Where can you sell digital downloads Top Online Platforms for sales
We are in the era of digitalization, where it's ever been simpler to start an online company starting from scratch, and then cruise towards the financial freedom you desire.
One of the most efficient and most simple ways to accomplish this is by creating an income stream that is passive - this can be achieved by making digital downloads available for sale. Whether you already have an amazing idea for a digital product or just want to dip your toes in the digital marketplace, anyone can learn the best ways to market digital downloads.
One of the most crucial decisions you'll make when building your online business is choosing where you will sell digital downloads... the platform that you select will affect the manner in which you advertise your digital goods, the visibility to your intended audience as well as the number of money you can earn.
In this complete guide, you'll discover where you can sell digital downloads online as well as the most effective platforms for selling digital downloads and also the best places you can offer digital downloads for sale other than Etsy to maximize the potential of your sales.
Are you ready to locate the ideal platform to showcase the digital files you have downloaded? Let's get started:
- Why would you want to offer digital files?
- Popular digital downloads categories
- The importance of selecting the appropriate platform
- Things to take into consideration when selecting a platform
- Audience and niche focus
- Fees and pricing
- features and customizable options
- Best platforms for selling digital downloads
- Alternative marketplaces for digital downloads
- Key takeaways
- FAQs
What are the reasons to sell Digital downloads?
The market for digital eCommerce, the number of users is expected to amount to a whopping 4.79 billion by 2028. The demand for digital items is increasing, so it's now time to reach consumers at the point they're already.
Selling digital downloads is an excellent way of breaking into the market of digital commerce as there is minimal expenditure in terms of overhead and costs, if any. Digital downloads are easy to design and to sell - all you need is knowledge in your niche subject, the capability to create an excellent product, and a website to sell and market the digital downloads you create on.
With a few hurdles to enter and a wide range of digital downloads available online, selling them is a great opportunity to earn money as your full-time gig or as a lucrative side-hustle.
Popular digital downloads categories
This is a comprehensive list of some of the most popular digital downloads that are popular right now. The best way to go about it is to choose a category that interests you and then be extremely specific on your niche area of expertise within that category. This helps to stand out from your competition and enhance the market popularity of your service.
Top digital download categories:
- eBooks and online courses
- PDF files, guides and other documents
- Web-based and software applications
- Digital art (fonts and graphics, photography as well as videos)
- templates, sheets, and planners
The categories listed above are just one of many categories. In the case of example, if your niche is travel you can offer travel guides and checklists for packing that customers can download for their upcoming trip. There are thousands of possibilities for digital downloads that are available for sale within these categories - simply choose an area you're interested in and start conducting the necessary market research in order to sell your product.
Importance of choosing the right platform
Now that we've touched on some of the digital downloads that you can offer on the internet, let's tackle the big question: where to sell digital downloads.
This is one of the primary steps when developing your online company, since deciding how and where to offer digital downloads can make your company more likely to achieve future success. Make sure that you're using a hosting site that is both secured and managed well, and that it accommodates your business-specific demands.
The choice of where you offer your digital downloads also determine whether you need to put more effort into marketing and attracting customers to your products or if you want a platform with a built-in user base such as Etsy (there are advantages and disadvantages to each and we'll touch in a bit later).
Many small-scale businesses are attracted to digital marketplaces. It is an eCommerce site where multiple sellers are able to list their digital products for sale. The marketplaces host a wide range of product types that cater to different interests. To the other side of the spectrum there are self-hosted sites that allow greater control over the layout and features you can provide, but without the audience that comes with them.
Next we'll dive into some essential considerations you should take into account when looking at where to sell digital downloads. If you're looking for where to sell digital downloads, other than Etsy and other marketplaces, we'll look at the most effective alternative marketplaces.
Factors to consider when deciding on a web-based platform
For the best possible sales by selling digital downloads be sure to think through what your business requires both now and in the coming years in order to successfully grow with time.
