Answer · confidence: partial
How do people sell ebooks and courses online, and do most make real money?
Research question: How do people sell ebooks, templates, presets, online courses, memberships, and paid communities, what does the evidence show about how much these typically earn and how many sellers reach sustainable income, and how has this market shifted as of late 2026?
Creators sell through product sales and subscriptions, not just advertising 2, and platforms such as Substack and Patreon are used to distribute and monetize this work 9. Membership sites charge users a recurring monthly or yearly fee for premium content or community access 10. The records show that Patreon earnings begin at roughly $26 to $70 a month, or about $312 to $840 a year 34, and OnlyFans creators average $1,300 per year 11. Earnings concentration rose across most platforms between 2018 and 2024 5, and Patreon's distribution is more equitable than YouTube's 14, but the highest earners are underrepresented in the public data because they disclose least 6. The facts do not establish how many sellers reach sustainable income, and a Gumroad-based source states that its estimates cannot establish a median creator income 15; the newest fact is dated October 5, 2026 15.
Checked 2026-10-18. Only documented and supported facts are used.
Dig deeper on this questionSources
[1] supported
Goldman Sachs projected total creator economy revenues to reach $480 billion by 2027, roughly double an estimated $250 billion in 2022.
"Goldman Sachs Research projects total creator economy revenues to reach $480 billion by 2027, roughly doubling from an estimated $250 billion baseline in 2022"The Professionalization of UGC Creation: Career Structures, Rate Formation, Licensing Logic, and Strategic Positioning in the Contemporary Creator Economy (2025)
[2] supported
Creators monetize their work through several channels, including product sales and subscription-based services, not just advertising.
"monetizing their creative activity through multiple channels including advertising , sponsorships , product sales , crowdfunding , and subscription-based services"Creator economy
[3] supported
Creator earnings on Patreon start following power-law concentration at very low monthly amounts, roughly $26 to $70 per month across platforms.
"Power law dynamics emerge early at between $26 and $70 per monthly earnings across these platforms, a very low monthly earnings amount consistent across platforms.""Rich-Get-Richer"? Platform Attention and Earnings Inequality using Patreon Earnings Data
[4] supported
The $26 to $70 monthly threshold equals about $312 to $840 per year, far below the income level where power laws usually appear in standard income distributions.
"At an annual amount of $312 to $840, this is in stark contrast to standard income distributions, where the power law typically applies to income levels only above $100,000 per annum""Rich-Get-Richer"? Platform Attention and Earnings Inequality using Patreon Earnings Data
[5] supported
Across most platforms, earnings concentration increased over time between 2018 and 2024, with earnings becoming more concentrated among top creators.
"Third, across most platforms, α values decline and converge over time (based on three cross-sections: 2018, 2021, and 2024), meaning earnings become increasingly concentrated among top creators""Rich-Get-Richer"? Platform Attention and Earnings Inequality using Patreon Earnings Data
[6] supported
Creators with more paid subscribers are the least likely to disclose their Patreon earnings, so the highest earners are underrepresented in the public data.
"since those with more paid subscribers tend to disclose their earnings the least, we find.""Rich-Get-Richer"? Platform Attention and Earnings Inequality using Patreon Earnings Data
[7] supported
Several platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and Facebook, have set up funds to pay creators.
"A number of platforms such as TikTok , Snapchat , YouTube, and Facebook have set up funds with which to pay creators."Creator economy
[8] supported
YouTube and Instagram, which have stronger recommendation systems, show the most earnings inequality and the weakest middle class of creators.
"Importantly, platforms with stronger recommendation systems, such as YouTube (α = 1.8) and Instagram (α = 1.84), exhibit more significant earnings inequality and a weaker “middle-class” of creators""Rich-Get-Richer"? Platform Attention and Earnings Inequality using Patreon Earnings Data
[9] supported
Substack and Patreon are among the platforms named as creator economy software platforms used to distribute and monetize creators' work.
"Examples of creator economy software platforms include YouTube , TikTok , Instagram , Facebook , Twitch , Spotify , Substack , OnlyFans and Patreon ."Creator economy
[10] supported
Membership sites operate on a recurring fee basis, where users pay monthly or yearly to access premium content, resources, or community benefits.
"A membership site is an gated online platform where users pay a recurring fee, monthly or yearly, to get the access of premium content , resources or community benefits."Online Course vs. Membership Site: Understanding the Difference
[11] supported
OnlyFans creators earn an average of $1,300 per year, despite the platform paying out billions to creators.
"Creators are paid 80% of these fees and earn a yearly average of $1,300. In 2023, creators earned an average of nearly $1,300 per year."OnlyFans
[12] supported
The platform's parent company, Fenix International, reported revenue of $1.6 billion in the year to November 2025, with pre-tax profits of $715 million.
"In the year to November 2025, OnlyFans' parent company, Fenix International, reported revenue of $1.6 billion, an increase of 10% from the previous year, while pre-tax profit rose 5% to $715 million."OnlyFans
[13] supported
Income inequality among VTubers, measured by the between-VTuber Gini index, rose from about 0.60 in 2018 to about 0.75 in 2023.
"continuedtogrowfromaround0.60in2018to0.75in2023"Who Reaps All the Superchats? A Large-Scale Analysis of Income Inequality in Virtual YouTuber Livestreaming (2025)
[14] supported
Patreon's revenue is more equitably distributed than YouTube's, with a Gini coefficient of 0.621 and its top 1 percent taking 22.8 percent of revenue.
"By contrast, Patreon is much, much more equitable (Gini = 0.621), and the top 1 percent takes 22.8 percent of the total revenue"The Innovation Economy of Digital Creators: Monetization Models across Platform Economies (2025)
[15] supported
The source says its Gumroad product estimates cannot establish a median monthly income for creators, so the typical creator's earnings cannot be inferred from them.
"The State of Gumroad 2026 product estimates do not establish a median monthly income for creators."Digital Product Market Size 2026 — 152K Products Analyzed