Starting an online business has never been more accessible, and selling digital products offers an excellent opportunity to generate income. Whether you’re an artist, writer, educator, or developer, there’s a digital selling platform tailored to your needs. In this article, we’ll explore 17 platforms that empower individuals and businesses to showcase and sell their digital creations, ranging from online courses and ebooks to software and graphic designs.
Why now is the perfect time to sell digital products
There has never been a more opportune time to start selling digital products. The world’s increasing reliance on the internet and online experiences has created a thriving marketplace for digital goods. With a global audience at your fingertips, you can reach customers from various corners of the world, transcending geographical boundaries. Moreover, the convenience of online transactions and the growing acceptance of digital products have paved the way for seamless sales and instant deliveries.
Whether you’re an artist, educator, or entrepreneur, the demand for digital content, from online courses to ebooks and software, is on the rise. Embracing this digital revolution offers unparalleled accessibility and potential for revenue generation, making now the perfect time to venture into the world of selling digital products.
1. Sellfy:
Sellfy is a straightforward eCommerce platform designed for beginners looking to sell digital downloads. It offers easy solutions for selling digital products on your website, including tools to enhance sales and promote products through social media. With over 32,000 creative artists using Sellfy, it’s an ideal choice for creators of eBooks, videos, music, and design items. The platform provides integration options for your website and offers plans starting at $19/month with a 14-day free trial.
2. Podia:
For those interested in selling online courses, memberships, and downloads, Podia is an excellent platform. It simplifies the process of launching online courses, memberships, webinars, and more. With features like email marketing, website building, and customer interaction, Podia offers a comprehensive solution. The platform can be used for free with limitations or starting at $33/month for more advanced features.
3. Shopify:
Shopify stands out as a flexible and advanced platform for selling both physical and digital products. It empowers users to create customizable eCommerce stores, making it a popular choice for big eCommerce operations. With plans starting at $29/month after a 14-day free trial, Shopify offers a range of features for building and managing an online store.
4. Gumroad:
Gumroad is a widely-used platform for digital creators selling products through social media. Known for its simplicity and ease of use, Gumroad lets creators sell various digital items like books, games, courses, and more. Its integrable widget makes it easy to showcase and sell products on your website, and you can start for free, with transaction fees ranging from 9% to 2.9% plus $0.3 per transaction as your sales grow.
5. EasyDigitalDownloads:
If you’re a WordPress developer looking to sell digital products, EasyDigitalDownloads is a platform designed for you. It’s a plugin that seamlessly integrates with WordPress, providing a light and user-friendly solution for selling digital products. Prices start at $99.50/year, making it suitable for software developers and those who want a simple and complete solution.
6. Thinkific:
Thinkific is an all-in-one platform for selling online courses, catering to various niches and industries. It’s designed for beginners and professionals alike, offering a hassle-free experience for building and maintaining online courses. The platform provides a range of features, including website building, distribution, and sales management. Thinkific offers a free plan with limited courses and a basic plan starting at $39/month, offering unlimited students and courses.
7. E-junkie:
E-junkie offers an affordable way to sell digital products, attracting creative artists, designers, and marketers. It provides a seamless experience for managing sales, inventory, and analytics. E-junkie’s affiliate platform lets you collaborate with others to boost sales. Plans start at $5/month for up to 10 digital products and go up to $40/month for unlimited products with no file size limits.
8. Teachable:
Teachable is a versatile platform for selling online courses, suitable for individuals looking to monetize their knowledge and expertise. The platform enables you to create and manage courses, and it even takes care of EU VAT compliance. Starting with a free plan that includes transaction fees, Teachable offers various plans, with the basic plan at $29/month (billed yearly) and 5% transaction fees.
9. FastSpring:
FastSpring is an ideal platform for SaaS eCommerce businesses, offering a range of features such as global payments, subscriptions, and branded checkouts. It’s particularly useful for software companies seeking online sales solutions. Pricing varies based on business scale, and custom quotes are available upon request.
10. DPD:
DPD is a multi-purpose platform for selling downloads, including software, eBooks, music, and more. It offers an easy-to-use solution, with prices starting at $10/month for up to 20 products, along with payment processing fees.
11. ClickBank:
ClickBank is a well-known platform for selling and buying digital goods. It’s particularly popular among affiliate marketers, with a marketplace catering to customers looking to learn and explore new topics. ClickBank charges an initial listing fee of $49.95 and transaction fees of 7.5% plus $1.00 per sale.
