8 SamCart alternatives + Subscription hostage (2025)

by Welly Mulia - November 6, 2025

SamCart alternatives for selling digital products, courses, and memberships include: CartMango, Podia, Gumroad, Kajabi, ThriveCart, ClickFunnels, SendOwl, and Sellfy. Compare features and watch for “subscription hostage” to protect your recurring revenue.

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For a quick table comparison of the 8 alternatives, go here.

“Subscription Hostage” Means Lost Income Every Month

SamCart employs subscription hostage for its non-Stripe payments and fixed-term subscriptions (source):

This means if you leave, you lose recurring revenue from existing customer subscriptions you’ve set up in SamCart.

Let’s be honest though. SamCart has earned popularity with easy product set-up and solid conversion tools. But as you grow, ongoing costs start to matter.

The base plan is $79/month and capped at $3,000 in monthly revenue, which is expensive.

More About Subscription Hostage

Every digital creator, coach, or consultant needs to control their recurring revenue. Too many platforms hide “subscription hostage” within their terms. That means you can’t take your recurring payments with you if you decide to move.

You risk losing income and becoming dependent on software you might outgrow.
Migrating feels risky, so people stick with solutions that no longer suit their goals.
The best platforms let you keep your data, your income, and your customers.

Ask yourself: Would you give your automatic, recurring customer payments away for free? Why let a platform keep them hostage?

Top 8 SamCart Alternatives

Platform	Totally Free? As in $0 monthly + 0% commissions?	Existing recurring payments gone if you leave?	If Download Link Shared By Rogue Customers, Will It Work?	Instant Payout	Free Migration	Best For	Notes
CartMango	Yes, free for ALL features. Caveat: Only during beta, estimated till 2027	✅ No – you continue to receive recurring payments	✅ No – link is protected	Yes	Yes	Solo digital sellers, coaches, consultants, course creators, info products, digital downloads	All features included, no monthly/hidden fees; premium features, direct ownership
Podia	No; $39/mo + 5% transaction fee (base plan)	❌ Yes – you lose recurring payments	❌ Yes – link is not protected	Yes	Yes	Small course/membership creators	Only “Shaker” plan has 0% commission; subscriptions remain on Podia
Gumroad	No; $0/mo, but 10% transaction fee	❌ Yes – you lose recurring payments	✅ No – link is protected	No	No	Creators testing offers	Weekly payouts; significant transaction fees; memberships locked
Kajabi	No; $89/mo (base plan)	✅ No – you continue to receive recurring payments	✅ No – link is protected	Yes	No	Coaches, course businesses	Higher pricing; advanced features; subscriptions portable
ThriveCart	No; $495 one-time, then an optional $295/yr	✅ No – you continue to receive recurring payments	❌ Yes – link is not protected	Yes	No	Info products, affiliate marketers	One-time purchase, affiliate/funnel focus
ClickFunnels	No; $97/mo (base plan)	✅ No – you continue to receive recurring payments	❌ Yes – link is not protected	Yes	No	Funnel-first launches	Advanced funnel features; not subscription focused
SendOwl	No; $39/mo (revenue capped at $417/mo) (base plan)	❌ Yes – you lose recurring payments	✅ No – link is protected	Yes	No	Digital downloads, licensing	Subscriptions managed via SendOwl—not portable
Sellfy	No; $29/mo (revenue capped at $833/mo) (base plan)	✅ No – you continue to receive recurring payments	✅ No – link is protected	Yes	No	Quick digital storefronts	Transaction fees only for free plan (if offered), monthly on paid plans

What To Look For in a SamCart Alternative

Not all platforms make it easy to move, earn, and grow.

A few practical criteria can help:

Own your customer data. You keep your list no matter what.
No monthly “gotcha” fees that show up after you’ve signed up.
Clear pricing – either a fix monthly cost, simple transaction fee, or single payment.
Migration help to make the transition seamless.
Automations that replace manual, daily chores (emails, access, order bumps).
Your money, your way: fast, direct payouts, no held funds.
If your digital download is exposed by a rogue customer, will the link work? Some platforms offer built-in piracy protection to keep your products safe.

what to look for in a samcart alternative

CartMango

CartMango is for solo digital sellers, coaches, consultants, and course creators who want a simple, quick way to sell their offers.

