Both apps sell and deliver digital files after a Shopify purchase. Here's an honest look at where they overlap and where they differ — so you can pick the right one. Competitor facts below come only from its Shopify App Store listing.
Shopify's own free app for selling digital products. According to its App Store listing, it lets you add files or links to products, set access limits, and send access links to customers after purchase — a straightforward way to get started.
Best for: merchants who want a free, no-frills way to attach a file to a product and deliver it after checkout.
Sells and delivers PDFs automatically after purchase across three channels — email, the thank-you page and the customer account portal — with no manual fulfilment and no theme edits. Layers on watermarking, fraud screening, access controls and bulk tools for merchants whose documents are worth protecting.
Best for: merchants who need watermarking, fraud protection, download controls or bulk management — and still want to start free.
Everything in the Shopify Digital Downloads column is drawn only from its Shopify App Store listing. Where the listing doesn't state something, we mark it Not specified rather than guess — it may still be possible.
| Capability | PDF Products Pro | Shopify Digital Downloads |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free ($0, 1 product) · Pro $7.99/mo · Enterprise $17.99/mo · 0% commission | Free |
| Publisher | Alva Apps Ltd | Shopify |
| Shopify App Store rating | 5.0 | 4.7 (per its listing) |
| Delivers files after purchase | Yes — email, thank-you page & customer account portal | Yes — sends access links after purchase (stated) |
| Attach files to products & variants | Yes | Yes — combine with physical or digital variants (stated) |
| Set access / download limits | Yes — per-order download limits (all plans) | Yes — "set access limits" (stated) |
| Time-limited expiring links | ✓ (all plans) | Not specified |
| IP restrictions & geolocation blocking | ✓ | Not specified |
| Dynamic PDF watermarking (buyer name / email / order #) | ✓ (Enterprise) | Not specified |
| Advanced AI fraud protection | ✓ (Enterprise) | Not specified |
| Bulk upload & bulk assignment | ✓ (Pro & Enterprise) | Not specified |
| Auto-fulfil orders | ✓ (Pro & Enterprise) | Not specified |
| Download analytics | ✓ (Enterprise) | Not specified |
| Storage included | 20GB every plan · unlimited downloads · no bandwidth caps · global CDN | Not specified |
| Native Shopify checkout, accounts & admin | Yes | Yes — built by Shopify (stated) |
| Interface languages | 8 languages (EN · ES · FR · PT · DE · IT · NL · JA) | Not specified |
Shopify Digital Downloads details reflect its Shopify App Store listing (apps.shopify.com/digital-downloads). "Not specified" means the listing does not state the capability — not that it is impossible.
Both are capable apps for their purpose. The right pick simply depends on how much protection and automation your files need.
Install PDF Products Pro, upload your first PDF, and let every order fulfil itself — watermarked, fraud-screened and delivered in seconds. Start free for one product.
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