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4 Best Easy Digital Downloads Alternatives in 2026 (Free & Paid)

Easy Digital Downloads is wordPress plugin for selling digital products and software licences on your own site, free core plus paid extensions from $99.50/yr., priced at free plan, paid from $99/mo. If it is too expensive, too slow or simply not a fit, these are the strongest alternatives we have reviewed.

Why look for a Easy Digital Downloads alternative?

  • You maintain the WordPress site, hosting and updates yourself
  • Subscriptions, licensing and affiliates all require paid extensions; tax handling needs an add-on

Each option below covers the same job from a different angle.

1

Lemon Squeezy Free

Merchant-of-record checkout for software, SaaS subscriptions and digital products, now owned by Stripe; 5% + 50c.

#21k web rank · ▲ 879 this week · 5% + 50c per transaction (merchant of record) · accepts Health & Supplements

8.6/10

Lemon Squeezy is a merchant-of-record platform for selling software, subscriptions and digital products: it handles VAT and sales tax worldwide, licence keys, subscriptions, an affiliate program and email, for 5% plus 50 cents per transaction. Payouts run every two weeks by PayPal or bank. Acquired by Stripe in 2024, it is the natural choice for indie software and premium digital… Read more →

Pros

  • Global tax compliance, licence keys, subscriptions and a built-in affiliate program
  • Developer-friendly API and overlay checkout

Cons

  • Payout cadence and holds are slower than Stripe direct
  • Some countries unsupported for sellers

Pricing: Free  ·  Payout: Every two weeks (NET-15)  ·  merchant of record saas licence keys stripe

2

Gumroad Free

The simplest way to sell digital products and memberships; merchant of record, 10% flat fee, no monthly cost.

#2.8k web rank · ▲ 19 this week · 10% + payment fees per sale (merchant of record) · accepts Health & Supplements

8.4/10

Gumroad sells ebooks, templates, software, presets and memberships with a hosted checkout, automatic delivery and a marketplace that brings some organic buyers. It acts as merchant of record, so VAT and sales tax are handled, and charges a flat 10% plus card fees with no subscription. Payouts are weekly by PayPal or bank. The default first platform for a creator's… Read more →

Pros

  • Live in minutes with checkout, file delivery, licence keys and a discover marketplace
  • Handles VAT and US sales tax as merchant of record

Cons

  • 10% is expensive past a few thousand dollars a month
  • Limited design control and email tools

Pricing: Free  ·  Payout: Weekly (Fridays)  ·  digital products merchant of record memberships no monthly fee

3

Payhip Freemium

Sell downloads, courses, coaching and memberships with a free plan at 5% and paid plans at 0%.

#6.3k web rank · ▲ 15 this week · 5% on the free plan, 0% on paid plans ($29+/mo) · accepts Health & Supplements

7.8/10

Payhip sells digital downloads, courses, coaching sessions, memberships and physical goods with a free plan that charges 5% per sale and paid plans from $29 a month at 0%. It handles EU and UK VAT, pays instantly through your own PayPal or Stripe, and includes an affiliate program and coupons. A cheaper alternative to Gumroad as sales grow. Read more →

Pros

  • Handles EU VAT and UK VAT as merchant of record on all plans
  • Courses, coaching and memberships included

Cons

  • Store design is basic
  • Marketing tools are thin

Pricing: Free plan, paid from $29/mo  ·  Payout: Instant via PayPal / Stripe  ·  digital downloads courses vat memberships

4

SendOwl Paid

Digital delivery and checkout with licence keys, drip and affiliates on a flat monthly plan.

#97k web rank · ▲ 452 this week · From $18/mo plus card fees; no per-sale cut · accepts Health & Supplements

7.0/10

SendOwl handles checkout and secure delivery of digital products, with licence keys, PDF stamping, drip content and an affiliate program, for a monthly fee starting at $18 and no revenue share; payments go through your own Stripe or PayPal. Cost-effective once volume grows, as long as you can manage tax. Read more →

Pros

  • Flat fee with no revenue share
  • Licence keys, PDF stamping, drip and affiliate tools

Cons

  • You handle tax
  • Storefront is minimal

Pricing: Paid from $18/mo  ·  Payout: Via your Stripe / PayPal  ·  digital delivery licence keys flat fee

Free and open-source Easy Digital Downloads alternatives

Lemon Squeezy 🧰 PlatformFree

Merchant-of-record checkout for software, SaaS subscriptions and digital products, now owned by Stripe; 5% + 50c.

#21k web rank · ▲ 879 this week

8.6 Visit ↗

Gumroad 🧰 PlatformFree

The simplest way to sell digital products and memberships; merchant of record, 10% flat fee, no monthly cost.

#2.8k web rank · ▲ 19 this week

8.4 Visit ↗

Back to Easy Digital Downloads All digital product & checkout platforms