Sell courses & digital downloads for free

Selling digital downloads and online courses is one of the most profitable ways to earn money online. But many beginners think they need to spend hundreds of dollars on tools, websites, or platforms before they can even start.

That’s not true.

In 2025, you can launch a full digital product business with zero upfront costs. You don’t need to pay for hosting, you don’t need a custom domain, and you don’t need a big audience.

This step-by-step guide shows you exactly how to start selling courses and digital downloads for free — no tech skills or budget required.

Why Sell Courses and Digital Downloads?

These two product types dominate the online income space. And for good reason.

Digital Downloads:

• Quick to create

• Easy to deliver

• Sell over and over

• No shipping or inventory

Online Courses:

• High value = higher prices

• Sell your knowledge, once

• Build authority fast

• Can be taught live or pre-recorded

If you package your knowledge into a downloadable product or course, you’re building something that works for you — not the other way around.

Can You Really Do This for Free?

Yes.

You can:

• Create your product with free tools

• Sell it through free platforms

• Get traffic using free promotion channels

You won’t need:

• A domain name

• A Shopify store

• Paid ads

• Website hosting

Let’s walk through every step.

Step 1: Pick What You’ll Sell

Don’t worry about being an expert. If you can help someone go from A to B — faster, easier, or better — they’ll pay for it.

Digital Download Examples:

• Ebooks

• Printables

• Spreadsheets

• Templates (Canva, Notion, Excel)

• Planners

• Checklists

• Audio tracks

• Design assets

• Stock photos

Online Course Examples:

• Screen recordings (how-tos, walkthroughs)

• Voice-over slide presentations

• Personal coaching bundles

• Beginner skills (budgeting, Canva, writing resumes)

Think about what you’re already doing that could help someone else. That’s your first product.

Step 2: Choose a Free Platform to Sell On

You don’t need a store or a website.

You need a platform that:

• Hosts your product

• Accepts payments

• Delivers your file or course

• Doesn’t charge you upfront

Best Free Platforms in 2025:

These tools let you upload your digital files or course content, add a price, and start selling — without any monthly fees.

They charge a small transaction fee only when you make a sale. That means you can start for free and pay only when you earn.

Step 3: Create Your Product with Free Tools

No need for expensive software.

Free Tools to Use:

Tips:

• Keep it clean and simple

• Label files clearly

• Export in formats like PDF, PNG, MP4, ZIP

• Add short instructions if needed

If you’re creating a course, record 3–10 short lessons instead of one long video. Use Loom to record your screen and voice. You can use Google Slides or Canva for visual content.

Step 4: Upload and Set Up Your Product Page

Once you create the product, upload it to your free selling platform.

On Gumroad or Payhip:

1. Create a new product

2. Upload your file(s)

3. Add your product name

4. Write a simple description

5. Set a price (you can offer “pay what you want” too)

6. Upload a mockup or product image

7. Set up payment (PayPal or bank account)

8. Publish and get your product link

Your product is now live. When someone buys, they pay directly and receive their file instantly — all handled by the platform.

No coding. No setup fees. No delivery problems.

Step 5: Price It the Smart Way

Your product doesn’t need to be the cheapest. It needs to be worth it.

Digital Downloads:

Courses:

You can always raise your price later. Focus on getting your first few sales and reviews.

Step 6: Promote Your Product for Free

Promotion matters more than perfection.

Your product won’t sell if no one sees it. But you don’t need ads or a big following to start. Use platforms where people already search for what you offer.

Free Ways to Promote:

Tip: Use your content to show how your product saves time, solves a problem, or gets results — not just what’s included.

Step 7: Get Your First Sale

Start small.

• Tell 3 friends who might need your product

• Share in 1 group where your audience already hangs out

• Post 1 tip every day on TikTok or Instagram for a week

• Offer a limited-time launch discount

When someone buys, ask them for honest feedback. Add their testimonial to your product page (with permission).

One sale builds your confidence. Then you scale.

Step 8: Improve and Add More Products

After your first product, use customer feedback to refine your content.

Then:

• Add a new version (e.g., advanced or bundled)

• Create a related product

• Offer a coaching or consulting add-on

• Build a full store page on Gumroad or Payhip

• Turn your PDF into a course or vice versa

The more products you have, the more ways people can pay you. Each one increases your income without increasing your workload.

Step 9: Automate Everything

Set your platform to:

• Auto-deliver files

• Auto-email receipts

• Add buyers to your email list

• Track sales and payouts

Use the tools’ built-in automation features so you don’t need to do anything manually after launch.

Once you’ve uploaded and promoted, your job is to monitor feedback and keep growing.

What to Avoid

• Waiting until it’s perfect — done is better

• Creating without researching what sells

• Overloading your first product with too much

• Spamming groups without giving value

• Underpricing your course or download out of fear

You don’t need to impress everyone. Focus on helping one type of person solve one problem. That’s what gets sales.

Real Examples (Free Setup)

1. Budget Tracker Spreadsheet
   Made in Google Sheets → Uploaded to Gumroad → Shared on Pinterest → Sold for $9

2. Instagram Carousel Templates
   Designed in Canva → Sold on Payhip → Promoted on TikTok → Earned $100+ in first week

3. Mini Course: How to Use ChatGPT for Content
   Slides in Google Slides → Screen recorded in Loom → Uploaded to Gumroad → Sold for $29

4. Notion Productivity Dashboard
   Built in Notion → Shared as duplicate link → Promoted in Notion Facebook groups → Gained 200 downloads

Each of these took less than a week to build and zero money to launch.

You don’t need a team, tech skills, or money to sell digital downloads and courses. You need:

• A clear idea

• A simple product

• A free platform

• A link to share

• A few hours of focused work

Pick a small win. Solve a real problem. Deliver it in a format someone can use instantly.

Start with one product. One platform. One link.

That’s how you sell digital downloads and courses online — for free.