10 Profitable Digital Products to Sell Online

The most profitable types of digital products being sold online include online courses, e-books, digital templates and printables, art and photography, and memberships for exclusive content. As a beginner, you can start any of these today, without the hassle of inventory or shipping.

5 Best-Selling Digital Products Right Now

Most people think they need a revolutionary idea to make money, but these digital products consistently generate reliable income for many creators, from first-time sellers to established entrepreneurs.

1. Online courses

Online courses remain one of the most profitable and scalable digital products in existence. Whether you’re teaching creative writing, marketing, or yoga, people will pay premium prices for structured learning that helps them achieve a clear result. You can build a course once and sell it indefinitely, reaching thousands of students around the world with almost no extra effort.

How to get started with online courses

If you’ve ever taught or explained something that helped someone else, you can turn that same skill into a course. Here’s how to begin:

• Step 1: Pick your niche. Choose a topic where you already have skills, experience, or results. You don’t have to be an absolute expert on the topic; the goal is to provide clarity and structure for someone who’s just a few steps behind you. Popular niches include business, fitness, personal finance, and creative skills like design, photography, or writing. Focus on solving a specific problem or teaching a transformation.
• Step 2: Define the outcome. People don’t buy “information”, they buy results, so decide what your course will help someone achieve and make it specific. A strong course outcome might be “Go from zero to landing your first freelance client in 30 days” rather than “Learn freelancing basics.” The clearer and more specific the transformation, the easier it is to market.
• Step 3: Create and structure your course. Break your material into logical, bite-sized modules that guide students from start to finish. Each lesson should build momentum toward the promised outcome. Keep the content practical and actionable; students value simplicity and real-world application far more than excessive theory.
• Step 4: Publish and sell. When your course is ready, upload it to a platform like Thinkific, Teachable, or Udemy. These sites handle payments, hosting, and delivery so you can focus on marketing and growth. Once it’s live, your course can become a long-term income stream that runs with minimal upkeep.

2. E-books

E-books are one of the easiest ways to package what you know into a sellable, downloadable product. They’re quick to create and affordable to produce, and they deliver instant value to readers. For creators, they’re low cost and scalable; you write it once, and it can keep earning for years while helping you build authority in your niche.

How to get started with selling e-books

Here’s how to turn your knowledge into a product people will buy:

• Step 1: Pick your niche. Choose a topic that solves a real problem or delivers fast value. Look for areas where people are actively searching for information and are willing to pay for it. Strong niches include personal finance, health and fitness, self-improvement, and business skills.
• Step 2: Outline and write. Structure your e-book with a simple, logical flow, using chapters or sections that lead readers step by step through what they want to achieve. Keep your writing practical and direct; readers prefer useful, easy-to-apply advice over long-winded explanations. Setting small goals, like writing one section per day, helps maintain momentum.
• Step 3: Design and format. Presentation matters. Use clean layouts, clear headings, and a professional-looking cover. Tools like Canva, Atticus, or even Google Docs make it easy to design without any technical skills. A polished e-book builds credibility and stands out in a crowded market.
• Step 4: Publish and sell. Once your e-book is ready, upload it to platforms where digital products already sell well; Gumroad, Etsy, or Payhip are great options. These platforms handle all the payments and file deliveries for you, getting the menial work out of the way so you can focus on promoting your work and building your audience.

3. Digital templates and printables

If you enjoy designing or organizing information in a way that looks clean and easy to use, digital templates and printables are a goldmine. People love them because they save time and help them feel more in control, whether it’s planning meals, managing budgets, or designing resumes. Templates take away the overwhelm of starting from scratch, giving buyers an instant, professional-looking result. It’s no surprise they’re one of the top-selling categories on Etsy and other marketplaces today.

How to get started with selling digital templates

Turning your creativity into income is simpler than it sounds; you just need the right topic, the right tools, and a place to sell:

• Step 1: Pick your topic and research trends. Start by choosing a type of template that people already want. One of the smartest moves is to use platforms like Etsy or Pinterest to explore current trends like budget trackers, wedding invitations, social media templates, or digital planners. Keyword searches can help you find gaps in the market where demand is high but competition is low.
• Step 2: Create with the right tools. You don’t need professional design training to make beautiful, functional templates. Tools like Canva, Photoshop, Illustrator, Excel, or Google Docs are more than enough to create polished products. Keep your layouts clean, simple, and easy for customers to customize; people buy templates for convenience, not complexity.
• Step 3: Publish and sell on the right platforms. Once your designs are ready, upload them to marketplaces where digital downloads thrive. Etsy is the go-to platform for printables and templates, but Gumroad, Creative Market, or your own website work well too. Write clear product descriptions, include preview images, and focus on solving a specific problem with each template you sell.

