Introduction
If you’ve been thinking about selling digital products but feel held back by the costs, here’s some great news: you don’t need any money to get started.
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through three free platforms that can help you create your digital product store. These platforms are beginner-friendly, easy to set up, and packed with features that make selling your products a breeze.
By the end of this post, you’ll have a clear understanding of what each platform offers so you can choose the one that’s best for your goals and start your digital product business journey.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Why Start with a Free Platform?
Before we get into the platforms, let’s talk about why starting with a free platform is such a good idea.
If you’re new to selling digital products, using a free platform gives you the chance to test the waters. You can figure out if this business model is something you want to stick with in the long run without spending any money upfront.
It’s also a great way to test your niche. A free platform allows you to see if people are interested in what you’re selling without needing to invest in things like domain names or hosting. This low-risk approach helps you avoid unnecessary expenses while you’re still learning.
Now that you know why free platforms are such a smart choice, let me introduce you to the best ones, in my opinion.
1. Gumroad: The Easiest Platform to Get Started
If you’re a beginner and want something simple and quick to set up, Gumroad is a great place to start.
What Is Gumroad?
Gumroad is an e-commerce platform that helps creators sell digital products like ebooks, courses, downloadable art, music, videos, and more. It’s been around since 2011 and is designed specifically with creators in mind.
Why I Love Gumroad
One of the best things about Gumroad is how easy it is to use. You can create an account, upload your product, and start selling in just minutes. Plus, Gumroad gives you a shareable link that you can use to promote your store to your audience.
Gumroad also allows you to build direct relationships with your customers. When someone buys from your store, you get access to their contact information, which means you can follow up and grow a loyal audience over time.
Another great feature is their flexible pricing options. You can set a fixed price, let customers pay what they want, or create subscriptions, which makes it easy to experiment and find what works best for your audience.
Things to Keep in Mind
Gumroad offers a free plan, but there are some limitations. For every sale, they charge a 10% transaction fee, plus additional fees for PayPal or credit card payments. That’s around 13% in total. They also pay out earnings weekly, and you’ll need a minimum of $10 to withdraw your funds.
Customization options are also limited. You can only change basic elements like background colors and fonts, which might not work if you want a fully branded store.
Why Choose Gumroad?
Overall, Gumroad is the easiest platform to start with. It’s perfect for beginners who want to get their store up and running quickly.
2. Payhip: More Customization and Marketing Tools
If you want more control over the design of your store and tools to help you market your products, Payhip might be the platform for you.
What Is Payhip?
Payhip is another e-commerce platform that’s simple to use and accessible for everyone.
Why I Love Payhip
Payhip stands out because of its customization options. You can use their store builder to add custom pages, images, and sections, and you can change the colors and fonts to match your brand. This lets you create a store that feels like your own.
Payhip also comes with built-in marketing tools. You can create coupon codes, set up upsells and cross-sells, and even run affiliate programs. These tools are perfect for boosting sales and growing your business.
Things to Keep in Mind
Payhip’s free plan has a 5% transaction fee (plus standard payment processing fees). The good news is that you’ll have instant access to your earnings when you make a sale.
Why Choose Payhip?
Payhip is an excellent option for sellers who want more flexibility, advanced marketing tools, and better customization options for their store.
3. The Leap: AI-Powered Product Creation
The Leap is a platform that’s not just for selling—it’s also designed to help you create your digital products efficiently.
What Is The Leap?
The Leap is an AI-powered platform that offers tools for product creation, a customizable link-in-bio storefront, and built-in email marketing.
Why I Love The Leap
One of its standout features is the AI assistant, which can help you brainstorm, structure, and create digital products like mini-courses or guides. This saves a lot of time, but I recommend reviewing and editing the AI-generated content to make it truly your own.
The Leap also lets you set up a link-in-bio storefront optimized for mobile devices. This is perfect for showcasing your products on social media profiles.
Customization is another strong point. You can choose from beautiful themes and layouts to create a store that looks polished and professional.
Things to Keep in Mind
While The Leap doesn’t charge transaction fees, it does have a free plan limitation of three products. To add more, you’ll need to upgrade. Also, you can only upload one file per product, so for bundles, you’ll need to use a Google Drive link in a PDF.
Why Choose The Leap?
The Leap is ideal if you’re looking for an all-in-one platform that helps you create and sell your digital products through a sleek, mobile-friendly storefront.
Which Platform Should You Choose?
So, which platform sounds like the best fit for you? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
No matter which one you choose, the most important thing is to take that first step. Don’t overthink it. Your store doesn’t have to be perfect. What matters is starting today and learning as you go.
And if you want to build a solid foundation for your digital product business, check out my post on How to Choose a Profitable Digital Product Niche. A good niche is the key to attracting the right audience and setting yourself up for success.