LDT Courses | Tutorials vs. Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products: An In-Depth Comparison

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. LDT Courses | Tutorials vs. Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products: At a Glance
3. Deep Dive Comparison
4. Pricing & Value Analysis
5. Support, Reviews, and Risk Assessment
6. Reporting, Analytics & Growth Signals
7. Migration & Data Ownership Considerations
8. The Alternative: Unifying Commerce, Content, and Community Natively
9. Practical Decision Guide: Which App to Choose?
10. Migration & Long-Term Considerations
11. Implementation Checklist (for any chosen path)
12. Integrations & Automation Tips
13. Pricing Revisited — Predictability vs. Bargain
14. Final Signals to Watch During a Trial
15. Conclusion
16. FAQ

Introduction

Shopify merchants who want to add digital products, courses, or memberships face a common choice: build an LMS-like experience in their store, or attach files and license keys to products. The decision affects conversion rates, customer experience, support workload, and long-term revenue.

Short answer: LDT Courses | Tutorials is a strong choice for merchants that need a full-featured, in-store LMS with quizzes, certificates, and a variety of content types, while Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products is better suited to merchants who only need to sell downloadable files or license keys simply and affordably. For merchants who want an even smoother path — bundling physical products, subscriptions, and learning without sending customers to third-party sites — a native, all-in-one platform like Tevello can reduce friction and increase lifetime value.

This post provides a detailed, feature-by-feature comparison of LDT Courses | Tutorials and Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products so merchants can choose the right tool. The comparison is data-driven and impartial; after the direct comparison, the article explains the benefits of a native alternative that unifies commerce, content, and community.

LDT Courses | Tutorials vs. Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products: At a Glance

Deep Dive Comparison

Product Positioning and Core Strengths

LDT Courses | Tutorials — What it is best at

LDT positions itself as a learning management system built for Shopify. Its core strengths are content types and student management. Key capabilities include:

• Support for multiple content formats: private videos, audio, images, PDFs/e-books, quizzes, text blocks, embedded HTML, and Zoom sessions.
• Student progress tracking, quizzes/tests with scoring, and PDF certificate generation.
• Membership and subscription features, limited-time access, and the ability to upsell products directly within course flows.
• Security features for media: a secure video/audio player, subtitles, watermark, and e-book viewer (PDF/EPUB).

These features make LDT suitable for merchants who want the look and function of a course site but keep everything within the Shopify storefront.

Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products — What it is best at

Downly is focused on turning products into downloadable assets and managing distribution of license keys. Its core strengths are simplicity and price:

• Quick conversion of existing products into downloadable digital products.
• License key generation and automated distribution.
• File hosting with automatic email delivery after purchase and update notifications to customers.
• Low-cost paid plans with generous order limits and storage tiers for small digital storefronts.

Downly works well when the priority is selling files and licenses, not delivering a learning experience.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Content Types & Learning Tools

LDT:

• Built for a wide range of educational content: video, audio, text, PDFs, e-books, quizzes, and Zoom embeds.
• Quizzes with scoring and progress tracking enable structured learning paths.
• Certificate generation provides a tangible credential on course completion.
• Drip content and time-limited access available on paid plans.

Downly:

• Primarily file-based: PDFs, videos, audio files, and other attachments.
• No built-in quiz, certificate, or progress tracking features (based on available descriptions).
• Ideal for one-off downloadable assets rather than multi-lesson courses.

Conclusion: For structured courses and programs, LDT is much closer to a full LMS, while Downly is suited to straightforward file delivery.

Commerce & Checkout Integration

LDT:

• Works with Checkout, Customer accounts, and Shopify Flow (as listed), which enables more control over native checkout behavior and automation.
• Designed to let customers access courses directly within the Shopify store UI.

Downly:

• Integrates with Shopify's digital products system and digital downloads. Focuses on adding downloadable assets to product purchases.
• Handles automatic emailing of files and license keys post-purchase.

