11 Best Platforms for Selling Digital Products: Boost Your Side Hustle Income
Looking to boost your income? Selling digital products can be a great way to make some extra cash on the side.
With the rise of online marketplaces, it’s easier than ever to create and sell digital goods like ebooks, courses, or artwork.
You can start your digital product side hustle with little upfront cost and reach customers worldwide. But choosing the right platform to sell your creations is key.
Each option has its own features, fees, and user base.
Let’s explore some top picks for selling your digital wares and kickstarting your online business journey.
1) Shopify
Want to start a digital product side hustle? Shopify might be your ticket.
This popular platform lets you set up an online store quickly and easily.
You can sell all kinds of digital goods on Shopify.
Ebooks, music, software – you name it.
The platform is super flexible and works for beginners and pros alike.
Setting up shop is a breeze.
You don’t need tech skills to get started.
Shopify’s user-friendly tools make it simple to design your store and list products.
Worried about payments? Don’t be.
Shopify handles that for you.
They offer secure payment options so your customers can buy with confidence.
Marketing tools are built right in.
You can promote your digital products through email, social media, and more.
This helps you reach more potential buyers.
Shopify isn’t just for full-time businesses.
It’s great for side hustlers too.
You can start small and grow at your own pace.
Pricing is reasonable for what you get.
There are different plans to fit various budgets.
As your side gig grows, you can upgrade to more advanced features.
Need help? Shopify offers solid customer support.
You can get answers to your questions pretty quickly.
Remember, Shopify works for physical products too.
So if you ever want to expand your side hustle, you’ve got options.
2) Sellfy
Want to start a cool side hustle selling digital stuff? Sellfy might be just what you’re looking for.
It’s super easy to use and lets you sell all kinds of digital products.
With Sellfy, you can sell e-books, music, videos, and even software.
It’s perfect if you’re creative and want to make some extra cash from your talents.
Setting up your store is a breeze.
You don’t need to be tech-savvy to get started.
Just upload your products, set prices, and you’re good to go.
Sellfy takes care of payments for you.
They handle credit cards and PayPal, so you don’t have to worry about that tricky stuff.
You can also customize your store to match your style.
Add your logo, pick your colors, and make it look just how you want.
Sellfy is great for beginners who are just starting out.
It’s affordable and you can get set up quickly.
Want to promote your products? Sellfy has tools to help you spread the word on social media.
You can even create discount codes to attract more customers.
Best of all, you can run your Sellfy store from anywhere.
Got a smartphone? You’re all set to manage your side hustle on the go.
3) Gumroad
Gumroad is a popular choice for selling digital products as a side hustle.
It’s super easy to use, even if you’re new to online selling.
You can start selling your ebooks, music, artwork, or courses in no time.
The platform lets you set up shop quickly without any tech headaches.
One cool thing about Gumroad is its pay-what-you-want feature.
This lets your customers decide how much they want to pay for your stuff.
It can be a great way to build your audience.
Gumroad takes care of payments and delivers your digital goods automatically.
You don’t have to worry about the technical stuff.
The platform also offers some basic marketing tools.
You can send emails to your customers and track your sales stats.
Pricing is pretty straightforward.
Gumroad takes a small cut of each sale.
As you sell more, the percentage they take gets smaller.
You can use Gumroad to sell almost any type of digital product.
This includes things like software, photos, and even membership subscriptions.
Keep in mind that Gumroad doesn’t offer as many fancy features as some other platforms.
But for many creators, its simplicity is a big plus.
4) Teachable
Want to sell your knowledge online? Teachable might be your go-to platform.
It’s great for creating and selling online courses, coaching sessions, and digital downloads.
Teachable makes it easy to start your side hustle.
You don’t need tech skills to build your courses.
The platform has simple tools to help you put together videos, quizzes, and other content.
You can set your own prices and keep most of the money you make.
Teachable handles payments, so you don’t have to worry about that part.
The platform also helps you market your products.
You can create sales pages and use email marketing to reach more people.
Teachable works well for all kinds of digital products.
Whether you’re selling an ebook, a video course, or offering online coaching, it’s got you covered.
You can try Teachable for free to see if it’s right for you.
If you decide to stick with it, there are different paid plans to choose from as your side hustle grows.
Remember, Teachable isn’t just for big-time creators.
It’s perfect for beginners too.
So if you’ve got knowledge to share, why not give it a shot?
5) Podia
Podia is a great platform for your digital product side hustle.
It’s user-friendly and lets you sell all kinds of digital goodies.
You can use Podia to sell online courses, digital downloads, coaching sessions, and webinars.
It’s pretty cool because you don’t need to be tech-savvy to set things up.
The platform gives you tools to build your own website and create email campaigns.
This makes it easier to market your products and connect with customers.
Podia offers different pricing plans to fit your needs.
They even have a free option, but keep in mind it takes a 10% cut of your sales.
