Last Updated on by Dan S
Originally Published June 5, 2023.
Offering digital products for sale on your Shopify store is a strategic way to diversify your product catalogue, reduce fulfilment costs, and significantly increase your potential for profits. Choosing the right app for selling digital products is a crucial decision. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the process of setting up and selecting a digital downloads app for your Shopify store.
How to setup digital downloads for Shopify using an app
Setting up digital products for sale on your Shopify store requires the use of a specialized app that seamlessly handles file uploads, secure storage, and automated delivery of the purchased digital files to customers. Follow these steps to set up digital downloads using a Shopify app:
- Select a digital downloads app that fits the needs of your Shopify store and install it.
- Configure the app settings to match your store’s preferences, including download limits, expiration dates, and file storage options.
- Upload your digital products, assigning product variants where applicable, and ensure that the correct file is assigned to each product variant if necessary.
- Test the process thoroughly to ensure an excellent buying experience for your customers. This includes purchasing a digital product from your store yourself, receiving the download link, and downloading the file.
What to look for when selecting a digital downloads app for Shopify
With numerous digital downloads apps available on the Shopify App Store, it’s essential to consider several factors when selecting the app that will best meet the needs of your store and customers. Look for the following features when choosing a digital downloads app:
- User-friendliness: The app should be easy to use and manage, both for store owners and customers.
- Integration: The app should integrate seamlessly with your Shopify store and any other tools you may use, such as email marketing platforms.
- Customization: The app should allow customization of the customer experience, such as email templates and download pages.
- Storage and Security: Ensure the app offers secure file storage, as well as options to limit downloads and set expiry dates on download links.
- Customer Support: Check if the app developers offer prompt and helpful customer support to troubleshoot any issues you may encounter.
- Pricing: Choose an app with a pricing structure that suits your business needs and budget.
The 4 best apps
Lets run through the apps.
Digital Downloads
This Official Shopify app for selling digital items gives customers instant entry to downloads they’ve bought. The free app integrates seamlessly with your Shopify store, making it simple to add digital files to products, track orders, and send download links to customers. Digital Downloads allows you to sell products with file sizes up to 5GB and includes a dashboard to help you monitor downloads. While it’s completely free, it’s worth noting that the app currently has a 2.5-star rating, with some users reporting occasional issues with file management and reliability.
Sky Pilot
With Sky Pilot you can sell downloads like PDFs, software, films and pictures which your customers can view instantly or optionally download. This highly-rated app (4.9 stars with over 310 reviews) features a customisable stream/download page which you’ll be able to customise to match the look of your Shopify Store. Sky Pilot offers a free plan with 100MB storage and 2GB bandwidth, with paid plans starting at $20/month. The app is Built for Shopify certified and includes advanced features like PDF stamping, video streaming integration with Vimeo and Wistia, download limits, and subscription support for recurring digital products.
FetchApp
We’ve had a number of clients use FetchApp with positive outcomes. If you wish to manage the number of times a product can be downloaded or the period of time a link works then give FetchApp a try. This app maintains a solid 4.7-star rating and integrates smoothly with platforms like WooCommerce, PayPal, and BigCommerce. FetchApp offers transparent pricing based solely on storage needs, with no commission charges on your sales. The app excels at allowing multiple file attachments to products and provides centralized order management from various platforms.
SendOwl
SendOwl is another very popular choice. It is extremely flexible and offers merchants complete control and delivery over digital goods to customers. Downloads can be sent to the customer, streamed instantly (video), provided by email and also included in the customers account section. Content can be dripped over time and can also be sold using Shopifys POS system. SendOwl offers paid plans starting at $39/month, providing automated and secure delivery of e-books, subscriptions, audio, videos, and more with detailed reporting on orders and revenue.
Conclusion
Selecting the right Shopify app to sell digital products can significantly impact your store’s success and customer satisfaction. The digital downloads app landscape in 2025 offers numerous excellent options, from Shopify’s free official app to feature-rich alternatives like Sky Pilot, FetchApp, and SendOwl. Consider the features, security, integration, pricing, and user ratings to make the best choice for your specific needs. With the proper setup and an excellent app choice, you’ll be well on your way to maximizing your profits through selling digital products on your Shopify store.
