The 6 top options and features to sell digital downloads on the internet

Find the most important features to sell digital downloads online. This guide covers what to find and the most popular platforms to sell digital downloads.

The most effective ways to sell digital downloads for different types of creators

If you are deciding on a place you will sell your digital downloads be sure to choose a tool that offers ease of entry, functionality, customer support, marketing capabilities with minimal costs, as well as affordable prices.

• Shopify and Etsy are designed for selling physical goods but allow you to sell digital downloads too. Their digital product selling options can be more limited.
• Gumroad offers robust features, and you can sell lots of file types with no fee recurring. But the catch is that they charge high transaction charges for each sale.
• Easy Digital Downloads is a WordPress plugin that lets you sell products directly on your site. Although it's completely free to use however, you'll probably require extensions or integrations.
• It's easy to establish and allows you to offer any kind of file without limitations. There are advanced marketing features built into the platform, and we provide excellent support and fast - at least that's what our customers have to say.

Prior to launching my very first download digitally, I thought the hardest part would be turning the contents of my brain into an effective product people actually wanted to buy.

We don't want that to happen to you.

There are many places where you can sell digital downloads these days, but deciding the right software to use to sell your goods is a matter of a timesink.

What are the reasons to sell digital downloads?

Digital downloads include files which are available online. For creators digital downloads could be an attractive component of your portfolio.

There are a few reasons selling digital downloads might be a good idea for your business:

There is no need to worry the logistics of inventory and shipping. If your daily trip to the post office sounds like your own personal nightmare, digital solutions are the best option to go.

There are 6 things to be aware of in deciding on the best place to sell digital downloads online

However, some software platforms take things higher with more advanced capabilities, and it's crucial to determine which platform is most aligned with what you hope to create for the present and into the future.

Let's face it: migrating your products from one tool to another is about as fun as a trip to the dentist. Avoid your future self suffering from toothache by selecting the tool that you feel is manageable yet also offers room to grow.

In order to make the decision a bit simpler, here are a few things to consider:

Easy of EntryFirst and foremost, the platform which you are selling digital downloads should be easy to use to you as a creator.

Functionality:You're a multifaceted creator and you could like to sell different types of digital goods down the road. Keep an eye out for platforms that don't restrict what kind of file you're able to upload.

Customer SupportIf your situation is similar to two-thirds of customers , you expect answers to any support issues within 10 minutes of contacting these questions. Selecting a business with great customer support could save the customer from frustration further on.

Transaction charges:Transaction fees are a fraction of the sale that the platform keeps. The fees typically range from 1-10% of the overall amount of the transaction. Certain platforms may also charge listing fees as well as credit card processing charges and can quickly grow with each transaction.

Price:Finally, we have to calculate the figures. It's true that cheaper may not be better since lower-cost platforms typically come with higher charges and hidden costs.

We now know the qualities to search for, let's look at some well-known options and see the way they compare.

For instance, the creator Emily Connors makes use of her website to offer free digital downloads , and to sell live cohort programs, on-demand courses, and one-on-one coaching programs.

Most importantly, it's an affordable plan. You can create your site, run your online community and also sell one digital download and one coaching program for at no cost.

Are you ready to experience it for yourself? Register your free account now.

These are some of the benefits for using

The plan for free allows you to easily sell your first digital download with no huge initial cost.

You are able to offer any type of digital download with unlimitable file sizes.

Even though we think is an amazing program, it is not the case that every software will be suitable for all. There are a few reasons that could not be the ideal option for you.

The world is digital and if you're looking to sell physical products, a platform like Shopify or Etsy may be a better choice.

features

Ease of entry: 5 out of 5. The creator-facing dashboard on is clean and easy to use. Through our customizable onboarding procedure as well as step-by step instruction videos you'll be able to list your items in a matter of seconds.

Function: 5 out of 5. You can offer files of virtually every format, and there's no limit on file size. It's yours to bundle your goods and offer them for an upsell, and charge them as you wish.

