How To Sell Digital Products With No Money

If you’re thinking about selling digital products but you don’t have any money to start, I get it. I’ve been there too. It feels like you need a big budget just to get noticed online. But the truth is—you don’t. You can actually start selling digital products without spending a dime, and I’ll show you how.

This is one of the best ways to make money online because once you create a product—like an ebook, guide, template, or course—you can sell it over and over again without paying for inventory, shipping, or staff. It’s scalable, low-risk, and you can start from your laptop or even your phone.

The only real investment you’ll need is your time and a bit of creativity. And once you know the free tools and smart strategies that work, it’s way more doable than most people think.

Let’s break it all down.

What Is a Digital Product?

A digital product is anything you can sell online without needing to ship something physical. Some popular types include:

Ebooks
Online courses
Canva templates
Spreadsheets or trackers
Notion setups
Stock photos
Music beats or sound effects
Digital planners or journals
Design assets (fonts, icons, mockups)

What makes digital products amazing is that you build it once and sell it unlimited times—no printing, packaging, or shipping. And many platforms let you sell these for free.

Step 1: Pick the Right Product

Start by asking yourself what skills or knowledge you already have. Are you good at organizing? Maybe you could create a Notion planner.

Are you a graphic designer? You could design social media templates. If you’ve worked in finance, you could build a budgeting spreadsheet.

Even simple things like a meal planner, habit tracker, or resume template sell well online. People buy digital products that help them save time or solve a small problem.

Tip: Look on platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, and Creative Market to see what’s selling. You’ll start to notice patterns—what people want, and how they describe it.

Step 2: Create Your Product (For Free)

Here are free tools I’ve used (and still use):

Google Docs or Canva – for ebooks, checklists, and lead magnets
Notion or Google Sheets – for templates, planners, and trackers
Audacity or Descript – to record digital audio
OBS Studio – for free screen recording
Canva – for templates, guides, social media kits

If you’re designing something visual like a workbook or template, Canva’s free plan gives you everything you need. For spreadsheets, Google Sheets works perfectly.

You don’t need to buy software. Use what’s available for free. Focus on clean design, clear value, and solving a problem.

Step 3: Set Up a Free Sales Page

You don’t need a full website to start. You can use:

Gumroad (https://gumroad.com) – Easy to set up and free to use. They take a small fee when you make a sale.
Payhip (https://payhip.com) – Another great platform with zero upfront cost.
Ko-fi (https://ko-fi.com) – Lets you sell digital downloads and even collect donations.

These platforms let you upload your product, write a short description, add a price, and share your link. It’s as easy as uploading a file and setting a price.

Step 4: Market It for Free

This part matters most. You can have the best product, but if nobody sees it, it won’t sell. Here are a few free ways I use to drive traffic:

1. Social Media

Use whatever you’re already on—Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or X. Share tips related to your product, behind-the-scenes of how you built it, or even reviews once people start buying. Use free design tools to make it look clean and professional.

2. Pinterest

If your product is visual, Pinterest is a goldmine. You don’t need followers—just good pins that lead to your product. Tools like Canva let you create pins quickly.

3. Facebook Groups

Join groups related to your product’s topic. Just be helpful—don’t spam. Answer questions, share advice, and when it makes sense, mention your product.

4. Reddit or Quora

Search for threads where people ask questions your product answers. Join the conversation naturally and mention your link only if it adds value.

5. Email Marketing (Free Tools)

Use MailerLite or ConvertKit to build an email list. Give away a free version of your product (like one template or one chapter) in exchange for emails. You can follow up with more value and introduce your paid product later.

Step 5: Keep Going

The first sale is always the hardest. It might take a week, or maybe longer. But once you get it, your confidence will go up. And once you have buyers, you can ask for feedback, make updates, or even create a second product.

The goal isn’t to go viral overnight. It’s to build something once, then improve over time. I know people making hundreds or thousands a month just by selling a few digital products that solve a small, real problem.

FAQs

Do I need to register a business first?

No. In most countries, you can start as an individual. Once you start earning consistently, then you can think about registering a business.

How much can I charge for a digital product?

It depends on the value. A simple checklist might go for $5. A full template kit could be $25. A course might go for $100 or more. Start small, test, then raise your prices based on demand.

Can I use AI to help create the product?

Yes. You can use tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm, outline, or even help write ebooks or guides. But always add your personal experience and check for quality.