What is the Best Digital Product to Sell?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Why Digital Products are a Game-Changer for Shopify Merchants
3. 1. Online Courses: The Gold Standard of Digital Products
4. 2. Membership Sites and Recurring Revenue
5. 3. Ebooks and In-Depth Digital Guides
6. 4. Templates and Professional Tools
7. 5. Coaching and Mentorship Bundles
8. 6. Digital Art and Photography
9. 7. Educational Printables and Worksheets
10. 8. Software and "Lite" SaaS
11. 9. Digital Stickers and Planners
12. 10. Music and Audio Assets
13. Evaluating Your Options: Passion vs. Profit
14. How to Create Your Digital Product: A Step-by-Step Guide
15. Overcoming Common Challenges
16. The Tevello Advantage: Why Native is Better
17. Marketing Your Digital Product on Shopify
18. Conclusion
19. Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction

Did you know that the global digital product market is projected to reach a staggering $416 billion by 2030? While traditional retail faces the constant hurdles of supply chain disruptions, rising shipping costs, and inventory management, digital creators are operating with profit margins that often exceed 90%. For many Shopify merchants, the question is no longer whether they should sell digital goods, but rather identifying what is the best digital product to sell to maximize their unique expertise and existing customer base.

The beauty of the digital economy lies in its scalability. Unlike a physical product that must be manufactured, stored, and shipped for every single sale, a digital asset is created once and can be sold thousands of times with nearly zero marginal cost. At Tevello, our mission is to turn any Shopify store into a digital learning powerhouse, allowing entrepreneurs to bridge the gap between physical goods and high-margin digital experiences.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the top-performing digital products for 2026, analyze why "native" selling is the key to long-term brand loyalty, and provide a roadmap for launching your own digital offering. We’ll cover everything from online courses and membership sites to templates and educational printables. By the end of this article, you will understand how to choose a product that fits your niche and how to leverage the right tools to keep your customers right where they belong: on your own website.

The core thesis of this guide is simple: the "best" digital product isn't just the one with the highest price tag; it’s the one that leverages your authority, solves a specific problem for your audience, and integrates seamlessly into your existing Shopify ecosystem without creating technical friction for your customers.

Why Digital Products are a Game-Changer for Shopify Merchants

Before we dive into the specific types of products, it is essential to understand the structural advantages of going digital. For a Shopify merchant, adding digital goods isn’t just a side hustle—it’s a strategy to increase Customer Lifetime Value (LTV) and stabilize cash flow.

High Profit Margins and Low Overhead

Physical products come with "COGS" (Cost of Goods Sold). Every time you sell a t-shirt or a bottle of skincare, you lose a percentage of that revenue to materials, labor, and fulfillment. Digital products effectively eliminate these costs. Once the initial development time is invested, the cost per additional unit sold is virtually zero. This allows merchants to reinvest profits into marketing or further product development.

Infinite Scalability

If a physical product goes viral, you might run out of stock and lose potential revenue. Digital products never go out of stock. Whether ten people or ten thousand people buy your course today, the delivery process remains the same. This scalability is why we see success stories from brands using native courses that grow at rates physical-only brands rarely achieve.

Building Brand Authority

Selling a digital product—particularly educational content—positions you as an expert in your field. If you sell gardening tools, a digital course on "Organic Soil Management" transforms you from a mere vendor into a trusted advisor. This trust translates into higher conversion rates for your physical inventory.

1. Online Courses: The Gold Standard of Digital Products

When asking what is the best digital product to sell, online courses consistently top the list. The e-learning industry is booming because people are moving away from broad degrees toward specific, actionable skill acquisition.

The Power of Video Learning

Video-based courses allow for a high level of engagement. They permit you to show, rather than just tell. For example, a merchant selling high-end espresso machines might struggle to compete on price alone. However, by creating a "Barista Home Mastery" course, they provide a high-margin upsell that requires no shipping boxes. The customer receives the machine and immediately has access to a premium learning experience that ensures they get the most out of their purchase.

Native Integration vs. Third-Party Platforms

One of the biggest mistakes merchants make is sending their customers away to a third-party platform to consume their course. At Tevello, we believe merchants should own their customer data and brand experience. When you use a unified login that reduces customer support friction, your customers stay on your URL. They don't have to create a new account on a different site, and you don't lose them to a marketplace where your competitors are just a click away.

