WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads: Which Is Best?
Do you want to turn your WordPress site into an eCommerce store? If so, you’ll likely eventually find yourself comparing WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) and wondering which may be the better option.
Both WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads are popular WordPress plugins that let you create and manage online stores. But there are some key differences between the two that make them better suited for certain types of business owners.
The more you understand WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads, the easier it will be to choose the best solution for your needs and eCommerce store.
🔎 In this comparison post, we’ll cover:
WooCommerce & Easy Digital Downloads Overview
Before diving into WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads, let’s take an introductory-level view of each.
What Is WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is a powerful, extendable WordPress plugin backed by Automattic. It’s the most popular eCommerce plugin, powering over 8% of all eCommerce websites.
WooCommerce lets store owners quickly and easily set up and customize online shops. Although it was originally meant for selling physical products, there are now ways that you can use it for digital products as well.
WooCommerce includes:
- Full shopping cart functionality
- Multiple payment gateways
- Inventory, shipping, & order fulfillment management
- Marketplace of themes & extensions
- Coupons & discounts
- Reporting & analytics
On the other hand, WooCommerce features may seem overly complex or a bit overwhelming. For instance, you may not need inventory and shipping features if you only sell digital or downloadable files. That’s where Easy Digital Downloads comes in.
What Is Easy Digital Downloads?
Easy Digital Downloads is another leading eCommerce solution for WordPress. It belongs to the Awesome Motive, Inc. family. Under the same umbrella are some of the most established and recognizable brands in the WordPress community, including AIOSEO, WPBeginner, WPForms, AffiliateWP, OptinMonster, and more.
An excellent WooCommerce alternative, EDD is specifically designed for selling digital products and downloads. It makes it easy to create an online store (with little or no technical experience) and seamlessly grow your eCommerce business.
EDD offers:
- Unlimited digital products (eBooks, software, audio, etc.)
- Full shopping cart
- Order & customer management
- Multiple payment gateways
- Dozens of extensions & add-ons
- Themes for digital stores
- Subscriptions/memberships
- Coupons & discounts
- Recurring payments
- Reporting & analytics
- User registration & guest checkout
You can use EDD to sell physical products. However, similar to how WooCommerce is best for physical goods, EDD is ideal for digital ones.
eCommerce without limits!
That is our promise. Most eCommerce solutions limit your creativity
…not Easy Digital Downloads!
WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads
WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads share similar features and functionalities. But there are some key differences and nuances to consider. Let’s dive in and look at WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads.
WooCommerce vs. EDD: Best For…
WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads can both be used to sell physical and/or digital products.
WooCommerce is best for selling mostly physical products and goods. It includes inventory and order fulfillment features that aren’t typically relevant or necessary if you only offer digital products or downloadable files.
Easy Digital Downloads is best for selling digital products, subscriptions, and downloads.
Where WooCommerce is more general-purpose, Easy Digital Downloads specializes in digital products and files.
WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads Pricing
There is no simple, straightforward answer to whether WooCommerce or EDD is cheaper. It largely depends on which (if any) features and customization options you want to add to the core plugin(s).
WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads both offer free versions as well as competitively priced premium add-ons. However, EDD also offers a Pro version and cost-friendly bundle packages that can save you money, especially if you plan to use it for multiple extensions and/or sites.
In this sense, Easy Digital Downloads offers more pricing variety. The free EDD version is a great option for beginners needing a simple solution for selling a few digital products. It’s packed with powerful features and tools, many of which other eCommerce platforms only include with their paid plans.
The paid packages offer excellent cost-savings opportunities. For instance, the All Access Pass comes with 80+ premium extensions and WordPress themes optimized specifically for EDD/digital storefronts. Depending on the type of store you have and the features you plan to use, this could add up to as much as $6,000 in cost savings.
Easy Digital Downloads pricing is completely straightforward and transparent. You pay a one-time annual cost and can upgrade or downgrade anytime. Each plan includes a 100% no-risk, 14-day money-back guarantee.