Support Five stars out of five. Have you spoken to our support staff yet? If not, you should! Go to the chatbox on the bottom of our page and say hello. We have the most helpful fast, courteous, and quick chat service in town.

Marketing: 4.5 five stars. We built to be an all-in-one solution for the needs of your company Marketing features make up a significant element of the puzzle. It is possible to prelaunch and sell items, offer coupons or even create your own affiliate program right out of the box.

I've taken a half percent off as we don't have a marketplace function, but this isn't necessary for every company as we allow you to easily develop your own brand of audience using our lead capture tools.

Transaction fees: 4.5 out of 5. With , there are no transaction fees on paid plans. Users who are on a free plan pay an average of 8% in transaction fees on product sales.

It keeps the costs down when beginning your business, but you'll have the ability to upgrade and remove charges for transactions as your company grows.

In common with all platforms, there's payment processing fees that are not associated with . Stripe or PayPal charges a basic transaction fee of 2.9 percent plus 30Cor. Also, we offer immediate payouts for creators, so you are able to get your cash fast.

Price: 's free plan includes a website, online community, one digital download, as well as a coaching product. Plans that are paid range from $39 -- $199/month.

Do you want to know more about running your online business with ? Join us for the live demo and try it out:

Shopify

Shopify is an online retailer as well as a household name within the realm of creators. More than 1.7 million organizations use Shopify for their own online store, and creators on Shopify have made more than $200 billion in revenue.

The Shopify platform is well-known to sell physical items, but it's additionally possible to market digital products. Since its inception, Shopify has also added numerous international features to its e-commerce platform.

If you're a creative that wants to market digital or physical products to customers across the globe, Shopify might be a ideal place to begin.

These are Shopify advantages:

Shopify has powerful features for marketing and integrations with social media platforms.

Shopify has its own payment processor, Shopify Payments. It's user-friendly and it's included with all plans, so you don't have to integrate with other processors, if you don't want to.

Create beautiful website designs, with storefronts that can be customized and even storefronts.

These are the Shopify negatives:

Shopify's focus is on selling physical products. There are premium features you won't need if you're only providing digital items.

If you don't utilize Shopify Payments, there are extra charges on top of the month-long subscription cost.

The fee structure, in general, is complicated.

Shopify has features

Ease of entry 3/5. Since Shopify was initially designed to sell physical goods You'll have to follow more steps to market digital downloads. The site has videos that will guide you through the process of adding your items using the Digital Downloads app, but it's not the easiest system.

Functionality 3/5. This time around, Shopify loses points because much of its features are intended for the sale of physical goods.

When selling digital downloads, the maximum file size for sale is 5 GB per file. The seller can only offer just one file for each product variation However, you can incorporate multiple variations, like different image resolutions and ebook formats. You'll need to use the ZIP file if you want to add many files to the same product.

Support: 3 stars out of five. Shopify has 24/7 chat support, 24/7 email assistance, as well as a forum where you can get help from other customers. However, many reviews online mention slow response times for the support department.

Marketing 5/5/5. Shopify shines in the marketing department. Their plans include a solid site builder, which lets you create your own storefront as well as manage your blog.

There's built-in email marketing with eCommerce templates. Additionally, you can create gift cards, issue coupons, and display real customers' reviews. They also integrate with social media platforms.

Transaction fees: 2.5 out of 5. The Shopify fee structure is complex. It's difficult to determine exactly what your transaction and the processing fee for credit cards are on purchases.

There are no transaction fees when you make a payment via the Shopify Payments platform. If you don't utilize Shopify Payments, there's a transaction fee for using a third-party payment processor.

Also, if you accept the major credit card, you'll pay an additional fee for credit cards for each purchase. These percentages change based on the type of plan you pick.