Structured Learning Paths

The best courses are structured logically. Using all the key features for courses and communities, you can implement drip content scheduling. This ensures students aren't overwhelmed by receiving 50 videos at once. Instead, you can release one module per week, keeping them engaged with your brand over a longer period.

2. Membership Sites and Recurring Revenue

If online courses are the "Gold Standard," memberships are the "Holy Grail" of business models. The reason is simple: recurring revenue. Instead of a one-time payment, memberships provide a predictable monthly income that helps you weather the seasonal dips of e-commerce.

Creating a "Sense of Belonging"

A membership is more than just a collection of files; it’s access to a community. Successful memberships often include:

• Exclusive monthly content.
• A member directory for networking.
• Discussion boards or social feeds.
• Live Q&A sessions.

By securing a fixed cost structure for digital products, you can scale your membership to thousands of users without worrying about your software costs eating into your margins. This predictability is vital for long-term planning.

The Hybrid Model

Many Shopify stores find success with a hybrid model. Imagine a fitness brand that sells supplements but also offers a "Premium Athlete Club." For a monthly fee, members get a discount on physical products, access to a library of workout videos, and a community of like-minded individuals. This creates a powerful ecosystem where digital products that live directly alongside physical stock reinforce each other.

3. Ebooks and In-Depth Digital Guides

Ebooks remain one of the most accessible entry points for digital selling. They are relatively easy to produce—often requiring nothing more than a word processor and a PDF export—and they offer immediate value to the buyer.

Solving "Pain Points"

The best-selling ebooks are those that solve a specific, nagging problem. "How to Train a Puppy in 7 Days" or "The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Meal Prep" are successful because they promise a transformation. If you already have a blog or a strong social media presence, you likely already have the content for an ebook hidden in your archives.

Passive Income Funnels

Ebooks work exceptionally well as "tripwire" products. These are low-priced items (usually under $20) that turn a lead into a customer. Once someone has purchased your ebook and seen the quality of your work, they are significantly more likely to invest in your higher-priced online courses or coaching programs. To see how these funnels work in practice, you can see how merchants are earning six figures by moving customers through a strategically designed digital value ladder.

4. Templates and Professional Tools

In our fast-paced professional world, time is the most valuable currency. This makes templates one of the best digital products to sell. Whether it’s a Canva template for social media, a Notion template for project management, or a spreadsheet for financial tracking, people are willing to pay for "the work already done."

The "Done-For-You" Advantage

Small business owners, in particular, are looking for ways to look professional without hiring a full-time designer. If you are a graphic designer, selling a "Branding Kit Template" allows you to monetize your skills without the time-intensive process of 1-on-1 client work.

Low Support Requirements

One advantage of templates is that they typically require very little customer support compared to software or complex courses. Once the customer downloads the file, the transaction is complete. This makes templates an ideal product for those looking for true passive income.

5. Coaching and Mentorship Bundles

While coaching is technically a service, it becomes a digital product when you bundle it with pre-recorded content and digital resources. This is often called "Productized Consulting."

Scaling Your Time

Instead of selling your time by the hour, you can sell a "Transformation Package." This might include four 1-on-1 sessions, access to your foundational online course, and a workbook. By comparing plan costs against total course revenue, you’ll find that a small monthly investment in a delivery platform allows you to charge premium prices for these high-touch bundles.

Reducing Friction

The biggest challenge for coaches is the administrative overhead: scheduling, sending files, and managing payments. By seeing how the app natively integrates with Shopify, you can handle all these tasks within the Shopify dashboard you already know. This lets you focus on coaching rather than technical troubleshooting.

6. Digital Art and Photography

For photographers and illustrators, digital downloads are a way to reach a global audience without the complexities of printing and framing.

Stock Assets and Textures

Many creators sell "packs" of assets. This could be high-resolution textures for 3D artists, stock photos for bloggers, or custom brushes for Procreate. These are recurring needs for other professionals, leading to repeat purchases.

Personalization and Licensing

You can also sell digital art for personal use (like phone wallpapers) or commercial use (like t-shirt designs). Clearly defining your licensing terms in your Shopify product description is key to protecting your intellectual property.

