FetchApp vs. Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products: An In-Depth Comparison

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. FetchApp vs. Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products: At a Glance
3. Deep Dive Comparison
4. The Alternative: Unifying Commerce, Content, and Community Natively
5. Conclusion
6. FAQ

Introduction

Adding digital products to an e-commerce storefront introduces a specific set of logistical hurdles that differ significantly from shipping physical goods. Instead of managing warehouses and courier tracking numbers, merchants must navigate file hosting, download security, and the immediate delivery of assets. The primary challenge is creating a workflow that feels effortless for the buyer while remaining secure and manageable for the store owner. When the delivery system fails or feels disconnected from the brand, it leads to customer frustration and an influx of support tickets.

Short answer: FetchApp is an established, versatile solution ideal for merchants who operate across multiple platforms and need granular control over download expirations. Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products is a newer, cost-effective entry focusing on high storage capacities and a simplified Shopify-centric workflow. For brands seeking to eliminate the friction of external tools, moving toward a native platform often yields better long-term retention and higher conversion rates.

The purpose of this article is to provide an objective, feature-by-feature comparison of FetchApp and Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products. By examining their storage limits, delivery mechanisms, and pricing structures, merchants can identify which tool aligns with their current volume and future growth plans.

FetchApp vs. Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products: At a Glance

Deep Dive Comparison

File Hosting and Automation Workflows

A digital delivery app is only as effective as its ability to operate without manual intervention. Both FetchApp and Downly aim to automate the process of sending files to customers immediately after a transaction is completed. This automation is the backbone of a digital product business, allowing the merchant to generate revenue around the clock without having to manually email attachments.

FetchApp has built its reputation on a robust automation system that handles the distribution of files across various platforms. Because it integrates with systems like WooCommerce and BigCommerce in addition to Shopify, its workflow is designed to centralize orders from multiple sources into a single dashboard. This is particularly useful for brands that don't want to manage separate delivery tools for different storefronts. The ability to link a single file to multiple products or attach multiple files to a single product offers flexibility for bundling.

Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products focuses on a more streamlined approach within the Shopify ecosystem. The workflow is designed to turn existing Shopify products into digital downloads with a few clicks. For merchants who have already built their product catalog and simply want to attach a file to an existing SKU, Downly offers a direct path. It also emphasizes the ability to automatically email files and license keys immediately after purchase, ensuring the customer has instant access to their content.

Storage Capacities and Order Limits

One of the most significant points of divergence between these two apps is how they handle storage and order volume. For a merchant selling high-resolution video content or large software packages, storage space is a critical factor in determining overhead costs.

• FetchApp Pricing and Limits:
  • The Free tier is quite restrictive, offering only 5MB of storage and a limit of 25 orders per day.
  • The $5 plan increases storage to 50MB and removes order limits.
  • The $10 plan jumps to 2GB and allows merchants to use their own storage.
  • The $20 plan provides 5GB of storage.
• Downly Pricing and Limits:
  • The Free tier is significantly more generous with storage, providing 300MB, although it limits merchants to 30 orders.
  • The $2.95 Standard plan offers 12GB of storage and unlimited orders.
  • The $4.95 Plus plan offers 120GB of storage.

Downly clearly targets merchants with large file sizes who are sensitive to monthly costs. Offering 120GB for under five dollars is a competitive play compared to FetchApp's 5GB for twenty dollars. However, FetchApp’s $10 tier allows merchants to integrate their own storage, which can be a decisive feature for businesses that already have a dedicated hosting solution and simply need the delivery logic.

Security and Access Controls

Security in the digital product world means preventing unauthorized sharing while ensuring legitimate customers can access their purchases without hurdle. This is typically managed through download limits and expiration rules.

FetchApp provides granular control over how downloads are restricted. Merchants can set limits based on the number of download attempts, a specific time frame, or a combination of both. This flexibility is essential for preventing "link sharing" where one purchase is distributed to dozens of non-paying users. Furthermore, FetchApp allows for the uploading of license keys, which are delivered alongside the digital files. This makes it a strong candidate for software developers or those selling access to gated software.

Downly also handles license keys and offers the ability to generate unlimited keys automatically. It provides instant notifications to customers when a product is updated, which is a vital feature for eBook authors or course creators who frequently refresh their materials. While Downly emphasizes quick download speeds and ample storage, FetchApp’s dashboard for managing order status and expiration manually gives it a slight edge in terms of administrative control for complex order disputes.

Branding and the Customer Experience

When a customer buys a digital product, the transition from the checkout page to the download link should be seamless. If the delivery email or the download page looks entirely different from the storefront, it can trigger security concerns for the customer.

FetchApp allows for a degree of tailoring in how files are delivered, but its nature as a multi-platform tool means it often lives "outside" the specific Shopify theme environment. Merchants can manage everything from a centralized dashboard, but they must be diligent about ensuring the communication matches their brand voice.

Downly offers a "No Downly Branding" feature on its paid tiers, starting at $2.95 per month. This is an affordable way for small merchants to maintain a professional appearance. By removing the app's own branding, the merchant ensures the customer remains focused on the brand they just purchased from. The focus here is on simplicity—turning a product into a download in "just a few simple steps" suggests a user interface that prioritizes speed over deep customization.

