11 Best Platforms for Selling Digital Downloads: Boost Your Side Hustle Income
Are you looking for ways to make extra money? Selling digital products online can be a great side hustle.
It’s easy to get started and you don’t need a lot of upfront costs.
There are many platforms that let you sell digital downloads. These platforms make it simple to create a store, upload your products, and start earning money. You can sell things like ebooks, music, art, or templates.
This article will help you pick the best platform for your needs.
1) Shopify
Looking to sell digital products as a side hustle? Shopify might be your ticket.
This popular platform lets you set up an online store quickly and easily.
You can sell all sorts of digital goodies on Shopify.
Think e-books, music, software, or even digital art.
The sky’s the limit!
Setting up your shop is a breeze.
You don’t need tech skills to get started.
Shopify offers user-friendly tools to help you create a professional-looking store.
Pricing is flexible.
You can start small and grow as your side gig takes off.
There are different plans to fit your budget and needs.
One cool thing about Shopify? It handles the tech stuff for you.
You don’t have to worry about website hosting or security.
They’ve got your back.
Want to reach more customers? Shopify plays nice with social media.
You can sell your digital products directly on platforms like Facebook or Instagram.
Payment is simple too.
Shopify works with lots of payment methods.
This makes it easy for your customers to buy your digital products.
Remember, you’re not alone.
Shopify has a big community of sellers.
You can find tips and advice from others who are rocking their digital product side hustles.
So, if you’re ready to turn your digital creations into cash, give Shopify a shot.
It could be just what you need to kickstart your side hustle journey.
2) Payhip
Looking to turn your digital creations into cash? Payhip might be just the ticket for your side hustle.
This platform lets you sell all kinds of digital products like ebooks, courses, and software.
You don’t need to be tech-savvy to use Payhip.
It’s super easy to set up your store and start selling.
Just upload your files, set your prices, and you’re good to go.
One cool thing about Payhip is that it’s free to get started.
You only pay when you make a sale.
This makes it perfect if you’re just dipping your toes into the digital product world.
Payhip takes care of the boring stuff like secure downloads and payment processing.
You can focus on creating awesome products and marketing them to your audience.
Want to offer discounts or run promotions? No problem.
Payhip has tools for that too.
You can even set up affiliate programs to get others to help sell your stuff.
Over 180,000 sellers already use Payhip for their digital product stores.
That’s a pretty big vote of confidence.
Remember, you’re not limited to just one type of product.
Mix it up with ebooks, templates, music, or whatever else you can dream up.
The sky’s the limit with your digital side hustle on Payhip.
3) Gumroad
Gumroad is a simple way to start selling your digital creations.
You can use it to sell ebooks, music, software, and more.
It’s great for beginners who want to test the waters of online selling.
Setting up your store is quick and easy.
You don’t need any tech skills to get started.
Just upload your product, set a price, and you’re ready to go.
Gumroad handles payments for you.
They take a small cut of each sale, but you keep most of the money.
There are no monthly fees, so it’s perfect for side hustlers on a budget.
You can customize your product pages to match your style.
Add videos, images, and descriptions to make your products stand out.
Gumroad also lets you offer discounts and run promotions to boost sales.
One cool feature is the ability to sell directly from your own website.
You can embed Gumroad buttons on your site, making it easy for fans to buy your stuff.
Gumroad provides basic analytics so you can track your sales.
You’ll see how many people visit your pages and what they’re buying.
This info can help you improve your products and marketing.
Remember, Gumroad is just one option.
Check out other platforms like Sellfy or Payhip to see what fits your needs best.
Each has its own pros and cons, so do your research before diving in.
4) Sellfy
Want to turn your digital creations into cash? Sellfy might be your new best friend.
This platform makes it super easy to set up shop and start selling digital goodies.
Sellfy is great for side hustlers.
You can sell all kinds of digital products like ebooks, music, videos, and even software.
No tech skills needed – you’ll have your store up and running in no time.
Got a bunch of different things to sell? No problem.
Sellfy lets you offer various digital products in one place.
It’s perfect if you’re creative and like making different stuff.
Worried about getting paid? Don’t be.
Sellfy handles all the money stuff for you.
They make sure you get your cash right away when someone buys your stuff.
Marketing your products is a breeze too.
Sellfy gives you tools to spread the word about your digital downloads.
You can even connect your store to your social media accounts.
Pricing is pretty straightforward. Plans start at $19 per month, and you get a free trial to test things out.
Not bad for turning your hobby into a money-making side gig.
5) Etsy
Want to turn your creativity into cash? Etsy might be your ticket.
This popular marketplace is great for selling digital downloads as a side hustle.
Etsy is known for handmade and vintage items, but it’s also a hot spot for digital products.
You can sell all kinds of digital goodies like printables, planners, and artwork.
