How to sell digital products on Shopify: 9 Product ideas

High profit margins

Unlike physical goods, digital products have little to no production costs after the initial creation. There’s no need for raw materials or manufacturing, which means a higher percentage of each sale goes directly to your pocket.

Easy to scale

Digital products can be sold repeatedly without additional effort, resources, or the need for a physical store. Once your product is live, you can focus on marketing and expanding your reach without worrying about replenishing stock.

No inventory management

Unlike selling physical products, digital products don’t require holding stock or shipping like physical products do. They’re stored digitally and delivered instantly to customers, reducing your expenses and time spent on order processing.

Highly-functional eCommerce platform

Whether you’re selling eBooks, software, stock photos, or online courses, Shopify provides a seamless checkout experience and automated delivery options. It’s a powerful platform for scaling your online business with secure payment processing, customizable storefronts, built-in marketing tools, and integrations for upselling and subscriptions.

1. Digital templates

Digital templates cover a wide range of needs, from resumes and budgeting to social media posts and meal planners. 

Platforms like Adobe Express and Canva offer a wide range of customizable templates for all situations. Choose one that fits your customer base, adjust the colors, elements, or text, and list it in your Shopify store.

These digital downloads appeal to customers who lack the time or expertise to create templates from scratch but still want something to keep them organized.

2. Online courses

People increasingly prefer online learning to in-person classes because of its accessibility and flexibility. The industry is expected to exceed $370 billion by 2026, so now is the time to grab your share of the market.  

Design video courses or downloadable PDFs to teach different skills, such as photography, coding, language learning, or even niche hobbies. Educational products in these formats let learners engage with your content at their own pace, making them attractive to today’s on-the-go consumers.

Embed the course videos behind a paywall in your Shopify store or provide customers with a download link for the materials.

3. Games

Gamers are always on the hunt for their next Friday-night binge-play. Examples include mobile puzzle games, educational games for kids, and indie role-playing games (RPGs)

Shopify makes it easy to automate delivery and market directly to gaming communities, maximizing sales potential. 

To create hype around your games and add extra value, try Twitch streaming while playing them so potential buyers can get a sneak peek at the game before purchasing. If you build a big enough community around your games, start selling merch on your Shopify store to increase your profits.

4. Software and plugins

Software downloads are digital programs that users can purchase and install on their devices to perform specific tasks or enhance their workflow. These can include productivity tools, graphic design software, music production programs, and even security applications like VPNs or password managers. 

Customers range from professionals and businesses looking for specialized tools to students and hobbyists seeking software for personal projects. These products can be sold at premium price points because of their value and the expertise required to create them. 

Selling software on Shopify is a smart choice because it provides instant delivery and recurring revenue opportunities through subscriptions or updates.

5. eBooks

Shopify is a great place to sell eBooks on a wide range of topics, from self-help and fiction to recipe collections and educational guides. With the global eBook market projected to reach $14.92 billion in 2025, it’s a highly profitable niche with growing demand. Whether you’re an author, educator, or entrepreneur, eBooks offer a great way to share knowledge and creativity while generating passive income.

One of the biggest advantages of selling eBooks on Shopify is the convenience – for both you and your customers. Unlike physical books, eBooks require no inventory or shipping, making them a low-cost, high-margin digital product. Readers can instantly download them on various devices, including tablets, smartphones, and eReaders, ensuring easy access anytime, anywhere.

6. Downloadable prints and artwork

Are you an artist wanting to share your work with the world? Digitize your artwork and sell downloadable prints or illustrations in your Shopify store. Art is one of the best-selling digital products, ranging from wall art and posters to custom illustrations and photographs.

One of Shopify’s strengths is its ability to attach multiple files per product, which lets you offer high-resolution files in several formats. This ensures that customers receive professional-quality designs they can print and use as they like, whether for personal or commercial purposes.

7. Music

Musicians and audio creators can sell their recordings as digital products, reaching audiences directly without physical distribution. From albums and singles to royalty-free music, sound effects, and audiobooks, there’s a target market for just about anything. 

Shopify provides tools to upload, manage, and instantly deliver content after purchase, lightening your workload and providing a smoother customer experience.

8. Stock photos and videos

Photographers and videographers can monetize their work by selling stock photos and videos, catering to businesses, marketers, and content creators in need of high-quality visuals. 

From professional headshots and product mockups to cinematic footage and aerial drone shots, there’s consistent demand for unique and eye-catching content. Stock photography and videography can be sold as single downloads, curated collections, or subscription-based access.

Set up a Shopify store to showcase and sell your stock media directly to customers while maintaining full control over pricing, licensing, and branding. With instant file delivery, customers get immediate access to their purchases, making it a seamless experience for both buyers and sellers.

9. 3D Printing files and templates

3D printing has become a popular way for people to create custom items at home, and designers can tap into this market by selling downloadable 3D print files.

These digital designs can range from practical objects like tools and replacement parts to creative pieces like jewelry or art. Buyers include hobbyists, makers, and businesses looking for unique, ready-to-print models.

Shopify makes it easy to sell 3D printing files by offering simple file uploads and instant delivery. Whether selling general designs, customizable templates, or niche products, you’ll have access to a global audience without worrying about inventory or shipping. 

With the flexibility to offer exclusive designs or bundles, 3D printing files can be a highly profitable and scalable digital product.

