The Best Tools and Software for Creating and Selling Digital Products

Selling digital products is an increasingly popular way to generate income online. Whether you’re creating clipart, e-books, trivia games, or printables, having the right tools and software can make a huge difference in the efficiency and quality of your work. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best tools and software you can use to create and sell digital products, from design programs to e-commerce platforms.

1. Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)

Best for: Graphic design, illustration, and digital art.

Adobe Creative Suite is one of the most powerful sets of tools for creating digital products. Photoshop is ideal for editing and manipulating images, Illustrator is perfect for vector graphics and logos, and InDesign works wonders for creating e-books, brochures, and printables.

• Why it’s a must-have: The versatility of Adobe’s suite makes it suitable for a variety of digital products, from clipart and templates to e-books and design mockups. Whether you’re creating static images or intricate designs, Adobe’s tools can handle it all.

• Pricing: Adobe offers a subscription-based pricing model, typically starting at $20.99 per month for a single app like Photoshop, or $54.99 per month for the full suite.

2. Canva

Best for: Easy-to-use design and templates.

For those who may not be professional graphic designers, Canva is an excellent tool for creating simple but effective designs. Canva offers a wide range of pre-designed templates for everything from social media graphics to posters, business cards, and e-books.

• Why it’s great for beginners: Canva is user-friendly, making it accessible for anyone, even without a design background. It’s especially useful for creating eye-catching graphics quickly and with minimal effort.

• Pricing: Canva offers a free version, but the premium version, Canva Pro, is $12.99 per month, and it unlocks more features, such as additional templates and the ability to create brand kits.

3. Affinity Designer

Best for: Vector graphics and illustration.

If you’re looking for an alternative to Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer is a top-notch option for creating vector graphics and illustrations. It’s ideal for designing clipart, logos, and other scalable vector images.

• Why it’s a great choice: Affinity Designer is a one-time purchase with no subscription required, making it a more affordable alternative to Adobe Illustrator. It’s also known for its intuitive interface, making it accessible for beginners while still offering advanced features for professional designers.

• Pricing: A one-time purchase of $54.99, which is a great deal compared to Adobe’s subscription model.

4. Gumroad

Best for: Selling digital products directly to customers.

Gumroad is one of the simplest platforms for selling digital products like e-books, clipart, audio files, and more. It allows you to easily upload your products, set prices, and accept payments.

• Why it’s perfect for digital creators: Gumroad is extremely easy to set up and use, with a straightforward, user-friendly interface. It supports a wide range of digital products and offers features like discount codes, subscriptions, and product bundles.

• Pricing: Gumroad charges a 5% fee on sales, plus transaction fees. However, there are no monthly fees, which makes it an attractive choice for creators just starting out.

5. Etsy

Best for: Digital products with a creative or handmade angle.

Etsy is one of the most well-known marketplaces for handmade goods, but it’s also a great platform for selling digital products like clipart, e-books, printables, and digital planners.

• Why it’s a great platform: Etsy’s built-in customer base is a huge advantage. It’s easy to set up your shop, and the platform’s search features help attract customers. Additionally, Etsy offers sellers the ability to customize listings, add digital download options, and track sales.

• Pricing: Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee for each product and takes a 5% transaction fee plus a 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee per sale.

6. Shopify

Best for: Full-fledged e-commerce stores.

If you’re looking to create your own digital product store with complete control over design and branding, Shopify is an excellent option. It allows you to sell digital and physical products, manage inventory, accept payments, and handle shipping—all in one platform.

• Why it’s great for serious sellers: Shopify is a robust e-commerce platform with powerful tools for growing your digital product business. Whether you’re selling e-books, clipart, or any other digital product, Shopify provides all the customization options you need.

• Pricing: Shopify starts at $29 per month, with additional costs for premium themes and apps.

7. Payhip

Best for: Simple digital product sales with a focus on easy delivery.

Payhip is another straightforward e-commerce platform for selling digital products. It provides the essentials for selling your products, including customizable product pages, instant delivery of files to buyers, and support for discount codes.

• Why it’s perfect for no-fuss selling: Payhip allows you to quickly upload and start selling your digital products with no upfront costs. It’s great for those who want a simple, no-hassle approach to e-commerce.

• Pricing: Payhip charges a 5% fee on sales, plus a small transaction fee. There are no monthly fees unless you want to upgrade to their premium plan, which adds additional features like affiliate marketing tools.

8. ConvertKit

Best for: Email marketing and building your audience.

If you’re looking to market and sell your digital products, ConvertKit is an excellent email marketing tool. It helps you build an email list, create automated email sequences, and send promotions to your subscribers.

• Why it’s essential for digital sellers: ConvertKit allows you to create tailored email campaigns for your digital products, which helps you engage with your audience, build trust, and boost sales over time.

• Pricing: ConvertKit offers a free plan for beginners with up to 300 subscribers. Paid plans start at $9 per month.

9. Adobe Acrobat Pro

Best for: Creating and editing e-books, PDFs, and digital documents.

Adobe Acrobat Pro is a must-have for anyone creating and selling e-books or digital documents. It allows you to create interactive PDFs, secure documents with passwords, and optimize files for distribution.

• Why it’s a great tool for e-books: You can easily format your e-books, add interactive elements, and secure your documents from unauthorized sharing with password protection.

• Pricing: Adobe Acrobat Pro costs $14.99 per month, but it’s a powerful tool for anyone serious about selling e-books or digital guides.

10. Google Drive

Best for: Cloud storage and file sharing.

Google Drive is a simple and effective solution for storing and sharing your digital products with customers. It offers 15GB of free storage, and you can use it to create downloadable links for your products.

• Why it’s a great free option: It’s easy to upload your digital products to Google Drive and share them with customers via download links. It’s also easy to manage and organize your files.

• Pricing: Google Drive offers a free plan with 15GB of storage. If you need more space, paid plans start at $1.99 per month for 100GB.

Conclusion:

The tools and software available today make it easier than ever to create, market, and sell digital products. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale your digital product business, these tools can help you produce high-quality products, manage your store, and connect with your audience. By selecting the right combination of tools for your needs, you can streamline your workflow and focus on what you do best—creating amazing digital products.