How-to's · Shopify · 3 min read
How to Sell an Ebook on Shopify
Short answer
Create the ebook as a product with 'This is a physical product' turned off, then attach the PDF or EPUB using Shopify's free Digital Products app (Apps > Digital Products). Customers get a download link by email after payment. You can limit downloads per customer and edit the delivery email under Settings.
Ebooks are one of the simplest digital products to sell: no inventory, no shipping and nearly all of the price is margin after fees. Shopify handles digital delivery with a free app, so you can sell ebooks alongside physical products or run an ebook-only store.
Step 1: Prepare your files
- PDF for fixed layouts, workbooks and anything with design. It opens on every device.
- EPUB for text-heavy books read on e-readers and phones.
- Zip if you're bundling formats or extras like worksheets or audio.
Name files clearly ("Your-Book-Title.pdf"), check links work and compress images so downloads aren't huge.
Step 2: Create the product
- Go to Products > Add product.
- Add the title, description and cover image. A 3D book mockup or a clean flat cover both work.
- Set the price.
- Under Shipping, untick This is a physical product. This removes shipping from checkout.
- If you offer formats as options, create variants (PDF, EPUB, Bundle).
- Save.
Step 3: Attach the file with Digital Products
Shopify's free Digital Products app (previously known as Digital Downloads) handles delivery.
- Install it from the Shopify App Store if you haven't.
- Go to Apps > Digital Products.
- Open your product, click Add an asset > File and upload your ebook.
- Save.
According to Shopify, each variant can hold up to 50 files totalling 5 GB, and there's no bandwidth limit on downloads. You can also attach links to providers such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Notion or Canva.
Download limits
By default, buyers can download unlimited times. To limit it, open the variant's assets, set Access limit to Limited and choose a number. Three to five downloads is reasonable for an ebook.
Delivery emails
The app sends a "digital product ready" email after payment. Edit the wording under Settings > Digital products via email (as the app currently labels it). Add a friendly note, a link to your support email and a reminder to save the file.
Step 4: Test the purchase
Place a test order and check the download email arrives, the link works on mobile and the file opens.
Pricing your ebook
Price on value, not page count. A 40-page guide that saves a business owner hours can sell for more than a 300-page novel. Look at what comparable books and guides sell for, and test. Bundles with templates, checklists or a video lesson raise the perceived value. Our article on good-better-best pricing explains how three tiers can lift revenue.
Selling on Shopify vs marketplaces
| Your Shopify store | Amazon Kindle, Apple Books | |
|---|---|---|
| Customer email | Yes | No |
| Pricing control | Full | Platform rules |
| Built-in audience | No | Yes |
| Fees | Plan + processing | Royalty split |
Many authors do both: marketplaces for discovery, their own store for higher margin and direct relationships.
Marketing your ebook
- Give away a sample chapter in exchange for an email, then follow up with a short sequence.
- Write blog posts on the topics your book covers. Our guide on how to start a blog from scratch helps.
- Use social proof: reader reviews on the product page.
- Bundle with physical products if you sell them, like a recipe ebook with kitchenware.
Taxes and legal notes
Digital products are taxed differently from physical goods in many places, including VAT on digital services for EU buyers. Shopify can calculate tax on digital goods in many regions, but check your obligations with an accountant. Also make sure your refund policy covers digital downloads clearly. For more on what you can sell digitally, see can you sell digital products on Shopify.
Frequently asked questions
What file size can I upload for a Shopify digital product?
Shopify's Digital Products app allows up to 50 files per variant with a combined total of 5 GB. Files added from the product page are limited to 500 MB each.
Which ebook format should I sell?
PDF works everywhere and keeps your layout. EPUB reflows on e-readers. Many sellers offer both in a zip file or as separate variants.
Can I stop people sharing my ebook?
Not completely. You can limit download counts and stamp the buyer's name in the file with some apps, but determined people can still share. Focus on value and pricing.
Sources and further reading
Platform features, prices and policies change. Check the official help pages linked above before you act on a detail that matters to your store.