4. Digital art and photography

Digital art and photography let you turn your creative work into assets that can be sold again and again without any physical production. Whether you’re an illustrator, painter, or photographer, there’s constant demand for original digital pieces people can download instantly and use for home décor, websites, marketing materials, or personal projects. Buyers love the flexibility of digital art because they get high-quality, affordable files they can print or repurpose however they want.

How to get started with selling digital art and photography

If you already create art or take photos, you’re halfway there. The next step is packaging your work so it’s easy for buyers to find, download, and use:

• Step 1: Choose what you want to create. Focus on a specific style or category that matches your strengths and interests. Photographers might specialize in lifestyle, travel, or food photography, while digital artists could create clipart, wall prints, or trending items like digital collage kits. Pick a direction that feels sustainable so you can build a cohesive collection over time.
• Step 2: Prepare and format your files. Professional presentation makes a big difference. Use high-resolution formats like JPEG or RAW for photos and PNG, PSD, or PDF for digital art, depending on your medium. Clean, organized file structures and clear naming conventions make it easier for buyers to use your products without confusion.
• Step 3: Sell on the right platforms. List your work on marketplaces where your audience already shops. Etsy, Creative Market, and Gumroad are ideal for independent creators, while photographers can also upload to stock sites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock for passive income.

5. Memberships and exclusive content

Memberships are one of the most reliable ways to earn recurring income online. Instead of selling a one-time product, you offer people ongoing access to premium material, personalized support, or a private community they can’t find anywhere else. Members pay monthly or yearly for the privilege, and in return, they get consistent value, whether that’s exclusive tutorials, downloadable resources, or direct interaction with you. For creators, it’s a model that builds long-term stability and deeper relationships with your audience.

How to get started with offering exclusive communities

The beauty of memberships is that you can start small and scale naturally as your audience grows:

• Step 1: Decide what you’ll offer. Start by identifying what kind of exclusive value people will pay to access regularly. This could include premium resources, coaching calls, community support, or fresh templates and tutorials. The key is to focus on a recurring problem or desire that your content helps solve over time; something that keeps members coming back month after month.
• Step 2: Choose your platform. Use tools that simplify setup and management so you can focus on content, not tech. Patreon, Memberful, and Substack are popular because they handle payments, content delivery, and access control so you don’t have to deal with the tech headaches. Choose one that fits your style and the kind of experience you want your members to have.
• Step 3: Price it right. Experiment with different pricing tiers: monthly, yearly, or multi-level memberships with varying benefits. Don’t underprice your work; charging appropriately not only sustains your business but signals the value of what you provide. You can always adjust as you learn what your audience responds to.
• Step 4. Launch and grow. Start with a small group of early members and focus on delivering consistent, high-quality value. Use feedback to refine your offerings and highlight member success stories in your marketing. Growth happens when people trust your expertise and see real results, and that’s what turns casual followers into loyal subscribers.

Other Digital Products You Can Sell

You don’t have to stick with the best-selling trends to be successful. You might find the perfect fit in the niche of one of these products instead:

6. Audio products and podcasts

Audio products are a hidden gem in the digital space. You can sell background music, sound effects, guided meditations, or voiceovers to creators who need professional-quality sound without producing it themselves. 

Podcasts, on the other hand, can evolve into paid subscription models or exclusive series that generate income through memberships and sponsorships. Whether you’re a musician, podcaster, or voice artist, audio-based products let you monetize creativity in ways that don’t require constant active work.

7. Software tools and mobile apps

If you’re tech-savvy or can partner with a developer, software tools and mobile apps can be incredibly profitable. These digital solutions solve specific problems or automate repetitive tasks, and once built, they can scale indefinitely, since distribution is instant. Customers are willing to pay for speed, efficiency, and ease, especially if your app saves them time or improves productivity. Creating an app often requires a higher upfront investment of time, but it offers serious long-term rewards once it’s up and running.

