Selling digital products on Shopify is an amazing way for ecommerce stores and D2C brands to expand their offerings without worrying about inventory or shipping. But here’s the big question: What’s the best Shopify app for selling digital products?
The answer depends on your store’s needs. Whether you sell eBooks, music, software, or courses, Shopify has a wide range of apps that can automate file delivery, protect your downloads, and even handle licensing. The apps we’ll explore in this article come with features that simplify selling digital goods and improve the customer experience.
We’ll go over 8 of the top Shopify apps that help you sell digital products, covering their features, pricing, and customer ratings, so you can find the right solution for your store.
Let’s dive into the details of each app!
Shopify stores are most common in the U.S., followed by the UK and Australia, with over 1.1 million stores live in the U.S. alone. (source)
Why Selling Digital Products on Shopify is a Smart Move
Selling digital products is a game-changer for many ecommerce businesses and D2C brands. It allows you to expand your product catalog without worrying about inventory, packaging, or shipping costs. Plus, digital products come with some amazing benefits that make them ideal for growing your store.
Why should ecommerce stores consider selling digital products?
- Higher Profit Margins: Once you create a digital product (like an eBook, course, or software), you can sell it repeatedly without extra costs. No need to restock or manage warehouses.
- Instant Delivery: Customers get their products right away after purchase. No waiting for shipping means a better customer experience.
- No Inventory Hassles: Digital products don’t take up physical space, which means no out-of-stock issues or costly restocking.
- Unlimited Scalability: Whether you’re selling 1 or 1,000 copies, the process stays the same. Apps automate everything from order processing to file delivery.
- Perfect for Cross-Selling: If you already sell physical goods, adding digital products can be a perfect fit. For example, if you sell fitness equipment, offering workout plans or online courses is a natural complement.
Whether you’re just starting with digital goods or looking to scale up your existing store, Shopify’s ecosystem of apps makes selling digital products easier than ever.
Key Features to Look for in Shopify Digital Product Apps
Not all Shopify apps for digital products are created equal. The best apps will help you deliver a seamless experience to your customers while saving you time on the backend. Here are the key features you should look for when choosing an app for selling digital products on your Shopify store:
1. Automatic File Delivery
- One of the biggest advantages of selling digital products is that customers can receive their purchases instantly. Look for an app that automates this process so that the digital files are sent to the customer as soon as the order is completed. This ensures a smooth and fast customer experience.
2. File Protection
- Protecting your digital products is crucial, especially if you’re selling valuable content like eBooks, music, or software. Choose an app that offers download protection to prevent unauthorized sharing. Features like license key generation or limited download attempts help ensure that only paying customers can access your files.
3. Email Notifications
- It’s important to keep your customers informed. The app you choose should be able to automatically send customizable emails to customers after their purchase. This can include download links, access instructions, or even follow-up emails to upsell additional products.
4. File Storage and Hosting
- Depending on the size of your digital products, you might need a solution that offers cloud storage or file hosting. This is especially useful for large files like video courses or high-resolution artwork. Some apps also offer streaming options, which is perfect if you sell media that customers want to consume online.
5. Product Variants and Bundling
- Many ecommerce stores sell different versions of the same product, like basic and premium editions of an eBook or software. Look for an app that supports product variants and bundling options, allowing customers to choose from multiple versions of a digital product in one listing.
6. Analytics and Reporting
- Data is key for making informed decisions. Many apps offer built-in analytics that show how your digital products are performing. This includes sales data, download statistics, and customer feedback, helping you tweak your offerings for better performance.
7. Integration with Shopify
Ensure that the app fully integrates with Shopify’s existing order processing, inventory management, and payment systems. This makes managing digital product sales as seamless as physical ones, especially if you’re running a hybrid store that sells both types.
Read More:Top 5 Shopify Apps for Installments and Pay Later Options
Top 8 Shopify Apps for Selling Digital Products (with Pricing & Ratings)
Here are eight of the best Shopify apps to help you sell digital products, from simple file delivery to advanced license management. Each app has its own strengths depending on the type of digital products you sell and the features you need.
1. Digital Downloads (by Shopify)
Shopify’s own free app makes it easy to sell digital products with automatic file delivery. It’s simple and built-in, making it a great choice for new stores or stores with smaller digital catalogs.
- Key Features:
- Free to use.
- Automatically delivers digital files upon purchase.
- Integrates smoothly with Shopify’s order system.
- Pricing: Free.
- Rating: 4.2/5
- Pros:
- Free and easy to set up.
- Ideal for small stores or stores just starting with digital products.
- Cons:
- Basic functionality compared to premium apps.
- Limited file management features.
2. SendOwl
SendOwl is one of the most powerful apps for selling digital products, with features like drip content, subscriptions, and license keys. It’s ideal for larger stores or those needing more control over their digital offerings.
- Key Features:
- File hosting, automatic file delivery, and secure download links.
- Supports subscription products, license key generation, and drip content.
- Sell through multiple channels, including Shopify, social media, and email.
