If you’re planning to sell digital products through WordPress, two plugins stand out: WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads (EDD). While both can handle digital sales, they take very different approaches. Here’s our in-depth comparison.
WooCommerce: The All-Purpose E-commerce Giant
WooCommerce is the most popular e-commerce plugin in the world, powering over 5 million online stores. While it was originally designed for physical products, it handles digital products well with its built-in “Downloadable Product” type.
Best for: Stores that sell both physical and digital products, or plan to expand into physical products later. WooCommerce’s massive ecosystem of extensions (700+) means you can add virtually any feature you need.
Easy Digital Downloads: Built for Digital
EDD was built from the ground up specifically for selling digital products — software, eBooks, music, photos, and more. Its focused approach means less bloat and a more streamlined experience for digital-only stores.
Best for: Stores that exclusively sell digital products. EDD offers sophisticated license key management, software update delivery, and download analytics that WooCommerce imitates through extensions.
Feature Comparison
Payment Gateways: WooCommerce supports 100+ gateways natively. EDD supports Stripe, PayPal, and others through extensions. Both integrate with modern payment processors like Stripe for seamless checkout.
Pricing: Both have free core plugins. WooCommerce extensions can add up quickly ($49-$299 each). EDD offers an all-access pass at $499/year. Through WPressTheme, you get access to both platforms and all their premium extensions with any membership plan.
Our Verdict
If you’re selling only digital products, Easy Digital Downloads provides a cleaner, more focused experience. If you need the flexibility to sell everything from physical products to subscriptions to memberships, WooCommerce is the safer bet. Either way, both are available on WPressTheme for you to test before committing.