ChatGPT answers, unedited

Shopify is probably the strongest all-around fit if you want one store handling both digital downloads and physical products. It supports physical inventory, shipping, POS, and digital products through its ecosystem. Shopify Shopify

Other options:

• Squarespace — attractive/simple, and supports physical + digital products. SwingIntel
• WooCommerce — more control and flexibility, but more hands-on setup.
• BigCommerce — worth considering if your catalog becomes large or complex. technologyadvice.com

If you tell me roughly how many digital products vs. physical products you sell and your monthly sales, I can narrow it down based on fees and features.

Yes — you can absolutely run digital downloads and physical products from the same store. The main question is how much ecommerce infrastructure you need.

My shortlist

For a business that is primarily selling products, Shopify is the one I'd investigate first. Current 2026 comparisons specifically identify it as a strong fit for businesses selling both physical and digital products, with inventory, shipping, payment, and a large app ecosystem. Ecommerce-Platforms.com Shopify

Squarespace is particularly interesting if you have, say, 5–50 products and care a lot about having a polished, attractive storefront. It supports both physical and digital products without requiring you to build a complicated ecommerce setup. TechnologyAdvice

One important distinction: for digital products, you'll want to check how the platform handles automatic file delivery, download limits, customer access after purchase, and taxes/VAT. That's where platforms can differ substantially.

If you tell me roughly (1) how many digital products you have, (2) how many physical products, (3) your monthly sales/revenue, and (4) whether you already have a website, I can narrow this down to the most sensible 2–3 options and compare the actual costs.

If you sell mostly digital downloads with a smaller selection of physical products, I’d narrow it to Sellfy vs. Shopify.

My pick: Sellfy

Sellfy is probably the best fit if you want simple management without building a complicated ecommerce operation.

• Digital products: automatic download delivery, file hosting, bundles, subscriptions, etc. Sellfy Help Center Sellfy
• Physical products: inventory limits, variants, pricing, and shipping settings are supported. Sellfy
• Mixed products: you can even attach a digital download to a physical product—for example, a physical planner + printable PDF. Sellfy
• It's designed specifically around creators selling digital and physical products, rather than being primarily a traditional retail platform. Sellfy

sellfy.com

When I'd choose Shopify instead

Shopify is the better choice if you expect the physical side of your business to become substantial.

Shopify handles physical inventory, shipping, fulfillment, discounts, apps, and a much larger ecommerce ecosystem. Its free Digital Products app can automatically deliver downloads, and Shopify explicitly supports orders containing both physical and digital products. Shopify Help Center Shopify Help Center

shopify.com

Quick decision

For what you described, I'd start with Sellfy. It gives you the mixed-product capability you need without making the store feel like you're running a full-blown retail operation.

If you tell me what kind of digital downloads you sell and what the physical products are, I can also compare Sellfy vs Shopify vs Etsy vs Gumroad specifically for your business, including fees and which would likely make you the most money.

Best overall: Shopify for a business selling both digital downloads and physical items. It’s built for mixed catalogs: inventory, shipping, payments, storefront design, and marketing are all strong, and digital delivery can be added with apps. WooCommerce Fileflare Digital Downloads Shopify App

Other good fits:

• WooCommerce — best if you want maximum control and already use WordPress. It handles physical and downloadable products well, but requires more setup and maintenance. Zapier WooCommerce
• Gumroad — excellent for digital-first creators, but weaker for physical inventory, shipping, and a full retail operation. CartCompare
• Etsy — useful if you need marketplace discovery, especially for printables or handmade items, but less ideal as your main branded store. Fileflare Digital Downloads Shopify App

Rule of thumb:

• Mostly physical + some downloads → Shopify
• Mostly downloads + occasional physical items → Shopify or WooCommerce
• Just testing a few digital products → Gumroad

For a growing store with both product types, I’d start with Shopify rather than splitting products across platforms. launchmystore.io

If you sell mostly digital downloads plus a smaller number of physical products, I’d narrow it down to Sellfy vs. Shopify.

My pick: Sellfy

sellfy.com is probably the better fit if your business is creator-focused and digital products are the main event.

• Digital downloads are native: automatic delivery, secure download links, bundles, and large file support. Sellfy
• Physical products work in the same store, with variants, inventory/stock limits, shipping settings, and order management. Sellfy
• You can even attach a digital download to a physical product—useful for something like a physical planner that comes with a PDF bonus. Sellfy
• It's relatively simple, so you don't need to assemble a bunch of ecommerce apps just to deliver your downloads.

When I'd choose Shopify instead

shopify.com is the stronger choice if you expect the physical-product side to become substantial.

Shopify can sell both types in the same store, and its free Digital Products app handles downloadable files and links. It also supports combining digital and physical components in one product. Shopify Shopify Help Center

Bottom line: If you're thinking "I have lots of PDFs/templates/files and just a handful of physical items," I'd start with Sellfy. If you're thinking "I want to build a serious ecommerce brand where physical products may eventually dominate," I'd go with Shopify.

A third option worth considering is Squarespace if the visual/design side of your website is particularly important; it supports physical products and automatically fulfilled downloads in the same store. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help

If you tell me what kinds of digital downloads and physical products you sell, plus roughly how many sales/month you're doing, I can tell you which one I'd choose for your specific business.

For a business that sells both digital downloads and a few physical products, the best all-around choice is usually Shopify. It is built for mixed catalogs: you can sell PDFs, templates, courses, printables, subscriptions, and physical inventory from the same storefront. ListingPilot Miss Manifest it All

Here’s how I’d compare the main options:

ListingPilot Fileflare Digital Downloads Shopify App### My recommendation by situation

Choose Shopify if:

• You want your own branded website
• You expect physical products to grow
• You want bundles (digital download + physical item)
• You want email marketing, upsells, abandoned-cart recovery, and more control
• You want customers to remember your brand, not a marketplace Alva Digital Downloads ListingPilot

Choose Etsy + Shopify if:

• Your digital products are things people search for (templates, planners, art, invitations, craft files)
• You want Etsy to bring discovery traffic
• You want Shopify as your “home base” for repeat customers Wealth Glitch

Choose Gumroad if:

• You mostly sell downloads
• You already have an audience (newsletter, YouTube, social media)
• You want the simplest possible setup CreatorGear.ai

A common setup for sellers like you is:

1. Shopify = main store

• Physical products
• Digital downloads
• Customer accounts
• Email list
• Branding
• Etsy = discovery channel

• A few best-selling digital items
• New customer acquisition
• Email list = long-term asset

• Bring buyers back without depending on marketplace algorithms

If you tell me:

• what kind of digital downloads you sell (templates, art, ebooks, courses, files, etc.)
• how many physical products you have
• your approximate monthly sales (even a range)

…I can suggest the most cost-effective setup rather than just the biggest platform.

If you sell mostly digital downloads with a smaller number of physical products, I’d narrow it down to Shopify vs. Sellfy.

My pick: Shopify

shopify.com is probably the best long-term choice if you want to build a serious brand/store.

• Digital + physical in one store: Shopify supports both without needing separate storefronts. Shopify Shopify Help Center
• Automatic digital delivery: its free Digital Products app can automatically send download links after purchase. Shopify Help Center
• Mixed products: you can sell a physical product and attach a digital download to it—for example, a physical planner + printable PDF. Shopify Help Center
• Better for growth: Shopify gives you much more room for inventory, shipping, discounts, email/marketing integrations, subscriptions, bundles, analytics, and a large app ecosystem.
• Brand ownership: you're building your own storefront rather than primarily selling through a marketplace.

