Is SendOwl Good for Selling Digital Products? (Beginner-Friendly Review + Setup Guide)
When I launched my first digital product, I didn’t have a full online shop or a fancy ecommerce setup. I just needed something that worked—without the tech stress or upfront investment. And SendOwl was perfect for that!
If you’ve been overthinking your tech stack, this post is for you. I’ll share how I used SendOwl, how to get started step by step, and why it might be the perfect fit for your first product.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my full affiliate disclosure for further information.
Quick note: While I currently use SureCart for my own digital product shop, I still recommend SendOwl for beginners because of its simplicity and flexible monthly pricing. This post shares my experience using SendOwl and why it might be perfect for your first digital product launch.
TL;DR Summary
SendOwl Platform
- A simple way to sell digital products—no full shop setup required
- Great for first-time sellers with minimal tech experience
- Works with or without a website (yes, really)
- Easy integration with WordPress using HTML or theme buttons
- Budget-friendly monthly pricing with a free 7-day trial
Why I Originally Chose SendOwl
Ever spent months overthinking which platform to use for your digital products? That was totally me! I spent 6+ months comparing different checkout systems, trying to decide if I should invest in a one-time fee platform or start with something more budget-friendly.
Here’s the thing about selling digital products—it’s hard to know at the beginning how successful your shop will be. Do you spend hundreds upfront on a fancy cart system, or start with something simpler that you can pay for month-to-month?
I finally made my decision after two things happened:
First, I discovered Faith Lee from Faith’s Biz Academy recommended SendOwl. And when Faith recommends a tool for your business, you listen!
Then, just days after signing up for my account, I noticed the BTS Official Store for the U.S. was using SendOwl to distribute digital albums. When I ordered Jung Kook’s Golden album and saw the SendOwl delivery system in action, I thought, “Well, if it’s good enough for BTS, it’s definitely good enough for me!”
What is SendOwl?
SendOwl allows you to have a simple digital shop without the complexity of a full ecommerce website. Instead of building an entire store, you can just add “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart” buttons to your existing WordPress (or other) website.
Here’s why it’s great for beginners:
- Handles all the payment processing
- Automatically delivers your digital products
- You can start selling even without a website with its built-in storefront option
- Flexible monthly payments (no huge upfront investment)
If you’re looking for a way to test your first product idea or set up a small shop without overthinking it—SendOwl makes it easy to start.
Setting Up Your First Digital Product
Getting started with SendOwl is surprisingly simple. Let me walk you through exactly how I set up my first product. When other participants started asking for copies, I knew I needed to get it listed ASAP!
Step 1: Create Your SendOwl Account
After signing up, you’ll need to:
- Set up your profile
- Connect your payment gateways (like Stripe or PayPal)
- Fill in your business details
Pro tip: SendOwl’s Help Center has great tutorials for this initial setup if you get stuck!
Step 2: Add Your First Product
- Log into your SendOwl account and find the “Products” section
- Click “Add New”
- Choose “Digital Product” as your product type
- Fill in your product details (name, price, description)
- Upload your digital file
Step 3: Configure Delivery Settings
The default settings work great for most digital products, but you can customize:
- How customers receive their download
- How long the download link stays active
- Whether to send follow-up emails
Adding SendOwl to WordPress
Integrating SendOwl with WordPress allows you to embed buttons that lead to either checkout pages or product detail pages directly on your site. And, of course, you’re able to style these buttons to match your branding.
You’ve got two options for adding SendOwl buttons to your WordPress site. I’ll show you both, and you can choose what works best for you!
Option 1: Using HTML Buttons
Go to the “Products” area of your Dashboard and click “Sell” next to the digital product you just created.
Select “Sell from your website or blog” on the left. Here you’ll see 4 button options, and this flexibility is one of the reasons I initially chose SendOwl over other options I’d been considering:
- Buy now
- Add to cart
- View cart
- Product sales page
Once you’ve decided on the best action for your customer to take from your website to purchase your digital product, click “Copy code”.
You’ve got two options for adding SendOwl buttons to your WordPress site. I’ll show you both, and you can choose what works best for you!
When you edit a page on your WordPress site, you want to add a “Custom HTML” block.
Paste the button code from SendOwl into this new block.
You can click on Preview mode to see what the button will look like on your page. When I preview or publish the page, I am taken directly to the checkout window since I selected a “Buy Now” button, but you may prefer to have your customers add a product to their cart or read more about the product on the product sales page first.
