Discover the best platforms to sell digital products in 2026. Compare fees, features, pros and cons, and find the right platform for eBooks, courses, templates, and more.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What to Look for in a Digital Product Platform
3. 1️⃣ Gumroad
4. 2️⃣ Payhip
5. 3️⃣ Shopify
6. 4️⃣ Etsy
7. 5️⃣ Systeme.io
8. 6️⃣ Teachable
9. 7️⃣ Kajabi
10. 8️⃣ WooCommerce
11. Platform Comparison Table
12. Which Platform Is Best for Beginners?
13. How to Choose the Right Platform for You
14. Final Thoughts
15. FAQ

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Introduction

If you’re serious about building online income, choosing the right platform to sell your digital products is critical.

The right platform can:

• Increase your conversion rate
• Automate delivery
• Maximize profit margins
• Help you scale faster

Whether you’re selling eBooks, templates, courses, or printables, this guide breaks down the best platforms to use in 2026.

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What to Look for in a Digital Product Platform

Before choosing, consider:

• Transaction fees
• Monthly subscription cost
• Ease of use
• Payment options (Stripe, PayPal)
• Marketing tools
• Affiliate program support
• Email integration
• Scalability

Now let’s compare the best options.

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1️⃣ Gumroad

Best for: Beginners & simple digital downloads

Pros:

• Easy setup
• No monthly fee (pay per sale)
• Built-in audience discovery

Cons:

• Higher transaction fees
• Limited customization

If you’re just starting and want a simple solution, Gumroad is beginner-friendly.

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2️⃣ Payhip

Best for: eBooks, printables, memberships

Pros:

• Free plan available
• Clean checkout system
• EU VAT handled automatically

Cons:

• Basic customization

Payhip is excellent if you’re selling simple digital downloads without technical stress.

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3️⃣ Shopify

Best for: Building a branded store

Pros:

• Professional online store
• Scalable
• Many integrations

Cons:

• Monthly subscription required

If you plan to build a full online brand (especially in the USA market), Shopify offers serious scalability.

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4️⃣ Etsy

Best for: Printables and creative templates

Pros:

• Huge built-in traffic
• Great for planners, Canva templates
• Easy to start

Cons:

• High competition
• Listing fees

Etsy works well if your niche is creative or printable-based.

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5️⃣ Systeme.io

Best for: Funnels + digital products

Pros:

• Free plan
• Sales funnels included
• Email marketing built-in
• Course hosting

Cons:

• Limited advanced design features

This is powerful if you want funnels without paying for multiple tools.

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6️⃣ Teachable

Best for: Online courses

Pros:

• Professional course hosting
• Structured student dashboard
• Easy course uploads

Cons:

• Monthly cost
• Limited customization

If your focus is education-based digital products, Teachable is solid.

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7️⃣ Kajabi

Best for: Advanced creators

Pros:

• All-in-one platform
• Course hosting
• Email marketing
• Automation tools

Cons:

• Expensive

Kajabi is premium and ideal if you’re already generating income.

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8️⃣ WooCommerce

Best for: WordPress users

Pros:

• Full control
• No platform restrictions
• Highly customizable

Cons:

• Requires technical setup
• Hosting costs

If you already run a blog, WooCommerce lets you keep full control and increase website RPM through direct sales.

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Platform Comparison Summary

Platform	Best For	Cost Level	Beginner Friendly	Scalable
Gumroad	Simple downloads	Low	Yes	Medium
Payhip	eBooks & templates	Low	Yes	Medium
Shopify	Full store	Medium	Medium	High
Etsy	Printables	Low	Yes	Medium
Systeme.io	Funnels + courses	Low	Yes	High
Teachable	Courses	Medium	Yes	High
Kajabi	Premium creators	High	Medium	Very High
WooCommerce	Blog integration	Medium	Medium	Very High

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Which Platform Is Best for Beginners?

If you’re just starting:

• Choose Gumroad or Payhip for simplicity
• Choose Etsy for printables
• Choose Systeme.io if you want funnels + email

If you already have traffic from blogging or YouTube, using WooCommerce or Shopify gives more control and higher long-term profit.

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How to Choose the Right Platform

Ask yourself:

1. Do I want full control?
2. Do I want built-in traffic?
3. Am I selling courses or downloads?
4. Do I want email marketing included?
5. What is my monthly budget?

Start simple. Upgrade later.

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Final Thoughts

Selling digital products is one of the most scalable online income models today.

The best platform depends on:

• Your budget
• Your technical skills
• Your audience size
• Your long-term goals

You don’t need the “perfect” platform.
You need to start.

Launch first. Optimize later.

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FAQ

1. What is the cheapest platform to sell digital products?

Gumroad and Payhip offer free plans with transaction fees.

2. Which platform is best for selling courses?

Teachable, Kajabi, or Systeme.io are excellent options.

3. Can I sell digital products without a website?

Yes. Platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, and Payhip allow that.

4. Which platform has the lowest fees?

It depends on volume. Free platforms charge per sale, while Shopify charges monthly.

5. Should I sell on multiple platforms?

You can, but managing one platform first is easier.