7. Educational Printables and Worksheets

The "Teacher-Preneur" market is massive. Parents and educators are constantly looking for high-quality, engaging materials for children.

Niche Focus

Whether it’s "Montessori-Inspired Math Worksheets" or "Homeschooling Art Curriculum," the key to success in printables is hyper-niche targeting. Because these products are usually low-priced, they rely on high volume. Marketing them on platforms like Pinterest can drive significant traffic to your Shopify store.

The "Instant Gratification" Factor

The reason printables sell so well is that the customer gets them instantly. There’s no waiting for the mail. For a busy parent or a teacher planning a lesson at 9 PM for the next morning, that instant access is a major selling point.

8. Software and "Lite" SaaS

You don't need to build the next Facebook to sell software. Small, "micro-SaaS" products or custom scripts can be incredibly profitable.

Solving Technical Hurdles

Many businesses need a specific tool—a custom calculator, a browser extension, or a specialized WordPress plugin. If you have coding skills, you can sell these tools directly on Shopify.

Recurring Subscriptions

Software is perfectly suited for a subscription model. If your tool provides ongoing value, customers will be happy to pay a monthly fee for updates and support. If unifying your stack is a priority, start by a simple, all-in-one price for unlimited courses.

9. Digital Stickers and Planners

With the rise of tablets and styluses, digital planning has become a cultural phenomenon. Users "decorate" their digital planners with digital stickers, just as they would a physical journal.

High Engagement

Digital planner users are often very loyal and highly engaged. They love to share their "spreads" on social media, which provides you with free user-generated content for your marketing.

Seasonal Opportunities

Just like physical planners, digital versions have a massive peak in late December and January. However, because there’s no manufacturing lead time, you can pivot and create a "Quarterly Goal Setter" or a "Mid-Year Reset" planner in a matter of days to capture shifting trends.

10. Music and Audio Assets

From podcasters needing intro music to independent filmmakers looking for sound effects, the demand for high-quality audio is at an all-time high.

Beats and Samples

Music producers can sell beat packs or individual samples. This has become a standard way for producers to build a brand and earn a living before (or alongside) working with major labels.

Guided Meditations

The wellness industry is a perfect fit for audio products. A series of "Sleep Meditations" or "Morning Affirmations" can be sold as a bundle or as part of a recurring membership. These products offer significant emotional value, which allows for premium pricing.

Evaluating Your Options: Passion vs. Profit

When deciding what is the best digital product to sell for your specific business, you should look at the intersection of three factors:

1. Your Expertise: What do people consistently ask you for help with?
2. Market Demand: Are people already spending money to solve this problem?
3. Content Longevity: Is this a "trending" topic, or is it "evergreen" content that will still be relevant in two years?

For a real-world example of this in action, look at how one brand sold $112K+ by bundling courses. They took a traditional craft—crochet—and applied modern digital selling techniques. By generating revenue from both physical and digital goods, they built a resilient business that isn't dependent on any single income stream.

How to Create Your Digital Product: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Identify the "Gap"

Look at your current physical product reviews. Are customers asking "How do I use this?" or "What else can I do with this?" Those questions are the seeds of your first digital product.

Step 2: Choose Your Format

Don't overcomplicate it. If you're better at writing than speaking, start with an ebook. If you're comfortable on camera, a video course is likely the better choice. The best digital product is the one you actually finish and launch.

Step 3: Build Your Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

You don't need a Hollywood film crew. Most successful courses are filmed with a smartphone and good lighting. Focus on the value of the information rather than the "sheen" of the production.

Step 4: Set Up Your Shopify Infrastructure

This is where many merchants get stuck, but it doesn't have to be complicated. By reviewing the Shopify App Store listing merchants install from, you can find tools that handle the heavy lifting. You want a solution that offers predictable pricing without hidden transaction fees, allowing you to scale without being penalized for your success.

Step 5: The "Soft Launch"

Before you spend thousands on ads, offer your product to your existing email list or social media followers at a discount. Use their feedback to refine the content. How brands converted 15% of challenge participants often starts with these smaller, focused launches that build momentum and social proof.

Overcoming Common Challenges

Selling digital goods is not without its hurdles. However, most can be overcome with the right strategy.

