How to Sell Digital Products Without a Website: US Platforms & Strategies

Selling digital products without a website is not only possible—it’s increasingly common. In fact, as of 2024, 27% of American small businesses operate without a dedicated website.¹

Thanks to the rise of online marketplaces and digital platforms, creators can now sell eBooks, templates, courses, and more directly to customers. There is no longer a need for a personal site. This guide will explore the best platforms and strategies for selling digital products without a website.

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Best Platforms for Selling Digital Products Without a Website

A website isn’t always needed to sell digital products. There are many intuitive platforms today. Creators and entrepreneurs can launch and grow a digital product business with minimal setup.

These platforms handle everything from product delivery to payments. This allows you to focus on content creation and customer engagement. Let’s look at the best platforms to help you decide which is right for your business.

Etsy

Etsy is a well-established marketplace known for handmade and vintage goods. It's also a popular platform for selling digital products like printable art, templates, and planners.

• Main Features: Easy product uploads and instant digital file delivery. Built-in search and audience reach seller analytics, and promotional tools like Etsy Ads and coupons.

• Key Fees: $0.20 listing fee per item, 6.5% transaction fee on the sale price (including shipping), and payment processing fee (varies by country).²

Best For: Creators selling digital downloads such as planners and templates with broad consumer appeal. Suitable for those who want access to a high-traffic marketplace without managing a standalone site.

Gumroad

Gumroad is a simple, creator-friendly platform for selling digital products directly to your audience. It’s ideal for independent creators looking to monetize e-books and memberships. It also works for software, and other downloadable goods without a website or technical setup.

• Main Features include instant digital delivery, pay-what-you-want pricing, subscription and membership support, license key generation, discount codes, and sales analytics.

• Key Fees: Free to start, with a flat 10% fee on each sale under the free plan. Gumroad’s “Premium” tier offers lower fees on paid plans.³

Best For: Writers, indie developers, and digital creators. Suitable for those who seek a minimalist storefront and the ability to sell directly through social media. Also works for selling via email newsletters, or personal landing pages.

Sellfy

Sellfy is an e-commerce platform that supports both digital and physical product sales. It's a strong option for creators who want to offer multiple product types from a single storefront without building a website.

• Main Features: The platform includes a customizable storefront and instant digital file delivery. It also consists of subscription, and pay-what-you-want options. It also has built-in marketing tools (email, coupons, upsells) and analytics.

• Key Fees: There are no transaction fees. Pricing starts at $22/month for the Starter plan. Higher tiers unlock additional features such as product migration and cart abandonment tools.

Best For: Creators selling digital downloads like templates, music, or videos. It also works for sellers with physical goods, who want an all-in-one solution. No third-party marketplace dependency.

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

Amazon KDP is a platform for self-publishing and selling e-books and audiobooks. It gives creators access to Amazon’s massive global customer base without needing a personal website.⁴

• Main Features: Publish and sell e-books and audiobooks on Amazon and Kindle devices. It also has royalty options, Kindle Unlimited enrollment, and access to marketing tools like Kindle Countdown Deals. You can also get free book promotions.

• Key Fees: There are no upfront costs; Amazon takes a percentage of royalties based on your chosen pricing and distribution options.

Best For: Authors, publishers, and educators who want to reach a global audience with digital books and audiobooks and benefit from Amazon’s trusted ecosystem and marketing tools.

Teachable & Udemy

Teachable and Udemy are two of the most popular platforms for selling online courses and educational content. No website is required. Both allow creators to monetize their expertise. Keep in mind that they serve slightly different audiences and business models.

• Main Features:

  • Teachable: Custom-branded course pages, multimedia content support, quizzes, certificates, and built-in email marketing.
  • Udemy: Access to a large marketplace of learners, built-in marketing promotions, and a simple upload process.

• Key Fees:

  • Teachable: Paid plans starting at $59/month with reduced fees.⁵
  • Udemy: Free to join, but Udemy takes 50% of sales when it drives traffic (or 3%–37% if you drive your own).⁶

• Best For: Educators, coaches, and creators offering structured lessons or tutorials. Use Teachable if you want complete control over branding and pricing. Choose Udemy if you prefer tapping into a large, built-in student base.

Can I sell Digital Downloads on Social Media?

Yes, you can sell digital downloads directly through social media. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and even Pinterest now support link-in-bio tools. They also have in-app shopping features, and third-party integrations. This makes it easy to connect followers with your digital products.

How to Market Digital Products Without a Website

You can successfully market and sell digital products even without a website. Use a mix of social platforms, email, and content strategies to reach your audience.

Here are some effective ways to get your products in front of the right audience:

Leveraging social media platforms

Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are powerful tools for marketing and selling digital products. They do not require a website.

• Instagram: Perfect for visually showcasing your digital products. Use Stories, Reels, and Highlights to engage followers and share customer testimonials. Demonstrate product use easily.

• TikTok: Ideal for reaching a broad audience quickly through short, engaging videos. Use it to show behind-the-scenes content and share tips about your product niche. Create before-and-after transformations using your digital product.