Reliability and Merchant Sentiment

Review data serves as a proxy for app stability and support quality. FetchApp has a longer history, reflected in its 13 reviews and 4.3-rating. This suggests a level of established reliability, though the low volume of reviews relative to its age might indicate a smaller, niche user base or a very stable "set-it-and-forget-it" product that doesn't prompt frequent feedback.

Downly, as of the current data, has 0 reviews and a rating of 0. For a merchant, this presents a "early adopter" trade-off. While the pricing and storage features are highly attractive, there is no public record of how the developer handles support requests or how the app performs under high traffic. Merchants choosing Downly are essentially betting on the app’s future performance based on its feature list rather than its history.

The Alternative: Unifying Commerce, Content, and Community Natively

The fundamental issue with many digital delivery tools is platform fragmentation. When a merchant uses an external app to handle files, the customer journey is often broken into pieces. The customer buys on Shopify, receives an email from a third-party server, and perhaps logs into a separate portal to access their content. This fragmentation leads to lost login credentials, confusion about where to find files, and a brand experience that feels "duct-taped" together.

Instead of sending customers away from the store, forward-thinking brands are moving toward a native integration model. This philosophy keeps the customer "at home" on the merchant's own website. By reviewing the Shopify App Store listing merchants install from, store owners can see the benefits of a system that lives inside the Shopify admin and utilizes existing customer accounts. This approach reduces technical overhead and significantly lowers the number of support tickets related to login issues.

A native platform allows for the creation of digital products that live directly alongside physical stock. Imagine a merchant who sells physical craft kits. Instead of emailing a PDF link through an external tool, they can provide a beautiful, branded portal where the customer accesses instructional videos and a community of other crafters. This is exactly how one brand sold $112K+ by bundling courses with their physical products, creating a high-value ecosystem that an external file-delivery app simply cannot replicate.

Moving to a unified system also solves the conversion friction that plagues many digital sellers. One merchant doubled its store's conversion rate by fixing a fragmented system that previously required users to navigate between different sites. By keeping customers at home on the brand website, the merchant ensures that the shopping experience and the content consumption experience are one and the same.

When merchants look at evaluating the long-term cost of scaling membership, they often find that the "hidden costs" of external tools—such as customer churn due to a poor user experience—outweigh the base monthly fee. A native platform provides all the key features for courses and communities without the disjointed feel of third-party delivery.

For those who have seen strategies for selling over 4,000 digital courses natively, the lesson is clear: the more seamless the access, the higher the customer lifetime value. If unifying your stack is a priority, start by a simple, all-in-one price for unlimited courses. Utilizing a creating a seamless sales and learning experience ensures that your digital assets are an extension of your brand, not just a file sent after a transaction.

Conclusion

For merchants choosing between FetchApp and Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products, the decision comes down to the specific needs of the business's current stage and its multi-platform requirements. FetchApp remains a reliable choice for those who need a central hub to manage digital delivery across Shopify, WooCommerce, and other platforms. Its ability to integrate with external storage and its granular download limits make it a "safe" pick for established merchants with complex needs. On the other hand, Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products is a compelling option for Shopify-exclusive merchants who prioritize high storage limits at an extremely low price point, provided they are comfortable using an app without a long track record of reviews.

However, the modern e-commerce landscape is shifting away from simple file delivery toward immersive digital experiences. Merchants are finding that simply sending a download link is no longer enough to build a lasting brand. By predictable pricing without hidden transaction fees, brands can transition from "selling files" to "building communities." A native approach ensures that your content, commerce, and community are unified, which naturally leads to higher engagement and fewer customer support headaches.

To build your community without leaving Shopify, start by reviewing the Shopify App Store listing merchants install from.

FAQ

Is FetchApp better for large file sizes or Downly?

Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products provides significantly more storage for a lower monthly price, offering 120GB for $4.95, whereas FetchApp offers 5GB for $20. However, FetchApp allows you to use your own external storage on its $10 plan, which might be more cost-effective if you already host your files on a service like Amazon S3 or Google Cloud.

Can I sell license keys with both apps?

Yes, both FetchApp and Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products support the delivery of license keys. FetchApp allows you to upload keys to be delivered with downloads, while Downly highlights the ability to automatically generate unlimited keys for your customers.

How does a native, all-in-one platform compare to specialized external apps?

Specialized external apps focus purely on the delivery of a file via email or a temporary link. A native, all-in-one platform integrates the content directly into your Shopify store's customer accounts. This means customers don't have to search through their email for links; they simply log into your store to find all their purchased courses, downloads, and community access in one place.

Do these apps work with Shopify's native checkout?

Both apps integrate with the Shopify checkout process. When a customer completes a purchase, Shopify notifies the app, which then triggers the delivery of the digital file or license key. This ensures that the payment processing remains secure and handled by Shopify while the app manages the fulfillment of the digital asset. Verifying compatibility details in the official app listing is always a good step to ensure the app works with your specific checkout configuration and any other apps you may have installed.

Which app is better for sending updates to previous buyers?

Both apps include features to notify previous customers of updates. FetchApp has an "Update Buyers" feature specifically designed for sending new versions of files to people who have already purchased them. Downly also includes instant notifications for customers whenever there are updates to your digital products, making both suitable for authors or software developers who release frequent revisions. Checking merchant feedback and app-store performance signals can help you determine which app's notification system is more reliable for your specific customer base.