← Back to Blog
Review

Best Platforms to Sell Digital Products in 2025 (Ranked)

By Dan·June 25, 2026·10 min read
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you sign up through my links, I may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use and believe in.

I've sold digital products on a few different platforms. I've also tested others without fully committing. Here's my honest ranked list of the best platforms to sell digital products in 2025 — based on real use, not promotional partnerships.

My ranking criteria: ease of setup, fee structure, checkout quality, AI/automation features, and overall value for a solo digital product seller.

#1: MadeThis

Power Up Your Business

Get an AI co-founder that works 24/7 — builds, markets, and grows alongside you.

Explore Copilot Plans →

Powered by GPT-4o-mini (OpenAI)

Recommended →

Digital Product Empire

$27

Get It

Passive Income Roadmap

$27

Get It

Best for: Most digital product sellers who want a complete, modern platform

MadeThis wins my top spot because it's the most complete package for the kind of business I run: SEO-driven traffic, digital products, clean storefront.

What makes it stand out:

  • AI-assisted product description writing — genuinely saves time and improves copy quality
  • Clean, modern checkout experience (especially on mobile)
  • Beautiful product pages out of the box, no design work required
  • Fast, reliable file delivery
  • Competitive fee structure that makes sense at scale

I moved everything to MadeThis after trying the alternatives, and I haven't looked back. It's the platform I'd recommend to anyone who's serious about building a digital product business rather than just testing one product.

The one caveat: if you want built-in marketplace discovery, MadeThis isn't primarily that. You drive your own traffic. But if you have an SEO strategy (or are building one), that's not a limitation — it's fine.

#2: Gumroad

Best for: Creators with existing audiences who want minimal setup

Gumroad is the original "simple digital product platform." It's been around since 2011, and there's a reason a lot of creators still use it: it works, buyers recognize it, and setup is genuinely fast.

Pros: Brand trust, marketplace discovery, simple interface, no monthly fee Cons: Less polished product pages than MadeThis, fewer AI features, dated UI in places

Gumroad is a solid choice if you have an existing audience that already knows the platform. For building a new business from scratch, I'd go with MadeThis — but Gumroad is a legitimate runner-up.

For a deeper head-to-head, see my compare page.

#3: Payhip

Best for: Complete beginners who want a free starting point

Payhip's free plan is genuinely usable. You can list products, accept payments, and deliver files — all for 0 monthly cost. They take 5% per transaction, which is reasonable at low volume.

Pros: Free to start, easy setup, handles VAT for European sellers Cons: Product pages are basic, limited customization, no AI features, 5% fee eats into margin at scale

I started on a free platform similar to Payhip before upgrading. For your very first product and first few sales, a free platform like this removes one barrier to getting started. Once you're making consistent sales, upgrade to something with more capability.

#4: Lemon Squeezy

Best for: Developers and technical creators who need SaaS-friendly billing

Lemon Squeezy is excellent if you're selling software licenses or SaaS subscriptions alongside digital products. It handles complex billing scenarios (trials, seat-based pricing, upgrade/downgrade flows) that most simple platforms can't touch.

Pros: Excellent for software + digital products, great API, solid dashboard Cons: Overkill for most content creators, setup is more technical, fees aren't the lowest

If you're a developer building software products, Lemon Squeezy is worth a serious look. For ebooks, templates, and guides, it's more tool than you need.

#5: Podia

Best for: Course creators who also want digital downloads

Podia is a full creator platform — courses, digital downloads, memberships, email marketing. It's a one-stop-shop for creators who want everything in one place.

Pros: Comprehensive feature set, decent course hosting, email marketing included Cons: More expensive, course-focused UX that feels heavy for simple digital downloads, fees add up

If your business is primarily courses with some digital products on the side, Podia is worth considering. If you're mainly selling templates, ebooks, and bundles, it's too much platform for what you need.

#6: Etsy (Digital Downloads Section)

Best for: Printables and templates targeting design-focused buyers

Etsy is a marketplace, not a direct platform — which means it comes with built-in traffic but also competition, marketplace politics, and fees that compound quickly.

Pros: Built-in buyer traffic, established trust with buyers, no need to drive your own traffic Cons: 6.5% transaction fee + listing fees + payment processing fee = significant cut, algorithm risk, competition is intense

I've seen creators do well on Etsy with printables and Canva templates. But the risk of platform dependency is real — if Etsy changes their algorithm or suspends your account, your income disappears overnight. I use Etsy as a supplement, not a foundation.

My Bottom Line

For most solo digital product sellers starting in 2025, my recommendation is MadeThis without much hesitation. It's designed for exactly this use case, the AI tools are practical and save real time, and the checkout experience is the cleanest of the bunch.

If you want to compare before you commit, the compare page walks through the MadeThis vs Gumroad matchup in detail.

You can get your first product live on MadeThis in under an hour. That's where I'd start.

Power Up Your Business

Get an AI co-founder that works 24/7 — builds, markets, and grows alongside you.

Explore Copilot Plans →

Powered by GPT-4o-mini (OpenAI)

Ready to Start Your Online Business?

MadeThis is the AI co-founder that handles your store, your products, and your marketing — so you can focus on what matters.

You might also like

The Best Platforms for Selling Digital Products in 2027

Comparing the top platforms for selling digital products in 2027 — Gumroad, Payhip, Podia, Teachable, and MadeThis. Whic

Read more →

Best Platforms to Sell Digital Products in 2027

The best platforms for selling digital products in 2027 — compared by fees, features, AI tools, and who each one is actu

Read more →

Best Platforms to Sell Digital Products in 2026

I've sold on Gumroad, Etsy, Shopify, and MadeThis. Here's my honest breakdown of the best platforms to sell digital prod

Read more →

Get the Free AI Business Starter Checklist

7 steps to launch your first online business with AI — delivered free to your inbox.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

AI-curated content powered by GPT-4o-mini (OpenAI)