The top six platforms and features for selling digital downloads

Find out about the most important elements you must be able to sell digital downloads over the internet. This guide will explain the essential features you should find and the most well-known platforms for offer digital downloads for sale.

Most effective methods for selling digital downloads are to creators of all kinds

In determining where to market digital downloads, be sure you choose software that offers ease to use, functional assistance to customers, market capabilities as well as low fees as well as affordable costs.

• Shopify and Etsy are designed for selling physical items, but they allow sellers to provide digital downloads as well. They offer selling digital goods, but the options could be more flexible.
• Gumroad provides robust functions and allows for the sale of a wide range of types of data without annual fees. However, Gumroad charges high transaction fees per sale.
• Easy Digital Downloads is a WordPress plugin that allows you to sell your products directly from your website. Even though it's absolutely free to install however, you'll probably require additional extension and integrations.
• It's easy to establish and allows you to market any kind of file without restrictions. It has advanced marketing capabilities that are built into the platform and we offer excellent customer support and speedy service as well as fast service - or at least, according to our clients.

When I launched my first digital download I imagined that the toughest part to tackle was turning the ideas of my brain into a product of high quality that people actually wanted to buy.

We would not want this to happen to anyone else.

There are many places that are able to offer digital downloads today, however, deciding the most appropriate software to use for your application is dependent on an a timesink.

Why do you think you should sell digital downloads?

Digital downloads are the files you can purchase on the internet. For creators digital downloads could make a profit from the product line.

Here are some reasons why selling digital downloads can help you.

You don't have to fret about logistics like inventory and shipping. If the idea of making regular visits to the post office sounds like your own nightmare electronic solutions are your best option to go.          xBbNbpzQbGycOFjRyT

There are six things you need to be aware of when you decide where to market digital downloads

Some platforms, however, take it up a notch with advanced options, which is the reason it's important to think about which one is most compatible with your goals that you'd like to achieve for the present as well as the future.

Moving the tools you use from one place to the other is almost the same as going for a visit to the dentist. You can avoid from pain when you choose a tool that's easy to operate but also gives you room to develop.

To make the procedure a little easier, here are a few features you should look for:

accessibility:First foremost, the site which is selling digital downloads must be simple to access for you as the owner.

Functionality:You're a multifaceted creator You may want to market different kinds of digital items later on. Keep an eye out for websites that don't limit the kinds of files you're allowed to upload.

Help:If you're in the same position with most clients  are, then you're expecting responses to support queries within ten minutes of having asked the question. Picking a firm that offers great customer support can spare you from frustrating delays further in the future.

Charges for transactions:Transaction fees are a tiny percentage of every purchase made by the platform. They typically amount to one and ten percent from the total amount of the transaction. Different platforms might also include the cost of listing as well as credit card processing fees and will increase with every transaction.

Cost:Finally, we have to figure out the numbers. Although, cheaper isn't necessarily better quality, as platforms that have low costs usually have more charges as well as hidden fees.

Once we've identified the features to seek out Let's take a look at several popular alternatives to find what they are like.

In particular, the author Emily Conners uses her site to offer free digital downloads and sell live cohort programs, and also individual coaching services.

The most important thing is that it's an affordable option. It lets you develop your own site, run your online community as well as make a purchase of one digital download, as well as one coaching item without cost.

Do you want to experience it for yourself? Create your free account now.

Here are some advantages of making use of :

The no-cost plan lets you offer the first download with out needing to pay a huge initial investment.

It is possible to sell any kind of digital download with unlimitable file sizes.

Even though we think is an amazing program, it is not the case that every software is right for everyone. There are several possible reasons why it might not be your ideal choice.

The world is digital therefore, if you're trying to sell physical products using a website, such as Shopify or Etsy might be a better alternative.

Features

Easy to enter: 5 out five. The creator-facing dashboard on is clean and easy to navigate. With our customized onboarding process and step-by step instruction videos you'll be able list your items within a few hours.

Functionality: 5/5. With it, you are able to sell documents of almost every kind of format and there's no limit on file size. You're free to combine your product and even offer them for additional products, and set the price in accordance with your needs.

