Selling digital products—whether it’s eBooks, printables, online courses, or digital art—has long been seen as one of the best ways to generate passive income. With low overhead, no inventory to manage, and the ability to reach global markets, it’s easy to see why many entrepreneurs flock to this business model.
However, as the digital product space grows increasingly crowded, you may be asking yourself: Is selling digital products still profitable in 2025?
The answer is a resounding yes. While the market has certainly matured, the demand for digital goods continues to skyrocket, especially if you know how to stand out and offer high-quality, in-demand products. In this article, we’ll dive into why selling digital products is still a great side hustle, how the landscape has evolved, and the steps you can take to start your own digital product business today.
What Are Digital Products?
Digital products are intangible goods that are delivered electronically. Unlike physical products, they don't require shipping, inventory, or warehousing. Once created, digital products can be sold an unlimited number of times, making them a great source of passive income.
Examples of popular digital products include:
eBooks and guides
Printables (calendars, planners, wall art)
Online courses or workshops
Stock photos, music, and video clips
Software or apps
Digital art or design assets (fonts, templates, etc.)
The beauty of digital products is that they can be created once and sold indefinitely, making them an ideal side hustle for anyone looking for flexibility and scalability.
Why People Think Selling Digital Products Is "Dead"
There are a few reasons why people might think that selling digital products is no longer a profitable side hustle:
Saturation of the Market: With millions of creators jumping on platforms like Etsy or Gumroad, it can seem like there’s no room left for new sellers.
Over-Simplified Products: Some digital products, especially low-effort ones like poorly designed printables or generic templates, flood the market, making it hard to stand out.
Price Sensitivity: Digital products are often priced lower than physical items, leading some to believe they can’t generate significant income.
While these are legitimate concerns, they are largely tied to outdated practices or misconceptions. The truth is that selling digital products can still be incredibly lucrative in 2025, especially if you focus on quality, niche markets, and effective marketing strategies.
Why Selling Digital Products Still Works in 2025
1. Low Overhead and Scalability
One of the most attractive aspects of selling digital products is the low overhead. There’s no need to invest in manufacturing, inventory, or shipping. Once a digital product is created, it can be sold over and over again, meaning you don’t have to worry about restocking or managing fulfillment. This scalability makes it much easier to grow your business and increase profits.
2. Global Market Reach
Digital products can be sold worldwide, which opens up a much larger market than selling physical goods. Whether you’re selling an online course, a printable design, or stock photos, you can reach a global audience without any additional shipping fees or logistical hurdles.
3. Evergreen Products
Once you create a digital product, it’s evergreen—meaning it can continue to generate revenue long after you’ve created it. For example, an online course can be sold to an infinite number of customers, and an eBook or digital art piece doesn’t require replenishing inventory. This creates a passive income stream that can continue to pay off long-term.
4. Diverse Product Options
The variety of digital products you can create is virtually limitless. Whether you’re skilled in design, photography, writing, or teaching, there’s a digital product that can fit your expertise. Additionally, niches like personal development, health & fitness, and DIY crafts are still growing, meaning there’s always space for new products that meet customer needs.
5. High Profit Margins
Since there are no physical goods to manage, the profit margins for digital products are incredibly high. After the initial time and effort to create the product, you only need to maintain the sales platform, and the majority of your revenue is pure profit. With digital products, you can price them based on value rather than production costs.
How to Start Selling Digital Products: A Step-by-Step Guide
Choose Your Niche
Success in the digital product market often comes down to finding a profitable niche. Think about areas where you have expertise or interest, and where there’s demand. For example, if you have a passion for graphic design, you could sell fonts, templates, or social media kits. If you’re an expert in productivity, you might create planners or digital courses on time management.Create High-Quality Products
Your digital product should offer real value to customers. Take the time to create a high-quality product that solves a specific problem or fills a particular need. If you’re selling eBooks, focus on creating well-written, informative guides. If you’re designing printables, make sure they are aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly.Choose the Right Platform
You need a platform to sell your digital products. Some of the most popular options include:Etsy: Perfect for creators of digital art, printables, planners, and similar items.
Gumroad: A straightforward platform for selling digital products like eBooks, courses, and design assets.
Teachable/Udemy: If you’re selling online courses, these platforms offer all the tools you need to host and sell your content.
Shopify: Ideal if you want to create a custom storefront to sell various digital products.
Creative Market: Great for selling design assets like fonts, graphics, and templates.
Set Up Your Sales Funnel
A sales funnel is a step-by-step process that guides potential customers from learning about your product to making a purchase. You can use landing pages, email marketing, and paid ads to drive traffic to your products and maximize conversions. Make sure your product pages are optimized with clear descriptions, high-quality images, and customer testimonials to build trust.Market Your Products
Digital products won’t sell themselves, so marketing is key. Here are some effective strategies:SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Optimize your website or sales platform to rank in search engines for relevant keywords.
Social Media Marketing: Promote your products on Instagram, Pinterest, or TikTok to drive traffic and sales.
Email Marketing: Build an email list and offer incentives like discounts or freebies to encourage subscribers to purchase.
Collaborations: Partner with influencers or other creators to cross-promote your products.
Optimize and Scale
Once your digital products are selling consistently, look for ways to scale. Create additional products, bundle items together, or offer limited-time promotions to increase revenue. Keep track of your sales data to identify what’s working and optimize your strategies accordingly.
Real-World Example: Turning a Hobby into a Thriving Digital Product Business
Consider Laura, a photographer who started selling her stock photos on Etsy in 2022. She initially began with a small collection of travel-inspired images but soon realized there was demand for other types of stock images, like food photography and lifestyle shots. By 2024, her Etsy shop was generating over $4,000 per month, and she had expanded into selling Lightroom presets and printable photo guides.
What made her successful?
She carved out a niche (travel & lifestyle photography).
She offered products that filled a need (high-quality, royalty-free images).
She marketed her products through Instagram and Pinterest, using SEO and social media strategies to build a loyal following.
Top Platforms for Selling Digital Products in 2025
Platform | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
Etsy | Printables, Art, Design | Easy setup, large marketplace, trusted brand |
Gumroad | Ebooks, Courses, Art | Simple to use, direct-to-consumer sales |
Teachable | Online Courses | Course creation, student management |
Shopify | Various Digital Products | Custom storefront, flexible payment options |
Creative Market | Design Assets (Fonts, Graphics) | Focus on design, strong community of buyers |
Udemy | Online Courses | Popular platform for learners, course creation tools |
Final Thoughts: Is Selling Digital Products Still Profitable?
Absolutely. In fact, selling digital products may be one of the best side hustles of 2025.
While the digital product space has become more competitive, there’s still room for creators who focus on high-quality, niche offerings and effective marketing strategies. Whether you’re selling an online course, design assets, or digital planners, the low overhead, scalability, and potential for passive income make this model a compelling choice.
So, if you’ve got a passion, knowledge, or skill you can share, selling digital products could be the perfect side hustle for you. Start small, create products that deliver real value, and use effective marketing to get your products in front of the right audience. The future is digital, and so is your side hustle!