As a food creator with delicious recipes to share, you've probably wondered: "Where can I sell my recipes online?" Whether you're looking to monetize your culinary creations for the first time or diversify your existing revenue streams, there are more options than ever before to turn your recipes into income.
In this guide, we'll explore the best platforms where you can sell recipes online, comparing features, commission structures, and audience reach to help you make an informed decision for your culinary business.
Why Sell Your Recipes Online?
Before diving into the platforms, let's address why selling recipes is worth considering:
- Direct monetization of your culinary expertise
- Passive income potential once recipes are created and listed
- Diversification beyond advertising and sponsorships
- Creative control over your content and pricing
- Deeper connection with your audience through premium offerings
Now, let's explore where you can sell these valuable culinary assets.
1. Your Own WordPress Website
Best for: Food creators who already have an established blog and want complete control.
If you already run a food blog on WordPress, adding ecommerce functionality is a natural extension of your brand.
Pros:
- Complete control over branding and user experience
- No commissions (just payment processing fees)
- Integration with your existing content
- SEO benefits of keeping visitors on your domain
Cons:
- Requires technical setup (WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads plugins)
- You're responsible for all marketing and traffic generation
- Limited built-in community features
Cost structure: One-time setup costs plus ongoing hosting fees. Payment processor fees typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
2. Chewlist
Best for: Dedicated recipe creators looking for a specialized platform with built-in audience and creator-focused tools.
Chewlist is a platform specifically designed for food creators to monetize recipes through direct sales.
Pros:
- Purpose-built for recipe monetization
- Professional tools for recipe management and presentation
- Built-in community of food enthusiasts
- Analytics to track performance
- Ability to sell both individual recipes and collections/recipe books
- No technical setup required
Cons:
- Newer platform compared to some alternatives
- Commission on sales
Cost structure: Free to join. Commission structure based on sales with top creators earning $2,000-$8,000 monthly.
3. Etsy
Best for: Recipe creators with visually appealing, themed collections or specialized dietary focus.
While primarily known for handmade goods, Etsy has become a marketplace for digital products, including recipe collections.
Pros:
- Large established marketplace with built-in traffic
- Great for themed recipe collections (e.g., holiday baking, keto, vegan)
- Good search functionality for buyers to find your content
Cons:
- High competition
- Less ideal for individual recipes (better for collections)
- Not food-specific, so less targeted audience
Cost structure: $0.20 listing fee per item (listings expire after 4 months), 6.5% transaction fee, plus payment processing fees.
4. Gumroad
Best for: Creators who want a simple setup with minimal technical requirements.
Gumroad is a popular platform for selling digital products of all kinds, including recipes and cookbooks.
Pros:
- Quick and easy setup
- Flexible pricing options (including pay-what-you-want)
- Ability to offer discounts and affiliate programs
- Integration with existing websites
Cons:
- Limited discovery features (works best if you drive your own traffic)
- Not food-specific
- Basic analytics compared to specialized platforms
Cost structure: No monthly fee, but takes 10% + $0.30 per transaction on the standard plan.
5. Patreon
Best for: Recipe creators with an engaged following who want to offer subscription-based recipe access.
Patreon allows you to create membership tiers where subscribers get access to exclusive recipes.
Pros:
- Recurring revenue model
- Community features to engage with subscribers
- Ability to offer different content tiers
- Works well alongside free content platforms
Cons:
- Requires consistent content creation
- Not specifically designed for recipe presentation
- Success depends heavily on existing audience
Cost structure: 8-12% of monthly income plus payment processing fees.
6. Food Blogger Pro
Best for: Recipe bloggers looking to monetize their expertise rather than individual recipes.
This platform focuses more on teaching food blogging skills but can be leveraged to sell premium recipe content.
Pros:
- Community of serious food content creators
- Education-focused platform
- Good for establishing authority
Cons:
- Not primarily designed for selling individual recipes
- Limited direct selling features
- Membership required
Cost structure: Annual membership fee plus your own pricing structure for courses or content.
7. Shopify
Best for: Culinary entrepreneurs building a food brand beyond just recipes.
Shopify provides a robust ecommerce solution if you're looking to create a dedicated shop for your recipes.
Pros:
- Professional ecommerce functionality
- Excellent marketing tools
- Ability to expand into physical products (cookbooks, ingredients, kitchen tools)
- Complete customization options
Cons:
- Monthly subscription cost
- Steeper learning curve than some alternatives
- No built-in food community
Cost structure: Monthly subscription ($29-$299) plus payment processing fees.
How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Recipes
When deciding where to sell your recipes online, consider these factors:
- Your existing audience - Do you already have followers to bring to a new platform?
- Technical comfort level - How much setup are you willing to manage?
- Commission vs. control - Are you willing to pay higher fees for more visibility?
- Presentation needs - How important is recipe-specific formatting?
- Community aspects - Do you want to be part of a food-focused community?
Combining Platforms for Maximum Reach
Many successful recipe creators use multiple platforms strategically:
- Use your WordPress blog to drive traffic and awareness
- Offer individual recipes on Chewlist to tap into their food community
- Sell comprehensive themed collections on Etsy or Gumroad
- Provide subscription-based exclusive content via Patreon
This multi-platform approach allows you to reach different audiences and create multiple revenue streams from your culinary content.
Final Thoughts
Selling recipes online has never been more accessible, with platforms catering to every level of technical ability and business model. Whether you choose a specialized platform like Chewlist, leverage your existing WordPress site, or use general marketplaces like Etsy and Gumroad, the key is to start with quality recipes presented professionally.
Remember that success in selling recipes online comes down to solving problems for your audience - whether that's specialized dietary needs, time-saving meal prep, or impressive entertainment menus. Focus on the value you provide, and the right platform will help you deliver it to eager customers willing to pay for your culinary expertise.
Are you ready to transform your recipes into revenue? Choose the platform that aligns with your goals and start your culinary business journey today!