How to sell a PDF online

1. Export a file that works away from your computer

Embed permitted fonts, check links and make sure the text is readable and selectable where possible. Open the export on a second device. If buyers print it, test a page on paper. Remove private comments and hidden personal information from the final file.

2. Create a cover and real sample pages

Use a readable title and show what is inside. State the page count, format, file size, licence and intended use. Say whether the PDF is editable or fillable. A workbook may need instructions as much as writing space. Browse workbooks and guides.

3. Pick a platform and check its limits

Look for file delivery, clear purchase receipts and a way for buyers to report problems. On Bookstorez, the Free plan supports PDF and EPUB with a 50 MB file limit and 3 live products. Check all current plans before preparing a large pack.

4. Price the download with fees included

Compare the cost before you choose

For a $10 pre-tax sale by a US seller using a domestic card, Bookstorez Free leaves $8.50, Payhip Free with Stripe $8.91, Gumroad's standard direct tier $7.91, and Etsy $8.60 including one listing fee. Subscriptions, ads, refunds and tax are excluded. These are fee examples, not forecasts of demand. See the dated primary sources and assumptions or calculate your own price and volume.

Bookstorez is our own global digital marketplace. Free includes 3 live products, at 12% + 30¢ per sale with card fees and tax handling included. Buyers can browse the catalogue; no extra cut applies to marketplace sales. A catalogue place is not a promise of sales. Your own storefront and built-in AI ebook generator are included, with featured-product allowances on Creator and Pro. Compare creation tools, featured placements and plan limits.

5. Publish and check the buyer's instructions

Read the published page on a phone, verify the correct file and explain how to use it. Share a useful sample with the intended audience. Keep a versioned master file and a record of corrections so future updates do not accidentally remove useful material.

Illustrative example: a ten-page gardening workbook. Show its planting log, state the climate assumptions and explain whether pages can be printed more than once for personal use. The fee example describes costs only; it does not predict sales.

Keep planning

Read how to sell digital products, how to sell a PDF, or where to sell printables. Compare Gumroad alternatives before choosing a platform.