Setting up shop is easy.
You just need to create an account and list your digital items.
Etsy handles the payments and file delivery, so you don’t have to worry about that stuff.
One cool thing about Etsy is its huge customer base.
Millions of people browse the site looking for unique items.
That means your digital creations can reach a wide audience.
Pricing on Etsy is flexible.
You can set your own prices for your digital downloads.
Remember, you’ll need to factor in Etsy’s fees when deciding what to charge.
Don’t worry if you’re not a design whiz.
You can use platforms like Creative Market to find graphics and fonts to help create your products.
Etsy’s seller tools make it easy to manage your shop.
You can track sales, respond to customers, and update your listings all in one place.
Remember, success on Etsy takes time and effort.
But with some creativity and persistence, you could turn your digital creations into a nice side income.
6) BigCommerce
Want to turn your digital creations into a sweet side hustle? BigCommerce might be your ticket.
This platform is a big player in the e-commerce world, and it’s got some cool features for selling digital downloads.
You can set up your online store quickly with BigCommerce.
It’s got tons of templates to choose from, so you can make your shop look slick without being a design pro.
Plus, you can customize things to match your style.
BigCommerce plays nice with lots of payment options.
This means your customers can pay how they want, which is always a win.
You can also set up different pricing tiers or offer discounts to boost your sales.
One neat thing about BigCommerce is its built-in marketing tools.
You can run email campaigns, set up SEO, and even do some social media stuff right from the platform.
This helps you get your digital goodies in front of more eyeballs.
Security is a big deal when you’re selling online, and BigCommerce has got you covered.
They take care of the tech stuff so you can focus on creating and selling your digital products.
Remember, BigCommerce isn’t just for digital downloads.
If you ever want to branch out into physical products, you can do that too.
It’s like future-proofing your side hustle!
7) Kajabi
Want to turn your know-how into cash? Kajabi might be your ticket.
It’s a platform that lets you create and sell digital products like online courses and ebooks.
Kajabi is more than just a place to sell stuff.
It’s a whole system for building your side hustle.
You can make your own website, set up email marketing, and even host webinars.
The cool thing about Kajabi is that it’s all in one place.
You don’t need to piece together different tools.
Everything you need is right there.
Creating digital products on Kajabi is pretty easy.
They have templates for courses, membership sites, and more.
You can just fill in the blanks with your content.
Pricing on Kajabi isn’t the cheapest, but you get a lot for your money.
They offer a free trial, so you can test it out before you commit.
One downside is that Kajabi can be a bit much if you’re just starting out.
It’s got a lot of features, which is great, but it might feel overwhelming at first.
If you’re serious about selling digital products as a side hustle, Kajabi is worth checking out.
It’s got everything you need to get your business off the ground.
8) Teachable
Want to turn your knowledge into cash? Teachable might be your ticket.
This platform lets you create and sell digital downloads like a pro.
You can whip up ebooks, audio files, and other cool stuff to sell.
No tech wizardry needed – Teachable’s got your back with easy-to-use tools.
Got a knack for teaching? You’re in luck.
Teachable shines when it comes to selling online courses.
It’s like having your own virtual classroom.
Pricing is pretty sweet too.
You can start for free and only pay when you make a sale.
That means less risk for you as you’re getting your side gig off the ground.
Teachable takes care of the boring stuff like payments and hosting.
You just focus on creating awesome content that people want to buy.
Plus, you get to keep most of what you earn.
Teachable’s fees are pretty reasonable compared to some other platforms out there.
Want to level up your hustle? Teachable offers coaching tools too.
You could be running one-on-one sessions with clients in no time.
Remember, over 100,000 creators are already using Teachable to share their smarts.
Why not join them and start padding your wallet with your know-how?
9) SendOwl
Want to start a side hustle selling digital products? SendOwl might be just what you need.
This platform makes it easy to sell your digital downloads online.
SendOwl offers a full set of tools to help you market, sell, and manage your digital products.
You can sell e-books, music, software, or any other type of digital file.
Setting up your shop is quick and easy.
You don’t need any tech skills to get started.
Just upload your files and set your prices.
One cool feature is SendOwl’s built-in affiliate program.
This lets other people promote your products for a commission.
It’s a great way to boost your sales without extra work.
SendOwl also handles all the techy stuff for you.
They take care of secure file storage and delivery.
You don’t have to worry about hosting or bandwidth issues.
Pricing is simple and affordable.
There’s no free plan, but paid plans start pretty low.
You can choose a plan based on how many products you want to sell.
The platform integrates with lots of payment processors.
This means you can accept payments from customers all over the world.
SendOwl also offers some neat marketing tools.
You can create discount codes, offer upsells, and even set up subscription products.
Remember, SendOwl focuses on digital products.
If you want to sell physical goods too, you might need to look at other platforms like Shopify.