Conclusion: Both apps are Shopify apps and operate "within" a store, but LDT emphasizes a richer integration with customer accounts and flow automation to create course-like experiences tied to the checkout and customer lifecycle.

Bundling Physical + Digital Products

LDT:

• Explicitly supports upsells and membership bundling, which helps merchants combine physical products (kits, books, tools) with courses or digital access within the same purchase process.
• Designed to improve average order value (AOV) by presenting digital content as part of the product experience.

Downly:

• Can attach digital downloads to Shopify products but lacks the course- or membership-centric features that help sell educational experiences as a bundled offering.
• Works well for adding a PDF or license key to a physical product but is not designed for ongoing access or drip content.

Conclusion: LDT is typically more useful when bundling physical and digital course access; Downly is a lightweight file attachment and license tool.

Security & Content Protection

LDT:

• Provides security features aimed at protecting video and audio assets: private players, watermarking, and subtitle support.
• Useful for creators who need to protect premium media or control access.

Downly:

• Focuses on secure file delivery and license key generation.
• Storage and delivery performance are emphasized, but media protection features like watermarks or private streaming are not central to the product description.

Conclusion: LDT offers more dedicated tools for protecting course media and controlling student access.

Storage, Bandwidth, and Scale

LDT:

• Storage tiers scale from 50 GB on Starter to 1.5 TB on Ultra, with "infinite" bandwidth and unlimited courses/enrollments.
• Pricing reflects storage and support levels.

Downly:

• Free plan provides 300 MB and up to 30 orders. Paid plans increase storage to 12 GB and 120 GB, with no order limits on Standard and Plus.
• Very affordable for small sellers, but storage caps matter for video-heavy creators.

Conclusion: Sellers with video-heavy courses will find LDT’s storage tiers more accommodating. Downly is more cost-effective for small files and eBooks.

Pricing Structure & Value for Money

LDT:

• Free plan aimed at small stores (supports e-books, PDFs, video, audio, quizzes, memberships).
• Starter $12.99/month — 50 GB storage, unlimited bandwidth/courses/enrollments, hide "Powered by", custom sender email, auto-fulfillment, multilingual.
• Business $19.99/month — 300 GB storage, priority & developer support.
• Ultra $49.99/month — 1.5 TB storage, priority & developer support, plus extras.

Downly:

• Free plan — unlimited digital products & license keys, 300 MB storage, up to 30 orders.
• Standard $2.95/month — unlimited orders, 12 GB storage, no branding, no file size limits.
• Plus $4.95/month — priority support, 120 GB storage.

Value considerations:

• Downly is very inexpensive for sellers who only need file delivery and license keys. For side-hustles or stores with small file sizes, it can be excellent value for money.
• LDT's pricing is higher but represents a platform aimed at delivering an LMS experience; the cost includes course features, larger storage levels, and more advanced customer experiences. For brands that want to sell education as revenue, LDT offers more built-in features to increase LTV.

Support & Community Signals

LDT:

• 148 reviews with an average rating of 5.0 indicate an established user base and positive merchant feedback.
• Priority support on higher tiers and developer support available.

Downly:

• No reviews on the Shopify App Store (0 reviews, rating 0). That lack of visible merchant feedback can make evaluating real-world support and reliability harder.
• Offers priority support on its Plus plan.

Conclusion: The presence of merchant reviews and clear support tiers for LDT is a plus; Downly’s lack of reviews is a neutral-to-negative signal depending on merchant risk tolerance.

Ease of Setup & Learning Curve

LDT:

• More features means more setup. Building structured courses, quizzes, and certificates takes time. The app’s interface is designed to plug into Shopify themes, but merchants should expect to invest effort to structure an LMS product.

Downly:

• Simple to set up for attaching files or generating license keys. The friction to get started is low, which is ideal for merchants who want quick upload-and-sell capability.

Conclusion: Downly wins on speed-to-first-sale for digital downloads; LDT requires setup effort but provides a richer experience once configured.