Basic Shopify:

Processing fee for credit cards: 2.9% + $0.30

Transaction fee if not using Shopify Payments: 2%

Shopify:

Credit card processing fee: 2.6% + $0.30

Fee for transactions if you do not use Shopify Payments: 1%

Advanced Shopify:

Processing fee for credit cards: 2.4% + $0.30

Fee for transactions if you do not use Shopify Payments: 0.5%

Price: $29 -- $299/month. Shopify provides three different plans. Pay the monthly fee as well as the fees mentioned below.

Etsy

Many shoppers use Etsy to purchase unique and handmade items. Etsy is well-known as the site to purchase custom as well as vintage and unique merchandise created by creators and small businesses.

Etsy has more than 400 million monthly visitors , which is an enormous amount of attention on your products. They also have a robust marketplace where you can sell your products and get discovered by potential buyers.

Plus side:

Etsy is a well-known brand, and helps to build trust with consumers.

On your shop page, it is possible to subdivide your merchandise into categories that will help you organize your products and easy access.

Etsy provides a simple seller dashboard that lets you get reviews, contact customers, create coupons, and even offer discounts.

It's an excellent platform to sell items like designs, templates, presets, vectors, fonts, as well as creative items.

To the other hand:

Etsy is designed for selling physical goods and digital products. Make sure to clearly state in your listings that the items are digital in order to avoid confusion.

While being listed in the Etsy marketplace is an attractive perk, there's lots of competitors, and items that are in the top categories can be lost.

Etsy offers

Ease of entry The rating is 4/5. Etsy is adjusting to the online marketplace very well. The process of setting up an shop in an afternoon, and adding products can be as easy as filling out an online form to describe your product, uploading your product images, adding the files, clicking the button to publish.

Functionality: 3 out of 5. On Etsy the possibility of selling many different formats, but it is only possible to upload up to five files per item. The maximum file size is 20MB for each file, this could be limiting to some creators.

Support: 3 out five. On the one hand, Etsy offers a fantastic user community for creators where you can ask questions. Sellers are also able to access extensive help documentation as well as a handbook for sellers.

However, Etsy support is only available through email. There's currently an average turnaround of 1-2 days however, this isn't ideal when it comes to urgent inquiries.

Marketing: 4 out of 5. Etsy has some appealing marketing options for sellers. While other platforms may provide the ability to sell on a market, none of them have the presence of Etsy.

It can be a battle to the death However, you can generate significant traffic to your website and products. There are other third-party tools for keyword research that specifically cater to Etsy search rankings. Etsy additionally offers the option of advertising available to sellers.

Transaction fees: 2 out of 5. There are a number of charges to be aware of when selling on Etsy. First, you'll pay a $0.20 listing fee per item in your shop. Each listing is active for four months , or until it sells.

When you sell a product, you'll pay a 5% transaction fee along with a% + $0.25 payment processing fee.

Price 10 dollars per month for free. Setting up your own Etsy shop is absolutely free however, it will cost $0.20 to sell the product and extra transaction costs.

Simple Digital Downloads

It's designed specifically for the sale of digital products, but it needs some additional lifting to get the same functionality like the different systems listed here.

The upside is:

EDD can be a great choice if you have an WordPress website and to keep your product in the WordPress ecosystem.

This is also a good choice for users who need sophisticated customization, but bear your eyes on the fact that you'll have to feel comfortable with writing code and working with.

To the negative:

For all the functions you require to market digital downloads, it is necessary to use extensions and integrations with other applications.

These extra extensions and integrations might be charged separately and technical difficulties.

Simple Digital Downloads features

Easy to enter: 3 out of 5. If you're familiar in using WordPress and have already uploaded plugins previously making the switch to EDD is like normal. If you've not used WordPress, this wouldn't be the most effective tool as you'll need to master two different interfaces.

Functionality Quality: 3 out of 5. With EDD it is possible to sell any file you can upload onto WordPress. This allows you to sell a large range, but be mindful of the bandwidth you use for your website in case you are planning to market large items.