10) Podia
Want to start a side hustle selling digital downloads? Podia might be just what you’re looking for.
It’s a user-friendly platform that makes it easy to sell all kinds of digital products.
With Podia, you can sell ebooks, courses, and other digital downloads without any tech headaches.
You don’t need to be a computer whiz to get started.
The platform takes care of all the technical stuff for you.
Setting up your digital store is a breeze.
You can create a sleek sales page for your products in just a few clicks.
Podia also handles payments, so you don’t have to worry about that part of the business.
One cool thing about Podia is that it lets you bundle your products.
This means you can offer your customers more value and potentially make bigger sales.
You can also use Podia to build an email list.
This is super helpful for growing your side hustle and keeping in touch with your customers.
Pricing is straightforward with Podia.
There are no transaction fees, which means more money in your pocket.
Plus, you get unlimited bandwidth and file hosting.
If you ever get stuck, Podia offers great customer support.
They’re always ready to help you out with any questions or issues you might have.
11) WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a great option for selling digital downloads as a side hustle.
It’s a free plugin that turns your WordPress site into an online store.
You can easily set up and start selling your digital products in no time.
With WooCommerce, you can sell various digital products like ebooks, music, software, or artwork.
It’s super flexible, so you can customize your store to fit your needs.
Setting up your digital products is a breeze.
You just need to add a product name, set a price, and upload your digital file.
WooCommerce takes care of the rest, handling the checkout process and delivering the files to your customers.
One cool thing about WooCommerce is that it lets you sell your digital products indefinitely.
Once you’ve created and uploaded your product, it can keep selling without much extra work from you.
This means you can focus on making new stuff or promoting your store.
You can also set download limits or expiration dates for your products if you want.
This gives you more control over how your digital goods are distributed.
WooCommerce works with lots of payment gateways, so your customers can pay however they like.
Plus, there are tons of extensions available if you want to add extra features to your store.
Understanding Digital Platforms
Digital platforms offer easy ways to sell downloads online.
They let you turn your skills into income without a physical store.
These sites handle payments and file delivery for you.
What Are Digital Downloads?
Digital downloads are files customers buy and get right away on their devices.
They can be e-books, music, videos, or software.
You make these once and sell them many times.
Sellfy is a good example.
It lets you sell any type of digital file.
You can offer PDFs, audio tracks, or even digital art.
Some platforms focus on specific types of downloads. Teachable is great for online courses.
You can sell video lessons or worksheets there.
Benefits of Selling Online
Selling digital goods can be a fun side job.
You don’t need to ship anything or keep inventory.
This means lower costs for you.
You can work from anywhere with internet.
It’s perfect if you want flexible hours.
Your store is open 24/7, even when you’re asleep.
Payhip makes it easy to start.
You can sell e-books, music, or templates.
They handle the tech stuff so you focus on creating.
Your income can grow without more work.
The same file can sell hundreds of times.
This lets you earn money while doing other things you enjoy.
Key Features to Look For
When choosing a platform to sell your digital downloads, some features can make or break your side hustle.
Pay attention to these elements to ensure you pick the right platform for your needs.
User-Friendly Interface
A smooth, easy-to-use interface can save you tons of time and headaches.
Look for platforms that offer drag-and-drop builders and customizable templates.
These tools let you create professional-looking product pages without coding skills.
You’ll want a dashboard that’s simple to navigate.
It should give you quick access to important info like sales data and customer details.
The easier it is to manage your products and orders, the more time you’ll have to focus on creating new digital goods.
Make sure the platform is mobile-friendly too.
You might need to update your store or check sales on the go.
A responsive design that works well on smartphones and tablets is a must-have feature.
Payment Gateways
Sellfy and similar platforms offer various payment options.
This is crucial for your digital download business.
The more payment methods you accept, the easier it is for customers to buy from you.
Look for platforms that support major credit cards, PayPal, and digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Some even offer cryptocurrency options if that’s your thing.
Check the transaction fees too.
Lower fees mean more profit for you.
Some platforms charge a flat rate, while others take a percentage of each sale.
Do the math to see which option works best for your pricing strategy.
Consider platforms that handle VAT and sales tax calculations.
This can be a huge time-saver, especially if you’re selling to customers in different countries.
Customer Support
Good customer support can be a lifesaver when you’re running a digital download business.
Look for platforms that offer 24/7 support through multiple channels like chat, email, and phone.
Check out their knowledge base or help center.
A robust collection of tutorials, FAQs, and troubleshooting guides can help you solve problems quickly without waiting for support.
Some platforms offer community forums where you can connect with other sellers.
These can be great for getting tips and advice from people who’ve been in your shoes.
Don’t forget to read reviews from other users.
They can give you real insights into how responsive and helpful the support team actually is when issues come up.