Which Platforms to Choose for Selling Digital Products in 2026

The digital creator economy in 2026

The global digital products market already exceeds $2.5 trillion annually. This figure is not just a distant statistic, but a tangible opportunity for freelancers and SMEs worldwide. However, the 2026 landscape presents a clear challenge: competition has intensified. Choosing a platform is no longer a simple operational decision, but a strategic move that defines the viability of a business.

Many creators face the same obstacles. High commissions erode profits before they even reach your bank account. Sales management becomes a maze of disconnected tools, and the lack of integrated marketing features leaves many without knowing how to attract their first customers. If you're just starting out, it's normal to feel that the path is full of technical and financial barriers. In fact, understanding the fundamentals is the first step, as we explain in our guide to getting started with digital products.

The underlying problem is that many platforms are not designed with creator profitability in mind. That's why, in 2026, the key question is not just how to sell digital products, but where to do it to build a sustainable business. The right platform is not just a storefront, it's a partner that helps you grow without taking most of your income. Choosing wisely from the start is fundamental to ensuring your effort translates into a thriving business and not a source of frustration.

Key factors for choosing your sales platform

Physical objects representing digital products on a desk.

With so many options available, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. However, the decision simplifies if you focus on the factors that truly impact your business. Before looking at specific names, it's useful to have a clear evaluation framework. The best online selling platforms are not necessarily the most famous, but those that best fit your needs.

Ease of use: from idea to sale in minutes

We've all abandoned a registration process for being too complicated. The same happens when uploading a product. Your time is limited and you shouldn't invest it in deciphering complex interfaces. Platforms that allow you to have a product for sale in a matter of minutes are clearly superior. The agility to launch, test, and modify your offers without technical friction is a huge competitive advantage.

Commissions and pricing structure: the real cost of selling

This is, without a doubt, the most critical point. A commission that seems small can take a significant part of your income at the end of the month. It's essential to understand the complete model: is it a percentage per sale? Is there a fixed monthly subscription? Are there additional transaction fees for using PayPal or Stripe? Calculate the total cost on your projected sales to see the real impact on your profit margin.

Payment process optimized for conversion

A customer is about to buy, enters their details and, suddenly, is redirected to an outdated-looking external page that asks them to create another account. It's the fastest way to lose a sale. As research by Marta Jagosz for Easytools points out, a seamless payment process can increase conversions between 15% and 30%. This means the checkout must be clean, integrated into your page, and ask only for strictly necessary information.

Integrated marketing and analytics tools

Selling doesn't end when you upload the product. You need tools to promote it and understand what works. Platforms that offer native email marketing features, membership management, or sales analytics give you a complete view of your business without having to hire and connect multiple external services. This not only saves money, but centralizes your efforts.

Analysis of established high-commission marketplaces

When searching for platforms for infoproducts, it's inevitable to encounter the big marketplaces. Hotmart, for example, is a well-known name in the Spanish-speaking market. Its main attraction is evident: a massive user base and a powerful affiliate network that can give visibility to your product from day one. For a beginner without an audience, this can sound like the perfect solution.

However, this visibility comes at a high cost. As detailed in an analysis by DolarApp, Hotmart's commissions can reach 9.9% plus a fixed transaction fee. This model directly affects your profitability, especially if you sell low-priced products, where every cent counts. The debate about Hotmart vs Crealo commissions becomes crucial here, as a high-commission model can make you work more for the marketplace than for your own business.

Beyond cost, you lose control. Your product competes directly with thousands of others on the same platform, and the buying experience and customer communication are limited by the marketplace's rules. Your brand gets diluted. To visualize it better, here's a summary of this model:

Note: This table summarizes the balance between the reach offered by large marketplaces and the cost they represent for creator profitability. The choice depends on the stage your business is in and your strategic priorities.

Although this model can serve to validate an idea, many creators in 2026 consider it a legacy model and seek alternatives that offer them greater control and, above all, greater profitability.

The rise of profitable creator-centric platforms

Hand inserting a coin into a brain-shaped piggy bank.

Facing the high-commission model, a new wave of platforms has emerged designed with a different philosophy: putting the creator first. Names like Gumroad or Podia popularized this idea globally, but in the Spanish market, the alternative is clear and compelling.

This is where the contrast of Hotmart vs Crealo commissions becomes more evident. While traditional marketplaces take around 10% of each sale, on our Crealo platform the commission is only 5%. This difference is not a minor detail, it's a fundamental change in the business model. It means that for every $100 you sell, you keep $5 more in your pocket. Over the course of a year, this figure can represent thousands of dollars that you can reinvest in your project.

But profitability is not just about commissions. It's about having control. With platforms like ours, you can create an online store for digital products that reflects your brand identity, without the distraction of competing products. The sales process is yours, the customer relationship is yours, and most importantly, the data is yours. This control is essential to build a solid and recognizable creator brand in the long term.

The impact of lower commissions is direct:

• Higher profit margin: It allows you to be profitable much sooner.
• Reinvestment capacity: You can allocate more money to marketing, advertising, or creating new products.
• More competitive prices: You have the flexibility to offer better prices to your audience without sacrificing your earnings.
• Sustainable growth: You build a business on a more solid financial foundation.

For creators who think about profitability and long-term growth, this alternative is not just an option, it's the smartest strategic decision for 2026.

All-in-one solutions for advanced marketing and automation

To offer a complete guide, it's important to talk about another category of platforms: "all-in-one" solutions. Tools like Kajabi target a more advanced segment of the market. Their value proposition is to offer a complete ecosystem that includes not only selling products, but also creating complex sales funnels, advanced email marketing, course hosting, and automations.

The great advantage is that they eliminate the need to integrate multiple tools, which can be a relief for those managing large-scale operations. However, this convenience comes with a different cost. Although they often advertise "zero transaction commissions," they compensate with monthly or annual subscriptions that can be quite high. We're talking about hundreds of dollars a month, a considerable investment.

Who is this model for? Mainly for established creators, coaches, or companies that have a validated product, a consolidated audience, and are ready to scale their marketing strategies. They're especially popular for selling online courses on a large scale. While Crealo provides you with essential marketing tools, as you can see in our marketing resources, these all-in-one platforms take automation to another level.

The key is to understand the trade-off: you pay a high fixed fee in exchange for a set of very powerful integrated tools. They're an excellent option for those who have outgrown simpler tools and need a robust system to manage a complex digital business, but they can be an excessive investment for those just starting out or who prefer a variable cost model.

Making the final decision for your digital business

At this point, choosing a platform should seem less intimidating. The right decision doesn't depend on which is the most popular, but on the one that best aligns with your business model and growth objectives for the coming years. Don't choose just for today, think about where you want to be in 2028.

To help you make the decision, review this checklist:

• Total costs: What is the real percentage the platform will take from your income, including all fees?
• Ease of use: Will you be able to manage your store and products without constant technical help?
• Customer experience: Is the payment process smooth and does it allow you to maintain control of your brand?
• Integrated tools: Does the platform offer you the marketing and analytics features you need to grow?

The main message for 2026 is clear: seek the balance between functionalities and a cost model that maximizes your profitability. Low commissions are not just savings, they're the fuel for your business growth. We encourage you to compare your options, do your own calculations based on your estimated sales, and choose a partner that truly helps you thrive.

If you want to continue exploring strategies and advice for your digital business, you can find more guides on our blog. Information is the best tool for making smart decisions.