Susceptibility to Piracy

The fear of people sharing your content for free is real. While you can never stop 100% of piracy, you can deter it. Using a platform that requires a login to view content—rather than just sending a raw download link—is the most effective way to protect your work. At Tevello, we focus on keeping customers at home on the brand website, where access is tied to their Shopify account.

The "Intangibility" Problem

Some customers feel hesitant to pay for something they can't touch. To overcome this, use high-quality mockups. Show screenshots of the course dashboard, or create a video "walkthrough" of the ebook. You need to make the digital product feel as "real" as a physical one.

Competition with Free Content

Yes, there is a lot of free information on YouTube. However, people don't pay for information; they pay for curation, convenience, and community. A well-structured course saves them 20 hours of searching for disparate videos. They are paying you to give them the straightest path to their goal.

The Tevello Advantage: Why Native is Better

At Tevello, we’ve seen thousands of merchants try to piece together "Frankenstein" systems—using one platform for their store, another for their courses, and a third for their community. This leads to a fragmented customer experience and a nightmare of support tickets.

Our approach is different. We provide a flat-rate plan that supports unlimited members, ensuring that as your business grows, your software costs don't spiral out of control. Most importantly, we charge 0% transaction fees. Unlike other platforms that take a "success tax" of 5% or 10% of every sale, we believe you should keep 100% of what you earn.

By avoiding per-user fees as the community scales, you are free to grow your audience as large as possible. Whether you have 10 students or 10,000, your monthly cost stays at a simple $29.99 per month on the Unlimited plan. This plan includes:

• Unlimited courses and students.
• Unlimited video hosting (so you don't have to pay for extra bandwidth).
• Built-in community features like member directories and social feeds.
• Drip content and quizzes to enhance the learning experience.

We offer a 14-day free trial so you can start your 14-day free trial and build your first course now without any upfront risk. You can build your entire curriculum and see how it looks on your store before you ever pay a cent.

Marketing Your Digital Product on Shopify

Once your product is built, you need to get it in front of the right eyes.

Leveraging Existing Traffic

The easiest way to sell is to your current customers. Add a "Digital Collection" to your main navigation. Use Shopify’s "Recommended Products" feature to show your digital course on the product pages of related physical goods.

Content Marketing and SEO

Blog posts (like the one you're reading now!) are a powerful way to drive organic traffic. By providing free value and answering questions related to your niche, you build the authority needed to sell a paid product.

Social Proof

Don't just tell people your course is great; show them. Include video testimonials and screenshots of student results on your sales page. When potential buyers verify compatibility details in the official app listing and see other successful merchants, their trust in the system grows.

Conclusion

The "best" digital product to sell is ultimately the one that turns your unique knowledge into a transformative experience for your customers. Whether you choose to launch a comprehensive video course, a recurring membership, or a simple set of professional templates, the opportunities for growth on Shopify are virtually limitless. By diversifying your revenue streams, you move away from the "transactional" nature of e-commerce and toward building a true brand ecosystem.

Remember, you don't need a massive team or a six-figure budget to get started. You need a Shopify store, a valuable idea, and a tool that respects your brand and your bottom line. With our Unlimited Plan, you get a robust, all-in-one solution with zero hidden fees and zero transaction fees. You keep your customers on your site, you own your data, and you keep 100% of your profits.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a separate website to sell online courses?

No. In fact, we recommend against it. Keeping your courses on your Shopify store ensures a seamless brand experience and prevents "login fatigue" for your customers. By installing Tevello from the Shopify App Store today, your digital products live directly on your Shopify URL.

How much should I charge for my first digital product?

Pricing varies by niche, but a common strategy is to start with a "tripwire" product (like an ebook) for $10-$20, followed by a mid-tier course for $97-$197. Premium coaching or memberships can range from $49/month to several thousand dollars for a high-touch transformation.

How do I prevent people from sharing my course content?

While no system is 100% foolproof, Tevello protects your content by requiring a secure Shopify login. This is much more secure than sending a simple download link, which can be easily forwarded. By strategies for selling over 4,000 digital courses natively, you can implement a professional system that makes legitimate access the easiest path for your customers.

Is it hard to set up a digital membership on Shopify?

Not at all. With the right app, creating a membership is as simple as creating a recurring subscription product in Shopify and then granting that "tag" access to your exclusive content. Our predictable pricing without hidden transaction fees means you can grow your membership without your software costs scaling alongside your member count.