Hotmart vs Stripe
9.9% per sale versus 2.9% + $0.30. The difference is what you have to build yourself.
The verdict
These aren't direct competitors. Stripe is just the payment processor: it charges about 2.9% + $0.30 and gives you no membership area, no affiliates, and no course delivery. Hotmart charges 9.9% + $1 but includes the entire sales and delivery infrastructure. That roughly 7-point gap is what you pay for not having to build the platform yourself.
Hotmart
Free
Commission: 9.9% + R$1
Stripe
Free
Commission: 2.9% + $0.30
LearnBase
$97/mo
Commission: 0%
What each one wins on
Hotmart wins on
- Everything included: checkout, membership area, affiliates, and course delivery
- An affiliate network that can generate sales for you
- Zero development: publish and sell the same day
Stripe wins on
- A much lower fee: about 2.9% + $0.30 versus 9.9% + $1
- Full control over checkout, branding, and data
- Subscriptions, billing, and reporting at a professional level
Hotmart vs Stripe vs LearnBase
| Feature | Hotmart | Stripe | LearnBase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% transaction commission | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Unlimited students | Included | Not included | Included |
| Unlimited courses | Included | Not included | Included |
| AI course generation from video | Not included | Not included | Included |
| AI-generated quizzes | Not included | Not included | Included |
| AI video transcription | Not included | Not included | Included |
| White-label branding | Not included | Included | Included |
| Custom domain | Limited | Included | Included |
| Certificates | Included | Not included | Included |
| Live sessions | Included | Not included | Included |
| Multi-language support | Limited | Included | Included |
| Analytics dashboard | Included | Limited | Included |
| All features in one plan | Not included | Included | Included |
What each one costs you per year
Total 12-month cost at your monthly sales volume, including flat fees and commissions. The cheapest option in each row is green.
| Monthly sales | Hotmart | Stripe | LearnBase |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000/mo | $1,188 | $348 | $1,164 |
| $5,000/mo | $5,940 | $1,740 | $1,164 |
| $10,000/mo | $11,880 | $3,480 | $1,164 |
Based on public list pricing. Excludes payment processing fees, which vary by method and country.
What if neither Hotmart nor Stripe fits?
With Stripe you save on fees but have to build and maintain the platform. LearnBase gives you the full infrastructure for a flat $97/month, and you can connect your own payments: you get the processor's low fee and a ready-made school, without paying 9.9% to a marketplace.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I sell courses with just Stripe?
- You can charge with Stripe, but you need something else to host the course, give students access, and track their progress. Stripe handles payment, not delivery.
- How much do I save using Stripe instead of Hotmart?
- About 7 percentage points per sale. On $5,000/month in revenue that's roughly $4,200 a year, as long as you already have the platform to deliver the course.
- Does Hotmart use Stripe behind the scenes?
- Hotmart runs its own payment infrastructure with multiple processors depending on the country. Its commission covers that processing plus the entire sales and delivery platform.
Agustin Garcia
Founder & CEO, LearnBase
Sources
- Hotmart pricing page — verified July 2026
- Stripe pricing page — verified July 2026
- LearnBase pricing page
Comparison data is based on publicly available pricing and feature information as of July 2026. Features and pricing may change. LearnBase is the creator of this comparison.
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