Best platforms for selling digital products in 2024
Selling digital products online has become a big deal. From books to music and more, there are lots of ways to make money from your digital creations. But with so many options out there, it’s hard to know which website is best for you. In this article, we’ll look at the top websites for selling digital stuff in 2024. We’ll check out how easy they are to use, what features they have, how much they cost, and if they offer good support. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been selling stuff online for a while, finding the right website can help you reach more people and make more money from your digital creations.
In this article, we’ll compare nine of the best platforms to help you make an informed decision.
Table of Contents
Comparison Table Key:
- Pricing: Monthly subscription cost for the basic plan.
- Features: Highlighted features offered by the platform.
- Integrations: Third-party integrations available.
- Support: Types of support offered by the platform.
Gumroad
Gumroad offers an easy-to-use platform for creators to sell digital products such as ebooks, music, videos, and software. It provides customizable checkout options and robust analytics to track sales performance.
- Pros: User-friendly interface, affordable pricing, useful analytics, and integration with popular third-party tools like Zapier and Mailchimp.
- Cons: Limited customization options compared to some other platforms, may not be suitable for large-scale businesses with complex needs.
| Criteria | Gumroad |
|---|---|
| Pricing | $10 per month |
| Features | Easy product setup, customizable checkout, analytics |
| Integrations | Zapier, Mailchimp, ConvertKit |
| Support | Email support, knowledge base |
Shopify
Shopify is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that allows users to build and customize online stores. It offers unlimited product listings, various marketing tools, and seamless integration with payment gateways.
- Pros: Powerful e-commerce features, extensive app store for added functionality, reliable customer support, and scalability for growing businesses.
- Cons: Monthly subscription fees can add up, particularly for smaller businesses, and customization may require technical expertise.
| Criteria | Shopify |
|---|---|
| Pricing | $29 per month |
| Features | E-commerce website builder, unlimited products, marketing tools |
| Integrations | PayPal, Stripe, Facebook |
| Support | 24/7 live chat, email support |
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a popular WordPress plugin that transforms websites into fully functional e-commerce stores. It offers flexibility in design and functionality, with a wide range of extensions available.
- Pros: Free to use (with paid extensions), seamless integration with WordPress, extensive customization options, and strong developer community support.
- Cons: Requires a WordPress website, which may not be ideal for everyone, and can become complex to manage with numerous extensions.
| Criteria | WooCommerce |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Free (with paid extensions) |
| Features | WordPress integration, customizable, unlimited products |
| Integrations | Stripe, PayPal, Mailchimp |
| Support | Community forums, documentation |
Selz
Selz provides an all-in-one platform for selling digital and physical products online. It offers customizable storefronts, secure payment processing, and built-in marketing tools.
- Pros: Easy setup process, customizable themes, robust analytics, and integration with popular services like Google Analytics and Mailchimp.
- Cons: Limited scalability compared to some other platforms, and higher pricing for additional features.
| Criteria | Selz |
|---|---|
| Pricing | $26 per month |
| Features | Easy store setup, customizable themes, analytics |
| Integrations | Google Analytics, Mailchimp, Facebook |
| Support | Email support, knowledge base |
Payhip
Payhip is a simple platform designed for creators to sell digital products directly to their audience. It offers straightforward product setup, affiliate management, and basic analytics.
- Pros: Free to use (transaction fee applies), easy-to-use interface, affiliate management functionality, and integration with popular payment gateways.
- Cons: Limited features compared to more comprehensive platforms, and transaction fees can eat into profits for high-volume sellers.
| Criteria | Payhip |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Free (transaction fee applies) |
| Features | Simple product setup, affiliate management, analytics |
| Integrations | PayPal, Stripe, Mailchimp |
| Support | Email support, help center |
ThriveCart
ThriveCart is a powerful cart platform designed to maximize conversions and revenue for online businesses. It offers features like high-converting checkout pages, upsells, and affiliate tracking.
- Pros: High-converting checkout process, advanced features for maximizing sales, lifetime pricing option, and integration with popular payment gateways.
- Cons: High initial investment with a one-time payment, may be overkill for smaller businesses with simpler needs.
| Criteria | ThriveCart |
|---|---|
| Pricing | $495 one-time payment |
| Features | High-converting checkout, upsells, affiliate tracking |
| Integrations | Stripe, PayPal, ConvertKit |
| Support | Priority email support, knowledge base |
Easy Digital Downloads
Easy Digital Downloads is a WordPress plugin specifically designed for selling digital products. It offers a lightweight and customizable solution with robust reporting capabilities.
- Pros: Free to use (with paid extensions), seamless integration with WordPress, developer-friendly architecture, and extensive reporting features.
- Cons: Limited support options compared to some other platforms, and may require technical expertise to fully utilize.
| Criteria | Easy Digital Downloads |
|---|---|
| Pricing | Free (with paid extensions) |
| Features | WordPress integration, robust reporting, developer-friendly |
| Integrations | PayPal, Stripe, Mailchimp |
| Support | Community forums, documentation |
Sellfy
Sellfy is an e-commerce platform focused on helping creators sell digital products, subscriptions, and physical goods. It offers customizable storefronts, marketing tools, and built-in payment processing.
- Pros: Easy store setup, customizable design options, built-in marketing features, and integration with popular payment gateways.
- Cons: Limited customization compared to some other platforms, and higher pricing for additional features.
| Criteria | Sellfy |
|---|---|
| Pricing | $29 per month |
| Features | Easy store setup, customizable design, marketing tools |
| Integrations | PayPal, Stripe, Facebook |
| Support | Email support, knowledge base |
Podia
Podia is a platform for creators to sell online courses, digital downloads, and memberships. It offers features like course creation tools, membership site functionality, and built-in email marketing.
- Pros: Comprehensive platform for selling digital products and memberships, easy-to-use interface, built-in email marketing tools, and live chat support.
- Cons: Higher pricing compared to some other platforms, and may be too specialized for businesses not focused on online courses or memberships.
| Criteria | Podia |
|---|---|
| Pricing | $39 per month |
| Features | Course creation, membership sites, email marketing |
| Integrations | Stripe, PayPal, Mailchimp |
| Support | Email support, live chat, knowledge base |
Conclusion:
Choosing the right platform to sell your digital products is a critical decision for any online business owner. While SendOwl has been a popular choice, exploring alternative options in 2024 can provide you with features, pricing plans, and support structures that better align with your specific needs and goals.
From Gumroad’s user-friendly interface to Shopify’s comprehensive e-commerce features, and from WooCommerce’s flexibility to Selz’s easy setup process, there’s a diverse range of alternatives available. Payhip’s simplicity, ThriveCart’s focus on maximizing conversions, and Easy Digital Downloads’ lightweight solution offer further options.
For those seeking a balance between simplicity and functionality, Sellfy and Podia provide comprehensive platforms with customizable features and marketing tools. Ultimately, the best SendOwl alternative for you will depend on factors such as your budget, the complexity of your products, desired integrations, and level of support needed.
By carefully evaluating each platform’s pros and cons, considering your specific requirements, and perhaps even taking advantage of free trials where available, you can make an informed decision that sets your digital product business up for success in 2024 and beyond.