Integrations & Ecosystem

LDT:

• Works with Shopify native features like Checkout, Customer accounts, and Shopify Flow, enabling automation and deeper native behavior.
• Supports Zoom embeds and various content hosting approaches to suit different teaching styles.

Downly:

• Built around Shopify’s digital products and digital downloads experience, plus license key workflows.
• Less focused on external membership/community integrations since it’s primarily a file delivery tool.

Conclusion: LDT is more adaptable for merchants who want automation and native Shopify interactions beyond a simple download.

Typical Merchant Scenarios (Use Cases)

• Merchants selling full courses, certifications, or multi-week programs: LDT Courses | Tutorials.
• Coaches delivering video lessons with quizzes and certificates: LDT.
• Brands bundling physical kits with guided video lessons (e.g., DIY kits, craft kits): LDT is the stronger choice for ongoing access and membership mechanics.
• Sellers of small digital assets, eBooks, templates, or software license keys with low storage needs: Downly provides a lean, low-cost option.
• Stores that need quick, simple license key generation and automatic delivery: Downly.

Strengths and Weaknesses — Quick Lists

LDT Courses | Tutorials

• Strengths:
  • Full LMS feature set: quizzes, certificates, drip content, membership/subscriptions.
  • Large storage options and media protections (watermarks, private player).
  • Native Shopify Flow and checkout integrations provide automation opportunities.
  • Clear merchant feedback (148 reviews, 5.0 rating).
• Weaknesses:
  • Higher monthly cost relative to simple file-delivery apps.
  • Greater setup time and operational complexity for merchants that only need simple downloads.

Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products

• Strengths:
  • Extremely low-cost paid plans and a functional free plan for very small sellers.
  • License key generation and automatic file emailing simplify distribution.
  • Quick setup and minimal learning curve.
• Weaknesses:
  • No visible Shopify reviews at the time of writing, reducing social proof.
  • Not designed as an LMS — lacks quizzes, certificates, and progress tracking.
  • Storage caps may be restrictive for video-heavy products.

Pricing & Value Analysis

Pricing matters differently depending on objectives. Compare pricing tiers with expected outcomes.

LDT Pricing Snapshot:

• Free: good for small or testing stores; covers many content types and membership basics.
• Starter $12.99/month: unlimited courses/enrollments, 50 GB storage — useful for solo creators starting to scale.
• Business $19.99/month: 300 GB storage and priority support — mid-tier value.
• Ultra $49.99/month: 1.5 TB storage and additional enterprise-grade support — intended for high-volume video or enterprise users.

Downly Pricing Snapshot:

• Free: unlimited products & license keys, but only 300 MB storage and up to 30 orders — fine for testing or tiny stores.
• Standard $2.95/month: removes order cap, increases storage to 12 GB, removes branding.
• Plus $4.95/month: 120 GB storage and priority support — still very inexpensive.

How to think about value:

• If the goal is to monetize courses and increase lifetime value (LTV) through memberships, certificates, and bundled offers, the monthly premium of LDT can be offset by higher AOV and repeat purchases.
• If the business only needs to sell files or license keys and expects modest order volumes, Downly offers better short-term price-to-feature value.
• For merchants who plan to scale courses and tie them into Shopify marketing and checkout flows, investing in a more integrated LMS typically offers better long-term ROI.

Support, Reviews, and Risk Assessment

User reviews and visible case studies are often the best proxy for real-world performance.

• LDT: 148 reviews and a 5.0 rating on the Shopify App Store is a strong signal of merchant satisfaction and active usage.
• Downly: 0 reviews. That may be because the app is new or not widely adopted. Merchants should exercise caution: ask the developer for references or run a short pilot before committing.

Other risk factors to consider:

• File recovery and uptime guarantees: For digital products, customers expect instant, reliable downloads. Confirm the backup and delivery approach with the app vendor.
• Exportability of user or access data: If moving platforms later, determine how easily customer course access, license keys, or purchase history can be migrated.