Consider these key factors when choosing the best option for selling digital downloadings
Audience and niche focus
If you have an online marketplace with a client base already established that you can reach many customers searching for downloads on digital media that are relevant to your area of expertise. This is huge because it means it's not necessary to direct customers to your site as you would with a self-hosted platform.
Remember that although there's no need to attract buyers to your website using an online marketplace However, you'll want to promote the digital downloads you offer using keywords and SEO to differentiate yourself from competition. Marketplaces that offer advertising exposure at a higher price.
In order to gain visibility and ultimately the sales you can expect from your own platform To increase your visibility and sales, you'll have to establish a following to download your digital content through social media marketing with platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Our pro tip is to carry out market research for your target audience in order to find out how you can hook and keep faithful customers.
Prices and charges
If you choose to sell your digital downloads through the internet, you'll usually be required to pay to advertise your items. Once you've listed your products There could be transaction fees and payment processing fees, in addition to charges for payment gateways be aware of since they could add up. Additionally, you'll be able to receive payment on the marketplace's timeline instead of your own.
One benefit of having your own website or self-hosted website is that you get to keep 100% of the profits you earn. While there is still an expense to run your own site, the expense is generally smaller in the long term once you drive up profits.
Options for customization and features
Best platforms for selling digital downloads
Once you've figured out what you should expect or search for in the marketplace online or on a self-hosted website, let's dive right into the best platforms out that sell digital downloads.
We'll present options of selling digital downloads other than Etsy and also compare the top platforms for selling digital downloads so that you can choose the right one for your business.
| Platform | Pros | Cons |
| Gumroad |
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| Shopify |
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| Sellfy |
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| Payhip |
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| Redbubble |
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| Creative Market |
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| Easy Digital Downloads |
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| SendOwl |
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| Teachable |
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Gumroad
Gumroad was created to help new creators who want to get started in the realm of digital products to explore different concepts and formats.
Through gumroad, you'll get access to an established marketplace that is steadily growing. They also offer multiple creator resources for those looking for inspiration. Not only can you sell digital downloads, but you also can sell memberships, SaaS subscriptions as well as almost any other product using Gumroad.
Since Gumroad offers a built-in user base, it has very few options for customization. But, they do not have any charges for monthly usage and charge a flat rate of 10% off every sale.
Shopify
Shopify is among the top platforms for eCommerce that offers many of the most effective tools (such as free plug-ins) that allow you to personalize your online store's appearance. You have the freedom to build your website exactly how you want you want it, or pick one of Shopify's ready made templates.
Shopify's most basic plan for solo entrepreneurs starts out at just $37/month. However, they offer a large trial offer which includes one month for $1.
Sellfy
Sellfy is a hosting platform with all the functions you'll need all in one. You are able to offer your digital downloads however you'd like - you could set up your own storefront (using an individual domain) or integrate Sellfy's cart into your desired platform.
Sellfy is highly customizable and comes with marketing tools built in. Everything is included in this platform, which makes it a desirable choice when selecting a place to market digital downloads. The company offers a 14-day no-cost trial for those who wish to give it a go.
Payhip
Payhip is a great alternative that is easy and simple for anyone who is just beginning to sell digital downloads. It's a complete platform on which you can begin, expand and handle all your business needs.
Your store can be created the way you want by customizing your domain name and site or embedding the Payhip feature on another website.
Payhip has a solid pricing structure, including a free forever plan. They only take 5% of each transaction (you have to pay Stripe/Paypal transaction fees). Their transaction fee goes through to 0% with the various pricing plans.
(hey, that's us!) makes it easy to create and increase your earnings potential, and see results quickly by using Digital Downloads . It is possible to offer ebooks, guides, templates, and more to attract new leads, engage new audiences, and quickly boost the revenue you earn.
It's a fantastic all-in-one solution that lets you sell digital downloads both as standalone products or as add-ons to the existing services you offer. Additionally, you can leverage the capabilities of AI to create customizable landing pages that showcase your own unique talents and sell your digital downloads, and with little or no knowledge of marketing.
will help you increase your earnings and earn more money - without a lot of effort. With no transaction fees on every plan, the basic plan starts at $36/month and includes a variety of options.