• Pinterest: Pinterest works well for evergreen content like planners, workbooks, or guides. Create eye-catching pins linked directly to your product page on platforms like Etsy and Gumroad.

Leveraging social media platforms

Use Social Media Strategically
Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are powerful tools for showcasing your products. You can engage directly with your audience.
Use features like Reels, Stories, and Lives to demonstrate your product’s value, share testimonials, or walk through how it works. Link your product through a bio tool to drive traffic straight to your checkout page.

Leverage Email Marketing
Start building an email list as early as possible, even without a website. Use opt-in forms from platforms to collect email addresses. Send regular updates, product launches, or exclusive discounts.

Collaborate with Creators or Influencers
If you're selling on social media, consider collaborations or shoutouts from accounts with overlapping audiences. Influencer marketing can quickly introduce your product to new potential customers. This could be for example a joint giveaway, a guest post, or an affiliate program.

Use Content Platforms like YouTube or Substack
You don’t need a full website to create valuable content. Platforms like YouTube and Substack let you educate, entertain, and inform your audience - while subtly promoting your digital products.

Run Targeted Ads
If you have the budget, run low-cost ads on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest to promote your product. Use a strong visual, clear call-to-action, and direct link to your sales page to drive quick conversions.

Selling through email marketing and newsletters

Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to sell digital products. With the right tools, you can build and monetize an engaged audience through their inbox.

Email marketing platforms allow you to grow your email list. With these platforms, you can also nurture subscribers, and promote products from a single dashboard. You can use opt-in forms or lead magnets to attract new subscribers. You can introduce your digital products through automated email sequences or personalized newsletters.
Email also gives you complete control over your messaging and audience. Plus, tracking performance, segmenting your list, and testing different offers or pricing strategies is easy.

Using affiliate marketing and influencer partnerships

Affiliate marketing and influencer collaborations are excellent ways to expand your reach. You can boost sales especially when you don’t have a website. By partnering with people with a loyal audience, you can tap into their trust and visibility to promote your digital products.

With affiliate marketing, you provide partners with a unique referral link or discount code. The affiliate earns a commission when someone purchases your product through that link.

Influencer partnerships take this further by leveraging content creators to showcase your product in action. This could be through Reels, tutorials, testimonials, or unboxings.

Pros and Cons of Selling Digital Products Without a Website

Selling digital products without a website has become increasingly popular. It’s an accessible, low-barrier way to start an online business, but it comes with a few trade-offs.

Here’s a breakdown of the key advantages and limitations:

Pros

• Lower Costs and Faster Setup: E-commerce platforms can be set up in minutes, so you don’t need to pay for web hosting, domain names, or custom design.

• Built-In Traffic and Tools: Third-party platforms often have existing audiences and built-in marketing features. These could consist of SEO tools, discovery feeds, and email capture.

• No Tech Overhead: Hosting, product delivery, payment processing, and security are all handled for you.

Cons

• Limited Branding and Control: Using third-party platforms means working within their design and functionality limits. Customizing your brand experience or upselling may be more difficult.

• Platform Fees and Revenue Sharing: Most platforms charge transaction fees and take a percentage of each sale. They might require monthly subscriptions. Over time, these costs can add up and cut into your margins.

• Dependence on Platform Policies: If a platform changes its rules, algorithms, or fees or flags your account, you risk losing access to your customer base or storefront.

What is the Easiest Way to Sell Digital Products Online?

The easiest way to sell digital products online is to use an all-in-one platform that handles product delivery and payment processing. It should also handle customer management without requiring a website or technical setup.

Dedicated e-commerce platforms handle the heavy lifting - they host your files, deliver them automatically after purchase, and offer built-in checkout systems. Most also include features like promo codes, analytics, and affiliate tools to help grow the business further.

The Easy Way to Manage Payments for Digital Product Sales

If you sell digital products without a website, managing payments across platforms and currencies can be complicated. This is especially true when dealing with international customers. Wise offers a streamlined, cost-effective solution designed to simplify your financial workflow.

With no monthly fees, Wise lets you send and receive international payments at the mid-market exchange rate. This can help you avoid hidden charges. You can hold and convert over 40 currencies in one account and even connect to accounting software for easier financial tracking. You can open an account 100% online, with no need to book appointments or wait in line.

Register with Wise Business 🚀

Wise is not a bank, but a Money Services Business (MSB) provider and a smart alternative to banks. The Wise Business account is designed with international business in mind, and makes it easy to send, hold, and manage business funds in 40+ currencies. You can get major currency account details for a one-off fee to receive overseas payments like a local. You can also send money to 140+ countries.

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Sources:

1. 50+ Small Business Website Statistics, 2025 | Wix.com
2. Fees & Payments Policy - Our House Rules | Etsy
3. https://gumroad.com/pricing
4. Sellfy Pricing & Plans
5. eBook Royalties
6. Teachable Pricing: Explore Free Trial and Paid Plans
7. udemy.com/pricing
   All sources checked: June 2025