SamCart vs ThriveCart
SamCart edges it for most people (course and digital-product sellers optimizing conversion), but ThriveCart is the better pick if you're creators wanting to own their cart outright.
SamCart
Conversion-focused checkout pages with 1-click upsells and zero platform fees.
$59/mo
- No platform fee: keep your revenue minus processing
- Strong upsell/bump tooling that lifts AOV
- Purpose-built for high-converting checkouts
- Pricier entry point than pay-per-sale carts
- No free tier and only a 7-day trial
ThriveCart
Checkout cart with upsells, bump offers and affiliate management, now sold as a monthly subscription that bundles ThriveCart Academy.
$47/mo
- No fee taken on your sales
- Powerful upsell and bump funnels
- Course hosting bundled via ThriveCart Academy
- The old one-time licence is no longer the headline offer
- Pro+ costs nearly double Standard
Side by side
| SamCart | ThriveCart | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $59/mo | $47/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | 7 days | 30 days |
| Transaction fees | 0% platform fee (only Stripe/PayPal processing) | 0% platform fee (only Stripe/PayPal processing) |
| User rating | 4.4/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Founded | 2014 | 2016 |
Best for…
Choose SamCart if
- Course and digital-product sellers optimizing conversion
- Creators who want upsells without a revenue cut
Choose ThriveCart if
- Creators wanting to own their cart outright
- Sellers optimizing for upsells and AOV
What you'll pay
SamCart vs ThriveCart: monthly cost
These plans are flat-rate: the price doesn't change with your audience size. Here's the monthly cost, cheapest first.
Related guides
- Is SamCart worth it in 2026? The honest maths
SamCart costs $708/yr and takes 0% of sales. We work out the exact revenue where that beats Lemon Squeezy, Gumroad and ThriveCart, and where it doesn't.
- Best checkout for digital products in 2026 (fees compared)
The best checkout for digital products in 2026, with honest fee math: SamCart's 0% cart vs merchant-of-record tools like Lemon Squeezy and Paddle.
- Creator platform fees: how much they really take
Creator platform fees, compared honestly: the real per-sale math at $2k and $10k/mo across Gumroad, Substack, Teachable and 0%-fee tools.
Frequently asked questions
Is SamCart or ThriveCart better?
SamCart scores higher on our composite (4.0 vs 4.0), mainly on value and features. But ThriveCart wins for specific cases: creators wanting to own their cart outright and sellers optimizing for upsells and aov. Neither is "best" universally; it depends on your situation.
Which is cheaper, SamCart or ThriveCart?
ThriveCart has the lower entry price ($47/mo). Watch transaction fees too: SamCart keep more of each sale. Use the calculator below for your real cost.
More: all checkout & carts · SamCart alternatives · ThriveCart alternatives
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