Feature-Packed, Reliable Way to Sell Digital Software

NOTE: The free version is limited in features, and I’d highly recommend upgrading to the Professional Pass or higher (~$299/yr.). But for an ecommerce solution as good as this one, it will easily pay for itself.

Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) might offer more bang for your buck than any other WordPress plugin out there. The core software provides a solid foundation, and the number of official extensions is truly astounding. Everything from marketing tools to payment gateways to third-party integrations… they’ve got you covered.

Their software licensing extension has single-handedly allowed me to make over $20k this year selling a WordPress plugin, and the Recurring Payments (Subscriptions) extension will likely help that number grow tremendously in the years to come.

NOTE: Most of these features require upgrading to the Professional Pass or higher (not available in free version).

Cons:
I can only think of two rather small negative experiences I’ve had.

Their support response time is a little longer than what I’d ultimately prefer. Because of the nature of the plugin, it is a crucial part of my business. Sales don’t stop on weekends, and if there are any issues, one or two days with a critical issue could be costly to my business.

I still haven’t had to wait more than 36 hours for a response, so it’s not terrible. And the responses I have received have been thorough and helpful. (They do offer a premium support option, for an additional fee, which touts faster response times.)

And while their documentation is extensive (it has to be to cover all the extensions they have), it is somewhat outdated, and could use some refinements.

Summary:
Overall, Easy Digital Downloads is pretty simple to use. They’ve done a great job with the admin UI, providing easy-to-understand settings to customize the experience, while not overwhelming you with too much.

It’s also been incredibly reliable. I’ve had it running for almost a year now, selling both a WordPress plugin & an online course. I’ve updated it, and some of its extensions, several times without any issues. Everything just works. And that’s exactly what you want out of your ecommerce solution.

And because it’s such a popular plugin, there are many third-party developers & extensions that can help with all kinds of additional functionality. The EDD ecosystem is a healthy one.