Support Rating 5/5. Have you met our support team? If not, then it's time to do so! Click the chat box on the bottom of our page to say hello. We are the fastest swift, friendly and courteous chat support available.

Marketing: 4.5 from 5. We designed our site to be a one-stop shop to meet the requirements for your company. marketing tools are an integral element of the process. You can prelaunch and sell merchandise, give coupons or create an affiliate program right out of the beginning.

I've taken a half percent off since we don't offer an online marketplace, but this isn't necessary for any business as you can easily establish an individual fanbase using our lead-capture tool.

Transaction fees: 4.5 out of 5. With , there are no transaction fees with paid plans. Users who are on free plans pay the 8% transaction cost for transactions.

The cost is kept low while you're just starting out, however, you'll be able to reduce and improve charges for transactions as your business grows.

In common with all platforms, there are processing costs that are not related to . Stripe or PayPal is charged a base transaction cost of 2.9 percent plus 30Cor. Additionally, we provide instant cash to the creator so you can get your cash quickly.

Cost: 's free plan comes with a website, an the online community and one file download, as well as one coaching product. Paid plans range from $39.90 to $199.99/month.

Want to learn more about how to run your business online using the same platform ? Attend a live demonstration and try the software out:

Shopify

Shopify is an online retail store and a household name in the world of creators. The company has 1.7 million businesses use Shopify to run their stores online and developers have produced more than 200 billion dollars in revenue.

Its Shopify platform is well-known for selling physical goods However, it's also possible to sell digital items. In recent times, Shopify has also added many international ecommerce features.

If you're an artist who would like to sell digital and physical items to buyers across the globe, Shopify might be a ideal place to begin.

These are Shopify benefits:

Shopify has powerful marketing tools and integrations with social media platforms.

Shopify offers an in-house payment system, which is called Shopify Payments. It's easy to use and includes all of the plans, so it's not required to integrate with third-party processors , if you don't want to.

It is possible to create stunning website designs, with storefronts that are customizable and storefronts.

These are the Shopify pros:

Shopify's primary goal is to sell physical items. The platform has features of premium quality that you will not require for a business that is focused on selling digital products.

If you don't utilize Shopify Payments, there are additional fees on top of the monthly subscription fee.

The fee structure is generally difficult to understand.

Shopify features

Ease of entry 3.5. Due to the fact that Shopify was originally designed with the purpose of selling physical items it is necessary to take more steps to market digital downloads. The site has videos that take you through the procedure of adding your product through Shopify's Digital Downloads app, but it's not the easiest method for users.

Functionality Quality: 3/5. This time around, Shopify loses points because much of its functions are designed to sell physical goods.

For digital downloads, the maximum size of the file will be 5GB per file. The only way to sell one file per variation, however it's possible to offer multiple versions including different resolutions of images or ebook formats. It is necessary to download a ZIP file in order to add many files to one product.

Support: 3 5 stars from five. Shopify has 24/7 chat support, 24/7 help via email along with a community in which you can seek assistance from other users. There are numerous online reviews that mention poor response times from the support department.

Marketing 5/5/5. Shopify is a standout in its ability to promote their products. They have a strong site builder, allowing you to create your own storefront and also create blogs.

The feature for email marketing is integrated into E-commerce templates. You can create coupons as well as gift cards or vouchers and show authentic reviews from customers. The software also connects with social media sites.

Charges for transactions: 2.5 out of 5. The Shopify fees structure is quite complex. It's not easy to pinpoint what your transaction and the charge for processing credit card transactions are on transactions.

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

If you also accept large credit cards, you'll have to pay an additional fee to purchase credit cards. These percentages change based on which plan you select.

The basics of Shopify:

Credit card processing fee: 2.9% + $0.30

Charge for transactions when you do not use Shopify Payments 2 percent

Shopify:

The processing cost for transactions with credit cards: 2.6 percent + $0.30

Charge for transaction if you don't use Shopify Payments: 1%

Advanced Shopify:

Processing costs for transactions with credit cards: 2.4% + $0.30

Charge for transaction if the payment is not made through Shopify: 0.5%

Price: $29 -- $299/month. Shopify has three plans available. The cost per month is in addition to those costs, which are detailed below.

