ChatGPT answers, unedited

If your key requirement is physical products + digital downloads in the same store, without installing plugins/apps, I’d shortlist these:

1. Wix — best fit for simplicity
   • Native support for both physical products and downloadable files.
   • Customers receive digital files automatically after payment.
   • You manage both from the same Wix Stores dashboard. support.wix.com
   • Stronger choice if you care about website design and ease of use as much as ecommerce.

2. Shopify — best for a serious ecommerce operation
   • Shopify now provides its own Digital Products app, so you don't necessarily need a third-party download plugin.
   • Supports physical + digital products, including products that combine both (e.g. a physical book with a downloadable bonus).
   • Digital files can be automatically delivered and can be up to 5 GB. www.shopify.com
   • Better choice if you expect the physical-product side of the business to become substantial.

My pick for you

Wix if you're primarily a brand/content business that happens to sell products.

Shopify if you're primarily an ecommerce business that happens to sell downloads.

One caveat: if by "without plugins" you mean absolutely zero separate apps, including the platform's own digital-download app, Wix has the cleaner answer. Shopify's native ecosystem currently uses its Digital Products app for file delivery, even though it's Shopify's own solution. www.shopify.com

If you tell me roughly how many physical products vs. downloads you sell and whether the downloads are PDFs, videos, software, templates, etc., I can tell you which I'd choose between Wix, Shopify, Squarespace, and a couple of less-obvious options.

Yes. If “no plugins/apps for the basic physical + downloadable-product setup” is the key requirement, I’d narrow it to Wix vs. Squarespace, with Wix being the stronger fit.

My pick: Wix

Wix supports physical products and digital downloads directly in Wix Stores. You upload the digital file to the product, set the price, and Wix automatically delivers the download after payment. It also handles orders containing both physical and digital products. support.wix.com

That's particularly attractive if you want one product catalog and one checkout, rather than stitching together a physical-product store with a separate digital-delivery system.

One important distinction

Shopify is arguably the better ecommerce engine, and it absolutely handles physical + digital products. But its official documentation says digital downloads are handled through the free Digital Downloads app. So if by “without plugins” you literally mean no additional app at all, I wouldn't choose Shopify. www.shopify.com

Bottom line:

• Want the simplest all-in-one website builder → Wix
• Want beautiful, content-heavy site + modest store → Squarespace
• Want serious ecommerce infrastructure → Shopify, accepting the small Digital Downloads app requirement.

If you tell me roughly how many physical products and how many downloads you sell, I can tell you which of Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify I'd choose for your particular business.

Yes. If “no plugins/apps for digital downloads” is a hard requirement, I’d narrow it to Wix first.

Best fits

• wix.com — best for your requirement. Wix Stores natively supports both physical products and downloadable digital products. You upload the digital file directly to the product, and Wix automatically sends the buyer a download link after payment. Mixed physical + digital orders are supported too. Wix Help Center Wix Help Center
• shopify.com — excellent for physical ecommerce, but not truly plugin-free for downloads. Shopify supports both types of products, but its own documentation says you need a digital-download app to provide the download link. Its free Digital Downloads app is Shopify's first-party option, but it's still an app. Shopify Help Center Shopify Help Center

My recommendation

If your store is roughly 50/50 physical products and PDFs/templates/files, I'd choose Wix. It gives you:

• Physical products + inventory
• Digital downloads
• Automatic download delivery
• Mixed carts/orders
• Shipping for physical items
• One product/catalog system
• No separate digital-download plugin required Wix Help Center Wix Help Center

If you tell me how many physical products you have, what kind of downloads you sell, and whether you need subscriptions/memberships, I can also tell you whether Wix, Shopify, Squarespace, or another builder is the best fit.

Yes. If your requirement is physical products + digital downloads with no plugins/apps required, I’d narrow it to these:

My pick: Wix

Wix Stores natively supports both physical products and digital files. You upload the download directly to the product, and Wix automatically sends the customer a download link after payment. It can also handle an order containing both physical and digital products. support.wix.com

That makes Wix particularly attractive if you want one catalog, one checkout, and one dashboard without bolting on a digital-download service.

Squarespace is a close second

Squarespace also has native product types for physical products and download products. Downloads are automatically fulfilled and customers receive a download link. support.squarespace.com

I'd choose Squarespace over Wix if the website's visual presentation and brand/design matter more than ecommerce flexibility.

