When it comes to selling products online, WordPress offers two of the most popular eCommerce plugins: Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) and WooCommerce. While both are powerful, they are built for slightly different needs. Choosing the right one depends on what type of products you plan to sell, how you want to manage your store, and your long-term growth strategy.
Let’s compare EDD vs WooCommerce to help you decide which platform is best for your online business.
What is Easy Digital Downloads (EDD)?
Easy Digital Downloads is a WordPress plugin designed specifically for selling digital products. Whether you’re selling fonts, music, eBooks, courses, or software licenses, EDD gives you a lightweight yet powerful system tailored for digital sales.
Key Advantages of EDD
– Simple and lightweight, optimized for digital files
– Built-in tools for licensing, file delivery, and customer accounts
– Seamless checkout with fewer distractions
– Extensions for subscriptions, software licensing, recurring payments
What is WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is the most popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress, powering millions of online stores worldwide. It’s highly flexible and allows you to sell both physical and digital products, making it a great choice for businesses with diverse inventories.
Key Advantages of WooCommerce
– Supports both physical and digital products
– Huge ecosystem of plugins, themes, and integrations
– Ideal for stores that need shipping, taxes, and inventory management
– Wide community support and documentation
EDD vs WooCommerce: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) | WooCommerce |
| ——————— | ————————————————— | ——————————————— |
| Best for | Digital products only | Physical + digital products |
| Ease of Use | Lightweight, minimal setup | More setup required, but flexible |
| Payment Options | Supports PayPal, Stripe, extensions for more | Wide range of gateways, built-in support |
| File Delivery | Secure file downloads, versioning, license keys | Digital downloads supported, less specialized |
| Physical Products | Not supported (requires add-ons) | Fully supported with shipping + inventory |
| Extensions | Strong for digital sales (subscriptions, licensing) | Huge ecosystem for all kinds of stores |
| Pricing | Free core plugin + paid extensions | Free core plugin + paid extensions |
| Scalability | Best for niche stores selling digital files | Scales well for large, complex stores |
When to Choose Easy Digital Downloads (EDD)
Pick EDD if:
– You only sell digital products (fonts, music, themes, plugins, eBooks)
– You want a simple, fast setup optimized for digital delivery
– You need specialized features like software licensing or recurring subscriptions
When to Choose WooCommerce
Pick WooCommerce if:
– You sell both physical and digital products
– You need advanced store features (shipping, inventory, product variations)
– You want access to the largest eCommerce ecosystem on WordPress
Final Verdict
– If your business is 100% digital products, Easy Digital Downloads is the leaner, more specialized option.
– If you need the flexibility to sell physical and digital goods together, WooCommerce is the better choice.
Both plugins are free to start with, but you’ll likely need premium extensions to unlock advanced features. The right choice depends entirely on the products you’re selling and your long-term eCommerce goals.
