Compare 2DL vs other digital download platforms
A practical, seller-focused comparison: fees, control, security, payouts, and conversion.
Notes: competitor capabilities vary by plan, add-ons, and configuration. This page is meant to be helpful and fair, not exhaustive. Last updated Jan 2026.
Side-by-side
Choosing a platform is a long-term decision. This table focuses on what matters in practice: fees, control, security, payouts, and conversion.
The biggest difference: 2DL is built around secure entitlements + payout control, with integrations that let you keep your brand and customer relationship.
| Feature | 2DLHosted platform + integrations | Gumroad Marketplace-style | Lemon Squeezy Checkout SaaS | Shopify + Digital Downloads | Payhip Creator SaaS | Podia All-in-one | Sellfy All-in-one | Easy Digital Downloads WordPress |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer relationship + branding | ✅ Bring your brand + domain; keep your post-purchase experience. | ⚠️ Strong for simplicity/discovery; branding control can be limited. | ⚠️ Often checkout-first; branding/customization varies by setup. | ✅ Full storefront control (but you’re running a full ecommerce stack). | ⚠️ Branding and UX vary by tier/templates. | ⚠️ Branding is good; depth varies with plan/features. | ⚠️ Branding varies; generally template-driven. | ✅ WordPress-first: you control the site and data. |
| Platform fees / pricing approach | ✅ Annual tiers + clear platform fee tradeoff (see Pricing). | ⚠️ Commonly fee-heavy on sales; pricing changes over time. | ⚠️ Commonly fee-based; details vary by plan/provider changes. | Varies Shopify subscription + app fees + payment fees. | Varies Subscription + transaction fees vary by plan. | Varies Subscription-centric; may include limits and add-ons. | Varies Subscription + transaction fees vary by plan. | Varies Plugin costs + hosting + payment fees; you control stack. |
| Checkout (conversion-ready) | ✅ Hosted Stripe Checkout with receipts + delivery. | Varies | Varies | ✅ | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Secure delivery + entitlements | ✅ Signed, short-lived download links + entitlement gating. | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | Varies |
| Refund/dispute-aware access control (revocation) | ✅ Designed to reduce “refund but keep the file” abuse. | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | Varies | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | Varies |
| License keys + verification endpoint | ✅ Per-purchase keys + origin enforcement for verification calls. | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | Varies |
| Embed anywhere (multi-site / any website) | ✅ Universal embed + domain verification + origin enforcement. | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | Varies |
| Discounts + promos | ✅ Discounts and auto-apply promos (integration-dependent). | Varies | Varies | ✅ | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Lead magnets | ✅ Included on Pro/Studio tiers. | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ |
| Payout control (your Stripe account) | ✅ Stripe Connect payouts; seller is merchant of record. | ⚠️ Often platform-managed payouts (merchant-of-record style). | ⚠️ Often platform-managed payouts (merchant-of-record style). | ✅ Typically your store/payment setup. | Varies | Varies | Varies | ✅ Your WordPress site with your payment processor setup. |
If you spot anything that’s outdated, tell me and I’ll correct it. This page is intentionally conservative to stay accurate across plans and product changes.
Who should choose what
A quick mental model — then use the table above for the details.
Best for speed and simplicity — tradeoffs are branding control and fee structure.
Best for complex stores — tradeoffs are operational overhead and app/plugin sprawl.
Best for sellers who want control + secure delivery without running a full ecommerce stack.
Compare 2DL with each platform
Want the focused breakdown? These pages go deeper on pricing/fees, control, security, and delivery.
Full ecommerce stack vs focused secure delivery.
WordPress-first stack vs hosted entitlements + embed.
Which is right for you?
Marketplace-style platforms can be a great starting point, especially for quick launches.
Shopify (and WordPress ecommerce stacks) shine when you need a broad store + marketing ecosystem.
2DL is a strong fit when you care about entitlement security, payout control, and integrating with any site.
Choose a tier based on the platform fee you want. Pay more only when you’re making more.
Entitlements, signed URLs, dispute/refund-aware access, and origin enforcement are first-class.
Use the hosted storefront, add a buy button to any site, or go deeper with WordPress.