One caveat with Shopify

Shopify absolutely supports physical + digital products in the same store, but its native digital-download functionality is provided through Shopify's Digital Products app. Shopify says the app is free, but technically it is still an app rather than functionality entirely inside the core store builder. www.shopify.com

Bottom line:
Wix → best fit for your "both, without plugins" requirement.
Squarespace → best if design is the priority.
Shopify → best if you're primarily an ecommerce operation and don't mind the built-in Shopify app.

If you tell me roughly how many physical products vs. downloads you sell and what kinds of downloads (PDFs, templates, video, software, etc.), I can tell you which one I'd choose for your specific store.

If you want to sell both physical products and digital downloads with no plugins/apps, look for a builder with native ecommerce + native digital product delivery. The strongest options are:

My shortlist for your situation

1. Wix — probably the best all-around fit

• Handles physical inventory, shipping, taxes, variants, and digital products from the same store backend. www.wix.com
• Digital files can be delivered automatically after purchase. www.wix.com
• Good if you sell a mix like:
  • handmade goods + PDFs
  • merchandise + templates
  • physical kits + courses/downloads

2. Squarespace — best if branding/design matters most

• Supports both physical products and download products as built-in product types. support.squarespace.com
• Strong choice for photographers, designers, authors, musicians, and boutique brands. www.squarespace.com
• Ecommerce tools are simpler than Wix for complex catalogs. support.squarespace.com

3. Shopify — best if you are primarily a retailer

• Fantastic for physical inventory, but digital downloads often involve adding Shopify apps, which conflicts with your “without plugins” requirement. www.techradar.com

Recommendation:

• Choose Wix if your business is roughly 50/50 physical + digital.
• Choose Squarespace if your digital products are more creative/brand-led and your catalog is smaller.
• Choose Shopify only if physical product sales dominate and you expect a large inventory.

A useful deciding question: are your downloads things like ebooks/files/templates, or are they courses/memberships/subscriptions? That changes the best choice.

If “no plugins/apps for digital downloads” is a hard requirement, I’d put Wix at the top.

• Wix — Best fit for your requirement. It natively supports physical products + digital downloads in the same store, including automatic delivery of downloads. Wix explicitly says its ecommerce setup can handle both without third-party plugins. www.wix.com
• Squarespace — Good alternative. It supports physical products and direct digital content such as ebooks and music, with a particularly strong emphasis on design. www.squarespace.com
• Shopify — Best ecommerce engine, but not quite your “no plugins” requirement. Shopify supports both physical and digital products, but its dedicated Digital Products delivery is provided through a Shopify app, so I wouldn't choose it if avoiding apps entirely is important. www.shopify.com

My pick: Wix if you want one straightforward website that sells both shipped products and downloads without having to bolt on a plugin.

If you tell me roughly how many physical products vs. downloads you sell, I can narrow it down between Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify based on checkout, fees, SEO, and ease of managing orders.

Yes. If your priority is selling physical products + downloadable products without installing a plugin/app for the downloads, I'd narrow it to these:

My pick: Wix

Wix has native support for both physical products and digital files. You can create a product as either Physical product or Digital file, and Wix automatically sends the download link after payment. support.wix.com

Importantly, Wix says its ecommerce setup can handle physical goods and digital downloads without third-party plugins. www.wix.com

Squarespace is an equally legitimate option if design is more important. Its native store supports physical products and "Download products" in the same store, with automatic delivery of the download link. support.squarespace.com

Shopify is excellent for physical ecommerce, but I'd put it third for your particular requirement: Shopify's native digital-download functionality is provided through its Digital Products app, so it doesn't meet your strict "no plugins/apps" criterion as cleanly. www.shopify.com

Bottom line:

• 🥇 Wix — best match for your exact requirement
• 🥈 Squarespace — great if you want a more polished/creative website
• 🥉 Shopify — best if physical-product ecommerce will eventually become the dominant part of the business

If you tell me roughly what you sell and how many physical vs. digital products you have, I can tell you which of Wix vs. Squarespace I'd choose for your specific store.

If you need to sell both physical products and digital downloads natively (no plugins/apps), these are the strongest website builders to consider:

www.pixpa.com

My shortlist for your situation

1. Wix — best overall for mixed physical + digital sales

• Add physical inventory, shipping, variants, etc.
• Sell files like PDFs, templates, audio, ebooks, graphics, etc.
• No separate download-delivery plugin required.
• Easier for a small team to manage. www.techradar.com

2. Squarespace — best if your brand/design matters

• Great storefront presentation.
• Handles physical products and digital products natively.
• Better suited if you sell fewer, higher-value products rather than thousands of SKUs.

