If you're looking to make money while you sleep, digital products are the way to go. From simple designs to full-blown software, there's something for everyone. In this article, we'll explore 14 digital products you can create, ranked from least profitable to the ones that could bring in significant revenue. Plus, I'll add helpful websites for each option to get you started.
1. Digital Stickers & Emojis
- Profitability: Low
Digital stickers and emojis are fun and easy to create, but they sell at low price points. If you’re artistic, this could be a good entry into the passive income world.
Websites to Sell: - Etsy
- Redbubble
- Telegram Stickers
- Gumroad
2. Stock Photos & Graphics
- Profitability: Low to moderate
If you have a talent for photography or design, selling stock images or vectors is a popular route. It’s competitive but can generate a passive income stream with the right portfolio.
Websites to Sell: - Shutterstock
- Adobe Stock
- Alamy
- Getty Images
3. Printable Planners & Journals
- Profitability: Low to moderate
Printable planners, journals, and organizers are easy to create and sell. Buyers can download and print them at home, saving you production costs.
Websites to Sell: - Etsy
- Creative Market
- Gumroad
4. E-books
- Profitability: Moderate
Self-publishing e-books can create passive income for years if you market them well. Non-fiction “how-to” books, novels, and niche e-books are particularly popular.
Websites to Sell: - Amazon KDP
- Draft2Digital
- Smashwords
- Barnes & Noble Press
5. Online Courses
- Profitability: Moderate to high
Have knowledge to share? Online courses can generate long-term income, especially in niches like programming, design, or fitness. The upfront work is significant, but once a course is live, it can sell indefinitely.
Websites to Sell: - Udemy
- Teachable
- Skillshare
- Thinkific
6. Print-on-Demand (POD) Products
- Profitability: Moderate to high
Create custom-designed merchandise without worrying about inventory. POD services print and ship items like T-shirts, mugs, and posters when someone buys them.
Websites to Sell: - Amazon Merch
- Redbubble
- Printify
- Teespring
7. Membership Sites
- Profitability: High
Offer exclusive content on a subscription basis and build a steady income. If you provide high-value content or access to a tight-knit community, you can charge a monthly fee.
Websites to Sell: - Patreon
- MemberPress
- Substack
- Gumroad Memberships
8. Templates & Themes (Website, App, Design)
- Profitability: High
Selling website themes, app templates, or design mockups is lucrative, especially if you have design skills. High-quality templates sell at premium prices, but the market is competitive.
Websites to Sell: - ThemeForest
- Creative Market
- TemplateMonster
- Codester
9. Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Profitability: Very high
SaaS products are in demand, from project management tools to niche solutions. While it takes upfront development work, SaaS businesses can create recurring monthly revenue streams.
Websites to Promote: - Product Hunt
- Capterra
- G2
- AppSumo
10. Mobile Apps
- Profitability: Very high
A well-designed mobile app can generate passive income through ads, in-app purchases, or subscriptions. Successful apps can scale quickly, but they require solid development and marketing.
Websites to Sell or Promote: - Google Play Store
- Apple App Store
- AppyPie
- BuildFire
11. Niche Subscription Newsletters
- Profitability: Very high
Paid newsletters are making a big comeback, especially for niche topics. If you’re knowledgeable about a specific subject, creating a subscription newsletter could generate consistent revenue.
Websites to Start: - Substack
- Ghost
- Mailchimp
- Revue
12. Crypto Products (Tokens, NFTs)
- Profitability: Extremely high (but volatile)
Crypto tokens and NFTs are hot, but they come with high risks. If you’re into blockchain technology, you can create and sell unique digital assets to speculators and collectors.
Websites to Sell: - OpenSea
- Rarible
- Mintable
- Foundation
13. Digital Assets for AI/ML (Datasets, AI Models)
- Profitability: Extremely high
The AI boom has created a demand for high-quality datasets and machine learning models. If you have the expertise to create these, they can be highly valuable digital products.
Websites to Sell: - Kaggle Datasets
- AI Hub by Google Cloud
- Algorithmia
- AWS Marketplace
14. Licensing Intellectual Property (Music, Images, Software)
- Profitability: Extremely high
Licensing out intellectual property, like music, software, or imagery, provides long-term passive income through royalties. If you create valuable IP, licensing can be highly lucrative.
Websites to License: - Pond5
- Epidemic Sound
- Musicbed
- Getty Images
Final Thoughts
There are countless opportunities to earn passive income online by creating digital products. Whether you start small with stickers or aim big with SaaS products, there’s something for everyone. With the right platform and strategy, you could be making passive income in no time. What are you waiting for? Start creating today!
By leveraging these websites, you can begin building your digital product empire and, hopefully, set up long-term passive income streams for the future. Good luck!