The main downside is that Shopify is more expensive and more complicated than you need if you're a small creator with a simple catalog.

The simpler option: Sellfy

sellfy.com is particularly appealing if you're a creator and want to get a store running quickly.

It explicitly supports digital products, physical products, subscriptions, and print-on-demand in the same store. Sellfy Help Center Sellfy It also automatically delivers digital files, while you handle fulfillment/shipping for physical items yourself. Sellfy Help Center

Sellfy says its plans start at $22/month and that it doesn't charge transaction fees on sales. Sellfy

Quick decision

For your specific description—“digital downloads and a few physical items”—I'd actually start with Sellfy unless you already expect the physical side of the business to become substantial. It is designed around exactly that combination and removes a lot of ecommerce complexity. Sellfy Help Center Sellfy

If you tell me what kinds of digital downloads you sell, roughly how many products you have, and your monthly sales/revenue, I can also compare Shopify vs Sellfy vs Etsy vs Gumroad specifically for your situation, including fees.

For a business that sells both digital downloads and a few physical products, I’d usually choose a platform built around a full store rather than a digital-only marketplace. The best fit depends on how important the physical side is and how much you want to customize. TechnologyAdvice Propicked

Best overall: Shopify

shopify.com

Best if you want to grow into a real brand/store.

Pros:

• Handles physical inventory, shipping, variants, taxes, discounts, and fulfillment well
• Supports digital downloads through apps like Shopify’s Digital Downloads app or third-party tools
• Strong checkout experience and marketing integrations
• Easy to add more products later Propicked Shopify

Cons:

• Monthly cost
• Digital delivery usually requires an app/setup rather than being the main focus Propicked

My pick for: someone selling templates, art files, printables, ebooks, courses, plus occasional merch, handmade items, or physical goods.

Best if you already use WordPress: WooCommerce

woocommerce.com

Best for maximum control and lower platform lock-in.

Pros:

• Handles digital and physical products together
• Very customizable
• You own the website and customer data
• Huge extension ecosystem Odd Jar

Cons:

• More setup and maintenance
• You manage hosting, updates, security, and plugins

My pick for: creators who already have a WordPress site or want full control.

Best simple creator option: Payhip

payhip.com

Best if digital downloads are the main business and physical items are occasional.

Pros:

• Very easy digital delivery
• Built-in storefront
• Supports physical products too
• Less complicated than Shopify Dola

Cons:

• Less powerful for inventory-heavy stores
• Fewer advanced ecommerce features

My pick for: selling mostly PDFs, templates, presets, printables, designs, guides, with a small number of shipped items.

Other good options

• Etsy — Great if your digital products are things people search for (printables, planners, crafts), but you have less control over branding and customer relationships. Dola
• Squarespace — Good-looking sites and simpler stores, especially for artists and portfolio-style businesses. TechnologyAdvice
• Gumroad — Excellent for quick digital sales, but not ideal if physical products become important. Dola

My recommendation by situation

• 80–90% digital downloads + a few physical items: Payhip or Shopify
• 50/50 digital and physical: Shopify
• Planning to build a serious ecommerce brand: Shopify
• Already have WordPress: WooCommerce
• Selling handmade/creative products where marketplace discovery matters: Etsy + your own store

If you tell me:

1. what kind of digital downloads you sell (templates, art, ebooks, courses, software, etc.),
2. roughly how many physical products you have, and
3. whether you already have a website/audience,

I can narrow it down to the best choice.

If you sell mostly digital downloads but also have a smaller physical-product catalog, I’d lean toward Shopify.

My ranking

1. Shopify — best overall

• Handles digital and physical products in the same store, cart, checkout, and admin.
• Its free Digital Products app can automatically deliver files after purchase, and you can even attach a digital download to a physical product. Shopify Shopify Help Center
• Strongest choice if you expect the physical side of the business to grow.
• Lots of apps for email marketing, bundles, subscriptions, print-on-demand, inventory, upsells, etc.
• Downside: monthly cost and potentially more setup than a digital-first platform.
• Wix — best if you want simplicity + website design

• Supports both physical products and digital downloads natively. Wix Support Wix Support
• Digital files are automatically delivered after payment. Wix Support
• Generally feels more like a website builder with ecommerce attached, whereas Shopify feels more like a serious ecommerce platform.
• Good choice if branding/design is particularly important and your physical inventory is relatively small.
• Squarespace — best for a beautiful, content-heavy brand

• Supports physical products, downloads, subscriptions, services, and more in one store. Squarespace Help
• Particularly nice if your business revolves around photography, design, art, writing, templates, or other visually driven products.
• Downside: I'd choose Shopify over it if ecommerce operations/inventory become a major part of your business.

What I'd choose for your situation

Digital downloads + a few physical products → Shopify.

The important thing is that you don't need separate systems. Shopify lets you have something like:

Digital Planner — $12
Printable Bundle — $18
Physical Planner — $35
Planner + Digital Bundle — $45

All under one storefront, with the digital products delivered automatically and physical products going through normal shipping/fulfillment. Shopify Shopify Help Center

If your physical products are truly just an occasional add-on and 90%+ of your business is digital, though, I would also consider a more digital-focused platform rather than paying for Shopify's broader ecommerce capabilities.

If you tell me roughly how many digital products you have, how many physical products, your monthly sales, and whether you already have a website, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 platforms for your specific business, including fees.

Yes — if you sell mostly digital downloads but also have some physical products, I’d generally recommend Shopify.

My ranking for your situation

🥇 Shopify — my pick

Shopify is particularly good for your combination because digital and physical products can live in the same store and checkout. Its free Digital Products app can automatically deliver files, set download limits, and even attach digital files to physical products. Shopify Shopify Help Center

For example, you could sell:

• $9 Canva template → instant download
• $19 PDF bundle → instant download
• $35 printed planner → ships to customer
• $49 physical planner + bonus PDF → customer gets the download while the physical item ships

That last scenario is especially useful for you: Shopify explicitly supports products containing both physical and digital components. Shopify Help Center

The other big advantage is that Shopify handles the store infrastructure, checkout, inventory, shipping, payments, etc. for you rather than requiring you to manage hosting and WordPress plugins.

shopify.com

🥈 WooCommerce — if you want more control

WooCommerce is excellent if you're already comfortable with WordPress. It supports downloadable products alongside shippable products, and you can even configure a physical product that includes a digital download. WooCommerce WooCommerce

The downside is that you're generally responsible for more of the technical setup—hosting, WordPress, plugins, updates, security, etc. WooCommerce itself is free/open-source, but the surrounding stack can add cost and complexity. WooCommerce

woocommerce.com

What I'd choose

If your business is something like 80–90% digital downloads + 10–20% physical products, I'd go:

Shopify → Digital Products app → one unified store.

It's probably the cleanest setup if you want to spend your time creating and selling products rather than maintaining your ecommerce technology.

If you tell me roughly how many digital products you have, what kind of physical products you sell, your monthly sales/revenue, and whether you already have a website, I can narrow it down to Shopify vs. WooCommerce vs. Etsy vs. another option and tell you which would likely cost you the least.

Since you sell both digital downloads and some physical products, I’d usually narrow it down to a few platforms rather than picking a digital-only tool. The “best” choice depends on how much you want to grow, how much control you need, and whether shipping/inventory matters. TechnologyAdvice Propicked

Best overall: shopify.com

Best for: A serious brand selling a mix of downloads + physical goods.

