Selling digital products online is an attractive business model for entrepreneurs and subject matter experts. It allows you to create your own products—like ebooks, online courses, artwork, photos, songs, software, and more—and sell them directly to customers around the world with minimal overhead.
But to be successful in this business, you need the right platform. The best digital product selling platforms make it easy to create great-looking stores, upload your digital files for sale, promote your products to customers, handle secure payments, and automate delivery of your files.
To help you find the ideal platform for your needs, here‘s an in-depth comparison of seven of the best options on the market today:
1. Ecwid
Ecwid offers an all-in-one solution for digital product selling. Key features include:
- Free plan available
- Built-in online store builder
- Unlimited storage and bandwidth
- Flexible pricing options like one-time purchases, subscriptions, and installment plans
- Secure payment processing and tax calculation tools
Ideal for: Sellers who want a streamlined and budget-friendly way to sell digital downloads through their own branded store.
Pros
- Very easy to set up
- No transaction fees
- Tons of customization options
- Flexible payment options
Cons
- Design customization requires HTML/CSS skills
- No built-in file protection or licensing
Pricing: From free to $35/month. Transactions fees apply only on free plan.
2. Gumroad
Gumroad is a lean platform optimized for creators selling digital downloads. Features include:
- In-browser drag and drop editor
- Built-in file delivery and protection
- Pay what you want" pricing option
- Simple, clean templates
Ideal for: Writers, musicians, artists, and other content creators selling digital media directly to fans.
Pros
- Extremely easy to use
- Excellent for quick setup
- No monthly fees
Cons
- Very limited design customization options
- 8.5% transaction fee on paid plans
Pricing: Free, but charges 8.5% transaction fee on sales over $10
3. Sendowl
Sendowl specializes in digital fulfillment and secure file delivery. Key features:
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Email marketing tools
- Real-time sales and payment reporting
- Integrates with 500+ platforms
Ideal for: Sellers who want seamless digital delivery integrated with their website, email lists, membership sites or other platforms.
Pros
- Top-notch file protection
- Feature-rich
- Generous limits on all paid plans
Cons
- Steeper learning curve
- Monthly and transaction fees
Pricing: From $9 to $99 per month plus transaction fees
4. Teachable
Teachable offers best-in-class course creation and selling capabilities. Key features include:
- Custom domains and branding
- Built-in course creation tools
- Integrated certificates and assessments
- Memberships and "drip" content options
Ideal for: Online course creators who want excellent multimedia course building capabilities paired with sophisticated ecommerce features.
Pros
- Amazing course creation experience
- Everything needed, all in one place
- Free plan available
Cons
- Primarily built for courses, not all digital products
- Expensive paid plans
- Transaction fees on free plan
Pricing: Available free plan. Paid plans from $29 to $249 per month
5. Payhip
Payhip helps you instantly sell digital downloads with no monthly fees. Features include:
- Drag and drop store builder
- Unlimited products on all plans
- Automatic tax calculation
- Simple, stylish templates
Ideal for: Beginners wanting an easy, zero-commitment way to start selling digital files.
Pros
- Zero monthly fees
- Easy setup
- Good selection of themes
- Built-in marketing tools
Cons
- 2-5% transaction fees
- Less features than "pro" platforms
- Limited design options
Pricing: Free and premium plans from $9 to $199 per month. Plus transaction fees.
6. Shopify
Although built primarily for physical goods, Shopify can also handle digital delivery. Notable features:
- Sophisticated storefront builder
- Hundreds of themes and customization options
- Robust blogging and content tools
- Integrates with Oberlo for product sourcing
Ideal for: Established sellers wanting advanced ecommerce and marketing capabilities. Also useful for product bundles of physical + digital.
Pros
- Extremely sophisticated platform
- Virtually unlimited scalability
- Tons of apps and integrations
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Extra setup required for digital delivery
- Expensive plans + transaction fees
Pricing: From $29 to $299 per month. Plus transaction fees on all plans.
7. Podia
Podia offers streamlined digital commerce combined with online course creation tools. Features:
- Intuitive course builder
- Memberships and "drip feed" capabilities
- Built-in affiliate marketing system
- Email marketing integrations
Ideal for: Coaches, consultants, subject experts who want to offer online courses and memberships alongside other digital products.
