6 Digital Goods Marketplace Examples + Tips for Sellers

Digital goods marketplaces make it easier to sell templates, designs, software, and other intangible products by handling discovery, transactions, and delivery. Some platforms connect digital creators with built-in audiences, while others provide simple tools to launch a digital storefront and start selling. 

The digital goods market is growing rapidly, with projections putting its global market value at $511 billion by 2031 (up from about $157 billion in 2026). These marketplaces provide an accessible entry point, allowing you to test ideas, reach customers, and generate revenue without the costs of physical inventory or shipping.

Learn how digital goods marketplaces operate, which platforms to consider, and how to sell digital goods via your own ecommerce store.

What is a digital goods marketplace?

A digital goods marketplace is a platform where multiple creators sell intangible products—such as ebooks, templates, courses, and software—to a shared audience. Customers can purchase and access these products instantly on devices like smartphones, tablets, and computers, without receiving a physical item. In most cases, delivery is automated, so access is granted immediately after purchase. 

Not all digital goods marketplaces operate in the same way. Some are designed to help creators reach new customers, while others are better suited for creators who bring their own audience. This distinction affects how you attract customers, how much control you have over your business, and how you scale over time. 

Marketplaces often specialize in specific types of digital products. For example, some focus on ebooks or design assets, while others support a broader range of digital goods within a single platform. This specialization can influence where creators choose to sell based on their product and target audience. 

Digital goods marketplace examples

• Etsy
• Creative Market
• Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
• Gumroad
• Payhip
• Teachable

Each digital goods marketplace serves a different type of creator and audience. These platforms vary in how they drive discovery, what products they support, and how they charge fees.

Etsy 

Etsy allows creators to sell digital goods like planners, art prints, and templates to a built-in audience. 

Pros

• Access to millions of active shoppers

• Trusted, familiar checkout process

• Low barrier to entry for testing new product ideas 

Limitations

• Highly competitive and saturated marketplace

• Limited control over branding and customer relationships

• Exposure to platform policy changes that can affect visibility and sales

Fees

• 20¢ listing fee per item (active for four months or until sold)

• 6.5% transaction fee

• 3% + 25¢ payment processing fee (varies by region)

• 15% offsite ads fee (only when a sale is generated through ads)

• 2.5% currency conversion fee 

Creative Market

Creative Market is a curated marketplace for design assets, serving a large audience of designers, marketers, and creative professionals. It’s best for designers and illustrators selling fonts, templates, or graphics who want access to a design-savvy audience without building their own traffic.

Pros

• Access to a high-intent, design-focused audience

• Minimum pricing helps prevent a race to the bottom

Limitations

• Application and acceptance required to sell

• High commission rates reduce margins

• Limited storefront customization

Fees 

• Commission-based; creators earn 50% of each sale

• Platform covers payment processing and some marketing costs

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

Amazon KDP is a publishing platform that allows authors to distribute self-published ebooks to a global audience through Amazon’s marketplace.

Pros

• Extensive global reach

• Integrated tools for production, marketing, and fulfillment 

• Ability to offer both digital and print versions

Limitations

• Highly competitive marketplace

• Royalty structure varies based on pricing and region

• Limited control over branding and customer relationships

Fees

• No upfront costs to publish

• 70% or 35% royalty options 

• Small delivery fees apply for certain ebook files

Gumroad 

Gumroad is an all-in-one platform for selling digital goods directly to your audience. You can create a storefront via the platform or use it as the checkout back end with your personal website. Creators generally drive traffic to their Gumroad site, although it does offer a discover tab where consumers can browse products.

Pros

• No monthly subscription required

• Handles global sales tax and VAT compliance

• Quick and easy setup for selling digital products

Limitations

• Limited built-in audience

• Limited design customization

• Transaction fees can be expensive at scale 

Fees 

• 10% flat transaction fee 

• 50¢ per transaction

• Payment processing fees apply separately

• 30% fee for sales made through Gumroad’s marketplace (includes processing)

Payhip

Payhip is an all-in-one platform for selling digital products, including downloadables, courses, coaching, and memberships. Although it has a small marketplace, like Gumroad, it’s typically used by creators who drive their own traffic.

Pros

• Free plan with built-in tools like affiliate programs and email marketing

• Automatic handling of EU and UK VAT

• Simple setup for selling a range of digital product types

Limitations

• Limited built-in audience

• Fewer integrations compared to larger platforms

• Basic storefront design

Fees

• Free plan: 5% transaction fee

• Plus plan: $29/month + 2% transaction fee

• Pro plan: $99/month

• Payment processing fees apply separately through PayPal or Stripe

Teachable

Teachable is a specialized platform for building and delivering online courses and coaching. Like Gumroad and Payhip, it’s typically used by creators who drive their own traffic to the site.

Pros

• Built-in course builder, quizzes, and student management

• Handles payments and global tax compliance

• Designed specifically for structured learning experiences

Limitations

• Limited branding on lower plans

• High transaction fees on the starter plan

Fees

• Starter plan: $29/month (billed annually) + 7.5% transaction fee

• Builder plan: $69/month (billed annually)

• Growth plan: $139/month (billed annually)

• Payment processing fees apply separately

Selling digital goods with Shopify vs. third-party marketplaces

A common approach to selling digital goods is to use both your own ecommerce store and third-party marketplaces that help you reach new customers. Discovery-driven marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon KDP can introduce your products to a wider audience, while an owned storefront built on a platform like Shopify gives you control over your brand, customer relationships, and long-term growth.

Marketplaces do come with some tradeoffs. They are highly competitive, making it difficult for you to stand out or build a distinct brand. The platform sets the rules for how your products are listed and promoted, and you have limited control over customer relationships. You also pay fees on each sale, which can reduce your margins as you scale.

Running your own ecommerce store shifts the balance toward ownership. With a Shopify store, you pay a monthly subscription and gain the ability to build direct customer relationships and drive repeat purchases. For this reason, you may consider using third-party marketplaces with large audiences to attract new buyers, and then guide them to your own store.

Tools to power your Shopify store

Whether you’re starting your own store, expanding beyond marketplaces, or running both together, Shopify offers built-in features to manage your digital products:

• Digital Downloads app. Upload, manage, and automatically deliver digital files immediately after purchase.

• Digital product taxes. Simplify complex requirements like EU VAT for digital goods, helping ensure compliance as you scale globally.

• Digital products guide. Access resources to help you set up your digital products and configure fulfillment.