Thinking about selling digital downloads online? You’re in the right place.
Whether you’re an artist, writer, or entrepreneur, the digital marketplace has something for everyone.
It’s easier than ever to turn your creations into income streams.
But with so many platforms out there, where do you start?
Let’s explore the best places to sell digital downloads that suit different needs and styles.
By the end, you’ll have a clear path to share your work and earn from it.
Creative Marketplaces for Artists and Designers
If you’re an artist, graphic designer, or photographer, creative marketplaces offer a vibrant community and built-in audiences eager for original digital assets. These platforms focus heavily on design-related digital downloads like templates, fonts, graphics, and photos.
They often provide tools to showcase your portfolio and make sales simple, which is perfect if you want to spend less time marketing and more time creating. Plus, they handle transactions and file delivery, so you can focus on your craft.
1. Etsy – Originally known for handmade goods, Etsy has blossomed into a popular place to sell digital downloads such as printable art, design templates, and photography. Its large user base and easy-to-use interface make it a great starting point for creatives looking to reach a broad audience without a steep learning curve.
2. Creative Market – Tailored specifically for creatives, this platform is a top choice for selling digital assets like fonts, graphics, themes, and stock photos. Creative Market offers a streamlined seller experience and regular promotional opportunities to boost your sales.
3. Design Cuts – Known for high-quality design bundles and resources, Design Cuts caters to serious designers seeking premium exposure. If your digital products have a polished, professional feel, this platform can connect you with a dedicated audience willing to pay for quality.
4. Envato Elements – This subscription-based marketplace lets creators sell everything from website themes to video templates. It’s ideal if you want recurring revenue since customers pay a monthly fee to access a library of assets, including yours.
5. Gumroad – While not exclusively for creatives, Gumroad’s simplicity and flexibility make it a favorite among artists who want to sell directly to fans. You can customize your storefront, offer discounts, and even set up memberships for recurring income.
Creative marketplaces are just one side of the coin. Let’s dive into platforms that serve educators and course creators next.
Platforms for Educators and Course Creators
Digital downloads aren’t just art and design files — educators and course creators can sell lesson plans, ebooks, worksheets, and full courses. These platforms provide tools to organize content, manage students, and track progress, making it easier to monetize your knowledge.
If teaching and sharing expertise is your niche, choosing the right platform can significantly impact your reach and revenue potential.
6. Teachable – Perfect for educators wanting to sell courses alongside downloadable resources, Teachable offers an easy setup for creating, marketing, and selling your digital products. It also provides features like quizzes and certificates to enhance learner engagement.
7. Udemy – A giant in the online course world, Udemy allows you to reach millions of students globally. While competitive, it’s great for gaining exposure quickly, especially if you price your courses competitively and focus on trending topics.
8. Thinkific – This platform combines course creation and digital downloads with a professional storefront. It’s ideal if you want a fully branded experience and flexible payment options, plus it supports memberships for ongoing content delivery.
9. Sellfy – Known for its versatility, Sellfy enables selling digital downloads alongside subscriptions and physical products. Its built-in marketing tools, like email campaigns and upsells, make it easier to grow your education business.
10. Podia – Podia blends digital downloads, courses, and webinars into one platform. It’s especially friendly for creators who want to bundle different types of content and maintain a personal connection with their audience through messaging features.
Now that educators have their options, let’s look at marketplaces geared toward writers and authors.
Best Marketplaces for Writers and Authors
Writers have an array of digital downloads to sell: ebooks, templates, printables, and guides. These platforms provide specialized tools for publishing, distribution, and rights management to help writers monetize their work effectively.
Some marketplaces focus on helping you reach a broad audience, while others offer more control over pricing and marketing.
11. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) – The go-to platform for self-publishing ebooks, KDP offers access to millions of readers worldwide. It’s a straightforward way to sell digital books with flexible royalty options and promotional tools.
12. Smashwords – Smashwords distributes your ebooks to major retailers and libraries, expanding your reach beyond a single platform. They offer free tools to convert and format your manuscript, making publishing easier.
13. Payhip – A simple yet powerful platform for selling ebooks, printables, and other digital downloads directly to your audience. Payhip offers flexible pricing, discounts, and affiliate marketing tools to help boost your sales.
14. Lulu – Lulu supports both print and digital publishing, making it easy for authors to offer multiple formats. They handle distribution and offer global reach with options for creative control and custom pricing.
15. Kobo Writing Life – Kobo’s self-publishing platform gives authors access to international markets, especially in Canada, Europe, and Asia. Their user-friendly interface and promotional features make it a favorite among indie writers.
Writers have many choices, but what if you create software or tech-related digital products? Let’s explore platforms for developers and tech creators.
Platforms for Software, Apps, and Tech Creators
If you develop software, plugins, apps, or other tech-based digital products, you need platforms that support licensing, updates, and secure delivery. These marketplaces cater to developers seeking to monetize their creations with minimal hassle.
They often provide analytics, customer support tools, and integrations to help you manage your product lifecycle effectively.
16. Gumroad – Gumroad’s ease of use extends to developers selling software licenses, plugins, or digital tools. You can deliver product updates directly to customers and offer subscriptions or one-time purchases.
17. CodeCanyon – Part of the Envato Market, CodeCanyon specializes in code snippets, scripts, plugins, and software components. It’s an excellent way to reach a tech-savvy audience looking for ready-made solutions.
18. itch.io – For indie game developers and digital software creators, itch.io provides a community-driven marketplace with flexible pricing and distribution options. It supports pay-what-you-want sales and bundles too.
19. SellMyApp – A niche marketplace focused on mobile app source codes and templates, SellMyApp is ideal if you want to sell reusable app projects or starter kits for other developers.
20. FastSpring – A full-service ecommerce platform that supports software and SaaS businesses with global payments, subscriptions, and licensing management. FastSpring is great for developers looking for a robust sales infrastructure without building it themselves.
Tech creators have specific needs, and these platforms help meet them. Lastly, let’s discuss general all-purpose marketplaces that fit a wide range of digital downloads.
General Marketplaces for All Kinds of Digital Downloads
Sometimes you have a mix of products or want flexibility in how you sell your digital downloads. General marketplaces provide broad categories and user-friendly features that accommodate everything from music and videos to templates and educational materials.
These platforms are ideal if you want to test different products or aren’t confined to a single niche.
21. Zazzle – Although mostly known for custom physical products, Zazzle also allows selling digital designs that customers can personalize and download. It’s a unique option for creators interested in blending digital and print-on-demand sales.
22. Sellfy – Sellfy offers an all-in-one ecommerce solution for digital downloads, subscriptions, and physical products. It’s straightforward to set up, making it a favorite for creators who want flexibility without complexity.
23. PayLoadz – One of the older digital download marketplaces, PayLoadz supports a wide range of file types and offers secure file delivery, shopping cart integration, and affiliate marketing tools.
24. Bandcamp – Perfect for musicians and audio creators, Bandcamp lets you sell digital music files, merchandise, and even subscriptions. It’s known for artist-friendly revenue splits and community support.
25. E-junkie – E-junkie is a simple platform for selling digital downloads with features like instant delivery, shopping cart integration, and affiliate management. It’s ideal for creators seeking a no-fuss setup with essential ecommerce tools.
With so many options available, you can find a marketplace that fits your unique digital products and business goals.
Choosing the right platform depends on your niche, audience, and how much control you want over branding and pricing. Whether you’re a creative artist, educator, writer, developer, or general creator, there’s a perfect place for you to sell your digital downloads.
Start exploring these platforms today, and take the first step toward turning your digital creations into income. Happy selling!