- Pricing: Starts at $9/month (basic plan). Advanced plans go up to $39/month based on features and storage needs.
- Rating: 4.8/5
- Pros:
- Highly customizable, great for selling multiple types of digital products.
- Drip content and subscription support.
- Cons:
- Higher learning curve compared to basic apps.
- More expensive than some simpler solutions.
Read More:Top 6 Shopify Apps for Product Comparison
3. Sky Pilot
Sky Pilot is a favorite for stores selling large files, videos, or courses. It includes streaming and customer portals, making it a top choice for D2C brands that want to offer premium content like educational videos or media bundles.
- Key Features:
- File streaming and secure download links.
- Customer portals for accessing previous purchases.
- Supports large files like videos and audio.
- Pricing: Starts at $15/month (basic plan) and goes up to $75/month for higher-volume plans.
- Rating: 5/5
- Pros:
- Perfect for media-heavy products like video courses or music.
- Great customer portal for managing content access.
- Cons:
- Higher cost for stores with large product catalogs or high-volume sales.
4. FetchApp
FetchApp offers cloud-based file storage and delivery, with multi-platform support. It’s an affordable option for stores looking for basic file management and secure file hosting.
- Key Features:
- Cloud storage for digital files with automatic delivery.
- Supports Shopify, WooCommerce, and other platforms.
- Simple file management and download tracking.
- Pricing: Free plan available (up to 5MB of storage). Paid plans start at $5/month (for 50MB) and scale up based on storage needs.
- Rating: 4.5/5Pros:
- Affordable pricing with a free plan for small stores.
- Multi-platform support.
- Cons:
- Limited storage on free plans.
- Fewer advanced features compared to higher-end apps.
Read More:10 Best Shopify Product Display Apps
5. Filemonk
Filemonk is a user-friendly app that makes it easy to sell digital downloads. It’s perfect for smaller stores looking for a straightforward solution without the complexities of bigger apps.
- Key Features:
- Automatic file delivery after purchase.
- Customizable email notifications.
- Integrates with Shopify orders and customer information.
- Pricing: Free plan available (up to 5 products). Paid plans start at $9/month for unlimited products.
- Rating: 5/5
- Pros:
- Easy to set up and use.
- Affordable pricing, especially for smaller stores.
- Cons:
- Limited features compared to premium apps like SendOwl.
- No support for advanced analytics or large file sizes.
6. Single Music
Single Music is designed specifically for musicians and creators looking to sell digital music and media. It supports album bundling, streaming, and live concert downloads, making it perfect for bands or independent artists.
- Key Features:
- Streaming for digital audio, video, and album pre-orders.
- Live downloads for concerts and event recordings.
- Support for album bundling with digital and physical products.
- Pricing: Starts at $10/month + 15% commission on digital sales.
- Rating: 4.9/5
- Pros:
- Tailored for musicians and media creators.
- Built-in streaming and media download protection.
- Cons:
- 15% commission on sales may eat into profits.
- Limited to music and media sales (not suitable for other digital products).
Read More:9 Best Product Options Apps – Shopify App Store
7. Courses (by Architechpro)
Courses is perfect for D2C brands or ecommerce businesses that want to sell online courses. This app helps you create and sell digital courses directly through Shopify, including drip content and multimedia support.
- Key Features:
- Create and deliver online courses with videos, PDFs, quizzes, and more.
- Drip content delivery and student accounts.
- Full integration with Shopify’s order and payment system.
- Pricing: Starts at $49/month.
- Rating: 4.9/5
- Pros:
- Full suite for creating and selling educational content.
- Ideal for D2C brands offering premium knowledge-based products.
- Cons:
- Higher cost compared to basic apps.
- Only suitable for course-based products.
8. EDP (Easy Digital Products)
EDP is a highly-rated, feature-rich app for selling digital products. It’s perfect for stores that need advanced features like license key generation, multi-file support, and download protection.
- Key Features:
- License key generation for software or games.
- Multiple file uploads and support for product variants.
- Download protection with customizable expiration dates.
- Pricing: Free plan (up to 5 products). Paid plans start at $14.99/month for unlimited products.
- Rating: 5/5
- Pros:
- Strong feature set at a reasonable price.
- License key functionality for digital products.
- Cons:
- Some advanced features may require manual setup.
Read More:Top 9 Shopify Custom Product Variant Apps
Comparison Table: Pricing, Features & Ratings
| App | Starting Price | Free Plan | Shopify Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Downloads | Free | Yes | 4.2/5 | Simple, basic digital stores |
| SendOwl | $9/month | No | 4.8/5 | Subscription products, licenses |
| Sky Pilot | $15/month | No | 5/5 | Large files, video, courses |
| FetchApp | Free (5MB storage) | Yes | 4.5/5 | Cloud storage, multi-platform |
| Filemonk | $9/month | Yes | 5/5 | Small stores, simple downloads |
| Single Music | $10/month + 15% fee | No | 4.9/5 | Musicians, digital albums |
| Courses | $49/month | No | 4.9/5 | Selling online courses |
| EDP | $14.99/month | Yes (5 products) | 5/5 | License keys, secure downloads |
How to Choose the Right Digital Product App for Your Shopify Store
With so many great Shopify apps for selling digital products, how do you choose the right one for your store? Here are a few key factors to consider when making your decision:
1. Type of Digital Products You’re Selling
- If you’re selling simple digital products like eBooks or PDFs, a basic app like Digital Downloads (Shopify’s free app) or Filemonk might be all you need.