Option 2: Using Theme Buttons
This is the option I used on my site so I have full control over the buttons with my WordPress theme. Just like in Option 1, you’ll go to the “Products” area and then click “Sell” next to the product you wish to send people to from your site.
From there, you can choose to connect the button to either the payment page or the product sales page. Copy your preferred link.
Over on your WordPress page, add a button. On my site, I used the “Advanced Buttons” block from Kadence Blocks to my page.
Click on your new button, and then click on the link option above it. Here, you will paste the URL from SendOwl.
When you click the button on a published or preview page, you’ll be taken directly to your SendOwl product sales page!
My SendOwl Journey and What I Use Now
My first digital product for E. Houston Studio was a keyword planner and guide. I actually created it during a planner challenge, and when other challenge participants started asking for copies, I knew I needed to start a shop on my website ASAP.
At that point, SendOwl was exactly what I needed. It let me start selling quickly, without building a full store or making a big investment. The early positive feedback gave me the confidence to create more digital resources for small business owners and creatives.
Since then, I’ve changed platforms based on what made sense for my business. I moved to Studiocart for a while because I wanted tighter integration with my WordPress site. And now, I’ve switched to the free plan on SureCart, which takes a small percentage per sale—something that works better for me as a low-volume digital product seller.
My tip: You can always switch platforms later as your business grows. The important thing is to start somewhere and start selling!
Choose a simple tool, launch your first product, and adjust as your business evolves.
The quality of her work, the attention to detail, and the ability to complete projects quickly and effectively were invaluable to helping me achieve the goals of my business. I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to recommend Liz for any web design, editing, or digital services your business needs.”
Courses and Workshops to Help You Get Started
If you’re brand new to digital products—or just want a little extra help setting up your first offer—these resources are a great place to start. They’re affordable, beginner-friendly, and created by people I trust.
Faith Lee: Your SendOwl Expert
Sell With SendOwl in 30 Minutes
Faith from Faith’s Biz Academy is my go-to for all things SendOwl. Her $9 mini-course walks you through:
- Creating a simple printable product
- Designing eye-catching product banners
- Listing your offer without a full shop setup
- Selling through email, social media, or WordPress—no plugins required
- Bonus: Canva templates to help you build faster
It’s a great “just start” course if you need someone to hold your hand through the setup.
👉 Sell With SendOwl in 30 Minutes
Sage Grayson: Create More, Faster
Speedy Ways to Fill Your Shop (Free Workshop)
If perfectionism is slowing you down, Sage’s workshop will help you:
- Create products faster by repurposing what you already have
- Choose product topics your audience actually wants
- Price your offers confidently
- Build your shop around what’s working—not what’s overwhelming
It’s a helpful mindset shift if you’ve been stuck in “planning” mode for too long.
👉 Speedy Ways to Fill Your Shop (Free Workshop)
Elizabeth Goddard: Start Before You’re Ready
How to Create and Sell Something Before You’re Ready
For just $9, this training helps you stop overthinking and start selling. You’ll learn:
- How to craft offers that feel aligned with your strengths
- The value of pre-selling before you overbuild
- When to use beta pricing vs. full-price launches
- Why “underpromise and overdeliver” is a launch superpower
Remember: The perfect time to start selling digital products is now. You don’t need a complicated setup or a huge audience—you just need a product that helps people and a simple way to deliver it.
👉 How to Create and Sell Something Before You’re Ready
If you’re waiting for the perfect moment to launch, this is your sign to stop waiting.
Bottom line? You don’t need a perfect product, fancy platform, or huge audience to get started.
You just need one product that solves a problem—and a simple way to deliver it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SendOwl and how does it work?
SendOwl is a beginner-friendly platform that lets you sell digital products without setting up a full ecommerce site. It handles payments, product delivery, and checkout pages—all you need to do is upload your product and share the link.
Can I use SendOwl without a website?
Yes! You can sell using SendOwl’s built-in storefront or direct checkout links. It’s a great option if you’re just getting started and don’t have a full website yet.
Is SendOwl good for WordPress users?
Definitely. You can add “Buy Now” or “Add to Cart” buttons directly to your WordPress pages using either HTML blocks or theme buttons—no plugin needed. It’s lightweight and easy to style to match your site.
What happens if I want to switch platforms later?
That’s totally fine—and pretty common. SendOwl is a great starting point, but as your business grows, you might move to something more integrated. The key is to start where you are and upgrade when it makes sense for your goals.