Why it fits:

• Handles physical products, inventory, shipping, taxes, variants, and fulfillment well.
• Can sell digital files using apps like Shopify’s digital delivery tools.
• Strong checkout, analytics, marketing integrations, and room to scale.
• Good if you might add more physical products later. Propicked Shopify

Downside:

• Monthly cost is higher than creator-focused platforms.
• Digital downloads often require an app or extra setup. Propicked

My pick if you’re building a long-term business: Shopify.

Best if you already use WordPress: woocommerce.com

Best for: Maximum control and customization.

Pros:

• Handles physical and digital products together.
• You own the website and customer data.
• Huge ecosystem of plugins.

Cons:

• More maintenance (hosting, updates, security, plugins).
• Can become complicated as you add features. Odd Jar

Best simple creator option: payhip.com

Best for: Mostly digital products with a few physical items.

Pros:

• Easy setup.
• Built around creators selling downloads.
• Supports storefronts, coupons, and digital delivery.
• Less overwhelming than Shopify. Podia

Cons:

• Not as strong for complex inventory, shipping, or a large physical catalog.

Best for a small branded shop: squarespace.com

Best for: Designers, artists, photographers, and makers who care about presentation.

Pros:

• Beautiful storefronts.
• Good for portfolios + selling.
• Easier than WordPress.

Cons:

• Less powerful ecommerce functionality than Shopify.

Quick recommendation by situation

• 10+ physical products, plans to grow: Shopify
• Mostly PDFs, templates, printables, with a few shipped items: Payhip
• Already have a WordPress site: WooCommerce
• Creative brand where visuals matter most: Squarespace
• Selling courses/memberships along with downloads: Consider a creator platform like podia.com Podia

For your specific mix (“digital downloads + a few physical items”), I’d lean:

1. Shopify if you want a real store that can grow.
2. Payhip if you want the simplest setup and your physical products are secondary.

A few details would change the recommendation:

• What kind of digital downloads do you sell (templates, art, ebooks, software, files)?
• Roughly how many physical products do you carry?
• Do you already have a website or are you starting from scratch?

If you sell both digital downloads and a few physical products, the best platform is usually one that treats digital files as a normal product type rather than forcing you into a separate store. My top picks:

1. Shopify — Best overall for a growing brand

shopify.com

Best if: you want a professional storefront, expect to grow, and may add more physical products later.

Pros

• Handles physical inventory, shipping, taxes, discounts, and fulfillment well
• Can sell digital files using Shopify’s own digital delivery tools or apps
• Strong checkout and marketing ecosystem
• Easy to add subscriptions, bundles, email marketing, and sales channels Propicked Shopify

Cons

• Monthly cost
• Digital selling may require an app depending on your needs

My pick for: creators who are building a real ecommerce brand.

2. Payhip — Best if digital downloads are your main business

payhip.com

Best if: 80–90% of your sales are downloads and you only have a few physical items.

Pros

• Very easy setup
• Built around digital products
• Handles file delivery, coupons, affiliates, and customer accounts
• Supports physical products too Dola

Cons

• Less powerful inventory/shipping tools than Shopify
• Store customization is more limited

My pick for: printable sellers, template creators, artists, authors, and small shops.

3. WooCommerce — Best for maximum control

woocommerce.com

Best if: you already have a WordPress site or want full ownership.

Pros

• Extremely flexible
• Handles both physical and digital products
• No platform lock-in
• Huge plugin ecosystem Propicked

Cons

• More setup and maintenance
• You manage hosting, updates, security, and plugins

My pick for: people comfortable with WordPress or who want a highly customized store.

4. Etsy — Best for marketplace discovery

etsy.com

Best if: your downloads are things people actively search for (printables, planners, SVGs, templates, artwork).

Pros

• Built-in customer traffic
• Great for digital products
• Can also sell physical handmade items

Cons

• Less control over branding and customer relationships
• Marketplace fees apply SureCart

Quick recommendation

• Mostly digital + a handful of physical items: Payhip
• Building a serious brand/store: Shopify
• Already have WordPress: WooCommerce
• Want strangers to find you through search: Etsy

If you tell me:

1. what your digital downloads are (templates, art, courses, ebooks, files, etc.),
2. how many physical products you sell, and
3. whether you already have a website/audience,

I can narrow it down to the best fit.

If you sell mostly digital downloads but also have a handful of physical products, I’d narrow it down to Shopify vs. Sellfy.

My pick: Shopify

Shopify is probably the best long-term choice if you want one store that can handle both without becoming limiting.

• Digital: PDFs, templates, graphics, courses, audio, ZIP files, etc., with automatic delivery. Shopify’s free Digital Products app supports files up to 5 GB and download limits. Shopify Shopify Help Center
• Physical: inventory, variants, shipping, taxes, fulfillment, discounts, etc. are all native parts of the ecommerce platform.
• Mixed products: You can even attach a digital download to a physical product—for example, a physical workbook that comes with a PDF bonus. Shopify Help Center
• Growth: If your physical-product side grows later, Shopify is much less likely to feel like you've outgrown it.

shopify.com

When I'd choose Sellfy instead

Sellfy is particularly attractive if you're a creator whose business is primarily digital and you want something simpler.

It explicitly supports digital downloads, physical products, subscriptions, and print-on-demand in the same storefront. Sellfy Help Center Sellfy

The big advantage is simplicity: you can create a store quickly and Sellfy handles digital file hosting and automatic delivery. For physical items, however, you handle fulfillment and shipping yourself. Sellfy Help Center

sellfy.com

How I'd decide

For your particular description—“digital downloads and a few physical items”—I'd lean Sellfy if you want simplicity, and Shopify if you're building this into a substantial business.

If you tell me roughly how many digital products you have, how many physical products, your monthly sales, and whether you already have a website, I can tell you which one I'd personally use and compare the actual costs/fees for your situation.

Yes — since you sell both digital downloads and physical products, I’d generally choose an ecommerce platform that treats them as one catalog rather than using a digital-download marketplace plus a separate physical store.

My top pick: Shopify

shopify.com is probably the best fit for your situation.

It lets you sell physical products and digital downloads from the same storefront, checkout, inventory/order system, and customer accounts. Shopify's free Digital Products app can automatically deliver files after purchase, and you can set download limits. It also supports products that combine physical and digital components. Shopify Shopify Help Center

For example, you could have:

• Digital: PDFs, templates, printables, presets, ebooks
• Physical: shirts, art prints, accessories, handmade items
• Bundle: physical product + downloadable bonus
• Upsell: "Add the digital version for $5"
• Mixed cart: customer buys a physical item and a download together

That last part is particularly useful: Shopify can fulfill the digital portion immediately while the physical portion goes through your normal shipping process. Shopify Help Center

Shopify vs. WooCommerce

woocommerce.com is the other platform I'd seriously consider.

WooCommerce explicitly supports downloadable products alongside physical products, including situations where a physical product has an associated download. WooCommerce WooCommerce

The big difference is that WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin, so you get much more control but you're also responsible for hosting, WordPress, plugins, security, updates, etc. Shopify is hosted and managed for you. WooCommerce

What I'd choose for you

If digital downloads are your main business and physical products are secondary → Shopify.

If you already have a WordPress website and you're comfortable managing it → WooCommerce.

If you're starting from scratch → Shopify.

I would not make Etsy, Gumroad, Payhip, etc. your primary platform if your goal is to build one unified store with both product types. They can still be useful as additional sales channels.

If you tell me roughly how many digital products you have, how many physical products, your average price, and whether you already have a website, I can narrow it down to the best platform for your specific business and compare the actual costs.

