Bandcamp is one of the more artist-friendly places to sell music, but it is not free, and a lot of artists don't realise how the cut stacks up until they read their payout. This guide breaks down exactly how much Bandcamp takes on digital sales, merch and payment processing in 2026, how Bandcamp Fridays change the math, and how it all compares to selling direct at 0%.
Fee structures change, so treat these as the widely-reported 2026 figures and confirm current rates on Bandcamp before making decisions.
Bandcamp's revenue share
Bandcamp takes a percentage of each sale, on top of payment processing fees:
- Digital sales: Bandcamp's share is 15%, which drops to 10% once your digital sales pass a lifetime threshold (historically $5,000).
- Physical / merch: a 10% revenue share.
- Payment processing: separate from Bandcamp's cut, the payment processor (card/PayPal) takes roughly 3-5% plus a fixed per-transaction fee (around $0.30).
So on a $10 digital album before you cross the threshold, Bandcamp's 15% is $1.50, and processing might be another ~$0.60, leaving you somewhere near $7.90. Not bad by industry standards, and far better than streaming, but it is not the "100%" some artists assume.
What about Bandcamp Fridays?
On selected days ("Bandcamp Fridays"), Bandcamp waives its own revenue share so that nearly all of the sale, minus payment processing, goes to the artist. It is a genuinely good deal and worth timing releases around. The catch: it only applies on those specific days, and payment processing fees still apply. The rest of the month, the standard 15% / 10% shares are back.
Why the fees are worth understanding right now
Bandcamp changed hands twice in recent years, acquired by Epic Games, then sold to Songtradr, with significant layoffs along the way. None of that necessarily changes the day-to-day for sellers, but it's a reminder that any platform you build on is a business with its own priorities, and its terms can change. That uncertainty is part of why more artists are spreading their sales across channels they control. We compared the main options in Bandcamp alternatives.
Bandcamp's fees vs. selling direct
The clearest comparison is a single $10 sale:
- Bandcamp (standard): ~15% share + processing, you net roughly $7.90.
- Bandcamp Friday: processing only, you net roughly $9.40.
- Selling direct at 0% platform fee: you net the full amount minus only your own payment processor's fee, roughly $9.40 every day, not just on Fridays.
The difference on one sale is small. Across a career of thousands of sales, the platform share adds up to real money, and, just as importantly, on many platforms the buyer is theirs, not yours. Selling direct means every buyer is a contact you keep. That ownership is the argument for a direct storefront, and it's the same logic behind selling your music online generally.
How Played compares
Played takes 0% of your music and merch sales, always, not just on a special Friday. Fans pay you directly through your own payout link, so Played is never in the money flow and never takes a cut; you only ever pay your own payment processor's standard fee. You keep the customer relationship, and every genre is welcome, including AI music. Instead of a platform share, Played earns from optional subscriptions and promotion, never from your sales. Open your storefront on Played and keep 100%.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Bandcamp take per sale?
Bandcamp takes a 15% revenue share on digital sales (dropping to 10% after you pass a lifetime sales threshold) and 10% on physical/merch, plus separate payment processing fees of roughly 3-5% and a fixed per-transaction charge.
Does Bandcamp take a cut of merch sales?
Yes, Bandcamp's revenue share on physical and merch sales is 10%, in addition to payment processing fees.
What is Bandcamp Friday?
On selected Fridays, Bandcamp waives its own revenue share so that almost all of each sale, minus payment processing, goes to the artist. It only applies on those specific days.
Are there payment processing fees on top of Bandcamp's cut?
Yes. The payment processor (card or PayPal) charges roughly 3-5% plus a fixed fee of around $0.30 per transaction, separate from Bandcamp's own revenue share.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Bandcamp?
Selling direct through a storefront that charges 0% platform fee, where fans pay you through your own link, leaves you the full amount minus only your payment processor's fee, every day rather than one Friday a month.
The bottom line
Bandcamp is fair by industry standards, roughly 15% on digital and 10% on merch, plus processing, with Bandcamp Fridays waiving the share on select days. But "fair cut" still isn't "no cut," and you don't own the customer. If you want to keep 100% of every sale, every day, and own your audience, start selling direct on Played.