Why Portugal Needs Its Own Platform for Digital Products
Portugal's creator economy is booming. Over 6 million Portuguese use Instagram, TikTok is growing rapidly, and more creators than ever are turning their knowledge into digital products — ebooks, courses, templates, presets, and guides.
But there's a problem: most international platforms don't support Portuguese payment methods.
When a Portuguese creator uses Gumroad, Stan Store, or Teachable, their customers can only pay with credit cards. In a country where over 5 million people use MB WAY as their primary payment method, this means lost sales.
This guide compares the best platforms for selling digital products in Portugal in 2026, with a focus on local payment support, fees, and ease of use.
TL;DR: Platform Comparison
| Platform | MB WAY | Commission | Portuguese UI | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelf.pt | Native | 0% | Yes | 29 euros/mo or 99 euros/yr |
| Shopify | Via plugin | 0% (+ app fees) | Yes | From 36 euros/mo |
| Gumroad | No | 10% | No | Free + commission |
| Stan Store | No | 0% | No | $29/mo |
| Hotmart | No | 10-20% | PT-BR only | Free + commission |
| Payhip | No | 5% (free) / 0% (paid) | No | Free or $29/mo |
| Ko-fi | No | 0% | No | Free or $6/mo |
| Teachable | No | 0-5% | No | From $39/mo |
1. Shelf.pt — Built for Portuguese Creators
Shelf.pt is the first platform designed specifically for Portuguese digital creators. It combines a link-in-bio page with a full digital product store, and it's the only platform that natively supports Portuguese payment methods.Key Features
- MB WAY, Revolut Pay, and card payments — all enabled by default
- 0% platform commission — you only pay standard Stripe processing fees
- Portuguese interface — everything in PT-PT (not Brazilian Portuguese)
- Automatic delivery — customers receive their files instantly after purchase
- Custom store page — your own branded page at shelf.pt/yourusername
- 14-day free trial — test everything before paying
Pricing
- 29 euros/month or 99 euros/year (save 72%)
- No per-transaction fees from the platform
- Only standard Stripe fees apply
Best For
Portuguese creators selling ebooks, templates, courses, presets, fitness plans, and any downloadable digital product. If your audience is primarily Portuguese, this is the obvious choice.Why MB WAY Matters
MB WAY is not just another payment method — it's how Portugal pays. According to SIBS, MB WAY processed over 600 million transactions in 2025. If your checkout doesn't offer MB WAY, you're asking Portuguese customers to use a method they don't prefer.
Here's what happens in practice: a Portuguese Instagram follower sees your ebook, clicks to buy, reaches checkout, and sees only credit card fields. Many will abandon the purchase — not because they don't want the product, but because they prefer MB WAY.
Shelf.pt solves this by making MB WAY a native payment option in every checkout.🚀 Experimenta a Shelf grátis durante 14 dias
Cria a tua loja com MBWay, 0% comissões e interface 100% em português.
Criar Conta Grátis →2. Shopify — For Full E-Commerce
Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform. It works in Portugal and supports Portuguese language, but it's designed for physical products first.MB WAY Support
Shopify doesn't support MB WAY natively. You need a third-party payment gateway like Eupago or Easypay to accept MB WAY, which adds complexity and additional fees.Pricing
- Basic plan: 36 euros/month, plus third-party app fees for MB WAY integration
Best For
Physical product stores, large catalogs, or businesses that need advanced inventory management. Overkill for most digital creators.3. Gumroad — Popular But Expensive
Gumroad is well-known for digital product sales, but it has significant drawbacks for Portuguese creators.The Problem with Gumroad in Portugal
- No MB WAY — credit cards only
- 10% commission on every sale — on top of payment processing fees
- USD payouts — you lose money on currency conversion to EUR
- No Portuguese interface
The Real Cost
If you sell a 20 euro ebook on Gumroad:- Sale: 20.00 euros
- Gumroad fee (10%): -2.00 euros
- Stripe fee (~3.5%): -0.70 euros
- Currency conversion (~2%): -0.40 euros
- You receive: ~16.90 euros (15.5% lost)
- Sale: 20.00 euros
- Stripe fee: ~-0.75 euros
- You receive: ~19.25 euros (only 3.75% in fees)
Best For
Creators selling primarily to US/UK audiences who don't need local payment methods.4. Stan Store — Great Product, Wrong Market
Stan Store is an excellent creator commerce platform popular with US influencers. However, it has no features tailored to the Portuguese market.Limitations for Portugal
- No MB WAY or Multibanco — cards only
- $29/month — priced in USD (currency fluctuation risk)
- English only — no Portuguese interface
- US-centric — designed for the American market
Best For
US-based creators selling to American audiences. Not recommended for Portuguese creators.
5. Hotmart — The Brazilian Option
Hotmart is popular in Brazil and has some presence in Portugal.Pros
- Large existing marketplace with buyers
- Affiliate program built in
Cons
- 10-20% commission on sales
- No MB WAY
- Brazilian Portuguese interface (not PT-PT)
- Marketplace competition
Best For
Course creators who want marketplace distribution and don't mind high commissions.6-8. Other Options
Payhip — Simple, 5% commission on free plan, no MB WAY. Good for budget-conscious international sellers. Ko-fi — Started as a tipping platform, now supports products. Free, but limited. No MB WAY. Teachable — Dedicated course platform from $39/month. Full course infrastructure. No MB WAY. Best for structured courses with modules.How to Choose the Right Platform
If your audience is Portuguese — Shelf.pt
MB WAY support alone will increase your conversion rate significantly. Add 0% commission, Portuguese interface, and affordable pricing.If you sell complex courses — Teachable
For full course infrastructure (video hosting, certificates, student management).If your audience is American — Stan Store
Excellent for the US market. Not suitable for Portuguese customers.If you need full e-commerce — Shopify
For physical products and large catalogs. Overpowered for digital products only.The MB WAY Factor: Why It's Non-Negotiable in Portugal
- 5+ million Portuguese people use MB WAY (in a country of 10 million)
- 87% of smartphone users in Portugal have MB WAY installed
- It's the preferred digital payment method in Portugal
Getting Started with Shelf.pt
- Sign up at shelf.pt — free 14-day trial
- Add your first product — upload your ebook, course, or template
- Customize your store — choose colors, add bio and social links
- Share your link — your store is live at shelf.pt/yourusername
- Get paid — MB WAY, card, and Revolut Pay payments land directly in your account
Ready to start selling? Create your free store on Shelf.pt Read also: Melhores Plataformas para Vender Infoprodutos em Portugal