For a business that sells both digital downloads and a few physical products, I’d usually lean toward a platform that treats digital products as first-class products rather than trying to bolt them on later. The best choice depends on your size and how much control you want. Podia TechnologyAdvice

Best overall: shopify.com

Best if you want to grow into a real store.

Why it fits:

• Handles physical inventory + digital downloads in the same catalog
• Strong checkout, payments, shipping, discounts, analytics
• Huge app ecosystem for digital delivery, email marketing, subscriptions, bundles, etc.
• Easy to add more products later

Downside:

• Monthly cost
• Digital downloads usually require an app rather than being the core focus
• More setup than creator-focused platforms TechnologyAdvice Shopify

Pick Shopify if: your physical products may become a bigger part of your business.

Best simple creator option: sellfy.com

Best if digital products are your main business and physical items are secondary.

Pros:

• Built specifically for creators selling digital products
• Supports physical products too
• Easier setup than a full ecommerce platform
• Good for ebooks, templates, artwork, presets, downloads, and merch Podia

Cons:

• Less powerful for complex inventory or large catalogs

Pick Sellfy if: you want to launch quickly and don’t need a highly customized store.

Best budget/flexible option: woocommerce.com

Best if you already use WordPress.

Pros:

• Handles both product types well
• Maximum customization
• No platform lock-in
• Huge ecosystem

Cons:

• More maintenance
• You manage hosting, plugins, updates, security

Odd JarPick WooCommerce if: you like having full control or already have a WordPress site.

Best for mostly digital downloads: gumroad.com or payhip.com

These are great if your physical products are just occasional add-ons.

Pros:

• Very fast setup
• Built-in digital delivery
• Minimal technical work

Cons:

• Not ideal for a growing physical-product operation

Dola Rupa

My recommendation based on your description

Since you said “digital downloads and a few physical items”, I’d rank them:

1. Shopify — best long-term choice if you want a brand/store that can grow
2. Sellfy — best if you’re a creator and digital sales are the priority
3. WooCommerce — best if you want control and don’t mind managing a site
4. Payhip/Gumroad — best for a very small catalog and quick launch

A couple of details would change the recommendation:

• What kind of digital downloads are they (templates, art, ebooks, software, courses, music, etc.)?
• Roughly how many physical products do you sell (5, 50, 500)?
• Do you already have a website or audience (Instagram, Etsy, email list, etc.)?

Yes — you can absolutely use one platform for both. For your mix of mostly digital downloads plus a few physical products, I’d pick Shopify.

My ranking

🥇 Shopify — my recommendation

Shopify is particularly good for your situation because you can have digital downloads and physical products in the same catalog and checkout. Its free Digital Products app can automatically deliver files, set download limits, and even attach a digital file to a physical product. Shopify Shopify Help Center

For example, you could sell:

• $9 PDF/template → instant download
• $29 digital bundle → instant download
• $45 physical product → shipping
• $55 physical product + bonus PDF → customer gets the download while you fulfill the physical item

That last scenario is where Shopify is especially attractive: it explicitly supports adding digital assets to existing physical products. Shopify Help Center

🥈 Squarespace — worth considering

If design/branding is more important than having a powerful ecommerce backend, I'd seriously consider Squarespace.

It supports physical products, download products, shipping, inventory, orders, and digital delivery in the same store. Squarespace Support Squarespace Support Squarespace Support

I'd choose Squarespace over Shopify if you have a relatively small catalog and your store is essentially "beautiful website + products" rather than a business you're expecting to turn into a large ecommerce operation.

What I'd do in your shoes

Mostly digital + a handful of physical products → Shopify.

It gives you the flexibility to start as a digital-download business without having to rebuild everything later if the physical side grows.

If you tell me roughly how many digital products you have, how many physical products, your average price, and whether you're currently selling on Etsy/Gumroad/your own website, I can tell you which platform makes the most financial sense for your specific setup.

If you sell mostly digital downloads with a smaller selection of physical products, I’d lean toward Shopify.

My ranking

1. shopify.com — Best overall

• Handles physical products, shipping, inventory, taxes, and fulfillment very well.
• Digital downloads can be delivered automatically through Shopify’s Digital Products app.
• You can even attach digital files to physical products—for example, a physical planner that includes a downloadable PDF. Shopify Shopify App Store
• Best choice if you expect your physical-product side to grow.
• wix.com — Best for simplicity/design

• Supports both physical products and downloadable files in the same store.
• Digital files are automatically delivered after payment, while physical products can have shipping, variants, and inventory. Wix Help Center Wix Help Center
• I'd consider this if you want a website that's easy to customize and don't need sophisticated ecommerce features.
• squarespace.com — Best for a beautiful brand/portfolio

• Supports both download products and physical products in the same store.
• Digital purchases are automatically fulfilled with download links. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• Particularly attractive if your business is visually oriented and the website/branding matters as much as the store functionality.

What I'd choose for your situation

Shopify if you're serious about building a store and potentially expanding the physical side.

Wix if you want something easier and more website-oriented.

Squarespace if you care heavily about aesthetics and have a relatively simple catalog.

One important distinction: if 90%+ of your business is digital downloads and the physical products are just a small add-on, there are also platforms specifically optimized for digital products that may be cheaper/simpler than Shopify.

If you tell me what kind of digital downloads you sell, roughly how many products you have, and whether you're currently selling on Etsy/Gumroad/etc., I can tell you which platform I'd pick for your specific store and why.

If you sell mostly digital downloads with a smaller number of physical products, I’d narrow it to Shopify vs. Sellfy.

My pick: Shopify

Shopify is the better choice if you expect your store to grow. It handles physical products natively—inventory, variants, shipping, orders, etc.—and its free Digital Products app handles automatic download delivery. It can even attach digital files to physical products, so you can sell something like a physical planner + downloadable PDF from one listing. Shopify Shopify App Store

shopify.com

Best for: building a serious branded store, lots of products, physical inventory, and future growth.

Simpler option: Sellfy

Sellfy is particularly appealing if you're a creator and want digital + physical in one simple dashboard without configuring a bunch of apps. It supports digital downloads, physical products, subscriptions, and print-on-demand. You can also bundle a downloadable file with a physical product. Sellfy Sellfy Help Center

sellfy.com

Best for: a smaller catalog, creator businesses, and getting a store running quickly.

Quick comparison

Bottom line: If you're serious about growing the physical side over time, I'd choose Shopify. If the physical products are just a small add-on to your digital business and you want minimal setup, Sellfy may be the better fit.

If you tell me roughly how many digital products and physical products you sell, your monthly sales, and whether you need print-on-demand, I can tell you which one I'd choose for your specific business.

For a business that sells both digital downloads and physical products, the best all-around choice is usually Shopify. It is built around running a full store, so you can manage physical inventory, shipping, taxes, customer accounts, discounts, and digital delivery in one place. Digital products typically require an app or integration for automatic file delivery. AFCommerce

That said, the “best” platform depends on your stage and what you sell:

My recommendation by situation

• You want one store that can grow: Choose Shopify.
• You sell mostly digital files (templates, PDFs, presets, courses) and only a few physical items: Consider Shopify or Payhip.
• Your products are art, crafts, planners, SVGs, invitations, or printables: Etsy can be a strong traffic source alongside your own store. Profitvana
• You already have an audience (Instagram, email list, YouTube, etc.) and want the fastest setup: Gumroad is convenient for digital-only sales. Fileflare Digital Downloads Shopify App

A common setup that works well is:

• Shopify as your main home base (brand + physical products + customer list)
• Etsy as a discovery channel for digital products that fit Etsy search
• Optional: sell select digital products elsewhere if it reduces friction for your audience wealth-glitch.com

If you tell me what your digital downloads are (templates, art, ebooks, planners, music, software, courses, etc.), how many physical products you have, and whether you already have an audience, I can narrow it down.

