ablefy vs. CopeCart: A Comparison
If you're looking for a platform to sell digital products in German-speaking countries, you'll quickly come across three names: Digistore24, ablefy, and Copecart. All three platforms handle payments for you, but which one is a better fit for your business? In this article, we'll show you the differences between ablefy and Copecart.
A Quick Comparison of Ablefy and Copecart
- CopeCart is a platform for payment processing and quote generation.
- ablefy combines payment processing, online courses, member areas, community features, and a sales module into a single system and account.
- Both platforms offer two contract models: the reseller model or selling under your own name. However, the scope of each varies. Here’s a comparison of the details.
A Quick Comparison of Ablefy and Digistore
Criterion
Copecart
Platform Architecture
Platform for Sales and Hosting
Sales Platform
Sales Model
Reseller Model
Selling in your own name for companies worldwide
Reseller Model
CopeCart Pro for businesses in the EU, Switzerland, the UK, and Norway
Checkout & Conversion
4 Templates
Color and image customization
White labeling available
3 Templates
No color matching
Copecart Branding
Online Courses, Members-Only Areas
Included
-
Community
Included
-
Function for Telemarketing
Sales OS for sales teams of all sizes.
Phone Offer feature for small teams.
Currencies
Euro, CHF, GBP, USD, Zloty, Dirham
Euro, USD, Dirham
Payment Methods
All major payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, and Klarna
All major payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, and Klarna
Fees
Software fees starting at €27/month
Transaction fee:
2.7% + €0.50 (in your own name)
5.6% + €1.50 (reseller model)
No software fee.
Transaction fee:
3.9% + €1 (CopeCart Pro)
4.9% + €1 (reseller model)
Billing and Collections, including judicial collection proceedings
Yes
Yes
International sales
Yes
Yes
ablefy or Copecart? The Differences in Detail
Platform Architecture
ablefy: Payment processing, invoicing, tax processing, the sales module, and affiliate programs are already available in the Sell Plan. Course hosting, member areas, and community features are included in the Create & Sell Plan—all accessible through the same account. ablefy relies on a unified system structure but also offers interfaces to third-party providers that you can use flexibly.
CopeCart: At the heart of CopeCart are the checkout, payment processing, and sales modules. For courses, membership areas, and community features, you’ll need CopeMember or another third-party provider. Depending on the tool, this will incur various software fees.
Sales Model & Law
reseller model
In the reseller model, the platform itself acts as the merchant of record. It appears on the invoice, handles sales tax remittance, provides cancellation information, files tax returns for international sales, and pays out earnings monthly. This is ideal for sellers who want to minimize their accounting workload. Both providers offer this model.
Selling in One's Own Name
In this model, the sellers themselves appear as the contracting parties on the invoice and assume greater accounting responsibility. This is particularly beneficial for companies that enjoy tax advantages due to their location or legal structure, as well as for anyone who wants more control over sales regions, contract terms, and the collections process. The platforms provide the technical infrastructure, handle tax calculations, and issue invoices as requested. Since the seller bears more responsibility, the transaction fee is significantly lower.
Differences between the platforms:
ablefy
Copecart Pro
You can switch to the reseller model at a later time using the same account.
For businesses worldwide
2.7% + €0.50 per transaction
CopeCart Pro requires a separate account.
For businesses in the EU, the UK, Switzerland, and Norway.
3.9% + 1 € per transaction
Checkout & Conversion
The standard payment methods—such as credit card, SEPA direct debit, PayPal, Klarna, bank transfer, Apple Pay, and Google Pay—are available on both platforms. You do not need your own PayPal or Stripe account in ablefy’s reseller model, nor do you need one with Copecart.
ablefy: The ablefy checkout can be customized to match your own design, supports images and videos, and allows for the free design of order bumps. Merchants can 100% white-label their entire sales process.
Since local payment solutions and currencies are a key driver of conversion, ablefy also lets you offer Twint, iDEAL, and Przelewy24 and sell in euros, Swiss francs, British pounds, U.S. dollars, and Polish zlotys. If you’re selling under your own name, you can also sell in UAE dirhams.
CopeCart: The Copecart checkout is functional but limited in its design options. The Copecart branding remains visible and cannot be fully customized to match your own corporate identity.