Etsy

Many shoppers use Etsy to buy unique and handmade merchandise. Etsy is often referred to for being the place to buy custom unique, antique, and unusual products created by people as well as small-scale businesses.

Etsy boasts over 400 million users per day  this is an impressive amount of people looking at your items. In addition, they provide a strong marketplace that allows you to sell your items and be discovered by prospective buyers.

Plus side:

Etsy is an established brand that will instil trust among consumers.

On your shop page, you can subdivide your merchandise into categories that will help you organize your merchandise and increase their visibility.

Etsy has an intuitive seller dashboard, which lets you read reviews, send messages to customers, create coupons, and also give coupons at a discount.

It's an ideal platform to sell items like art, templates, presets as well as vectors, fonts and various other artistic works.

To the other hand:

Etsy is designed to allow sellers to market physical products and digital products. Make sure to clearly state in your description that the items are digital to avoid confusion.

While listing your item on the Etsy marketplace could be an excellent perk, it's lots of competition, and items in the most popular categories can become lost.

Etsy has many features

Accessibility Easy to use Rating: 4/5. Etsy is adjusting to the world of digital products effectively. The process of setting up your shop within an afternoon, and adding products can be as easy as filling in the description field and uploading the images of your products before uploading them onto the site and pushing the publish button.

Functionality 3.0 5. The best part about Etsy the possibility of selling various file types, but you are only able to upload five files per item. The maximum size for files is 20MB for each one, this might restrict some creators.

Support 3 stars out five. It is important to note that Etsy offers a fantastic creator community that allows you to ask questions about problems. Sellers also have access to detailed help documents and a seller handbook.

However, Etsy support is only available through the email. At present, they have an average turnaround of 1-2 days, which isn't great when you need support urgently.

Marketing Rating: 4/5. Etsy has some interesting marketing opportunities for sellers. While other platforms may offer the ability to sell in a market, none of them have Etsy's popularity. Etsy.

It can be a battle to the end, but you could bring on serious customers to your products. In fact, there are additional third-party tools that perform keyword research made specifically to be used with Etsy ranking in search results. Etsy provides additional options of advertising that sellers can make use of.

Transaction costs 2.5. There are a couple of fees you should be aware of for selling your products on Etsy. The first is the $0.20 price to list each product you sell in your store. The listing can be in use for four months or until it is sold.

If you are selling products you offer to customers, you'll pay a five per cent transaction fee , plus the 5% plus $0.25 payment processing cost.

Price Free -- 10 dollars per month. Setting up the Etsy shop is absolutely free however, it will cost $0.20 for listing products as well as additional transaction fees.

Simple Digital Downloads

It's designed specifically to sell digital items, however, it requires some extra lift to perform the same functions as some of the different systems described here.

The upside is:

EDD is a good choice if you have an existing WordPress site and want to keep integrating your website into the WordPress ecosystem.

It's also a good option for those who are searching for more complex modifications. However, keep your eyes on the fact that you'll need a good understanding of writing code and working with.

The downside

In order to get the full features you need to sell digital downloads you'll have to use extensions as well as integrations to other programs.

Other enhancements or integrations could have their own costs and technical issues.

Simple Digital Downloads includes features

Accessibility 3.5% access to the site is easy. If you're comfortable with WordPress and have already added plugins to your site in the past, the procedure of setting up EDD will go like normal. If you've never used WordPress it's not an efficient tool since you'll have to learn two interfaces.

Functionality: 3 out of five. In EDD it is possible to sell any file you can upload onto WordPress. This gives you a wide selection, however be aware of the bandwidth you have on your host when you intend to provide massive-scale items.

As we've mentioned, EDD can be integrated with different tools provided by third party companies for more functionality. EDD is extremely flexible, but managing several systems is complicated.

