Best Digital Products to Sell on Gumroad and Etsy
Finding the right digital product to sell online can feel like searching for gold in a crowded river. Everyone seems to be panning in the same spots, but somehow, some creators walk away with pockets full while others barely find a speck.
The truth? The digital product landscape on platforms like Gumroad and Etsy is evolving rapidly. What worked last year might not work today, and what seems oversaturated could actually hold untapped potential if you approach it with the right angle.
In this guide, we’ll explore the most profitable and sustainable digital products you can sell on Gumroad and Etsy in 2025. I’ve analyzed hundreds of successful creators across both platforms and distilled their approaches into actionable insights. Here’s what actually works right now.
Why Gumroad and Etsy for Digital Products?
Before diving into specific products, let’s understand why these platforms are worth your attention:
Gumroad: The Creator-First Marketplace
Gumroad has positioned itself as the go-to platform for independent creators. With its simple setup, creator-friendly fee structure (just 6% + $0.30 per sale), and minimalist approach, it’s perfect for those who want to focus on creating rather than managing complex storefronts.
What makes Gumroad special is its built-in audience discovery. The platform actively promotes creators and has a community of buyers specifically looking for digital products, which gives new sellers a fighting chance.
Etsy: The Established Marketplace with Massive Traffic
Etsy, on the other hand, brings enormous built-in traffic (over 90 million active buyers) and a reputation for quality that extends beyond digital products. While its fees are higher (5% transaction fee + 6.5% listing fee + payment processing), the exposure can be worth it.
Etsy excels at search discoverability and attracts buyers who are ready to purchase, not just browse.
Top-Performing Digital Products for 2025
1. Digital Planners and Organization Tools
Digital planning products have exploded in popularity, with top sellers regularly earning $5,000-$15,000 monthly on both platforms.
What Works Best:
- Niche-specific planners: Budget planners for specific professions (freelancers, teachers, nurses)
- Goal achievement systems: 90-day transformation planners with tracking metrics
- Digital bullet journal templates: Especially those with hyperlinked sections
- Productivity bundles: Collections that solve multiple related problems
Here’s what separates successful planners from the rest: genuine problem-solving. The best-selling planners don’t just look pretty—they address specific pain points in people’s lives.
Take this creator story: Sarah, who struggled with ADHD, created a custom planning system designed specifically for neurodivergent individuals. Her “Focus Flow Planner” now generates over $8,000 monthly on Gumroad because it solves a genuine problem in a way generic planners don’t.
2. Digital Art and Design Assets
The market for design assets remains strong but requires strategic positioning.
What Works Best:
- Procreate brushes: Especially specialized sets for specific techniques
- Unique Canva templates: Particularly for trending needs like carousel posts and reels
- Font bundles: Especially those with commercial licensing included
- Handcrafted illustration packs: Cohesive sets with a distinct artistic style
The key differentiator here is usefulness paired with uniqueness. Generic assets struggle, but those that help creators solve specific design challenges thrive.
For example, an architectural sketch brush pack for Procreate that accurately mimics hand-drawn technical drawings can easily command $25-40 per sale and sell hundreds of copies monthly.
3. Educational Products and Courses
Information products remain incredibly profitable when done right.
Most Successful Formats:
- Skill-building mini-courses: 60-90 minute focused tutorials on specific skills
- Process documentation: Step-by-step workflows for professional tasks
- Template libraries with video tutorials: The combination of tools plus education
- Cheat sheets and quick-reference guides: Distilled expertise in accessible formats
The trend is moving away from massive, comprehensive courses toward targeted, problem-specific solutions that deliver quick wins.
One creator on Gumroad sells a simple $27 guide on “Setting Up Client Contracts for Freelance Designers” that generates over $4,000 monthly because it solves an immediate pain point for a specific audience.
4. Digital Paper and Printables
This category has lower price points but makes up for it with volume and passive income potential.
Top Performers:
- Printable wall art: Especially seasonal collections and customizable templates
- Journal and notebook templates: Particularly those designed for specific purposes
- Printable stickers: Especially planning stickers and seasonal collections
- Paper crafting templates: Patterns for 3D paper crafts and card making
What separates successful printables from the rest? Thoughtful curation and presentation. The most successful sellers create cohesive collections rather than one-off designs.
One Etsy seller earned over $65,000 last year selling printable home management binders with interchangeable pages for different household needs. The key was creating a system, not just a collection of pages.
5. Templates for Professional Services
Templates that help other businesses and professionals work more efficiently are seeing tremendous growth.