One neat thing about Podia is that it handles all the techy stuff for you.
You don’t have to worry about hosting or payment processing – it’s all taken care of.
You can also build a community around your products.
This is great for keeping your customers engaged and coming back for more.
Podia works well if you’re just starting out or if you’re looking to grow your side hustle.
It’s flexible enough to scale with you as your business expands.
Remember, Podia isn’t just for selling.
It also helps you manage your customers and track your sales.
This can make running your side gig a whole lot smoother.
6) Kajabi
Want to turn your digital products into a side hustle? Kajabi might be your secret weapon.
This all-in-one platform has everything you need to create, market, and sell your digital goods.
Kajabi shines when it comes to online courses and membership sites.
You can easily build these using their pre-made templates.
No tech skills needed!
The platform also includes tools for email marketing and landing pages.
This means you can promote your products without needing extra software.
Worried about payments? Kajabi’s got you covered.
It handles transactions so you can focus on creating awesome content.
One cool feature is Kajabi’s analytics.
You can track how your products are doing and adjust your strategy as needed.
While Kajabi isn’t the cheapest option out there, it packs a punch.
You get a user-friendly interface and tons of features in one place.
Remember, Kajabi works best if you’re planning to create and sell multiple digital products.
It’s a great choice for scaling your side hustle into a full-blown business.
7) Etsy
Etsy is a great platform for selling digital products as a side hustle.
You can reach millions of potential customers looking for unique, handmade, or vintage items.
Digital products are popular on Etsy.
You can sell things like printable art, patterns, planners, and templates.
These items are easy to create and don’t require shipping or inventory.
Sewing patterns are big sellers on Etsy.
If you’re crafty, you could design and sell patterns for clothes, accessories, or home decor items.
Etsy is user-friendly and lets you set up shop quickly.
You can start selling with minimal upfront costs.
The platform handles payments and provides tools to manage your store.
One downside is competition.
Many sellers offer similar products, so you’ll need to stand out.
Try to create unique designs or target specific niches.
Etsy takes a small cut of your sales.
But compared to other platforms, the fees are reasonable.
You keep most of your profits, making it a potentially lucrative side gig.
Marketing your Etsy shop is key.
Use social media to showcase your products and drive traffic to your store.
Good photos and descriptions can help your items get noticed.
8) BigCommerce
Looking to start a side hustle selling digital products? BigCommerce might be just what you need.
This platform offers a robust set of features to help you get your digital goods out there.
With BigCommerce, you can easily set up your online store and start selling ebooks, music, software, or any other digital items.
It’s user-friendly, so you don’t need to be a tech whiz to get started.
One cool thing about BigCommerce is its flexibility for selling digital products.
You can offer instant downloads, which is great for customers who want their purchases right away.
The platform also gives you tools to manage your inventory and track your sales.
This makes it easier to keep an eye on how your side hustle is doing.
BigCommerce integrates with lots of payment gateways too.
This means you can offer your customers different ways to pay, which can boost your sales.
Security is important when selling online, and BigCommerce has got you covered.
They provide SSL certificates to keep your store and your customers’ information safe.
You can also customize your store’s look with BigCommerce.
This helps you create a unique brand for your side hustle, making it stand out from the crowd.
Remember, starting a digital product business on the side can be a great way to earn extra cash.
With BigCommerce, you’ve got a solid platform to help you make it happen.
9) Thinkific
Thinkific is a great platform for selling digital products, especially if you’re into creating online courses.
It’s perfect for turning your skills into a side hustle.
You can easily build and sell courses on any topic you’re passionate about.
Whether it’s cooking, coding, or crafting, Thinkific has got you covered.
The platform offers a user-friendly interface that makes course creation a breeze.
You don’t need to be tech-savvy to get started.
Just focus on sharing your knowledge.
Thinkific lets you sell more than just courses.
You can offer digital downloads, memberships, and even bundles.
This variety helps you maximize your earning potential.
Pricing is flexible with Thinkific.
You can start for free and upgrade as your side hustle grows.
Paid plans give you more features and marketing tools to boost your sales.
One cool thing about Thinkific is its community-building features.
You can create a space for your students to interact, which can lead to more engagement and repeat customers.
Remember, Thinkific isn’t just for full-time educators.
It’s a great tool for anyone looking to earn extra income from their expertise.
You can start small and scale up as your side gig takes off.
10) SendOwl
Looking to start a side hustle selling digital products? SendOwl might be just what you need.
This platform is all about making it easy for you to sell your digital goods online.
SendOwl is designed specifically for digital products, which means it’s got all the features you’ll want for your digital side gig.
You can sell ebooks, courses, software, or pretty much any type of digital file.
One of the best things about SendOwl is how simple it is to use.
You don’t need to be a tech whiz to get your store up and running.
Just upload your products, set your prices, and you’re good to go.
SendOwl takes care of the boring stuff like payments and delivery.