3. Hostinger Website Builder — best lower-cost option

• Supports physical items and digital downloads with automatic delivery.
• Simpler ecommerce features, but fewer complexities. www.pixpa.comwww.hostinger.com

4. Pixpa — worth considering for creative sellers

• Built around selling things like prints, digital art, photos, ebooks, and downloads. www.pixpa.com

I would avoid:

• WordPress + WooCommerce if your goal is “no plugins.” It can do everything, but the plugin ecosystem is usually part of the setup.
• Shopify if digital downloads are a major part of your business and you specifically want zero add-ons.

If you tell me:

1. approximate number of products (10 vs 10,000),
2. what the downloads are (ebooks, software, templates, courses, art, etc.), and
3. whether you need subscriptions/memberships,

I can narrow it to the best fit.

Yes. If your requirement is both physical products + downloadable products, without installing a separate digital-download plugin, I’d shortlist these:

🥇 Wix — best fit for your requirement

Wix supports both physical products and digital downloads natively in Wix Stores. You upload the digital file directly to the product, and Wix automatically sends the customer a download link after payment. support.wix.com

That means you can have, for example:

• T-shirts → physical/shipped
• Art prints → physical/shipped
• PDFs → instant download
• Templates → instant download
• ZIP files → instant download
• All in one store, one checkout, one product catalog

Wix also handles inventory, shipping, orders, and payments for the physical side. support.wix.com

Important limitation: Wix doesn't currently support a single native product bundle that combines a physical item + digital file. So if you sell something like "physical workbook + PDF companion," that's a consideration. support.wix.com

🥈 Squarespace

Squarespace is worth considering if beautiful design/branding is more important than sophisticated ecommerce. It supports physical and digital products, and its templates are particularly strong.

🥉 Shopify

Shopify is excellent for physical ecommerce, but I'd not pick it specifically for your "no plugins" requirement. Shopify's native ecommerce is superb, but digital downloads are typically handled through its Digital Downloads app rather than being as seamlessly built into the core product workflow. Shopify itself ranks as the strongest overall ecommerce platform in current comparisons, though. www.shopify.com

My pick

For what you described, I'd choose Wix. It is unusually well suited to a store where physical and downloadable products are first-class products in the same catalog without having to bolt on a digital-download plugin. www.wix.com

If you tell me roughly what you're selling and how many physical vs. digital products you have, I can also compare Wix vs Squarespace vs Shopify specifically for your store, including fees, SEO, checkout, email marketing, and digital-file limits.

Yes. If your priority is selling physical products + downloadable products without adding a plugin/app for the downloads, I’d put Wix at the top of the list.

Best fits

Why I'd choose Wix

Wix Stores natively supports both physical products and digital files. You upload the downloadable file directly when creating the product, and Wix automatically sends the customer a download link after payment. support.wix.com

It also handles the physical side—inventory, variants, shipping, checkout, etc.—from the same store. support.wix.com

Importantly, Wix itself says its ecommerce platform can handle physical and digital products without third-party plugins. www.wix.com

One limitation to know: if you mean bundling a physical product and a digital download together as one special bundle, Wix doesn't currently support that natively. support.wix.com

My recommendation: If you're selling, say, physical merchandise + PDFs/templates/ebooks/art/files, I'd choose Wix over Shopify specifically because you can do both natively without having to bolt on a digital-download app.

Wix ecommerce

If you tell me what physical products and what kinds of downloads you sell, I can also compare Wix vs Squarespace vs Shopify specifically for your business, including fees and checkout.

Yes. If your requirement is one website that sells both physical products and digital downloads without needing a plugin/app for the digital side, I’d shortlist these:

My pick: Wix

Wix supports both physical products and downloadable files natively through Wix Stores. Customers purchasing a digital product automatically receive a download link after payment, while physical products use the same store/order system. support.wix.com

That makes it particularly attractive if you want a normal business website + store, rather than an ecommerce platform first.

Shopify

Shopify is arguably stronger if ecommerce is the core of your business. Shopify explicitly supports both physical and digital products, including digital add-ons to physical products. www.shopify.com

The catch: Shopify's digital-download experience has historically involved its Digital Downloads app, so if “absolutely no app/plugin for downloads” is a hard requirement, I'd choose Wix instead.

