We’re seeing more and more creators using Gumroad to sell their films and video content. Rental functionality is really important to them, so we decided to build it. It was the first big project I’ve taken on at Gumroad, and it was a cool way to get to know the platform, the team, and how we all work as a whole.
If you sell a film or video product, you now have the option to make it available for rent as well as sale. After rental, a film or video will be available to stream for 30 days before viewing and for 72 hours after viewing begins.
When editing the product page of a new or existing video product, you’ll see a box for Offer rental.
Click that and you’ll be able to add a price. Set it to whatever you like. You can also make your film rent-only by clicking the x in the corner of the Buy box.
Make your selections and save your changes.
When viewing your product page, your buyers will see the option to Rent or Buy if you’ve made both available. When they select Rent, the Buy button will read Rent. No confusion there.
If someone rents your film and forgets about it, they’ll receive a few warnings that the expiration date is coming up.
Rentals, like all videos, can be streamed on mobile devices via the Gumroad app (available on iOS and Android) or on slightly-less mobile devices via browser.
We’re all excited about this feature, as it opens up a new way for creators to sell and share their films and video content.
I’m very interested to hear your feedback. Reach out to us with any questions or comments on selling your films and videos with Gumroad.