🏷 Learn more about EDD Free vs. Paid
WooCommerce is free to download and use. They don’t have a Pro version. However, there are a wide range of premium extensions that can be purchased, as well as themes. The add-on prices can range from anywhere between free to a few hundred dollars.
WooCommerce vs. EDD Payment Gateways
Regarding payment processors, both WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads support all major gateways. Both include Stripe and PayPal for free, with other gateways available via add-ons (free and paid).
| Payment Gateway | WooCommerce | EDD |
|---|---|---|
| Stripe | ✅ | ✅ |
| PayPal | ✅ | ✅ |
| Amazon Pay | ✅ | ✅ |
| Google Pay | ✅ | ✅ |
| Square | ✅ | ✅ |
| Stripe Pro | ✖️ | ✅ |
| PayPal Advanced/Commerce | ✖️ | ✅ |
| Braintree | ✅ | ✅ |
| Authorize.net | $79 | ✅ |
| SOFORT | $79 | ✅ |
WooCommerce vs. EDD Setup & Ease of Use
When it comes to usability, there’s not much difference between WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads. If you’re familiar with the WordPress interface, both user-friendly plugins should be easy to navigate. They let you manage everything from your WordPress dashboard.
Below is a side-by-side look at the WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads interface:
With both, you can add your products, create and customize product pages, configure payment options, and much more.
WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads offer onboarding and setup wizards that help you get your store up and running within a matter of minutes:
Easy Digital Downloads is generally considered easier to use and set up, particularly if you only need to sell digital products. WooCommerce is more complex and may require more time and effort to set up, but it offers tons of features and flexibility.
WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads Themes
When it comes to designing the look and feel of your store, WooCommerce and EDD both offer powerful customization tools. They also support many free and premium WordPress themes.
This includes any themes offered in the WordPress Theme Directory:
Easy Digital Downloads offers themes (included with some plans), as well as a library of third-party recommended themes:
WooCommere offers a Themes Store:
Both plugins also let you integrate with page builder plugins that you can use to add customizable templates and other elements.
WooCommerce vs. EDD Extensions & Integrations
The WordPress.org Plugin Directory offers tons of WooCommercec plugins and Easy Digital Downloads plugins for free. Both also offer premium addons that are available to download from their respective websites.
Like themes, WooCommerce has an Extensions Store that offers free and paid options:
WooCommerce extensions include tools and apps that you can use to integrate with other software solutions, such as shipping carriers and accounting systems.
EDD extensions span so many different categories. Many are available for free depending on the plan you have. In addition to payment gateways, email marketing, and user experience tools, you can also find addons for software licensing, membership sites, and SEO.
WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads Support
As part of the WordPress ecosystem, WooCommerce and EDD are both highly supported and regularly updated. Since they are so popular, there are also plenty of online tutorials available. The WordPress community is filled with knowledgeable developers who use WooCommerce and EDD that can offer insight, guidance, and tips when needed.
However, a downside of WooCommercec is that it doesn’t have dedicated customer support like Easy Digital Downloads does.
FAQs About WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads
Can I use WooCommerce & Easy Digital Downloads at the same time?
If you can’t decide between WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads, you may be wondering whether using them both on your WordPress site is an option. In short: Yes.
While this could lead to a more crowded and confusing environment than otherwise necessary, there aren’t any conflicts between them. You can run both on the same domain name.
Start Your WordPress eCommerce Site Today
The only thing you need to start an online store on your WordPress website is an eCommerce plugin. When it comes to WooCommerce vs. Easy Digital Downloads, the best option comes down to the types of products you’re selling. While WooCommerce is an excellent option for physical products and goods, Easy Digital Downloads is the top solution for digital products, downloads, and files.
Ready to start selling your digital products in WordPress? Download EDD today to get your store set up!
eCommerce without limits!
That is our promise. Most eCommerce solutions limit your creativity
…not Easy Digital Downloads!
Want to see how Easy Digital Downloads compares to other eCommerce solutions? Check out EDD vs. Etsy vs. Sellfy.
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