Reporting, Analytics & Growth Signals

Neither LDT nor Downly is primarily an analytics suite; both rely on Shopify’s order data and external analytics tools for deeper insights. LDT's integration with Shopify Flow and customer accounts makes it easier to create automated segments and retention flows based on course engagement or membership status. Downly tracks downloads and license orders but does not offer coursework analytics.

Merchants that want to measure course completion rates, conversion from free content to paid programs, and the impact of bundling on physical product sales should favor tools that integrate deeply with customer accounts and checkout — an area where LDT is better positioned.

Migration & Data Ownership Considerations

• LDT: As a richer LMS, migration paths can be more complex if moving off the app later. Confirm what export formats are supported for student progress, files, and certificates.
• Downly: Simpler datasets (files and license keys) can be easier to export, but vendor-specific license key formats may require custom export handling.

For both apps, merchants should confirm ownership and export options before becoming dependent on an app for high-stakes digital revenue.

The Alternative: Unifying Commerce, Content, and Community Natively

Many merchants find themselves assembling multiple apps to cover downloads, community, subscriptions, quizzes, and checkout automation. That creates a few consistent problems:

• Fragmentation: Customers move between checkout, external course hosts, and third-party community platforms. Each transition risks lost conversions and added support requests.
• Operational complexity: Multiple logins, payment links, and separate customer databases create friction when bundling physical and digital products.
• Support overhead: Every integration increases the chance of breakage, and support tickets multiply if customers can't access content.
• Limited data continuity: When course activity and purchase history live in separate systems, useful automation (like targeted upsells after course completion) becomes hard.

This is where a native, all-in-one platform can make a material difference. A Shopify-native course and community platform reduces customer friction by keeping the entire experience "at home" inside the store, enabling merchants to tie learning directly to purchases and use the native checkout and automation features to increase LTV.

Tevello is one such native platform that unifies courses, digital products, and communities directly inside Shopify. It emphasizes keeping customers in a single experience and offers features commonly sought by merchants who outgrow single-purpose apps.

Key value propositions of a native, unified approach:

• Unified checkout and customer accounts reduce friction and abandoned purchases.
• Bundling digital products with physical goods becomes seamless, improving AOV.
• Shared customer data enables targeted follow-ups, subscription automation, and segmentation.
• Reduced support friction when logins and content access are consolidated.

Concrete proof points from merchants who moved to a native platform illustrate how this plays out in revenue and customer experience:

• One merchant consolidated courses and physical product bundles and sold over 4,000 digital courses, generating over $112K in digital revenue while also increasing physical product revenue — a clear example of revenue amplification by bundling. Read how the brand achieved that result by consolidating their content and commerce on Shopify with a native platform. (see how one brand sold $112K+ by bundling courses with physical products)
• Another merchant used a native platform to drive repeat purchases and upsells for educational content, generating over €243,000 from 12,000+ courses with more than half of sales coming from repeat purchasers. This demonstrates how native upsell paths and customer segmentation can pay off. (generated over €243,000 by upselling existing customers)
• A migration to a native platform solved access and support problems for a very large community: more than 14,000 members were migrated successfully, and the merchant added over 2,000 new members while dramatically reducing support tickets related to login and access issues. (migrated over 14,000 members and reduced support tickets)
• Brands that bundle physical kits with on-demand digital courses saw retention and higher AOV: one merchant achieved a 59%+ returning customer rate and a 74%+ higher AOV among return buyers after moving to a native approach. (achieved a 59%+ returning customer rate)
• Replacing a fractured stack (WordPress + an external course platform) with a single Shopify-native setup helped another brand double its store conversion rate — a clear lift from removing friction and keeping customers in one place. (doubled its store's conversion rate by fixing a fragmented system)

These real-world results make a consistent argument: consolidating commerce and learning natively can reduce support load, improve conversion, and deliver measurable revenue upside. For more examples and broader results, merchants can see how merchants are earning six figures with native course and community setups.