The best choice is for those who wish to construct and maintain their own selling setup. The building blocks are good but the real issue is, would you like to build the work?

Support: 2 stars from five. EDD gives customer service via the ticket system. Unfortunately, live chat support isn't offered. Priority customer service is offered in plans that have higher levels of support.

One thing to keep to keep in mind is should you encounter issues with your integration, it may be required to talk to their customer support department as well. It can result in frustration-inducing back and forth chats.

Marketing: 2.5 out of 5. Out of the box, EDD offers coupons and discounts, as well as a useful shopping cart feature.

By integrating extensions, you'll be in a position to expand your marketing suite by including affiliates as well as emails, star reviews Cross-selling, upselling, and more. Certain features are available only to plans that have higher levels of service.

The first step is to create your existing WordPress site, that includes hosting and domain fees. There will also be fees associated with any integrations with prices that you would like to make use of.

The price is $999 for a year. no cost. The basic EDD plugin is free. If you'd like to add additional features, you'll have to purchase them separately or upgrade to a premium plan to access all of the capabilities.

Gumroad

Gumroad is an online marketplace on which creators can sell digital downloads in a variety of sizes and shapes. Over the past decade, Gumroad creators have collectively generated more than $500m by selling products that are online.

It's simple to use and a popular option for makers However, is it really the ideal choice? We'll look at the pros and cons.

Here's the place where Gumroad excels:

Gumroad allows you to begin your journey, and you can sell pretty much every kind of item you can imagine and even items that are physical when you decide to.

It's accessible to everyone for free You'll only be cost for transactions when you've made a profit. It's a great option if you're not certain of selling digital products and would like to try it before you commit to using the premium tools.

Creators can access Gumroad Discover which is a marketplace where prospective buyers can search for the products you offer.

Here are a few Negatives from Gumroad:

The customization options aren't so extensive on your products pages, as well as checkout pages. It's difficult to make an ordinary sales page and it's not possible to use a site builder.

While it's not too expensive to sign upfor the service, it's costly to cover transaction costs per sale. This is fine for those just getting started, but as you expand, it will seriously take away your profits.

Gumroad is a Gumroad

User-friendly Ease to use: 5/5. Making your product available on Gumroad is easy and intuitive. The first time you publish your list within a couple of minutes, and you'll have everything you need to begin selling.

Function: 4.5 out of 5. Gumroad is an excellent place to sell items. Gumroad, you can offer digital and physical products, as well as, memberships, product variations, as well as rentals. Furthermore, you have the option of choosing the time you publish your products, and give the keys for licensing if selling software and also sell subscriptions.

If you purchase paid-for products the maximum file size is 16GB. If you buy free versions , the maximum the size of files is 250MB. Each product can include any number of files that you'd like.

Customer Service 2.5 out of 5. Gumroad has a resource library with helpful articles and videos. The live chat feature isn't available, nor does customer support via phone, therefore the best way to contact the company to discuss specific concerns is through their contact email.

Rating for Marketing: 4/5. Marketing department Gumroad's affiliate marketing software is a savior. If you're planning to employ affiliate marketing in conjunction with the product you sell, Gumroad lets you set an affiliate marketing strategy to your specifications at no cost using their simple-to-use software.

Gumroad is also able integrate with a range of tools that allow you to link your email marketing tools along with Zapier integration.

Costs of transactions: 2.5 out of 5. There are transaction costs that vary between 9 and 2.9 percent in this category which is also in this area that Gumroad is the most impacted by losses in points. The costs for transactions decreases with the higher amount you sell however, it's a high cost for young creators. In addition, you have to pay an additional $0.30 price for each purchase.

Gumroad provides weekly cash payments in the event that you've crossed a $10 USD threshold.

Cost: Free and Charges. There's no recurring fee per month, but there are transaction charges dependent on the number of annual transactions.

What should you look out in the process of deciding on a place you will sell digital downloads

Each creator is different. That's why it's crucial to make choices when selecting the software that will run your business.

If you've got a safe digital download platform by your side, you're on the right track to a better selection of services and the endless potential for earning.

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