Where to sell a Windows desktop app in 2026: who takes payments, and who finds you buyers
The short answer: a checkout service like Paddle or Lemon Squeezy is the cheapest way to sell (about 5% + 50¢), but it won't find you a single buyer. If you need buyers, you pay more to a marketplace or an affiliate network. Here is who does what.
by AI Digital Market Pro · 2026-10-17
Two different jobs: taking payments vs. finding buyers
Most "where to sell my app" advice mixes up two jobs. A checkout service takes the payment, delivers the download and handles the paperwork. A marketplace or affiliate network puts your app in front of people who didn't know it existed. Cheap checkout services do the first job only. That's fine if you already have an audience. If you don't, the lowest fee on a sale that never happens doesn't help.
The comparison
Fees are from each platform's official pricing page, checked October 17, 2026. They change, so confirm on the platform's site before you sign up.
| Platform | Fee per sale | Does it find you buyers? | Exclusive? | Upfront cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Store | 0% with your own checkout; 15% with Microsoft's payment system (non-game apps) | Store search, categories and editorial features; Microsoft decides placement | No | $0 developer account |
| Lemon Squeezy | 5% + 50¢ (extra for international, PayPal, affiliate sales) | Optional marketplace at a flat 30%; built-in affiliate tool | Not stated | None |
| Paddle | 5% + 50¢ | None: checkout and billing only | No | None |
| Gumroad | 10% + 50¢ | Discover marketplace at 30%; affiliate tool | Not stated | None |
| FastSpring | Custom quote | Affiliate network of 10,000+ partners (extra fee on affiliate sales) | Not stated | None listed |
| Digistore24 | From 2.9% + $1 (rate varies by product) | Affiliate marketplace of 125,000+ affiliates; you set the commission | Not stated | None |
| AppSumo | You keep 95% of buyers you bring; 70% of AppSumo's returning customers | Email and marketplace campaigns; about 10% of applicants accepted | No | None |
| AI Digital Market Pro | 50% of each sale (you keep 50%) | Every app reviewed, sold on the EZDeals4U store, promoted through our affiliate network and channels | No | None |
Which one fits you
- You already have traffic (a blog, a YouTube channel, a mailing list): use your own site with Paddle or Lemon Squeezy and keep about 95% of each sale.
- You want a big store's built-in audience: list on the Microsoft Store. It's free to join, and it takes 0% if you use your own checkout. You sign your installer yourself.
- You want affiliates to sell for you: FastSpring and Digistore24 run large affiliate networks; you set the commission and pay their fees on top.
- You want one big launch: apply to AppSumo. It's selective (about 1 in 10 applicants is accepted).
- You have no audience and no time to market: a curated network like ours does the selling for half of each sale. Every app is reviewed by a person, every installer is checked against a VirusTotal scan report, and listing is free and non-exclusive, so you can still sell everywhere else.
Honest note about us
We run AI Digital Market Pro, so we have a stake here. A 50/50 split is more than a checkout service charges, because we do the selling: the storefront on EZDeals4U, the affiliates and the promotion. If you already sell well on your own, keep doing that. We fit makers who built something good and need help getting it in front of buyers. Nobody can honestly guarantee sales, and neither do we.
Questions
What is the cheapest way to sell a Windows desktop app?
Your own website with a checkout service such as Paddle or Lemon Squeezy (about 5% + 50¢ per sale, checked October 2026), or the Microsoft Store with your own checkout (0%). The catch: none of these bring you buyers; you have to bring the traffic.
Which platforms actually help you find buyers?
Marketplaces and affiliate networks: the Microsoft Store (store search and features), Gumroad Discover and the Lemon Squeezy marketplace (30% on those sales), FastSpring and Digistore24 (affiliate networks), AppSumo (launch campaigns, selective), and AI Digital Market Pro (curated store plus affiliates, 50/50).
Can I sell my app in several places at once?
Usually yes. The Microsoft Store, Paddle, AppSumo and AI Digital Market Pro are non-exclusive. Check each platform's terms for its own rules.
When is a 50/50 split worth it?
When you don't have your own audience and need someone to do the selling. If you already have steady traffic, a 5% checkout keeps more of each sale, and you can still list with a marketplace on the side.
List your Windows app with usFree to apply, non-exclusive, every app reviewed. You keep 50% of every sale.