Contextual links and options:

• For merchants evaluating cost predictability and an inclusive approach, Tevello offers a simple, all-in-one price for unlimited courses that helps remove concerns about per-course or per-student fees.
• To see the technical fit with Shopify checkout and the native app ecosystem, review how Tevello is natively integrated with Shopify checkout.
• For a feature-by-feature comparison with other solutions, Tevello documents all the key features for courses and communities.

If a merchant wants to evaluate a native alternative hands-on, Tevello offers a 14-day free trial with the most common features unlocked. Start your 14-day free trial to see how a native course platform transforms your store. (Hard CTA)

Practical Decision Guide: Which App to Choose?

This section helps merchants pick based on specific priorities rather than general assumptions.

Choose LDT Courses | Tutorials if:

• The business model centers on structured courses, multi-part lessons, quizzes, or certificates.
• Bundling digital access with physical product purchases is important.
• The merchant expects to scale video delivery and needs higher storage tiers.
• Native Shopify Flow and checkout automations are required to streamline customer journeys.
• The merchant values evidence of merchant satisfaction (148 reviews, 5.0 rating).

Choose Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products if:

• The primary need is fast, inexpensive delivery of downloadable files (eBooks, templates, single videos).
• License key generation and simple automatic delivery are a priority.
• The business is cost-sensitive and does not plan to build a structured course experience.
• Storage needs are modest or files are primarily text-based.

Consider a native, unified platform like Tevello if:

• The business wants to keep customers inside the Shopify experience to boost conversion and LTV.
• Bundling physical kits with courses, running memberships, and creating community-driven upsells are strategic priorities.
• Reducing support tickets and login friction is important.
• The merchant wants proven outcomes from other brands that successfully scaled on a native platform. For specific examples, read how one brand sold $112K+ by bundling courses with physical products, or explore the broader success stories hub.

Migration & Long-Term Considerations

Making the right initial choice matters because migration from one platform to another carries both cost and risk.

• If a store expects to grow a community, offer subscriptions, and use course engagement for automated marketing, start with a solution that supports those goals natively to avoid future migrations.
• If the plan is to sell a handful of files with occasional updates, a lean product like Downly can get the job done fast and cheap.
• For merchants who already run physical product sales and want to increase AOV by bundling education, starting with an LMS-style solution or a native platform reduces complexity and future rework.

When evaluating any app, request migration support documentation (export formats, user data, activity logs), and confirm the vendor’s policy on data portability.

Implementation Checklist (for any chosen path)

Before launching digital products or courses, ensure the following operational steps are addressed:

• Confirm storage needs and expected bandwidth for video content.
• Map customer journeys: how will a customer purchase, authenticate, and access content?
• Define the monetization strategy: one-time purchase, subscription, membership, or bundles.
• Set up automated emails for fulfillment, updates, and renewal reminders.
• Test access flows as a logged-in customer and as a guest (if guest purchases are supported).
• Plan support processes for password resets, content access issues, and refunds.
• Ensure compliance: tax handling for digital goods, VAT if applicable, and terms of service/privacy policy updates.

These operational items affect both the merchant’s workload and the customer experience. The deeper the integration between course/membership logic and checkout, the easier it is to automate many of these steps.

Integrations & Automation Tips

For merchants that choose an LMS or course solution, integrating with Shopify-native automations unlocks value:

• Use Shopify Flow (supported by LDT and by native platforms) to tag customers at purchase, trigger email sequences, or add customers to subscription plans after course completion.
• Combine course completion events with targeted discounts or product recommendations to drive repeat purchases.
• Integrate with email and marketing platforms to send segmented campaigns based on course engagement.
• Leverage membership tagging for exclusive product launches or early access sales to boost retention.

If the chosen app lacks native events or webhook support, prepare to use third-party middleware to bridge the gap — but recognize that middleware increases fragility.