Best Selling Examples:
- Client onboarding systems: Complete workflow templates for service providers
- Proposal and pricing templates: Customizable frameworks for winning business
- SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) templates: Frameworks for business processes
- Email sequence templates: Pre-written campaigns for specific business needs
The value proposition is clear: save time and increase professionalism while maintaining customizability.
A former marketing consultant now makes $12,000 monthly selling a $97 “Client Discovery Framework” template pack on Gumroad. It includes questionnaires, analysis tools, and presentation templates that help other marketers deliver better client work.
Platform-Specific Opportunities
Gumroad Standouts
Gumroad’s audience tends to favor creator-to-creator products. Tools and resources that help other digital entrepreneurs thrive perform exceptionally well:
- Marketing templates: Email sequences, launch plans, social media calendars
- Creator business systems: Client management, pricing strategies, workflow tools
- Technical resources: Code snippets, development frameworks, design systems
The platform also does exceptionally well with digital bundles that combine multiple product types at premium prices.
Etsy Winners
Etsy’s broader audience responds best to consumer-oriented digital products:
- Home-focused printables: Budgeting systems, meal planners, home management
- Celebration and event items: Invitation templates, party printables, digital decor
- Craft and hobby supplies: Patterns, SVG files for cutting machines, craft templates
- Personalized items: Templates that buyers can customize with minimal effort
Etsy shoppers typically value aesthetic appeal combined with practicality.
Pricing Strategies That Actually Work
Pricing can make or break your digital product business. Here’s what successful sellers are doing:
Value-Based Pricing Tiers
Multiple pricing options consistently outperform single-price offerings:
| Tier | Typical Structure | Psychology |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Core product only ($9-29) | Entry point for budget-conscious buyers |
| Standard | Core + additional resources ($27-97) | Positioned as “best value” |
| Premium | Everything + exclusive bonuses ($97-297) | For those who want the complete solution |
Most creators find that the middle tier generates the most revenue, while the premium tier improves overall perceived value.
The Bundle Strategy
Creating themed bundles allows you to increase average order value significantly. One successful Etsy seller moved from selling individual printables for $3-5 to curated bundles for $17-25, tripling their monthly revenue without creating more products.
Can I Use Canva to Create and Sell Digital Products on Gumroad and Etsy?
Absolutely! You can design stunning blog banners with canva easily, allowing you to create eye-catching visuals for your digital products. Once crafted, these designs can be effortlessly uploaded and sold on platforms like Gumroad and Etsy, maximizing your reach and potential for sales. Harness your creativity and start earning!
Creating Products That Actually Sell
The difference between mediocre and exceptional sales often comes down to these factors:
Problem-Centric Development
Start with a specific problem, not a product idea. The best-selling digital products directly address pain points that feel urgent to buyers.
Validate Before You Create
Before investing weeks in development, test your concept with a simplified version or pre-sell to gauge interest. Many successful Gumroad creators start with a “founding member” discount to validate their ideas.
Presentation Matters Enormously
Your product images, descriptions, and overall presentation can double or triple conversions. Invest in professional-looking mockups and clearly communicate benefits, not just features.
Marketing Beyond the Marketplace
While both platforms offer discovery, the most successful sellers don’t rely on it exclusively:
The Email List Foundation
Building an email list of interested prospects remains the most reliable marketing channel. Offering a valuable free download (often called a “lead magnet”) in exchange for email addresses creates a pipeline of potential customers.
Strategic Content Creation
Creating helpful content related to your product niche drives targeted traffic. This could be YouTube tutorials, blog posts, or Pinterest pins that address the same problems your products solve.
Thoughtful Cross-Promotion
Many successful sellers create complementary products that naturally lead customers from one purchase to another. This strategy works particularly well when each product solves a related but different problem.
Conclusion: Finding Your Digital Product Sweet Spot
The most successful digital product creators find the intersection of three critical factors:
- A genuine problem or desire their target audience experiences
- Their own unique skills or perspective that can address that problem
- A sustainable production process that won’t lead to burnout
This approach creates products that not only sell initially but continue generating income for years with minimal updates.
And honestly? That’s where most people go wrong. They chase trends rather than building something with lasting value.
The digital product landscape will continue evolving, but these fundamentals remain constant. Start small, focus on solving real problems, and let audience feedback guide your development process. That’s the path to building a sustainable digital product business on Gumroad and Etsy.
Which digital product type resonates most with your skills and interests? That’s likely your best starting point for a profitable creative journey.