Yes — you can absolutely run digital downloads and physical products from the same store. For your mix, I’d narrow it down to Shopify, Payhip, and Sellfy.

My ranking

🥇 Best overall: Shopify

If you expect your physical-product side to become more important, Shopify is my pick.

You can have digital downloads and physical products in the same catalog and checkout, and Shopify's free Digital Products app can automatically deliver files. You can also combine digital files with physical products—for example, selling a physical planner that includes a downloadable bonus. Shopify Shopify App Store

The main downside is that Shopify is more of a full ecommerce platform, so it's potentially more expensive and more complicated than you need if you're primarily a digital seller.

shopify.com

🥈 Best for simplicity: Payhip

I'd seriously consider Payhip if your business is primarily digital downloads and you only have a handful of physical items.

It supports digital downloads, physical products, inventory, shipping, bundles, memberships, courses, etc., all from the same store. Payhip Payhip Help Center

It's particularly appealing if you don't want to spend a lot of time building and maintaining a sophisticated ecommerce site.

payhip.com

🥉 Sellfy

Sellfy is another good middle ground for creators. It specifically supports digital products, physical products, subscriptions, and print-on-demand. You can even attach a downloadable file to a physical product. Sellfy Sellfy Help Center

One important distinction: for your own physical products, you handle fulfillment and shipping yourself (unless you're using its POD functionality). Sellfy Help Center

sellfy.com

What I'd choose for you

If your catalog looks something like:

80–90% digital downloads + 10–20% physical products

I'd start with Payhip.

If you're building a bigger brand where physical products, inventory, shipping, email marketing, apps, and integrations are going to become increasingly important, I'd go with Shopify from the beginning.

If you tell me what your digital downloads are, what physical products you sell, roughly how many products you have, and your monthly sales/revenue, I can tell you which one I'd personally choose and why—including the fees.

Yes — if you sell both digital downloads and physical products, I’d generally choose Shopify.

My recommendation

1. Shopify — best overall

Shopify is particularly good if you want one store to handle everything: physical inventory, shipping, digital downloads, checkout, customer accounts, discounts, and marketing. Its free Digital Products app can automatically deliver downloads, and Shopify explicitly supports combining digital and physical products in the same store. Shopify Shopify App Store

shopify.com

Best if: you want something relatively easy to manage and expect your physical-product side to grow.

2. WooCommerce — best for flexibility/control

WooCommerce is excellent if you're comfortable with WordPress. Digital downloads are built into the core system, including download limits and expiration dates, while physical products can use normal shipping/inventory functionality. It can even handle an order containing both physical and downloadable items. WooCommerce WooCommerce

woocommerce.com

Best if: you want maximum customization and don't mind managing WordPress/hosting/plugins.

3. Gumroad — best if digital is the main business

Gumroad is very convenient for digital products, but I'd be less inclined to use it as the foundation of a store where physical products are becoming important.

The short version

For your situation, I'd start with Shopify unless you already have a WordPress site you're comfortable managing. It gives you one product catalog and one checkout rather than having to maintain separate systems for your downloads and physical goods. Shopify

If you tell me roughly how many digital products and physical products you sell, your monthly sales, and whether you're currently on Etsy/Gumroad/your own website, I can tell you which platform would likely be cheapest and easiest for your particular setup.

Yes — if you sell both digital downloads and physical products, I’d narrow it down to Shopify vs. Wix, with Shopify being my overall pick.

My recommendation

1. shopify.com — Best overall

Shopify is particularly strong if you expect your physical-product side to grow. It lets you sell digital and physical products in the same store, and its digital-product tools support automatic delivery, download limits, bundles, variants, and files up to 5 GB. Shopify Shopify Help Center

Best if: you want a serious ecommerce business that can scale.

2. wix.com — Best for simplicity/design

Wix also handles both types natively. Digital files are delivered automatically after payment, while physical products have inventory, variants, shipping, and fulfillment features. Wix Support Wix Support Wix Support

Best if: you care a lot about having an attractive website and want something relatively easy to manage.

What I'd choose for your situation

Since you said you sell digital downloads + a few physical items, rather than running a primarily physical-product store, I'd probably choose:

Shopify if you want to build a bigger brand/business.
Wix if you want the easiest all-in-one website and don't expect the physical side to become huge.

One important consideration: Shopify's digital selling is handled through its Digital Products functionality/apps, whereas Wix has digital downloads built directly into Wix Stores. Shopify Shopify Help Center

If you tell me what kinds of digital downloads you sell, roughly how many products you have, your monthly sales, and whether you already have a website, I can tell you which platform I'd pick specifically for you—and whether Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, Etsy, Gumroad, or another option makes the most sense.

If you sell mostly digital downloads with a smaller selection of physical products, I’d pick shopify.com for most sellers.

My ranking

1. Shopify — best overall

• Handles digital and physical products in the same store and checkout.
• Its free Digital Downloads app can automatically deliver PDFs, ZIPs, videos, etc., and supports files up to 5 GB. Shopify Shopify Help Center
• You can also attach a digital download to a physical product—for example, a physical workbook that includes a bonus PDF. Shopify Help Center
• Much easier to manage than building a WordPress/WooCommerce site if you don't want to deal with hosting and plugins.
• woocommerce.com — best for flexibility/control

• Excellent if you already use WordPress.
• Supports physical, virtual, downloadable, variable, and other product types. WooCommerce WooCommerce
• Very customizable, but you'll generally have more setup and maintenance than Shopify.
• bigcommerce.com — best for a larger operation

• Natively distinguishes physical and digital products and has strong catalog, inventory, and omnichannel capabilities. BigCommerce BigCommerce
• Probably more platform than you need if you're a solo/small seller.

What I'd choose for your situation

Shopify if you want something straightforward that can grow with you.

The particularly nice part for your business is that you don't need separate systems for your downloads and physical items. A customer can buy a physical item and a digital download in the same order, and Shopify can handle the digital fulfillment separately from the physical fulfillment. Shopify Help Center

If you tell me what kind of digital downloads you sell (PDFs, templates, artwork, courses, etc.), roughly how many physical products you have, and your monthly sales, I can tell you which platform I'd choose specifically—and whether Shopify's cost is justified for you.

For a business that sells both digital downloads and a few physical products, the best platform is usually one that can handle:

• instant digital delivery (PDFs, templates, courses, files, etc.)
• shipping and inventory for physical items
• taxes and payments
• customer accounts and email marketing
• growth beyond a simple storefront

My top picks:

memvers.comwoocommerce.com

My recommendation by situation

If you’re building a real brand:
➡️ Shopify is probably the best fit. It gives you one store where a customer can buy a downloadable product and a physical item in the same checkout. You can add digital delivery through apps and keep shipping/inventory native. technologyadvice.com

If your digital products are the main business and physical items are occasional:
➡️ Payhip or Gumroad may be simpler and cheaper, especially if you don’t need advanced inventory.