Pricing Revisited — Predictability vs. Bargain

Merchants must weigh price against predictability:

• Downly’s low monthly cost is attractive, but storage limits and absence of course features mean the business may outgrow the app quickly.
• LDT’s tiered pricing is higher but explicitly designed for learning experiences and scale.
• An alternative like Tevello offers predictable pricing for unlimited courses and members, which simplifies budgeting and encourages experimentation with new course offerings without per-course cost concerns. Consider reviewing a simple, all-in-one price for unlimited courses for planning.

Final Signals to Watch During a Trial

When testing an app, monitor these signals over 7–14 days:

• Time to first successful sale and delivery confirmation.
• Customer experience testing: purchase → email → login → content access.
• Support responsiveness to urgent issues.
• How content updates are pushed to existing customers (important for license updates or course corrections).
• How analytics inform future decisions (are completion metrics accessible?).

If an app performs well across these signals, it’s a strong candidate. If not, consider a different tool or a native platform.

Conclusion

For merchants choosing between LDT Courses | Tutorials and Downly ‑ Sell Digital Products, the decision comes down to scope and long-term goals. LDT is an excellent choice for brands that need a full-featured LMS with quizzes, certificates, and membership mechanics tied into Shopify. Downly is a low-cost, easy-to-use option when the requirement is limited to downloadable files and license key distribution.

Beyond those two, many merchants benefit from a native, unified platform that keeps customers in the store and merges commerce, content, and community into one experience. Tevello is designed to solve the fragmentation that occurs when multiple single-purpose tools are patched together. That matters practically: merchants using a native approach have seen real outcomes, including selling over 4,000 courses and generating $112K+ in digital revenue while increasing physical product sales, generating €243K+ through upsells, and migrating massive communities of 14,000+ members while reducing support tickets. Explore more of these real results in the Tevello success stories hub.

To evaluate a native alternative, review all the key features for courses and communities and compare pricing with the expectation of unlimited courses and members on a single plan. For a hands-on test, Tevello provides a transparent pricing plan — check a simple, all-in-one price for unlimited courses — and merchants can also review how Tevello is natively integrated with Shopify checkout. Start your 14-day free trial to see how a native course platform transforms your store. (Hard CTA)

FAQ

How does LDT Courses | Tutorials compare to Downly for a merchant that wants both video courses and license keys?

LDT is built for structured video courses, quizzes, and certificates; it excels at managing student progress and delivering a learning experience. Downly focuses on file delivery and license keys. If both capabilities are equally important, consider a primary LMS for courses and evaluate whether you can handle license distribution inside Shopify or via a complementary tool. For many merchants, a native platform that includes course and commerce features reduces complexity.

Which app is better for minimizing setup time and getting to first sale?

Downly typically requires less setup to start selling downloads and distributing license keys. Its free and low-cost plans allow merchants to upload files and begin selling quickly. LDT requires more configuration for course structure, quizzes, and membership features, which lengthens time-to-first-launch but yields a richer ongoing experience.

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

A native platform keeps customers within the Shopify store, simplifies bundling of physical and digital products, and uses native checkout and automation to boost conversion and retention. Real merchant outcomes include increased revenue from bundled offers, higher repeat purchase rates, and fewer access-related support tickets. For evidence, read case studies showing over $112K in digital revenue from bundled courses and the migration of 14,000+ members that reduced support load. See the broader success stories and specific examples such as the Crochetmilie case.

Are there reliable support or review signals to watch for when selecting one of these apps?

Yes. LDT shows 148 reviews with a 5.0 rating, which suggests active usage and merchant satisfaction. Downly currently lists no Shopify App Store reviews, which is a gap that merchants should consider when evaluating risk. In either case, test support responsiveness during a trial and document export/migration options before committing. For additional merchant validation on native platforms, read the 5-star reviews from fellow merchants who switched to an integrated solution.