Bottom line:

• Wix → best fit for physical + downloads + no plugins + easy website building.
• Shopify → best if you're primarily an ecommerce operation and expect to scale substantially.
• Squarespace → worth considering if visual design is your top priority.

If you tell me what kinds of physical products and downloads you sell (e.g. clothing + PDFs, handmade goods + templates, books + ebooks), I can narrow it down to the best one for your exact setup.

Yes. If your key requirement is one site that sells both physical products and digital downloads without installing a separate download plugin/app, I’d narrow it to Wix or Squarespace.

🥇 My pick: Wix

Wix ecommerce supports physical products and downloadable products natively. Digital files are automatically delivered to the customer after payment, so you don't need to bolt on a separate digital-download system. www.wix.com

That makes Wix particularly attractive if your catalog looks something like:

• Physical products → shipped to customer
• PDF/ebook/template → instant download
• Physical + digital products → same storefront and checkout
• Different product variants → handled within the same store

🥈 Squarespace

Squarespace Commerce is also genuinely built for both. It has separate native product types for physical products and download products, with downloads automatically fulfilled after purchase. support.squarespace.com

I'd choose Squarespace over Wix if the visual design of the storefront is a major priority and your ecommerce operation is relatively straightforward.

One important caveat: Shopify

Shopify is excellent for mixed physical/digital commerce, but there's a distinction in your "without plugins" requirement. Shopify's own documentation says digital products need an app to provide the download link; its free Digital Downloads app handles this. help.shopify.com

So if "absolutely no apps/plugins" is a hard requirement, I'd choose Wix or Squarespace rather than Shopify.

My ranking for your particular requirement: Wix → Squarespace → Shopify.

If “without plugins/apps” is a hard requirement, I’d shortlist Wix and Squarespace, with Wix as my first choice.

🥇 My pick: Wix

Wix lets you sell physical products and downloadable digital files from the same store, with digital files delivered automatically after purchase. Its documentation specifically supports both product types, and Wix says its commerce platform handles physical and digital goods without plugins. www.wix.com

That makes it particularly attractive if you want:

• Physical inventory + shipping
• PDFs, ZIPs, templates, artwork, etc.
• One shopping cart/checkout
• Automatic download delivery
• Product variants
• Coupons and sales
• Inventory management
• Website + store in one system

Wix ecommerce

🥈 Squarespace

Squarespace is also a good fit if visual design is more important than deep ecommerce functionality. It supports physical products and downloadable products within the same store, with native commerce features. support.squarespace.com

Squarespace Commerce

One I'd rule out for your requirement: Shopify

Shopify is arguably the strongest ecommerce platform overall, but it doesn't meet your “no plugins/apps” requirement for downloadable files. Shopify's own documentation says you need an app to provide download links; its free Digital Downloads app is the standard solution. help.shopify.com

Bottom line: If you want one website, one store, physical + downloadable products, and no plugin/app dependency, I'd choose Wix. If your priority is a more polished, editorial/creative-looking site, I'd consider Squarespace instead.

If you tell me roughly how many physical products and how many downloads you sell, I can also tell you which one I'd choose between Wix and Squarespace for your specific business.

If you sell both physical products and digital downloads and want it handled without plugins, look for an all-in-one ecommerce builder with native support for both product types. The strongest options are:

www.wix.comwww.pixpa.com

My shortlist:

1. Best overall for most mixed-product sellers: Wix
   • Native physical + digital product support
   • Easy site editing
   • Good if your website is as important as the store
   • Less “store-only” feeling than Shopify www.wix.com

2. Best if ecommerce is your main business: Shopify
   • Better inventory, checkout, shipping, reporting, and scaling
   • Stronger if you expect hundreds/thousands of products
   • You may eventually use apps for advanced needs, but basic physical + digital selling works without plugins www.shopify.com

3. Best-looking storefront: Squarespace
   • Great for brands, artists, designers, photographers, and premium products
   • Simpler ecommerce needs are a good fit www.tomsguide.com

4. Best for creators selling downloads + physical goods: Pixpa
   • Built specifically around creative portfolios, prints, downloads, and similar products www.wix.comwww.pixpa.com

I would generally avoid WordPress + WooCommerce for this requirement if your goal is “no plugins”—it’s powerful, but the ecosystem often depends on extensions for the exact workflows you’re trying to avoid.

If you tell me:

• number of physical products,
• type of downloads (PDFs, courses, software, audio, templates, etc.),
• monthly sales volume,
• whether you need subscriptions/memberships,

I can narrow it to the best fit.