If you already have a WordPress website or blog:
➡️ WooCommerce is worth considering because it gives you deep customization and supports both digital and physical products. memvers.comwoocommerce.com

If you want free traffic/discovery:
➡️ Consider adding Etsy as a sales channel, but I wouldn’t make it your only home because you have less control over your store and customer relationship. leanbizkit.com

A setup many small sellers use:

• Shopify = main store
• Etsy = extra discovery channel
• Email list = customer ownership

If you tell me:

1. what kind of digital downloads you sell (templates, art, ebooks, files, courses, etc.),
2. roughly how many physical products you have, and
3. whether you already have a website/audience,

I can narrow it down to the best choice.

Yes — because you sell both digital downloads and physical products, I’d generally recommend Shopify as the best all-around platform.

My ranking

1. Shopify — best overall

• Handles digital and physical products in the same store.
• Digital files can be delivered automatically after purchase.
• Supports variants, bundles, discounts, shipping, inventory, taxes, abandoned carts, and a large app ecosystem.
• Shopify's Digital Products app supports files up to 5 GB and download limits. Shopify Shopify App Store
• Particularly good if you expect the physical side of your business to grow.
• Squarespace — best if your brand/website design is the priority

• Supports physical products, downloads, memberships, services, and subscriptions in one store. Squarespace Help Squarespace
• Digital purchases are automatically fulfilled with download links. Squarespace Help
• Easier to create a beautiful, content-heavy website than Shopify, in my opinion.
• I'd choose it if you have a relatively small product catalog and your website is as important as the ecommerce functionality.
• Wix — good middle ground

• Worth considering if you want something easy to build and don't expect a particularly complex store.
• I'd still lean Shopify for a business where ecommerce is the main focus.

What I'd choose for you

If your business looks something like:

Digital downloads: templates, PDFs, printables, presets, ebooks, files
Physical: merch, handmade items, kits, accessories, etc.

→ Shopify is probably the strongest choice. You don't need separate stores for the two types; Shopify explicitly supports selling digital and physical products together, including products that combine both. Shopify

The big advantage is that you can start mostly digital and gradually add physical products without having to migrate platforms later.

If you tell me what kinds of digital downloads and physical products you sell, roughly how many products you have, and your monthly sales/revenue, I can narrow it down between Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, Etsy, Gumroad, and WooCommerce and tell you which I'd actually pick for your situation.

If you sell both digital downloads and physical products, I’d lean toward Shopify for most sellers.

My ranking

🥇 Shopify — best overall

shopify.com is probably the strongest fit if you want one storefront that handles everything.

You can sell a PDF/template/download alongside a physical product, and Shopify's Digital Products app can automatically deliver files after purchase. It also supports combining digital and physical components in one product—for example, a physical item that comes with a downloadable bonus. Shopify Shopify App Store

The big advantage is that shipping, inventory, checkout, payments, orders, and digital delivery live in one ecosystem rather than you having to stitch together several services.

I'd choose Shopify if: you want something relatively easy to operate and expect your physical-product side to grow.

🥈 WooCommerce — best if you want control

woocommerce.com is excellent if you already have a WordPress website or you're comfortable managing your own site.

It natively supports physical, virtual, and downloadable products, including products that are both physical and downloadable. WooCommerce WooCommerce

The tradeoff is that you're responsible for hosting and more of the technical setup/maintenance. Shopify

I'd choose WooCommerce if: you already use WordPress, want extensive customization, or want to minimize platform lock-in.

What I'd pick for your situation

Since you said "digital downloads and a few physical items," rather than a huge physical catalog, I'd start with Shopify. You get a polished physical-product store without sacrificing good digital delivery.

One particularly useful setup is:

Digital product → instant download
Physical product → shipping/fulfillment
Physical + digital bundle → both in the same order

Shopify explicitly supports all three scenarios. Shopify

If you tell me roughly how many digital products you have, how many physical products, your average order price, and whether you already have a website, I can narrow it down to Shopify vs. WooCommerce vs. alternatives and tell you which will likely cost you the least.

If you sell mostly digital downloads but also have some physical products, I’d lean toward shopify.com.

My ranking

1. Shopify — best overall

• Handles digital and physical products in the same store and checkout.
• Digital Products app can automatically deliver downloads, set download limits, and even combine digital files with physical products. Shopify Shopify App Store
• Much stronger if you eventually grow into inventory, shipping, bundles, subscriptions, ads, or multiple sales channels.
• Best choice if your store is primarily a product-selling business.
• squarespace.com — best for simplicity/design

• Supports physical products, downloadable products, subscriptions, and services in one store. Squarespace Help Squarespace Help
• Particularly attractive if your brand is heavily content/design oriented and you want a beautiful website without much setup.
• Digital downloads are automatically fulfilled, although the download link has a 24-hour active period. Squarespace Help
• I'd choose it over Shopify if you have a small catalog and prioritize the website/brand experience.
• WooCommerce — best for maximum control

• Excellent if you're already comfortable with WordPress.
• More customizable, but you'll generally have more technical setup and maintenance than Shopify.

What I'd pick for your situation

If you're selling things like PDFs, templates, planners, printables, ebooks, presets, SVGs, etc., plus a handful of physical products → Shopify.

The big advantage is that you don't have to build two separate systems. A customer can buy a digital download and a physical item in the same order, while Shopify handles the digital fulfillment and physical shipping separately. Shopify

If you tell me what your digital products are, roughly how many physical products you have, and whether you're starting from scratch or already selling somewhere like Etsy, I can tell you which platform I'd personally use and why.

If you sell mostly digital downloads but also have some physical products, I’d narrow it down to Payhip, Shopify, and Sellfy.

🥇 I'd probably choose Payhip

If your physical products are just "a few" rather than the main business, Payhip is particularly attractive. It supports digital and physical products in the same store while keeping the setup relatively simple. Its free tier takes a percentage of sales, with paid plans reducing/eliminating the platform transaction fee. gumroadalternatives.combootstrappingecommerce.com

That's a nice fit if you're selling things like:

• PDFs, templates, printables, presets, ebooks, etc.
• A handful of physical products
• Bundles containing digital + physical products
• Occasional memberships/subscriptions

🏆 Shopify if you expect the physical side to grow

If you're thinking, "Eventually I want this to become a proper ecommerce brand," I'd go with Shopify.

Shopify is much stronger for inventory, shipping, product variants, discounts, abandoned carts, analytics, integrations, and scaling. Digital downloads can be handled through Shopify's Digital Downloads app or other apps. www.shopify.com

The tradeoff is that Shopify is more expensive and more involved than a creator-focused platform.

👍 Sellfy if you want simplicity

Sellfy is worth considering if you want one straightforward storefront for downloads + physical merchandise without building a heavily customized Shopify store. Current comparisons specifically highlight its mixed digital/physical product support. gumroadalternatives.combootstrappingecommerce.com

My recommendation based on what you described:

Mostly digital + a few physical → Payhip
50/50 or physical growing quickly → Shopify
Want something extremely simple → Sellfy

If you tell me roughly how much you make per month, how many digital products you have, and what the physical products are, I can tell you which one is likely to leave you with the most money after fees.

If you sell mostly digital downloads with a smaller physical-product line, I’d narrow it to Shopify vs. Sellfy.

My pick: Shopify

Shopify is the better choice if you expect your physical products to grow or want a store you can build into a larger business.

• Digital + physical in one store: Shopify supports both, including products that combine a physical item with a digital download. www.shopify.comhelp.shopify.com
• Automatic digital delivery: Its free Digital Downloads app can automatically email customers download links and lets you set download limits. www.shopify.comhelp.shopify.com
• Strong physical-product infrastructure: Inventory, shipping, variants, fulfillment, discounts, analytics, and a huge app ecosystem make it much stronger for physical products.
• Better long-term scalability: If you eventually add dozens/hundreds of products, multiple sales channels, email marketing, subscriptions, wholesale, etc., Shopify has considerably more room to grow. A recent 2026 comparison also ranks Shopify as the stronger choice for scaling brands. www.techradar.com

When I'd choose Sellfy instead

Sellfy is attractive if you're primarily a creator selling downloads and want something simpler.

