--- title: Selling Ebooks and PDFs on Etsy vs HelpRange (2026): Fees and Protection | HelpRange url: https://www.helprange.com/etsy-vs-helprange --- Etsy vs HelpRange # Selling e-books and PDFs on Etsy vs HelpRange Etsy brings buyers who are already searching, but the PDF they download is theirs to share, and only cancelling the order takes it back. HelpRange delivers no file: each buyer reads a personal, watermarked copy, and you decide how long access lasts. [Start free trial](https://www.helprange.com/#signUpSection) [Live demo](https://www.helprange.com/demo) [See pricing](https://www.helprange.com/pricing) Your readers pay for the PDF, not for a file to forward. Protect and sell in one: every buyer reads a personal copy with their e-mail watermarked on each page and downloads blocked. Access ends after the days you set, when you revoke it, or on a refund or cancellation from Kajabi, Whop or Gumroad. From $39 a month per team. [How selling works](https://www.helprange.com/sell-pdf-documents-securely) ### Etsy finds the buyers Etsy’s marketplace is its strength: people search there for planners, templates and e-books. HelpRange has no marketplace – you bring the buyers. ### No file to forward Buyers read in the protected viewer on phone, tablet or computer; download, print and copy are off, so there is no PDF to pass around. ### Watermark per buyer The buyer's e-mail – or your own buyer ID – on every page. Etsy’s help pages say nothing about stamping or watermarking digital files. ### Access you can take back On Etsy, cancelling the order is the only way to revoke a buyer’s access to a file – a copy already downloaded stays. In HelpRange one click ends access. ### A device limit per buyer Let each buyer read on, say, two devices – a laptop and a phone. A shared link stops working on the third device. ### See who reads it Page-by-page reading analytics per buyer, and an alert when one link is opened from many places. ## Which one fits you ### When HelpRange fits better - Your PDF is the product – a course workbook, report or e-book that loses value when it is shared - You want to take access back after a refund or chargeback - You want to see who reads which pages - You sell to teams or companies and want each reader named on every page ### When Etsy is the better choice - You need buyers who find you by searching a marketplace - You sell printables, planners or templates that buyers must print or fill in - Your PDFs are cheap and sold in volume – protection matters less than reach - Buyers expect to keep the file ## Etsy vs HelpRange for selling PDFs and e-books (read 14 November 2026) | Features | Etsy | HelpRange | |---|---|---| | Price | $0.20 per listing; 6.5% transaction fee on each order; a payment processing fee that varies by country | Pro $39 per team per month ($31 yearly), unlimited buyers; your own HelpRange Store adds a 2% fee on Pro and 0% on Max and Unlimited, plus Stripe’s fee | | Files | Up to 5 files per listing, 20 MB each | PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and video, read in the viewer | | What the buyer gets | A download of the file | A personal link to read in the protected viewer – no file | | Buyer watermark | Not mentioned in Etsy’s help pages | Yes – the buyer's e-mail or your buyer ID on every page | | After a refund | Cancelling the order revokes access to the file; a downloaded copy stays with the buyer | Access ends with one click | | Finding buyers | Etsy marketplace search | No marketplace – you bring the buyers | | Offline reading | Yes – the buyer has the file | No – reading needs an internet connection | How it works **1. Add the product in HelpRange** Store → “Add product”: the e-book, workbook, report or course notes – a folder, one file or a new upload. **2. Add your buyers** Paste buyers’ e-mails under “Add buyers”, or send them from your shop through Zapier, Make or a webhook. **3. Buyers read their own copy** Each buyer gets an e-mail with a personal link; their e-mail or ID is on every page. Buyer access is part of Pro ($39 per team per month, unlimited buyers), Max, Unlimited and the 3-day trial – no per-buyer or per-view fees. [Plans & pricing](https://www.helprange.com/pricing) FAQ ## Etsy vs HelpRange – questions How much does Etsy charge for a digital download? A $0.20 listing fee and a 6.5% transaction fee on the order, plus a payment processing fee that depends on your country (help.etsy.com, 14 November 2026). Etsy’s Offsite Ads add a fee on sales they bring. Does Etsy protect PDFs from sharing? Etsy delivers the file itself: up to 5 files per listing, 20 MB each. Its help pages do not mention watermarking or stamping, and cancelling the order is the only way to revoke access – a copy already downloaded stays with the buyer. Can I sell on Etsy and deliver through HelpRange? Check Etsy’s rules for digital listings first. HelpRange has no ready-made Etsy connection: add each buyer’s e-mail under “Add buyers” or send it through Zapier or Make, and the buyer gets a personal link to a watermarked copy. When is Etsy the better choice? When you need marketplace buyers, sell printables that must be printed or filled in, or sell cheap PDFs in volume where reach matters more than protection. Can buyers read on their phone? Yes – in the browser on any device, or in the HelpRange viewer app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Related [How to sell e-books on Etsy](https://www.helprange.com/post/selling-e-books/selling-ebooks-on-etsy-a-guide-for-authors-and-publishers)[Gumroad vs HelpRange](https://www.helprange.com/gumroad-vs-helprange)[Payhip vs HelpRange](https://www.helprange.com/payhip-vs-helprange)[E-book selling fee calculator](https://www.helprange.com/tools/ebook-fee-calculator)[Personalized PDF watermark](https://www.helprange.com/tools/personalized-pdf-watermark)[PDF leak tracer](https://www.helprange.com/tools/pdf-leak-tracer)[HelpRange Store](https://www.helprange.com/sell-pdf-documents-securely) ## Try it on your own documents 3-day free trial, then a free plan. No credit card required. [Start free trial](https://www.helprange.com/?from=feature-cta#signUpSection) [Compare plans – from $39 per team](https://www.helprange.com/pricing?from=feature-cta)