s particularly popular among artists, writers, and small creators who want an easy-to-use platform without too many advanced features.

Gumroad is known for its simplicity and affordability, making it an ideal choice for those just starting out or those who need a streamlined sales process.

Gumroad Key Features:

Pay-What-You-Want Pricing: Offer flexible pricing to customers, allowing them to choose what they pay.
Digital and Physical Product Support: Sell digital files, memberships, and physical items.
Simple Checkout Process: Customers can buy products directly with minimal steps, making the process easy.
Membership and Subscription Support: Offer recurring payments for memberships and ongoing support.
Instant Payouts: Get paid directly to your bank account with minimal delays.

Gumroad Pros

Simple and easy to use.
Flexible pricing options.
Supports both digital and physical products.
Quick setup with minimal technical skills required.

Gumroad Cons

Limited customization options.
Basic eCommerce features with no advanced tools.
Transaction fees eat into profits as you scale.
No built-in email marketing tools.
No comprehensive course features.

Gumroad Pricing

  • Standard Plan: 10% fee on all sales, no monthly fee.

6. Linktree

Stan Store alternative - Linktree

Linktree is a link-in-bio tool that has evolved into an eCommerce platform for creators. While primarily known for its ability to create a unified landing page with links to various content, 

Linktree now includes monetization options, allowing creators to sell digital products and services. 

Unlike Stan Store, Linktree is built with social media integration in mind, making it a perfect choice for those whose audience is primarily on platforms like Instagram or TikTok.

Linktree Features

Link Aggregation: Collect all your links in one place to streamline your audience's journey.
Monetization Options: Sell digital products and services directly from your Linktree page.
Social Media Integration: Easily integrate with popular social platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Customizable Themes: Adjust the look and feel of your Linktree to match your brand identity.
Analytics Dashboard: View insights on clicks, visits, and conversions to better understand your audience.

Linktree Pros

Unifies all links into a single place.
Monetization is built-in for direct sales.
Ideal for social media audiences.
Fast and simple setup.

Linktree Cons

Limited to link-based interactions.
Not a full eCommerce solution.
Customization is restricted compared to other platforms.
Transaction fees apply on sales.

Linktree Pricing

PlanMonthly PriceYearly Price
Free$0$0
Starter$5/month$4/month ($48/year)
Pro$9/month$7.50/month ($90/year).
Premium$24/month$19.50/month ($234/year)

6. Patreon

Stan Store alternative - Patreon

Patreon is a membership platform that helps creators build subscription-based content and earn recurring revenue from their audience.

Patreon focuses on fostering a community of dedicated followers who support creators through monthly subscriptions. This makes it a strong alternative for creators whose main goal is to cultivate and monetize a loyal fan base.

Patreon Features

Membership Tiers: Create different levels of membership with varying rewards for each tier.
Community Interaction: Engage directly with your audience using posts, polls, and private messages.
Recurring Revenue Model: Build a steady income stream with monthly or per-creation subscriptions.
Patreon App Integration: Manage your page, communicate with patrons, and publish content from mobile devices.
Customizable Pledge Options: Allow patrons to support you at any amount, with flexible pledge options.

Patreon Pros

Built-in audience engagement tools.
Stable, recurring revenue from memberships.
Flexible membership tiers.
Strong community support.

Patreon Cons

Transaction fees on patron payments.
Limited customization for your creator page.
Requires significant effort to grow an audience.
Dependence on the platform for audience access.

Patreon Pricing

  • Commerce plan: 5% of monthly income
  • Pro Plan: 8% of monthly income
  • Premium Plan: 12% of monthly income

Patreon also has transaction fees of 2.9% + $0.30 per successful pledge, which should be factored into your overall costs.

Consider Kourses for your community or membership

Start building a better membership site.

The power to create beautiful membership portals that make your content the star of the show. Engaging experiences. Powerful business tools.

7. ThriveCart

Stan Store alternative - ThriveCart

ThriveCart is a platform designed to help creators maximize sales with high-converting checkout pages.

Thrivecart is focused on optimizing the checkout process and managing affiliate programs to drive more revenue. It’s ideal for creators who want better sales tools to grow their business.