When someone buys your product, the platform automatically sends it to them.
No need for you to stay glued to your computer all day.
Worried about security? SendOwl has got you covered.
They use fancy encryption to keep your products safe from piracy.
Pricing for SendOwl is pretty reasonable, especially for a side hustle.
You can start with a basic plan and upgrade as your business grows.
SendOwl also lets you offer discount codes and run affiliate programs.
These features can help you boost your sales without much extra work on your part.
Remember, SendOwl is focused on digital products.
If you’re planning to sell physical goods too, you might want to look at other options.
But for digital-only side hustles, it’s a solid choice.
11) PayHip
PayHip is a cool platform for selling digital products as a side hustle.
It’s super easy to use, even if you’re not tech-savvy.
You can sell all sorts of digital goodies on PayHip.
Think ebooks, music, artwork, or online courses.
Whatever digital product you create, PayHip’s got your back.
Setting up shop is a breeze.
You don’t need coding skills or design expertise.
Just sign up, add your products, and you’re ready to roll.
PayHip handles the tricky stuff like payments and file delivery.
This means you can focus on making awesome products instead of worrying about the technical details.
One neat feature is PayHip’s flexible pricing options.
You can offer pay-what-you-want pricing or set up subscriptions.
This gives you more ways to make money from your digital creations.
PayHip also lets you build a simple website to showcase your products.
It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done if you don’t have your own site yet.
Marketing tools are built right in.
You can create discount codes or set up affiliate programs to boost your sales.
The best part? PayHip has a free plan to get you started.
As your side hustle grows, you can upgrade to paid plans with more features.
Remember, PayHip isn’t just for tech whizzes.
It’s designed for regular folks like you who want to turn their digital ideas into cash.
Key Features to Look For
When choosing a platform to sell your digital products, keep an eye out for these essential features.
They can make or break your side hustle success.
User-Friendly Interface
A good platform should be easy to use, even if you’re not tech-savvy.
Look for drag-and-drop builders that let you create your store without coding.
You want a clean, simple dashboard where you can manage products, orders, and customers.
Check if the platform offers customization options.
Can you add your logo? Change colors? Make it match your brand?
Some platforms, like Sellfy, are known for being super user-friendly.
They let you set up shop quickly and start selling right away.
Remember, the easier it is to use, the more time you’ll have to focus on creating and marketing your products.
Flexible Pricing Options
You need a platform that lets you price your products your way.
Look for options to set fixed prices, pay-what-you-want, or even offer subscriptions.
Can you create discount codes? Run sales? Offer bundle deals? These features can help boost your sales.
Some platforms take a cut of your sales.
Others charge a flat monthly fee.
Think about which model works best for your budget and sales volume.
Payhip is known for its flexible pricing.
They let you sell “anything online anywhere” with various pricing options.
Robust Analytics
Good analytics help you understand your customers and improve your business.
Look for platforms that show you:
- Where your customers come from
- Which products sell best
- Your daily, weekly, and monthly sales
Can you track conversions? See abandoned carts? This info is gold for growing your side hustle.
Some platforms integrate with Google Analytics for even more detailed data.
Others, like Podia, offer built-in analytics tools to help you track your progress and make smart decisions.
Remember, the more you know about your sales and customers, the better you can tailor your products and marketing.
Benefits of Selling Digital Products Online
Selling digital products online can be a great side hustle.
It offers some key advantages over selling physical goods.
Let’s look at the main perks of going digital.
Lower Overhead Costs
When you sell digital products, you don’t need to worry about inventory or storage costs.
There’s no need to rent warehouse space or manage stock levels.
You create the product once and can sell it many times without extra production costs.
You also save on shipping expenses.
Digital products are delivered electronically, so there are no packaging or postage fees.
This means more of your revenue goes straight to your pocket.
Plus, you can often work from home.
No need to rent an office or store.
Your computer and internet connection are your main tools.
This keeps your startup and ongoing costs low, making it easier to turn a profit.
Global Reach
With digital products, the whole world is your market.
You’re not limited by geography or shipping constraints.
Anyone with internet access can buy from you, anytime.
You can sell to customers in different time zones while you sleep.
Your online store is open 24/7, bringing in sales around the clock.
This global accessibility expands your potential customer base hugely.
Language can be a barrier, but many digital products like photos, music, or software can cross language lines easily.
For text-based products, translation is often simpler and cheaper than for physical goods.
Automated Delivery
Once you set up your system, digital product sales can run on autopilot.
When a customer buys, they can get instant access to their purchase.
No need for you to manually process each order.
Most platforms for selling digital products handle delivery automatically.
They’ll send download links or grant access to online content right after payment.
This saves you time and ensures customers get their products fast.
Automated systems can also handle things like sending thank-you emails or follow-up messages.
This helps build customer relationships without extra work from you.
It’s a great way to provide good service while keeping your side hustle manageable.