- For more advanced products like software that requires license keys or subscriptions, you’ll want something like SendOwl or EDP (Easy Digital Products), which have extra features for delivering licenses, managing subscriptions, and protecting your files.
- For video-based products (like courses or media), apps like Sky Pilot and Courses by Architechpro are a better fit due to their support for large files, streaming, and student portals.
2. Store Size and Volume
- For small stores or new digital product sellers, starting with a free plan (like FetchApp or EDP) or an affordable app like Filemonk can be a cost-effective way to start. These apps give you essential features at a low price point while allowing you to scale up as your store grows.
- If you’re running a high-volume store, especially one selling multiple types of digital products, you might need more powerful solutions with advanced functionality and better storage options, like SendOwl or Sky Pilot.
3. Customer Experience
- Some apps focus heavily on improving the customer experience, such as providing customer portals where buyers can access and re-download their files (e.g., Sky Pilot). Others allow for more advanced customer interaction through drip content (e.g., SendOwl for subscription products) or course-style content delivery (e.g., Courses by Architechpro).
- Think about whether your customers will need recurring access to files, and how important a smooth, professional download process is for your brand.
4. Budget
- Many of these apps offer free or low-cost plans for smaller stores. However, as your needs grow, you may find yourself needing to pay more for extra storage, more features, or better customer support.
- Apps like FetchApp are more affordable and great for small stores, while higher-end solutions like Sky Pilot and SendOwl provide premium features for larger operations.
5. Additional Features
- Do you need features like license key generation, drip content, or the ability to sell subscription products? These features are offered by apps like SendOwl and EDP, but not all digital product apps provide them.
- If you’re in the music industry and need to bundle digital and physical products, Single Music is an excellent choice with its specialized features for musicians.
6. Integration with Your Store
- All the apps mentioned here work with Shopify, but some offer multi-platform support (like FetchApp), which is helpful if you sell on multiple ecommerce platforms.
- Make sure the app integrates smoothly with your existing Shopify setup, including order processing, inventory management, and payment systems, so you can manage digital products just as easily as physical ones.
7. Scalability
- As your store grows, your digital product offerings may become more complex. Consider an app that can scale with you as you increase your product catalog, storage needs, and sales volume. Apps like SendOwl and Sky Pilot are built to handle higher volumes and more complex product types as your business expands.
FAQs
What’s the difference between Shopify’s Digital Downloads app and paid apps like SendOwl?
Shopify’s Digital Downloads app is free and great for simple stores, but it lacks many advanced features like license key management, subscriptions, and drip content. Apps like SendOwl offer these additional features and are better suited for larger stores or stores selling more complex digital products like software or subscriptions.
Can I sell both physical and digital products in the same Shopify store?
Yes, Shopify allows you to sell both physical and digital products in the same store. You can easily manage both types of products by using an app for digital downloads (like SendOwl or Digital Downloads) and Shopify’s built-in features for physical products.
Which app is best for selling online courses?
If you’re looking to sell courses, Courses (by Architechpro) is specifically designed for that. It offers multimedia support, drip content delivery, and student portals, which are key features for managing online education products.
Do I need a license key app for digital products like software or games?
Yes, if you’re selling software, games, or other products that require a license key for activation, apps like SendOwl or EDP (Easy Digital Products) are ideal. These apps automatically generate and deliver license keys with each purchase.
What’s the best app for musicians to sell digital music on Shopify?
Single Music is designed specifically for musicians. It offers features like album pre-orders, audio streaming, live downloads, and even bundling options for both physical and digital products, making it the top choice for artists and bands selling music.
Can I offer subscriptions for digital products?
Yes, apps like SendOwl allow you to sell subscriptions for digital products. This is great for products like software, digital magazines, or recurring educational content where customers get access over time.
What happens if my customers have trouble downloading their files?
Most digital product apps (like Sky Pilot and SendOwl) offer customer portals where buyers can access and re-download their files if needed. These apps also integrate with Shopify’s order management, so you can easily resend download links or troubleshoot any issues.
Conclusion
Choosing the right app for selling digital products on Shopify can have a big impact on your store’s success. Whether you’re selling eBooks, music, software, or online courses, the right app will help you automate delivery, protect your content, and create a smooth experience for your customers.
For small or new stores, free apps like Digital Downloads or affordable options like Filemonk are perfect starting points. If you’re scaling up and need more advanced features—like license key management, subscriptions, or large file support—apps like SendOwl, Sky Pilot, and EDP offer powerful tools to help your store grow.