It’s totally free to use for ALL features, even advanced ones like order bumps, subscription with trials, etc: $0/month + 0% commission.

The catch? It’s totally free during beta only (estimated till 2027).

No subscription hostage: If you leave, you continue to receive recurring payments from existing customers.
1-min product setup.
Money arrives to your Stripe and/or PayPal instantly.
Free migration service.
Download links get protected against unauthorized sharing.
Order bumps to increase revenue.
Flash sales (using time-sensitive coupons) to create FOMO and boost sales.

If you want, here’s the details for CartMango.

Disclaimer: You’re on CartMango’s site 🙂

Podia

Podia is an all-in-one platform where you can sell online courses, memberships, digital downloads, and coaching without needing separate tools. Everything from your website to email marketing lives in one simple dashboard.

Pro: It’s beginner-friendly, letting you manage everything in one place without technical skills. You get a website builder, course hosting, email marketing, and checkout system.

Con: The simplicity comes with limitations. Customization options are restricted, and it lacks advanced automation and marketing features. As your business grows, you might outgrow Podia’s basic capabilities.

Gumroad

Gumroad is a no-frills platform that lets you start selling digital products in under 10 minutes. Just upload your file, set a price, and share your link. No website or store setup required.

Pro: There are no monthly fees, making it easy to start without upfront costs. You only pay when you actually make a sale, which works well for casual creators testing the waters.

Con: The fees are exorbitant at 10% + $0.50 per transaction plus payment processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30, totaling around 13%+ of every sale. Customer support is non-existent, with only AI chatbots responding and human emails often going completely unanswered. (Source)

Kajabi

Kajabi is a premium all-in-one platform designed for course creators who want to run their entire business from one system. It combines course hosting, membership sites, website building, email marketing, sales funnels, and payment processing.

Pro: You get features like advanced automation, AI-powered content creation, comprehensive analytics, and sophisticated marketing tools that can handle complex business operations.

Con: It’s significantly more expensive than competitors, with plans starting at much higher price points. The extensive features can feel overwhelming for beginners or simple businesses.

ThriveCart

ThriveCart creates high-converting checkout pages and sales funnels with features like one-click upsells and order bumps.

Pro: You pay once ($495) for lifetime access instead of monthly subscriptions, saving thousands of dollars long-term. The conversion-focused checkout features can increase your average order value.

Con: Since receiving a $35M investment and new leadership in early 2023, many users report declining customer service quality with longer response times and unresolved technical issues. Users experience buggy software with months-long wait times for critical fixes.

ClickFunnels

ClickFunnels builds complete marketing systems that guide visitors through a step-by-step journey from landing page to purchase. Instead of just pages, you get entire conversion-optimized funnels with pre-built templates.

Pro: You get proven sales funnel templates for different goals, AI-powered funnel building, and all the marketing tools you need in one platform. It removes the guesswork from creating effective sales systems.

Con: It’s expensive compared to simpler alternatives and has a steeper learning curve. The funnel-focused approach might be overkill if you just need basic product pages.

SendOwl

SendOwl helps creators sell digital products like eBooks, courses, or software directly to customers. It handles things like secure file delivery, payment processing, and checkout pages. You can set up discount codes & affiliate programs to boost sales.

Pro: It’s beginner-friendly. You can start selling fast without needing a fancy website or tech skills.

Con: It’s quite basic. It lacks advanced marketing tools or automation features that you’d find in bigger platforms.

Sellfy

Sellfy gives you a complete hosted online store specifically built for selling digital products, physical goods, subscriptions, and print-on-demand items.

Pro: You get a full storefront, built-in email marketing, checkout customization, and marketing tools without needing third-party apps. Setup takes just minutes with ready-made themes.

Con: Design customization is more limited compared to platforms like Shopify or WordPress. Advanced users might find the simplicity restrictive as their business scales.