ThriveCart Features

High-Converting Checkout Pages: Optimized designs to increase sales.
One-Click Upsells: Offer additional products during checkout to boost revenue.
Affiliate Management: Built-in tools for managing affiliates.
Subscription and Payment Plans: Support for recurring payments and split pay options.
Advanced Sales Tracking: Get insights with detailed analytics on sales and conversions.

ThriveCart Pros

Improved sales conversion rates.
Easy upsell setup.
Built-in affiliate management.
Supports multiple payment options, including Google Pay and Apple Pay.
No monthly subscription fees.

ThriveCart Cons

Requires a high upfront payment.
Limited customization for storefronts.
No email marketing tools.
Not suitable as a full eCommerce store.
Limited Course features
Some reports of issues since they were acquired

ThriveCart Pricing

ThriveCart offers two plans which are both one-time fees and provide lifetime access to the software.  

  • Standard Plan: $495/one-time - all standard features.
  • Pro Plan: $690/one-time - includes affiliate features, JV features and custom domain features. 

ThriveCart also provides an upgrade inside their app for an upgrade to their "Learn" course features. This is priced at $195 and provides additional features such as advanced automation sequences based on user purchases.

8. Kajabi

Stan Store alternative - Kajabi

Kajabi is an all-in-one platform that enables creators to sell courses, memberships, and digital products. 

Kajabi includes advanced tools for marketing automation, making it ideal for those who want to create and sell educational content with minimal hassle.

Kajabi Features

Course and Membership Builder: Create online courses and membership sites.
Built-In Marketing Automation: Tools to create email sequences and sales funnels.
Website Builder: Customize your site with easy-to-use templates.
Integrated Payment Gateway: Accept payments directly on your website.
Community Engagement: Create a community space for your audience.

Kajabi Features

All-in-one solution for selling courses.
Marketing tools help automate growth.
Customizable website creation.
Integrated payment processing.

Kajabi Cons

Expensive compared to other platforms.
Limited design customization.
Not ideal for selling physical products.
Learning curve for beginners.
Community platform was an afterthought and feels disconnected.

Kajabi Pricing

PlanMonthly PriceYearly Price
Kickstarter$69/month$55/month ($660/year)
Basic$149/month$119/month ($1428/year)
Growth$199/month$159/month ($1908/year)
Pro$399/month$319/month ($3828/year)

All plans include a 14-day free trial. No transaction fees are charged on any plan.

9. Beacons.ai

Stan Store alternative - Beacons.ai

Beacons is a mobile-first link-in-bio tool that has evolved into an eCommerce platform for digital creators. 

Unlike Stan Store, Beacons is focused on helping social media creators monetize their content directly. It’s best for creators whose audience mainly follows them on social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok.

Beacons Features

Link Aggregation: Gather all your important links in one place.
Sell Digital Products: Easy setup for selling eBooks, presets, or other digital items.
Tip Jar and Donations: Collect tips or donations from followers.
Customizable Themes: Simple options to match your brand.
Analytics Dashboard: View data on clicks, sales, and visitor behavior with Google Analytics.

Beacons Pros

Great for social media creators.
Easy product selling setup.
Accept donations from fans.
Mobile-friendly design.

Beacons Cons

Limited customization.
Not a full eCommerce platform.
Best for digital products only.
Basic storefront options.

Beacons Pricing

PlanMonthly PriceYearly Price
Creator Pro$10/month$8.33/month ($100/year)
Store Pro$30/month$25/month ($300/year)
Business Pro$90/month$75/month ($900/year)

Choosing The Best Stan Store Alternative (Our top pick)

Although Stan store offers a solid feature set if you're a creator just getting started with monetizing your audience, you might find the platform limiting as your business starts to grow.

We've covered the best stan store alternatives on the market above. If you're looking to create online courses, communities and sell digital products, you should consider Kourses as the the first Stan Store alternative to try today.

With early access plans now available, you can get a great deal on a tools suite that gives you everything you need to launch and grow your online education business.

Create. Engage. Profit

Start building a better membership site.

The power to create beautiful membership portals that make your content the star of the show. Engaging experiences. Powerful business tools.