Alternative marketplaces for digital downloads
These platforms are some of the most sought-after sites to market any type or digital download. Additionally, we have compiled a list of equally great platforms which are more specific and specific to the kind of digital download you are selling.
Redbubble
Redbubble is a global marketplace that lets you upload and sell your original designs and prints-on-demand. While not technically a digital download, it's the same concept for artists who want to display their work.
Redbubble has an extensive catalogue of more than 70 products - from clothing to wall art to masks and mugs - along with 40 million monthly customers.
They've introduced account tiers based on the design uploaded by users, and their platform is free with zero upfront fees.
Creative Market
Creative Market allows you to open up a shop in their marketplace that has a built-in audience, and provides a broad selection of unique and niche digital products. From customized fonts to graphics templates and themes, you'll be able to sell virtually any digital download and gain access to a large community of devoted customers.
Although there aren't any initial setup fees, Creative Market charges 40 percent transaction fee.
Simple Digital Downloads
Easy Digital Downloads provides a reliable and customizable platform for online shops across the globe. It's the most popular digital eCommerce plug-in for WordPress as well as creators who can sell eBooks, plugins, images, and every kind of digital files. The platform is also equipped with a huge variety of integrations and powerful analytic tools to help grow your small company.
The personal plans begin at $99/year which include a variety of different features. They also offer other paid plans that can meet your business needs.
SendOwl
SendOwl is one of the most user-friendly platforms for novices, and offers a wide array of features that makes the platform stand out among other marketplaces. It is possible to sell digital downloads from anywhere such as your own website, through payments on social networks, through payment channels, and more. The site offers features like 'pay-what-you-want' pricing and 'tip Jar', while also helping customers increase their orders and turn to more sales. They will also make sure the content you upload is safe and secure.
SendOwl is unique in that it is based on the cloud and is not on your server as other eCommerce softwares. Their pricing plan begins at $18/month. However, they provide a 7-day free trial and then $1/month for two months.
Teachable
Teachable is a huge marketplace where creators can sell online courses and educational content. They offer a ton of custom tools and themes which allow you to quickly make and sell a vast range of digital downloads.
Teachable offers a free plan, which costs just $1 with the 10% transaction fee for every sale. They also offer different monthly plans that have less transaction costs and more features and tools.
Key takeaways
The process of creating the digital products and services you want to sell is easier than you may think - it's all about choosing the right platform to call home for your digital products.
Selecting between an existing marketplace or a custom self-hosted platform will affect how you develop or market your digital downloads, so choose wisely! We suggest trying all of the free plans or free trials above and then pick the platform which best fits your company demands.
Ready to start creating digital downloads? Start today for a free trial.
FAQs FAQs
Do I have to pay for the privilege of listing my downloads digitally on this platform?
A majority of the platforms mentioned above offer free listings, however some have transaction costs. It is important to carefully review the fee structures and pricing of each platform before choosing one.
Do I have the ability to sell various kinds of digital downloads through those platforms?
Yes, absolutely! Many platforms offer a variety of digital downloads. These include ebooks, music and artwork as well as templates and other. Certain platforms are geared towards special categories of digital content for example, online learning. Ensure that your platform can work with your existing products before committing to one.
How can I get payment from sales?
Payments generally are processed by the payment system of the platform or through an integration like Paypal and Stripe (platforms will specify if they support this). Earnings are transferred to the account of your choice, either your bank account or the payment processor's account in accordance with the platform's payment calendar.
Can I offer digital downloads worldwide?
The majority of platforms are able to support international sales. It allows you to sell your digital downloads to an international audience. Be conscious of any tax or legal implications associated by selling digital items within different countries.
Can I sell exclusive rights to my downloads?
A few platforms offer opportunities of selling exclusive rights, or licenses to digital downloads. Make sure you review the platform's licensing options and the terms of service to fully understand the rights you have as a buyer.