Like we've said, EDD can be connected with other tools from third parties to provide more capabilities. It's highly customizable, but managing many systems can be complex.

Essentially, it's best for those who want to create and manage their own selling setup. The building blocks are good however the issue is do you want to do the construction?

Support: 2 out of 5. EDD provides customer service via an online ticketing system. However, it doesn't have live chat. Priority support is only available on higher-tiered plans.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you have problems with the integration, it could be necessary to contact their support as well. This could result in unpleasant back-and-forth conversations.

Marketing: 2.5 out of 5. From the beginning, EDD offers coupons and discounts. They also have a the ability to shop online.

By utilizing extensions, you'll be able to expand your marketing tools by including affiliates, emails stars, reviews of star ratings, cross-selling, and upselling However, some of these integrations are only offered on premium plans.

The first step is to create first a WordPress website, which comes with hosting and domain fees. There are also fees associated with the premium integrations that you intend to use.

Price: Free -- $999/year. The basic EDD plugin is completely free. If you want more tools then you'll have to purchase them separately and upgrade to a more expensive package to get all the features.

Gumroad

Gumroad is an online platform on which creators sell digital downloads of various sizes and shapes. In the last decade, Gumroad creators have collectively made more than $500 million from selling online-based items.

It's user-friendly and has become a preferred choice among designers, but is it the best choice for you? Let's dive into the pros and cons.

Here's the place where Gumroad excels:

Gumroad makes it easy to get started as well as you are able to sell pretty much any kind of merchandise you could imagine, including physical items if you decide to.

The service is free to all users; you'll only be charged transaction fees if you make a sale. It's a great option if you're not sure about selling digital products and want to test before you commit to using a premium instrument.

Creators have access to Gumroad Discover, a marketplace where prospective customers can find your products.

Here are a few Gumroad pros and cons:

There's a limited amount of customization options on your product pages as well as checkout pages. It's difficult to make a traditional sales page, as there's no builder for websites.

Although it's free to sign up, you'll be charged a high amount for each transaction. It's fine when you're just starting out however, as you grow the business, this could reduce your income.

Gumroad has

Easy to use: 4 out of 5. Setting up products on Gumroad is easy and intuitive. It's possible to publish your first listing in just a few seconds, and then you'll be ready to start selling.

Function: 4.5 out of 5. Gumroad is a great platform for selling products. Gumroad the ability to market physical and digital products, as well as such as memberships, variations of products, and rentals. It is also possible to select when you will release your items, provide the keys to license if selling software, or sell subscriptions.

In the case of paid items There's a size limit of 16 GB. If you purchase free versions, the file size limit is 250 MB. Each product can include the number of files you'd like.

Support: 2.5 out of 5. Gumroad has a resource library with helpful articles and videos. There's no live chat or phone support, so the most effective option to reach them with specific questions is to use their contact form.

Marketing Rating: 4/5. Marketing: 4 out of 5. Gumroad's affiliate system shines. If you're planning to implement affiliate marketing with your product, Gumroad lets you set this up free of charge by using their straightforward system.

Gumroad is also able to provide a number of integrations that allow you to connect your email marketing tools along with an integration with Zapier.

Transaction costs: 2.5 out of 5. The transaction fee ranges from 9.9% to 2.9 percentage and up, this is the part in which Gumroad loses the most points. The cost of transactions is lower when you make more sales, but it's quite high for the new creators. Additionally, you pay a $0.30 charge for every transaction.

Gumroad provides weekly payments as long as you've met a $10 USD threshold.

Price: Free plus Charges. There's no recurring monthly price, but the fees for transactions will be depending on the number of annual sales.

What should you look out for before deciding on where to sell digital downloads

Every creator is unique. That's why it's nice to be able to choose the software that will run your company.

If you have a secure digital download platform by your side, you'll be on your way to an improved product lineup and endless earning potential.