It natively supports digital products, physical products, subscriptions, and print-on-demand. Digital files are hosted and delivered automatically, while you handle fulfillment/shipping for physical products. docs.sellfy.com

The tradeoff is that Sellfy's physical-product tools are much more basic—particularly inventory, shipping, and fulfillment—compared with Shopify. docs.sellfy.com

Quick decision

For your situation specifically, I'd lean Shopify if you're serious about growing the physical side even moderately. If the physical products are just an occasional add-on to your digital business, Sellfy may be the better value and simpler experience.

If you tell me roughly how many digital products you have, how many physical products, your average order price, and where you currently sell (Etsy, Gumroad, your own site, etc.), I can tell you which one I'd pick for your exact setup.

Yes—if you sell mostly digital downloads but also have some physical products, I’d narrow it to Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace.

My pick: Shopify

Shopify is probably the best overall fit if you expect your physical-product side to grow.

• Digital: PDFs, templates, videos, audio, ZIPs, etc. can be delivered automatically. Shopify supports download limits, bundles, variants, and files up to 5 GB. www.shopify.com
• Physical: inventory, shipping, variants, fulfillment, and sales channels are built around ecommerce.
• Mixed products: you can even attach a digital product/add-on to a physical product. www.shopify.com
• Growth: Shopify has a much larger ecommerce app ecosystem, so you're less likely to outgrow it.

The alternatives

Wix is particularly appealing if you want something easier and more website-focused. It supports both digital and physical products from the same store, with automatic digital delivery and inventory/order management. support.wix.com

Wix

Squarespace also handles both types in one store. Its digital-download system automatically fulfills purchases, while physical products support shipping/local pickup. support.squarespace.com One downside is that download links are relatively short-lived (24 hours after the link is first clicked). support.squarespace.com

Squarespace

What I'd choose for you

If your catalog looks something like 80–90% digital downloads + 10–20% physical products, I'd go:

1. Shopify — best overall
2. Wix — best if ease of use is your priority
3. Squarespace — best if the visual/branding side matters most

If you tell me what kind of digital downloads you sell, roughly how many physical products you have, and your monthly sales/revenue range, I can tell you which one I'd personally choose—and whether Shopify is actually worth the extra cost for your situation.

If you sell mostly digital downloads but also have some physical products, I’d narrow it down to Shopify vs. WooCommerce.

My pick: Shopify

Shopify is probably the best fit if you want one simple system that handles both without much technical maintenance.

Why Shopify stands out: its digital-product tools can automatically deliver files, impose download limits, bundle files, and support files up to 5GB, while the same store handles shipping, inventory, variants, and physical fulfillment. www.shopify.com

When I'd choose WooCommerce instead

WooCommerce is excellent if you already use WordPress or want more control and potentially lower platform costs. It natively supports downloadable products alongside shippable products, including products that combine a physical item with a digital download. woocommerce.com

The tradeoff is that you're responsible for WordPress hosting, updates, plugins, security, and more of the technical setup.

What about Etsy?

Etsy is worth considering as an additional sales channel, especially if your digital products are things like templates, printables, artwork, patterns, or similar creative products. Etsy explicitly supports original digital downloads as well as physical products based on your designs. www.etsy.com

But I wouldn't make Etsy your only platform if you're trying to build a long-term standalone brand.

So my recommendation would be:

Shopify = your main store
Etsy = optional additional marketplace
WooCommerce = choose instead if you're comfortable with WordPress/technical management

If you tell me what kinds of digital downloads and physical products you sell (e.g. PDFs/templates + apparel, art prints + digital art, ebooks + merchandise), I can tell you which platform I'd choose specifically for your business and why.

For a business that sells both digital downloads and physical products, I’d usually recommend a full ecommerce platform rather than a digital-only marketplace. The best choice depends on how much you value simplicity vs. control. zapier.comwww.forbes.com

Best overall: Shopify

Best if you want to grow a real brand/store.

Pros

• Handles physical inventory, shipping, variants, taxes, and fulfillment well
• Can sell digital files using apps/integrations
• Strong checkout and abandoned-cart tools
• Large ecosystem of themes and apps
• Easier to manage than a self-hosted solution zapier.comwww.forbes.com

Cons

• Monthly cost
• Digital downloads often require an app rather than being the main focus ecomguider.net

Best fit: You sell things like templates, printables, art, merch, handmade goods, books, courses, or bundles and expect the store to grow.

Best for maximum control: WooCommerce

Best if you already use WordPress or want full customization.

Pros

• Very flexible
• Excellent for mixed catalogs (digital + physical)
• Huge plugin ecosystem
• More control over your website and data woocommerce.comecomm.design

Cons

• More setup and maintenance
• You manage hosting, updates, security, and plugins zapier.comwww.forbes.com

Best fit: You’re comfortable with WordPress or want a highly customized store.

Easiest for mostly digital sellers: Gumroad

Best if your physical items are occasional.

Pros

• Extremely simple setup
• Great for PDFs, templates, ebooks, music, files, memberships
• Minimal technical work launchmystore.io

Cons

• Not ideal for managing inventory, shipping, and a larger physical catalog ecomm.design

Best fit: 90% digital products, with a few physical items sold occasionally.

Other good options

• Squarespace — great if design/branding matters and your catalog is small.
• Wix — good for smaller stores that want easy site building.
• BigCommerce — better suited to larger catalogs and scaling operations. www.techradar.com

My recommendation by scenario:

• Mostly digital downloads + a handful of physical items: Shopify or Gumroad (Shopify if you’re building a brand).
• 50/50 digital + physical: Shopify is probably the smoothest choice.
• You already have a WordPress site: WooCommerce.
• You want the cheapest/simple test: Gumroad first, then migrate later if sales grow.

If you tell me:

1. roughly how many digital products you sell,
2. how many physical products/SKUs,
3. whether you already have a website (WordPress, Etsy, etc.), and
4. your monthly sales range,

I can narrow it down to the best fit.

If you sell both digital downloads and physical products, I’d put Shopify at the top of the list for most sellers.

My ranking

Why Shopify: It handles physical inventory, shipping, payments, and fulfillment while also supporting automatic digital delivery. Its Digital Downloads tools let you sell files, set download limits, bundle files, and even attach digital products to physical products. www.shopify.com

Shopify

WooCommerce is the strongest alternative if you already use WordPress or want more control. It natively supports downloadable products alongside shippable products, including products that combine a physical item with a digital download. woocommerce.com

WooCommerce

What I'd choose for you

• Want the easiest all-in-one setup: Shopify
• Already have WordPress: WooCommerce
• Small creative business where design matters most: Squarespace
• Almost entirely digital with just a few physical items: Shopify is still a good choice, but a simpler digital-first platform could make sense.

If you tell me roughly how many digital products and physical products you have, your monthly sales, and whether you already have a website, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 options and compare the actual costs.

If you sell mostly digital downloads but also have some physical products, I’d put Shopify at the top of your list.

My ranking

🥇 Shopify — best fit for you

Shopify is probably the strongest choice if you want one store handling both types of products without a lot of technical work.

