6+ Best Etsy Alternatives for Selling Digital Products

Are you looking for Etsy alternatives for selling digital products online?

Global and third-party marketplaces like Etsy can be a good starting point, but it might not be the best long-term eCommerce solution.

If you’re tired of Etsy fees and limitations, there are plenty of alternatives that offer more control, higher profits, and a wider reach.

🔎 In this article, I’ll cover:

Why Consider Etsy Alternatives?

Etsy is undoubtedly one of the most popular marketplaces for online selling.

But its limitations can hinder your growth, including high fees, competition, and platform restrictions. Exploring Etsy alternatives can help unlock new opportunities, increase earnings, and build a stronger brand.

While Etsy has a vast customer base and a reputation for handmade and unique items, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons before relying solely on the platform for your digital products.

One of the biggest advantages of Etsy is its built-in audience. Etsy attracts a large customer base largely interested in creative and digital goods.

It’s also a well-known and established marketplace, so it’s trusted by buyers. In my own experience using Etsy, getting started is relatively straightforward. However, it can also be a little overwhelming—especially if you’re new to online selling.

Cons of Etsy

While it’s a popular choice for selling digital products, it’s also largely geared toward sellers and buyers interested in crafts and handmade goods. Unlike some alternative solutions, Etsy isn’t meant specifically for selling digital goods. It’s just one of its offerings.

One of the biggest drawbacks of Etsy is its high fees that can impact your profits. This includes:

• One-time shop setup fee
• $0.20 listing fee
• 6.5 % transaction fee
• 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee
• 5% offsite ads fee

Some additional cons of Etsy include:

• Stiff competition: The saturated environment makes it challenging to stand out.
• Limited customization: You have minimal control over your shop’s appearance and functionality. Other than your storefront name and logo, there aren’t many ways to make your store stand out from others.
• Platform dependence: Relying solely on Etsy puts your business at risk of platform changes or policies that could negatively impact your sales.
• Customer data limitations: You have limited access to customer data, hindering your marketing efforts.

Given these factors, exploring Etsy alternatives can be a strategic move to expand your reach, increase profits, and build a sustainable online business.

Types of Etsy Alternative Platforms

When exploring options to sell your digital products, your decision will likely come down to two options: sell on a popular third-party marketplace or create your own website.

Online marketplaces like Etsy and Gumroad offer a ready-made audience and handle many of the technical aspects of selling. While they can be a good starting point, they often come with fees, limitations on customization, and high competition.  

On the other hand, building your own website using solutions like WordPress or Shopify provides complete control over your brand, products, and customer experience. Although this approach requires more upfront effort, it also offers long-term benefits such as higher profit margins, no platform fees, and the ability to build a loyal customer base.  

🔎 Learn more about online marketplaces vs. your own website

Understanding your digital product(s) is crucial for choosing the right platform.

Each product type has a specific target audience, and your chosen platform should align with their preferences and buying habits. By carefully considering your product and your long-term goals, you can select the best platform to maximize your sales and profits.

6 Best Etsy Alternatives to Sell Digital Products

Now let’s explore some of the best Etsy alternatives to sell digital products. For this post, I’ve included both marketplaces and all-in-one platforms for creating your own website.

Best Etsy Alternatives (Compared)

Platform	Best For
Easy Digital Downloads	Complete WordPress solution for selling digital products.
WooCommerce	Offering both physical and digital products from WordPress.
Shopify	Selling in-person and online using a fully hosted platform.
Gumroad	Straightforward solution for low-volume sellers.
Sellfy	Selling on print-on-demand products.
Creative Market	Designers looking to sell digital assets on a marketplace instead of their own store.

1. Easy Digital Downloads (EDD)

If you’re looking for the best Etsy alternative for selling digital products and want to create your own store, you can’t go wrong with Easy Digital Downloads (EDD).

Easy Digital Downloads is a powerful and flexible WordPress plugin. Unlike other eCommerce platforms that often focus on physical goods, EDD is tailored to the unique needs of digital product sellers.

Whether you’re offering eBooks, software, printables, or online courses, Easy Digital Downloads provides the tools and features to create a seamless shopping experience for your customers. You can use it to create an online store in WordPress within minutes.

EDD is renowned for its simplicity and efficiency. It’s built with speed and performance in mind, ensuring fast loading times and a smooth user experience. With a strong focus on core eCommerce functionalities, EDD eliminates unnecessary complexities, allowing you to concentrate on what truly matters: selling your digital products.

Easy Digital Downloads Key Benefits 🔑

• Unlimited digital products & transactions
• Full shopping cart system
• Secure payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal, Apple & Google Pay, etc.)
• No monthly fees & no listing fees
• One-time and recurring payments
• Software licensing
• Simple setup + Onboarding Wizard
• Powerful built-in reporting
• Discount code management
• Customizable design & product pages
• Optimized checkout page & forms
• Conversion & optimization tools
• Content upgrades, cross-sells, & upsells
• Multi-currency payment options

EDD Pricing & Fees 🏷

Easy Digital Downloads offers a flexible pricing structure to accommodate different business needs. The Core EDD plugin (Lite), is completely free and allows you to sell unlimited digital products.