12. SendOwl:
SendOwl provides an affordable way for both experienced and inexperienced sellers to offer digital products. The platform operates in the cloud, allowing for hassle-free product sales and promotions. With features like an affiliate system and upsells, SendOwl offers plans starting at $19/month, eliminating transaction fees.
13. PayLoadz:
PayLoadz has been a prominent player in the digital selling space for over a decade. The platform hosts more than 600,000 sellers and over 3.5 million items. PayLoadz simplifies the process of launching a sales page and offers a variety of valuable insights to sellers. Plans start with a free option but come with a 30% transaction fee, while a regular plan at $29 offers unlimited flexibility.
14. Creative Market:
Creative Market is a bustling marketplace for designers and developers, offering a platform to showcase and sell unique creations. It’s a curated marketplace that features over 10,000 artists, making it an ideal choice for those looking to sell graphics, templates, themes, and more. The platform requires approval for sellers, and fees consist of a 40% transaction fee.
15. ThemeForest by Envato:
Envato’s ThemeForest is a popular choice for selling WordPress themes and website templates. As part of a larger network of marketplaces, ThemeForest provides exposure to a massive audience. Sellers can offer unique products, and fees range from 12.5% to 37.5% for exclusive authors, based on sales volume.
16 . Koji:
In the bustling marketplace ecosystem, Koji stands out as a beacon for social media enthusiasts and creators. Tailored for the digital age, Koji’s social media-centric storefronts streamline the journey from gaining a follower to securing that coveted first sale. The platform offers a diverse range of templates, ensuring that whether you’re selling digital art, e-courses, or any other product, there’s a design that fits your vision. More than just aesthetics, these templates are crafted to provide a seamless and intuitive buying experience for your audience. By eliminating hurdles and friction points, Koji ensures that your customers can focus on what truly matters: your products.
17. Amazin Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
For budding authors and seasoned writers alike, Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) has revolutionized the publishing landscape. Offering a direct gateway to the vast Amazon readership, KDP empowers authors to self-publish their works, be it novels, non-fiction, or even graphic novels. The platform is user-friendly, allowing writers to maintain control over their content, set their own pricing, and earn competitive royalties. Moreover, with the option to enroll in KDP Select, authors can leverage additional promotional opportunities and gain wider visibility through Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. In essence, KDP provides a comprehensive, accessible, and lucrative avenue for writers to bring their literary visions to a global audience.
What is the best platform to sell digital products?
Choosing the right platform depends on your business needs. If you don’t have a website, an all-in-one ecommerce platform with templates can help you get started quickly. Look for platforms with minimal transaction fees for better profitability.
Where can I sell my digital products?
Selling on your own website provides better control over your profits and SEO, but if you’re new to ecommerce, using an ecommerce platform is more straightforward. It handles backend operations, allowing you to focus on your products.
What is the best way to sell digital products?
Consider lead generation as a strategy. Collect potential customer information and use targeted ads through social media or email marketing. Alternatively, explore ecommerce platforms with built-in marketplaces for exposure.
Can you sell digital products on Facebook Marketplace?
Facebook Marketplace generally permits digital products. However, services like house cleaning are restricted. Check Facebook’s guidelines for more details.
What digital products can you sell online?
Here are some ideas for digital products that sell well online:
- Ebooks (fiction/non-fiction)
- Recipes
- Email templates
- Magazines
- Podcast episodes
- Songs, beats, sound effects
- Stock photos and videos
- Sheet music, tracks
- Movies (with proper rights)
- Documentaries, wallpapers
- Fonts, logo designs
- Infographics, animations
- Lightroom presets, Photoshop brushes
- LUTs (Lookup Tables)
- Apps, games, browser extensions
- WordPress themes, guides
- Online courses, tutorials, certifications
Conclusion:
The digital age has simplified the process of marketing your artistic endeavors, as highlighted by the platforms discussed in this piece. Regardless of whether you’re an artist, teacher, designer, or coder, there’s a platform tailored for you, enabling you to distribute and profit from your digital creations. Ranging from platforms for novices to sophisticated eCommerce systems, these tools offer creators the chance to transform their visions into revenue. Select the platform that resonates with your objectives and embark on your digital selling journey now.
Hi, I’m Oren, founder at BIGINTRO, a content strategy agency that helps B2B companies drive growth. We develop search, social, PR, and content marketing strategies tailored to business goals. I also have a dog named Milo.