8. Wellness guides

Wellness guides are consistently in demand because people are always looking for structured, trustworthy advice they can follow day to day. These can be digital fitness plans, nutrition guides, mindfulness routines, or stress management systems. The key is to keep your approach practical and clear because people don’t want theory, they want a simple path to feeling better. If you have experience in health, wellness, or lifestyle habits, this niche offers endless possibilities for digital products that genuinely help others.

9. Fonts

Designers, marketers, and small businesses are always hunting for fresh fonts to stand out visually. Once you create and package a font, you can sell it infinitely with zero extra effort; it’s one of the most passive forms of digital income out there. High-quality, unique fonts often command premium prices, and once listed on marketplaces, they can continue selling for years with minimal upkeep.

10. Website themes

Website themes are another top-tier digital product because they combine creativity with utility. By designing templates for platforms like WordPress, Shopify, or Squarespace, you give users ready-to-install designs that look professional and save them hours of setup time. High-quality themes often sell for hundreds of dollars, and because the demand for polished websites never stops, this category remains one of the most consistent earners in the digital product world.

Why Digital Products Beat Everything Else

For beginners serious about making money online, digital products offer the clearest path to real, sustainable income. They bring together low startup costs, high margins, and limitless scalability: a combination that physical products simply can’t match. Here’s why:

Accessibility regardless of prior experience

You don’t need a business degree, coding background, or massive following to get started. Your existing knowledge, hobbies, or skills can easily be turned into profitable digital products. Whether it’s a simple guide, a course, or a template, people are already paying for information and solutions you might take for granted.

Cost-efficiency with massive profit margins

Creating a digital product often costs little more than your time and a few basic tools. Once it’s made, you can sell it repeatedly at almost 100% profit. No inventory. No packaging. No shipping headaches. It’s one of the few business models where your income potential isn’t tied to your expenses.

Instant global reach and automated sales

With digital products, your store never closes. Customers can buy from anywhere in the world, at any time, even while you sleep or take a vacation. Once your sales system is set up, it runs automatically, allowing you to earn income around the clock without extra effort.

Unlimited scaling potential without extra work

Whether you sell 10 copies or 10,000, the amount of work stays exactly the same. There’s no need to reorder stock or hire staff. The systems you set up once can continue to generate income indefinitely. That’s the real beauty of digital products: They scale infinitely without adding complexity or cost.

The Demand Matrix: Your Secret Weapon for Profitable Ideas

Before you dive into creating your first digital product, it’s worth making sure your idea will actually sell. That’s where the Demand Matrix comes in: a simple tool that helps you separate profitable ideas from the ones that sound good but flop in real life.

The Demand Matrix sorts every idea into four categories based on two factors: how many people want it and how much they’re willing to pay.

• Golden Goose (high price, many customers): This is the sweet spot. Millions want your product and are willing to pay premium prices for it. These ideas have broad appeal, high demand, and strong profit margins. Think of popular niches like business skills, health, or personal growth, all with room to scale.

• Mass Market (low price, many customers): These products appeal to a wide audience but rely on high sales volume. They’re affordable, accessible, and great for creators who can reach large audiences through social media, ads, or SEO. Success here comes from scale, not price.
• High-End (high price, few customers): These products target smaller, wealthier audiences willing to pay more for exclusivity or deeper results. High-end coaching, custom design templates, or niche premium courses often fall here. The audience is smaller, but the margins are generous.
• Labor of Love (low price, few customers): This category is where many creators accidentally land. The audience is tiny, and they’re not willing to pay much. It’s perfect for passion projects, but not if you’re aiming for real income.

Ideally, you want your product idea to live in the Golden Goose zone, where real demand and strong pricing power meet. If your idea fits that box, you’re not just creating another digital product; you’re building an asset that can generate income for years to come.

Build Your Rich Life With Digital Product Income

Digital products are one of the easiest, most scalable ways to earn income without constantly trading time for money. Once you create something valuable, it can keep generating sales automatically, freeing you to focus on what matters most. A few solid products like an e-book, a course, or a set of templates can become steady income streams that grow over time. You don’t need perfection to start, just a useful idea and the willingness to put it out there. As your business grows, you can expand into new formats, bundle your offers, or test different price points to increase revenue.

Digital products give you something most traditional jobs can’t: ownership. You decide how to spend your time, how much you earn, and how big you want to build. That’s what a Rich Life is all about: using your time and skills to create freedom on your own terms.