Aside from the EDD plugin, the only things you need to create an online store are a WordPress hosting plan and a domain. You can find reliable and incredibly inexpensive options, like SiteGround’s Managed EDD hosting for as low as $2.99 per month.

To unlock advanced features, access premium add-ons, and eliminate payment processing fees, you can upgrade to a paid EDD Pro plan. 

There are four pricing tiers to choose from. 

• Personal: Best for small businesses and those just starting.
• Extended: Suitable for growing businesses with increasing sales.
• Professional: Ideal for established businesses with higher sales volumes.
• All Access: For high-volume sellers with extensive needs.

Upgrading to a paid plan can result in substantial savings over time, especially for businesses with high sales volumes.

🔎 Compare Easy Digital Downloads Free vs Paid plans.

Best For ✅

Easy Digital Downloads is an excellent alternative to Etsy for sellers who prioritize control, customization, and cost-efficiency. While Etsy offers a large audience, EDD empowers you to build your own brand and directly connect with your customers.

EDD is particularly well-suited for:

• Digital product creators who want to maintain full ownership of their customer data.
• Businesses seeking to reduce platform fees and maximize profits.
• Sellers who require advanced customization options for their online store.
• Those who value speed, performance, and a user-friendly platform.

2. WooCommerce

If you’re looking for an Etsy alternative that lets you sell physical and digital goods, WooCommerce is worth considering. With 7+ million active WordPress users, it has a large and highly engaged community.

One of my favorite things about WooCommerce is that there are so many relevant and helpful tutorials, extensions, and resources available. If there’s a specific feature or functionality you want to add, there’s probably a way to make it happen.

The biggest drawback of WooCommerce is that it’s primarily designed for physical products. While it’s possible to sell digital goods, that’s not the plugin’s main focus (like it is for Easy Digital Downloads). So if you don’t offer physical products, you may find many of its features and tools unnecessary.

WooCommerce Key Benefits 🔑

• Most popular WordPress eCommerce plugin
• Suitable for selling both digital and physical products
• Extensive customization options through themes and plugins
• Strong support and a vast ecosystem of extensions
• Compatible with numerous payment gateways
• Inventory management and shipping solutions
• Setup Wizard

Pricing & Fees 🏷

WooCommerce itself is free. But, as with EDD, you’ll need a WordPress domain name and hosting plan. Additional costs may include premium themes, plugins, and payment gateway fees. Costs can vary widely depending on which add-ons you need to install.

Best For ✅

WooCommerce is one of the best Etsy alternatives if you want to sell physical products alongside digital goods from your own site. It’s suitable for larger businesses with complex shipping, order management, and inventory needs.

🔎 Learn more about WooCommerce vs Easy Digital Downloads.

3. Shopify

Shopify is a popular hosted eCommerce platform that offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of features out of the box. While it operates on a paid subscription model, Shopify simplifies many aspects of managing an online store, making it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes.

One of the key advantages of Shopify is its ease of use. The platform is designed with non-technical users in mind, making it accessible to individuals and small business owners without extensive coding or web development knowledge.

On the other hand, because it’s a hosted platform, a downside to Shopify is that it may not offer as much control and customization options as you’d see with, say, WordPress solutions like EDD and WooCommerce.

Shopify Key Benefits 🔑

• Drag-and-drop website builder
• All-in-one platform (includes hosting, payment processing, and 190+ design templates)
• Option to create a site from a pre-built theme, from scratch, or using Shopify’s API
• Wholesale options
• Mobile optimization
• App store for additional features and functionalities

Pricing & Fees 🏷

Shopify operates on a subscription-based model with various pricing plans to suit different business needs. Monthly plans start at $39 per month. In addition to the monthly fee, you’ll typically pay transaction fees (~2.5 to 2.9% + 30¢ USD) unless you opt for the most expensive plan.

Best For ✅

Shopify is ideal for businesses looking for a hosted platform and prioritizes ease of use, design aesthetics, and a hands-off approach to store management. It’s also a solid option if you sell both in-person and online.

4. Gumroad

Gumroad is a popular platform specifically designed for selling digital products. It offers a simple setup process and focuses on a streamlined sales experience.

Sellers on Gumroad benefit from a comprehensive suite of features designed to enhance their product presentation and boost sales.

The platform offers flexible pricing options, allowing sellers to choose between one-time purchases, subscriptions, or pay-what-you-want models.

Gumroad Key Benefits 🔑

• Beginner-friendly store builder and customizer
• Focus on digital products niche
• Memberships and subscriptions
• Multi-currency payment options
• Discount codes
• License keys

Pricing & Fees 🏷

While Gumroad doesn’t have a monthly subscription, it charges a flat 10% fee on each sale. There are additional fees for certain features and payment methods, including credit card processing and PayPal fees.

It’s worth noting that Gumroad’s pricing increases over the last few years have led some Gumroad users to migrate to WordPress.

