How each delivers a digital product
On systeme.io, a funnel order form can sell a digital product whose resource is a course, with full, partial or drip access granted automatically after purchase. Its creator store also supports digital download products: you upload the file, set a price plan, and an editable confirmation email goes out after payment. [1] [2]
On Shopify, the help center says the free Digital Products app is installed from the App Store and is required to show the Digital Products block on product pages. Customers receive a download link by email, and each variant can hold up to 50 files totalling 5 GB. Shopify says there are no extra fees for selling digital products. [3] [4]
Cost and fees side by side
Sources: systeme.io pricing and plan data, Stripe pricing, Shopify pricing. [5] [6] [7] [8]
| Item | systeme.io | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Free $0 (revenue cap $10,000); Startup $17/mo | Basic $39/mo or $29/mo billed yearly |
| Platform transaction fee | 0% on all plans | 0% with Shopify Payments; 2% on Basic with a third-party provider |
| Card processing | Stripe or PayPal rates (Stripe US 2.9% + 30¢) | Shopify Payments 2.9% + 30¢ online on Basic |
| Digital delivery | Native: courses and creator-store downloads | Free Digital Products app |
| Email marketing | Unlimited sending listed on all plans | Not covered by the plan prices compared here |
| Courses and communities | Included (1 course on Free, 5 on Startup) | Not part of the Shopify plans compared here |
Worked example: 100 ebook sales at $19
Assume 100 sales of a $19 ebook in one month, all on US domestic cards, before sales tax. Gross is $1,900. Card processing at 2.9% + 30¢ is $0.85 per sale on both Stripe (systeme.io) and Shopify Payments, so about $85.10 in total. [7] [8]
On a free systeme.io plan the platform charge is zero, so net is about $1,814.90. Note the Free plan’s 3 digital-store product limit and $10,000 total revenue cap in its plan data; Startup lifts those limits for $17, leaving $1,797.90. [6]
On Shopify Basic billed monthly at $39, net is about $1,775.90; on the yearly rate of $29 a month it is $1,785.90. If you used a third-party payment provider instead of Shopify Payments, add Basic’s 2% fee: $38 more on $1,900. [8]
| Setup | Gross | Card fees | Plan | Platform fee | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| systeme.io Free + Stripe | $1,900 | $85.10 | $0 | $0 | $1,814.90 |
| systeme.io Startup + Stripe | $1,900 | $85.10 | $17 | $0 | $1,797.90 |
| Shopify Basic (yearly rate) + Shopify Payments | $1,900 | $85.10 | $29 | $0 | $1,785.90 |
| Shopify Basic (monthly) + Shopify Payments | $1,900 | $85.10 | $39 | $0 | $1,775.90 |
| Shopify Basic (monthly) + third-party provider | $1,900 | Provider rate | $39 | $38 | Lower again |
Who should pick systeme.io
- You sell only ebooks, templates, courses or memberships.
- You want email sequences after purchase without a second subscription.
- You are testing a first product and lifetime sales will stay under the Free plan’s $10,000 cap, or you will move to Startup.
- You want upsells and order bumps in the same funnel; plan data lists 1 of each on Free and 10 on Startup. [6]
Who needs Shopify anyway
- Your catalog is large or mostly physical and you want a dedicated commerce platform for it.
- You want one storefront with many products; systeme.io Startup lists 15 digital-store products and Webinar 50. [6]
- You are comfortable adding separate email and course tools to the Shopify bill.
Checks before you choose
- Confirm the download file size: Shopify allows up to 5 GB per variant in its app; systeme.io lists unlimited file storage on all plans. [4] [5]
- Decide who owns post-purchase email: the platform or a separate tool.
- Check refund handling: systeme.io refunds from Sales, Transactions and does not support partial refunds. [9]
- Price the first year, not the first month: Shopify’s trial is 3 days then $1 a month for 3 months on its pricing page. [8]
Questions before you decide
Does Shopify need an app to sell downloads?
Yes. Shopify’s help center says its free Digital Products app is required to display the Digital Products block on product pages.
Does systeme.io charge transaction fees on digital sales?
Its pricing page lists 0% transaction fees on all plans. Stripe or PayPal still charge processing fees.
Is there a sales cap on systeme.io Free?
The plan data on its pricing page lists a $10,000 total revenue cap for the Free plan.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- systeme.io help: how to sell an online course Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- systeme.io help: how to set up a creator store Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Shopify Help Center: digital products Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Shopify Help Center: Digital Products app and digital downloads Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- systeme.io pricing and plan FAQ Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- systeme.io plan-limit data loaded by its pricing page Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Stripe pricing (US) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Shopify pricing Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- systeme.io help: how to refund a customer Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.