1. Sign up for Shopify

Head over to Shopify, choose a pricing plan that suits your needs, and sign up. There’s even a  14-day free trial to explore the platform’s features before committing. Give your store a name that reflects your products, vibe, and brand. If you need some inspiration, check out our article on Shopify store names for a nudge in the right direction. 

Go to the Shopify themes library to choose a style for your store. Filter by industry, features, product catalog size, and if it’s paid or free.

2. Add listings to your Shopify digital product store

Go to your Shopify dashboard and navigate to the Products section. Select Add product to create a new listing.

Ensure your title and product description highlights compelling reasons for customers to make a purchase. Focus on how your product addresses their needs and its specific benefits. Use clear, engaging language, and include relevant keywords about your product to increase the listing’s visibility in search results. 

Make it clear that your product is digital to avoid any misunderstandings. State in the listing description that the customer will receive a digital asset, and no physical product will be mailed to them. Untick the shipping box on the product setup page so Shopify won’t include shipping calculations at checkout.

3. Set up digital product delivery

The next step is to choose how your digital products will be delivered to customers after they purchase.

There are a few ways for customers to receive their digital assets after purchasing: 

• Automatic download link via email: Shopify sends an email with a download link immediately after purchase. Apps like Sky Pilot or FetchApp automate this process.
  
• Download page after checkout: Some Shopify apps let customers access their files directly on the order confirmation page after completing payment.
  
• Customer account downloads: If you enable customer accounts, buyers can log in and access their purchased digital assets anytime.
  
• Third-party cloud storage links: Deliver the digital files via Google Drive or Dropbox by providing secure download links.
  
• Subscription or membership access: If you sell digital products on a recurring basis (like stock assets or courses), customers can access their files through a member portal.

The Shopify App Store is a treasure trove of useful tools to streamline the digital product delivery process. Browse through and find the right one for your business.

4. Run some A/B tests

Testing different elements of your Shopify store is a smart way to increase sales and improve customer experience. A/B testing involves creating two versions of a single element – such as pricing, product descriptions, or visuals – and comparing their performance with your audience. For example, you could test different price points to see which drives more sales or experiment with different images to find out which ones get more clicks.

To track results, use tools like Google Analytics or Shopify’s built-in reporting features. Monitor key metrics such as conversion rates, click-through rates, and time spent on your pages. Analyzing this data will help you refine your strategy and create a great shopping experience for potential customers.

5. Don’t forget branding and promotions

Your brand is your online business’s story – what you sell, who you are, what you stand for, your visuals, and how you communicate with customers. A cohesive brand builds trust, so use a professional logo, select a consistent color palette, and craft a compelling tagline. But don’t stop there – actively promote your store to bring in shoppers. 

Share the store link across your social media channels and make your posts interesting and engaging for your audience. Use platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, depending on where your target customers spend their time.

Email campaigns are another great way to announce your launch. If you have an email list, send out a well-designed newsletter introducing your store, highlighting key products, and offering an incentive like a discount or freebie for first-time buyers.

Consider diversifying your marketing efforts with paid ads. Platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads can help you reach a broader audience and drive targeted traffic to your Shopify store. Do keyword research with tools like eRank or Google Trends to ensure your posts have the right phrases to reach your intended audience.

Fileflare Digital Downloads

Fileflare Digital Downloads is a free digital downloads app that allows you to sell downloadable files like eBooks, digital art, and illustrations directly from your store. It integrates smoothly with Shopify to make adding, managing, and delivering digital files simple. Attach PDFs, JPEGs, ZIP files, and more to any product, limit downloads, and send secure download links instantly after purchase. 

SendOwl

SendOwl simplifies selling and delivering digital goods to save you time and effort. After checkout, it automatically sends buyers a secure link to access their purchase. With features like PDF stamping, time-limited download links, marketing tools, and detailed analytics, SendOwl provides a fast, configurable solution to help creators and businesses sell digital goods efficiently.

FetchApp

FetchApp automates the sale and distribution of downloadable products such as videos, eBooks, PDFs, and software. Integrated with platforms like Shopify and PayPal, it securely hosts your files and delivers them to customers without requiring additional installations. Pricing is storage-based, including a free plan for smaller storage size needs. 

Klaviyo

Klaviyo is a third party app for automating SMS and email marketing, widely used by businesses to manage customer communications when they sell digital downloads. It offers a free trial for those starting out, with paid plans starting at $45 per month for email marketing and a $60 monthly subscription for combined email and SMS campaigns. Pricing scales with features and usage. 

Plug In SEO

Plug In SEO helps Shopify store owners identify and fix SEO-related issues. The app offers features like site audits, step-by-step guidance for addressing SEO (search engine optimization) problems, and tools for finding keywords, fixing broken links, and implementing structured data.

Others 

There are over 8,000 apps on the Shopify App Store to help your digital content business thrive. 

Here are a few other tools to help you get the most out of Shopify:

• ReCharge Subscriptions: A subscription management app that supports digital product memberships with features like custom subscription frequencies and gift subscriptions. Free app plan available.
• Yotpo: A review app to build social proof and collect user-generated content. Monthly subscriptions start at $25.
• Directed Edge: Offers strategic product recommendations, like cross-selling opportunities or recently viewed items, to generate sales. Plans range from $24 to $79/month.