Best For ✅

Gumroad is a good option for creators and individuals who want to quickly get started selling digital products and prioritize simplicity over extensive customization and control. Due to the transaction fees, it may not be the best option if you’re a high-volume seller.

5. Sellfy

Sellfy is a dedicated Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform for selling digital products. It offers a user-friendly experience and a range of features for online sellers.

The Etsy alternative lets you easily create an online storefront and sell digital products, print-on-demand goods, and subscriptions. It also offers a handful of marketing tools and accessible support that makes it easy to use even for beginners.

Key Benefits 🔑

• Store builder with a user-friendly interface
• Customizer and multiple storefront themes
• Support for digital products, physical goods, video streaming, print-on-demand, and subscriptions
• Marketing tools (email and affiliate)
• Promo and discount codes
• Integration with Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube

Pricing & Fees 🏷

Sellfy offers several pricing plans with different features and fees. The platform charges a monthly subscription fee, with plans starting at $29 per month. While there’s no free version, it does offer a 14-day free trial.

Sellfy doesn’t charge transaction fees. However, users are responsible for payment processing fees, typically 2.9% + 30¢ (depending on the payment gateway).

Best For ✅

Sellfy is a good option for designers and creators selling print-on-demand products or subscriptions.

6. Creative Market

Creative Market is another online marketplace geared to designers and creatives. While primarily a marketplace for design assets, Creative Market also allows creators to sell their digital products directly.

It offers a wide range of products, including fonts, graphics, templates, themes, and more. Creative Market has built a strong community of designers and offers a curated selection of high-quality products. 

Key Benefits 🔑

• Caters to a specific niche market of designers and creatives
• Curated marketplace
• Strong community   
• Marketing tools  
• Multiple revenue streams

Pricing & Fees 🏷

Creative Market charges a 12% commission on each sale. There are no listing fees or subscription costs. Sellers can set their own prices for their products.

Best For ✅

Designers and creators that want to sell on a marketplace to a target audience instead of creating their own online store.

It’s particularly suitable for those offering high-quality design assets, such as fonts, graphics, and templates. While it doesn’t offer the same level of customization as building your own website, it provides a ready-made platform to reach a specific customer base. 

Additional Etsy Alternatives

While the platforms discussed above are popular choices, there are other options worth considering.

• SendOwl: Primarily focused on digital product delivery, SendOwl offers features like file hosting, customer management, and affiliate marketing. It’s suitable for those who need a robust delivery system.
• Squarespace: This is a popular website builder that offers eCommerce functionality, including the ability to sell digital products. Known for its stylish templates, it attracts users who prioritize design and aesthetics.
• Teachable: Designed for creating and selling online courses, Teachable offers features like course creation, student management, and marketing tools. It’s suitable for those offering educational or instructional content.
• Wix: A website builder with eCommerce capabilities, Wix allows you to create an online store and sell digital products. It’s suitable for those who prioritize design and ease of use.

Tips for Choosing the Best Etsy Alternatives

Selecting the best platform for selling your digital products requires careful consideration of several factors:

• Product type: Different platforms cater to specific types of digital products. Consider the nature of your products when making a choice.
• Budget: Evaluate the pricing plans and fees of each platform to determine which fits your budget.
• Technical expertise: Assess your technical skills to choose a platform that aligns with your comfort level.
• Desired features: Consider the specific features you need, such as payment options, marketing tools, and customization options.
• Scalability: Think about your future growth plans and choose a platform that can accommodate increased sales and product offerings.
• Target audience: Understand your customer base and select a platform that aligns with their preferences.
• Long-term goals: Consider your overall business objectives and how the platform fits into your long-term strategy.

By carefully evaluating these factors, you can choose the platform that best supports your digital product business.

Final Verdict: Best Etsy Alternative

After carefully evaluating various platforms, Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) emerges as the top choice for selling digital products. EDD’s laser focus on digital goods, combined with its user-friendly interface, powerful features, and cost-effectiveness, sets it apart from the competition.

By choosing EDD, you gain complete control over your online store, eliminate unnecessary fees, and optimize your sales process. Its integration with WordPress provides flexibility and scalability, allowing you to grow your business without limitations.  

Ready to take the leap? Get started with Easy Digital Downloads today and experience the difference.

• Try Easy Digital Downloads + WordPress for free
• Learn more about EDD Lite vs Pro
• Getting Started Guide

FAQS on Etsy Alternatives for Digital Products

Let’s wrap up with some frequently asked questions regarding Etsy alternatives for selling digital products online.

Use EDD to Sell Digital Products

Choosing the right platform to sell your digital products is crucial for your business’s success. By carefully considering your needs, budget, and target audience, you can select the ideal platform to maximize your sales and reach.

While an online marketplace can be a starting point, exploring Etsy alternatives like Easy Digital Downloads for creating your own site can unlock new opportunities and help you build a thriving online business.

Ready to make the switch from Etsy to Easy Digital Downloads? Grab your EDD pass and get started within minutes:

What’s next? Learn how to effectively market digital products to increase your online sales!

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