At Copecart, currency availability depends on the selected reseller instance. The EU reseller supports the euro, the US reseller supports the U.S. dollar, and the UAE reseller supports the dirham and the U.S. dollar.
Classes & Membership
ablefy: With ablefy, you can create checkout pages for your digital products, as well as member areas such as online courses, communities, and memberships—all built directly within ablefy. This way, payment processing, hosting, and access management are seamlessly handled on a single platform. You don’t need any additional tools: hosting is included in the Create & Sell plan.
CopeCart: CopeCart provides the checkout and payment processing. To host and sell membership areas, you’ll need to purchase and integrate additional software.
Sales & Affiliates
ablefy: ablefy’s Sales Operating System is designed for growing sales teams. It enables the closing of high-value deals over the phone or via video call, while also handling everything after the deal is closed. Sales OS offers a high degree of flexibility in commission models through multiple tiers, customized commissions, and customized payout rules. This helps solo entrepreneurs with sales, but also meets the needs of a growing team.
CopeCart: With the Deal Closer Tool (Phone Offer), deals can also be closed over the phone. Commission is calculated based on single-tier commission models.
Digistore24: Offers an open affiliate marketplace with several thousand products, where independent affiliates can find and promote offers. For telemarketing, Digistore24 refers users to the separate add-on module, Digiclose.
Overview: Those who rely on third-party reach through a marketplace will find Digistore24 to be a good fit. Those who build their own sales structures—including a sales team and their own network—will find the right tools already integrated into ablefy.
Fees
ablefy: Monthly software fee starting at €27 (Sell) or €59 (Create & Sell, including courses, membership, and community). The transaction fee is 2.7% + €0.50 (sales under your own name) or 5.6% + €1.50 (reseller model).
CopeCart: No monthly base fee. The transaction fee is 4.9% + €1 (reseller model) or 3.9% + €1 (CopeCart Pro).
Classification: Due to the different structures of the two platforms, it is difficult to compare costs. Which platform is more affordable depends on the individual case.
Those who only need payment processing and don't use any course or community features tend to pay less with CopeCart because there is no base fee.
If additional software is needed for courses, communities, or landing pages, CopeCart users will incur additional costs, such as for the separate CopeMember product. With ablefy, these features are included in the Create & Sell plan but not in the Sell plan.
The transaction fee is a flat rate for both providers, regardless of sales volume or product price. Under the reseller model, Copecart is less expensive than ablefy. ablefy’s transaction fee is lower than Copecart’s when selling under your own name, and this option is available to more companies since there are no restrictions on company location.
Who is a better fit for ablefy or Copecart?
CopeCart is right for you if you...
- … you already use your own set of tools for courses, landing pages, or sales and just need a payment processing solution.
- … you're just getting started, only need a payment solution, and don't want to pay a monthly fee.
- … you have a small sales team with a single-tier commission structure.
ablefy is a better fit for you if you…
- …want to consolidate payment processing, courses, community, and sales into a single system.
- …you sell high-priced products through telemarketing and want to set up customized commission structures.
- … have a business location outside the EU, the UK, Switzerland, and Norway, but still want to take advantage of the specific tax benefits that come with selling in your own name.
- …want personal support over the phone.
How does the switch from Copecart to ablefy work?
ablefy offers a free 14-day trial. During this time, interested users can get a feel for the platform and try out all its features. The trial also includes an onboarding process that explains how the platform works, so you’ll be up and running in just a few days.
If you currently host course sections on another platform, you don't necessarily have to move them. You can also start by integrating ablefy solely as a payment provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CopeCart also offer online courses and a community?
No. You need separate software for that. With ablefy, online courses and the community are included in the Create & Sell plan.
Can I sell on ablefy under my own name?
Yes. In addition to the reseller model, ablefy also offers the option to sell under your own name and is an alternative to CopeCart Pro. With ablefy, selling under your own name is also available to companies outside the EU, allowing them to take advantage of tax benefits.
Do I have to stop using my current course platform to use ablefy?
No. ablefy can initially be connected to an existing course platform solely as a payment provider. It is not absolutely necessary to switch platforms.
How do I get started with ablefy?
Through a free 14-day trial period that includes onboarding, during which the platform is explained.