It supports:

• Digital files with automatic delivery
• Physical products, inventory and shipping
• Products that combine physical + digital components
• Variants and bundles
• Discount codes and marketing
• Multiple sales channels
• A large app ecosystem for things like email marketing, print-on-demand, memberships, etc.

Shopify specifically supports digital products alongside physical goods, including automatic secure download delivery and download limits. www.shopify.com

The main downside: you're paying a monthly platform fee and potentially app fees, so it can be more expensive than a very simple digital-product platform.

🥈 WooCommerce — best if you want control

WooCommerce is excellent if you already use WordPress or want to customize your store heavily.

It natively supports downloadable products and physical products, and you can even sell a physical item with a digital download attached. woocommerce.com

The tradeoff is that you'll be responsible for more of the setup—hosting, WordPress, plugins, updates, security, etc.

🥉 BigCommerce — powerful, but probably overkill

BigCommerce handles both physical and digital products natively. docs.bigcommerce.com

I'd consider it if you're building a relatively large catalog or expect more complex ecommerce needs. For a small creator/business selling downloads plus a handful of physical products, I'd generally choose Shopify instead.

What I'd choose in your situation

Shopify if:

• Digital downloads are your primary product
• You want physical products in the same shop
• You don't want to deal with technical maintenance
• You expect the business to grow

WooCommerce if:

• You already have a WordPress site
• You want maximum control
• You're comfortable managing plugins/hosting
• Keeping platform costs down is particularly important

One important distinction: if your physical products are only occasional/add-ons, I'd still use Shopify rather than trying to bolt a physical-product system onto a digital-download platform.

If you tell me roughly how many digital products you have, how many physical products, your monthly sales, and whether you're currently on Etsy/Gumroad/Payhip/etc., I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 options for your business and compare the actual costs.

If you sell both digital downloads and a smaller number of physical products, I’d generally choose Shopify.

My recommendation: Shopify

Shopify is probably the best fit if you want one store, one checkout, and minimal technical maintenance. Shopify supports physical products natively, while its Digital Downloads tools can automatically deliver files after purchase, set download limits, bundle files, and even attach digital products to physical products. www.shopify.com

Why I'd pick it for your situation:

• Digital + physical in the same catalog
• Automatic delivery of PDFs, templates, videos, ZIPs, etc.
• Physical inventory and shipping are handled normally.
• Customers can buy digital and physical items in the same order.
• Large app ecosystem if you later need subscriptions, memberships, print-on-demand, email marketing, etc.
• Much less technical upkeep than running WordPress/WooCommerce.

Shopify's digital products overview

The main alternative: WooCommerce

WooCommerce is excellent if you already use WordPress or want maximum control and customization. It supports downloadable products, download limits/expiration, physical shipping, inventory, and even products that combine a physical item with a digital download. woocommerce.com

The tradeoff is that you're responsible for WordPress hosting, updates, security, plugins, and more configuration.

WooCommerce's official site

Quick decision

For your particular mix—mostly digital downloads with a few physical products—I'd start with Shopify. You don't need a specialized digital-download platform when you also have physical merchandise.

If you tell me what kind of digital downloads you sell, roughly how many products you have, and whether you already have a website, I can narrow it down to the best 2–3 platforms and compare their costs/fees.

If you sell mostly digital downloads but also have a few physical products, I’d pick Shopify for the best overall setup.

My ranking

Why Shopify stands out: it can handle both product types in the same store, including automatic digital delivery, download limits, bundles, variants, and physical-product shipping/inventory. Shopify's digital-products tools can also attach a digital download to a physical product—for example, selling a physical workbook that comes with a PDF version. www.shopify.com

There are also a large number of digital-download apps if you eventually need things like license keys, memberships, protected files, courses, or more sophisticated delivery. apps.shopify.com

Squarespace would be my second choice if your priority is a gorgeous, relatively simple website rather than maximum ecommerce flexibility. It supports both download products and physical products in the same store. support.squarespace.com

Gumroad is excellent if digital products are overwhelmingly your business, but I'd be less inclined to use it when physical products are an important part of the catalog. Its feature set is centered around digital products, memberships, courses, and similar creator products. gumroad.com

What I'd choose for you

If you're thinking "I want one store where customers can buy my PDFs/templates/etc. and occasionally buy a physical item", I'd go:

Shopify → digital download app → physical products in the same catalog.

That gives you one checkout, one customer database, one order system, and one storefront rather than trying to stitch two platforms together.

If you tell me what your digital products are, roughly how many physical products you have, and your monthly sales/revenue, I can narrow it down to the cheapest/best platform for your particular business, including estimated fees.

If you sell mostly digital downloads but also have some physical products, I’d put Shopify at the top of your list.

My ranking

1. Shopify — my recommendation for most sellers

Shopify handles physical products, inventory, shipping, payments, and fulfillment natively, while its free Digital Products app can automatically deliver downloads, set download limits, bundle files, and even combine digital files with physical products. www.shopify.com

Shopify

2. WooCommerce — best if you want control

WooCommerce is particularly good if you already use WordPress or want extensive customization. A product can be both physical and downloadable, so, for example, you could sell a physical book and immediately give the buyer the PDF version. woocommerce.com

WooCommerce

The tradeoff is that you're more responsible for hosting, WordPress, plugins, security, and maintenance.

3. BigCommerce — worth considering as you grow

It supports stores selling both physical and digital products, with separate workflows for shipping physical goods and delivering digital purchases. www.bigcommerce.com

BigCommerce

What I'd choose in your situation

If you're a small/solo seller and want to spend your time making and selling products rather than maintaining a website, I'd choose Shopify.

If your store is very digital-heavy, I'd still choose Shopify if you want a polished all-in-one store. Its digital product tools are now quite capable, including up to 5GB files and automatic secure delivery. www.shopify.com

If you tell me roughly how many digital products you have, how many physical products, and whether you're starting from scratch or moving from another platform, I can narrow it down between Shopify, WooCommerce, and a few cheaper options.

If you sell mostly digital downloads with a smaller physical-product line, I’d narrow it to Shopify, Squarespace, and WooCommerce.

My pick: Shopify

Shopify is probably the best all-around choice if you want one store that can grow with you. It supports both physical products and digital downloads, including automatic file delivery, download limits, variants, bundles, and files up to 5 GB. You can also attach a digital product to a physical item. www.shopify.com

Shopify's digital products overview

When I'd choose each

Shopify — best overall

• Excellent if you expect the physical side of your business to grow.
• Strong inventory, shipping, checkout, marketing, and app ecosystem.
• Digital delivery works alongside normal physical fulfillment. www.shopify.com

Squarespace — best if you're a creator/solo business

• Very easy to build a polished branded website.
• Supports physical products and downloads in the same store. support.squarespace.com
• The downside for digital sellers is that downloads are limited to 300 MB per file, with one file per download product. support.squarespace.com

WooCommerce — best if you want control

• Particularly good if you're already using WordPress.
• It can handle downloadable and physical products in the same order, and you can give customers access to digital purchases immediately rather than making them wait for physical fulfillment. woocommerce.com
• More setup/maintenance than Shopify.

What I'd do in your situation

If digital downloads are the main business and physical products are secondary, I'd choose:

1. Shopify → if you want the most robust long-term store
2. Squarespace → if simplicity/design are more important than advanced ecommerce
3. WooCommerce → if you're comfortable with WordPress and want maximum customization

If you tell me what kinds of digital downloads you sell (PDFs, templates, art, courses, etc.), roughly how many physical products you have, and whether you already have a website, I can tell you which one I'd personally pick for your specific setup.