Pros
- Excellent course building experience
- Great features for subscriptions and memberships
- Strong integrations ecosystem
Cons
- More limited standalone ecommerce capabilities compared to some alternatives
Pricing: From $39 to $299 per month. Annual billing saves 17%.
When evaluating digital selling platforms, start by making a list of exactly what types of products you intend to offer so you select a platform that can support your specific inventory mix.
Here are some other key considerations:
Features
Carefully assess which commerce features are indispensable for selling your chosen digital asset types. This will help you zero in on an option catering to your needs.
Simplicity vs customization
Some platforms offer greater design customization and branding flexibility while others optimize for quick setup. Decide what‘s most important to you.
Cost structure
Monthly fees, transaction fees, and payment processor costs vary so model out total platform costs based on your projected sales.
Marketing capabilities
Consider platforms like Teachable and Podia if you want built-in email marketing and affiliate management to help boost sales.
Scalability
Ensure there are no artificial limits that would constrain your business as your digital catalog and customer base expands over time.
Once you select a platform, you‘ll go through a sequence of key setup steps to launch your digital storefront:
1. Register your domain
A custom domain like YourNameDigitalStore.com projects an established, professional brand. Many platforms let you map this to elegant branded store URLs.
2. Install security certificates
SSL certificates create "https" in the store URL and encrypt sensitive customer data during transactions. They are essential for secure digital commerce.
3. Connect your payment processor
Platforms like Payhip and Gumroad handle payments directly while Shopify and Teachable integrate 3rd party processors like Stripe or Authorize.Net.
4. Select a visually appealing theme
Well-designed themes make a great first impression on visitors and reinforce your brand identity. Most platforms offer multiple templates.
5. Set up your digital product catalog
Upload each of your digital assets to the platform and fill out engaging titles, descriptions, images/video, pricing info and other product details.
6. Configure taxes, shipping and payments
Carefully check all commerce calculations around digital products which have no physical goods tax and zero shipping costs.
7. Test order workflows
Double check your digital fulfillment process by purchasing your own products. Verify smooth, glitch-free delivery of paid digital assets.
Driving customers to purchase your digital products involves both marketing to establish awareness and compelling presentation on your selling platform to nudge visitors towards buying.
Optimize Store Layout and Messaging
- Devise a customer journey through your digital store moving visitors seamlessly from browsing products to completing purchases
- Make calls to action, add to cart links, and checkout flows clear and visually defined
- Use trust factors like security badges and customer social proof
Run Targeted Traffic Campaigns
- SEO optimization to rank your online store
- Pay per click ads to your product pages
- Targeted social media promotions based on ideal customer demographics
- Affiliate partnerships and JV deals to tap into existing audiences
- Retargeting campaigns to re-engage past visitors
Create Scarcity and Value
- Offer limited time discounts or flash sales with countdown timers to prompt impulse purchases
- Provide bundled packages that increase perceived deal value
- Upsell premium versions and extras like bonuses, faster access, extended rights etc.
- Spotlight your best-selling items, customer favorites and editor’s picks
Streamline Your Sales Process
- Prepopulate fields during checkout to complete more transactions
- Offer guest checkout options to remove registration friction
- Make surveys optional and only show after checkout is complete
- Accept global payment types and allow easy currency conversions
Once you perfect your digital selling process, focus relentlessly on growth:
Diversify Your Digital Catalog
- Move into related digital products leveraging existing competencies
- Test new offerings informed by customer data and marketplace gaps
- Cross-sell and upsell additional assets to each buyer
Refine Your Cost Structure
- Model your actual platform fees based on sales
- Benchmark metrics like customer acquisition cost (CAC)
- Negotiate volume discounts from payment processors
Double Down on Automation
- Create sequenced, personalized email campaigns to educate and upsell
- Leverage platforms like Ecwid and SendOwl to automat key post purchase workflows
- Set tasks like license key generation and download page expiration on autopilot
Mine Customer Insights
- Analyze store analytics to identify best selling items and upsell opportunities
- Survey customers about additional products they would purchase
- Onboard power users to beta test new offerings
Selling online empowers small businesses and solopreneurs to build location-independent livelihoods on their own terms. By combining expert knowledge and creative digital assets with the strategies outlined above, anyone can launch, run and scale a successful digital selling business. Let the right platform provide the specialized commerce backbone freeing you to focus on producing amazing products that deliver value to customers worldwide.
