How to sell digital products in WooCommerce
WooCommerce can sell digital products without another eCommerce plugin. Create a product, mark it Virtual and Downloadable, add the file, configure download access, and connect a payment gateway. Use a specialist plugin only if you need more advanced delivery, product management or reporting.
- 01Prepare files and payments
- 02Create a downloadable product
- 03Configure download delivery
- 04Test the complete purchase
- 05Choose the fast route
What you need
- A WordPress site with WooCommerce installed and configured
- Admin access to WordPress
- The digital files you want to sell
- A connected payment gateway
Prepare files and payments
Put each product file in a stable location and use a clear filename. PDFs, images, audio, video, ZIP archives and software packages are common choices. If you sell several files together, consider placing them in one ZIP archive so customers receive one download.
Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments, enable a suitable payment method and complete its connection or account setup. Do not rely on an offline gateway for instant delivery unless you are prepared to confirm payments and complete orders manually.
Create a downloadable product
Go to Products > Add New, enter the product name, description, price and product image, then open the product data panel. Choose a simple product unless you need variations, and tick Virtual and Downloadable. Virtual removes shipping fields, while Downloadable adds the file and download settings.
Add a download name and file, either by uploading it or entering its file URL. Set a download limit or expiry only if your offer needs one. WooCommerce sends the customer a download link after a successful purchase, and account holders can also find it under My Account > Downloads.
Configure download delivery
Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Downloadable products. For most stores, use Force Downloads or X-Accel-Redirect/X-Sendfile if your host supports it, because these methods help prevent direct public access to the file. Redirect only is less protective and is mainly a fallback for incompatible servers or external file hosts.
Decide whether downloads require a login and whether to grant access when payment is received while the order is Processing. Keep the unique filename option enabled unless you have another suitable protection method. Large files can time out with Force Downloads, so check your host before selling sizeable downloads.
Test the complete purchase
Place a real or test order using the same checkout route your customers will use. Check the order confirmation page, confirmation email and, if applicable, My Account > Downloads. Confirm that the file opens, the expiry and limit behave as expected, and no shipping charge appears.
The common failure is a paid order that remains On hold or Processing when access is configured for Completed orders. If links are missing or return an invalid order or 403 error, check the order status, file URL, download method, server permissions, caching and security plugins. WooCommerce support reports also show problems with external file hosts and server delivery methods, so test every file type and storage location before launch.
Choose the fast route
For one or a few downloadable products, the manual WooCommerce route is usually enough and does not require another plugin. It gives you product pages, payment processing, download limits, expiry controls and customer download links, but you must configure each product and troubleshoot delivery yourself.
If you want a more guided digital-product workflow, Sellkit Pro is the faster route to consider. Install and activate it, configure its product and payment options, add your files, and test an order. It is suited to stores that want centralised digital product management, automated delivery, custom product pages and sales reporting alongside WooCommerce.
Let Sellkit Pro do it
Combines digital product management, payments, and automated delivery for stores focused on selling downloadable products.
Sources
- woocommerce.com /document/managing-products/product-editor-settings/?utm_sou…
- woocommerce.com /document/digital-downloadable-product-handling/?utm_source=…
Questions
- Do I need another plugin to sell digital products with WooCommerce?
- No, WooCommerce can sell basic digital products by itself. Mark the product as Virtual and Downloadable, add the file, configure access and connect a payment gateway. Another plugin becomes useful when you need more specialised delivery workflows, advanced product management, custom sales funnels or reporting beyond WooCommerce’s standard tools.
- What is the difference between Virtual and Downloadable?
- Virtual means the product does not require shipping, while Downloadable adds a file that WooCommerce can deliver after purchase. A digital file product normally uses both settings. If you tick Downloadable but leave the product non-virtual, WooCommerce may still treat it as requiring fulfilment and shipping unless you configure the rest of the order accordingly.
- When do customers receive their download link?
- Customers receive a download link according to the product and downloadable-product settings. If access after payment is enabled, they can usually download while the order is Processing; otherwise access may wait until the order is Completed. The link can appear on the order page and in the confirmation email, and logged-in customers can also use My Account > Downloads.
- Why is a WooCommerce download link not working?
- The usual causes are an order that has not reached the status required for access, an incorrect or moved file URL, server restrictions, caching or security software, or an unsuitable download method. Check the order permissions and file first, then test Force Downloads, X-Accel-Redirect/X-Sendfile or Redirect only according to your hosting setup. Redirect only may fix compatibility problems but exposes the file URL.