Choosing A SamCart Alternative Platform That Suits You

Write down your monthly and annual revenue targets.
List your minimum features (payout speed, piracy protection, portability).
Check public sources and calculators to see how much you’ll keep after all fees.
Try any instant free migration or paid migration offers if you find set up daunting.
Soft launch a single product on your new platform while keeping the old system running. Avoid rushing your whole business over.

Checklist When Switching To SamCart Alternatives

Get started with the new platform by importing only your bestsellers. Take time to test that everything works: payment, delivery, and customer email flows.
Tell your audience why you’re switching. People respect transparency and will follow your lead if the process is clear.
Follow a clear migration checklist provided by your new cart service. Don’t skip the small stuff (like customizing your checkout emails or testing mobile flows).
Update all social and website links to point to your new checkout pages.
Run parallel sales for a while. Don’t kill your previous cart until the new one is tested.
Survey your audience or invite feedback about their experience with the new platform.

More Considerations

Integration and Customization Options

Choosing an alternative to SamCart often starts with how well each tool integrates with your existing workflow. Most shopping cart software in 2025 includes robust integration features for payment gateway, affiliate program, analytics, and affiliate management.

If customization is important for you… whether for your landing page builder, marketing automation, or page builder… the make sure you look for alternatives in 2025 that offer advanced customization options.

Free Trial and Ease of Use

Nearly every best SamCart alternative gives you a free trial. CartMango offers a totally free account. Make sure you test conversion rate, checkout experience, and dashboard before making a commitment.

Ease of use is central to selling products online. Whether you want all-in-one marketing platform or just a checkout tool, make sure they do not require steep learning curves. Small businesses and solo creators should seek out simple onboarding and straight instructions for setting up and managing subscription management, affiliate management, and products online.

Selling Products and Growth Features

A quality alternative to SamCart gives you the flexibility to sell products quickly and securely. From digital downloads to subscriptions, your shopping cart software should boost your conversion rate.

Look for platforms that pair analytics with affiliate program management. These features increase your reach and your results at every step, whether you’re starting out or scaling up.

Customer Support and Small Business Needs

Customer support matters, especially for small businesses where every sale counts. Favor alternatives that offer responsive help and clear resources. Having access to support for integration, payment gateway, affiliate management, page builder, and subscription management can make setup much smoother.

Platforms with focused affiliate program, analytics, and marketing automation features give small businesses leverage to sell products and build a real online presence.

Ecommerce Platform and Store Features

Running a successful ecommerce store starts with the right ecommerce platform. Entrepreneurs need customizable solutions that grow with their online business, whether they’re selling digital or physical products.

Use a drag-and-drop funnel builder to design your sales page and checkout flows quickly. Customizable options mean you shape everything from branding to payment options.

Sales Funnel Builder and Cart Abandonment

A sales funnel builder streamlines the buyer’s journey. Drag-and-drop interfaces let you build funnels for digital and physical products. Look for built-in cart abandonment tools to recover potential lost sales.

Platforms with sales page customization give you more control over conversion tracking.

Payment Options and CRM

Choose an ecommerce platform that integrates major payment options like Stripe and PayPal. Payment flexibility is vital for building trust with buyers and minimizing friction at checkout.

A reliable CRM is essential for entrepreneurs. Use it to track leads, manage ongoing customer relationships, and support repeat purchases for your online business.

Free Trials for Your Online Business

Test the features of any platform with at least a 14-day free trial. This lets you evaluate drag-and-drop customization, sales funnel builder performance, cart abandonment recovery, and payment option integration before you commit.

TL;DR When Looking For SamCart Alternatives

Reviewing your options side-by-side makes decision-making easier. Full ownership and fast payouts are more valuable than feature overload. CartMango offers a no-lock-in, no-monthly fee solution for creators who want that flexibility, but options like ThriveCart, Kajabi, and others provide strong contenders depending on need and business model.

Lock-in is real. Avoid it. Direct payout, security, and customer ownership keep you in control.

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