Digistore24 Alternative: A Comparison with ablefy
If you're looking for a platform to sell digital products in German-speaking countries, you'll quickly come across three names: Digistore24, ablefy, and Copecart. All three platforms handle payments for you, but which one is a better fit for your business? In this article, we'll show you the differences between ablefy and Digistore24.
What is the difference between Ablefy and Digitstore?
- ablefy combines payment processing, online courses, a community, and a sales module into a single platform.
- Digistore24 is a payment processing provider and affiliate marketplace; a third-party provider is required for additional features such as course hosting or sales.
- Difference in sales models: ablefy offers both the reseller model and sales under its own name. Digistore works exclusively with the reseller model.
A Quick Comparison of Ablefy and Digistore
Criterion
Platform Architecture
Platform for Sales and Hosting
Sales Platform
Sales Model
Reseller model, selling under one's own name
reseller model
Checkout & Conversion
Template with 4 variations, customizable for your own brand, conversion tools, 100% white-labeling available
Free page builder, customizable to your own brand, conversion tools
Online Courses, Member Areas, Community
Included
Not included
Telephone Sales Module
Included
Not included
Affiliate Features
Affiliate Programs with Up to 5 Levels
Affiliate programs with up to 3 tiers, affiliate marketplace
Payment Methods
Credit card, Klarna, SEPA, PayPal, Google/Apple Pay, Twint, Mondu
Credit card, Klarna, SEPA, PayPal, Google/Apple Pay, Amazon Pay
Fees
Software fees starting at €27/month
Transaction fee:
2.7% + €0.50 (in your own name)
5.6% + €1.50 total (reseller model)
No software fee.
Transaction fee:
7.9%; for product prices of €400 or more, a 4.9% transaction fee (reseller model)
Support
Guided Onboarding
Email & Contact Form, Phone
German, English
Email & Chat
German, English
International sales
Yes, a registered office in the EU is not required
Yes, a registered office in the EU is not required
What is Digistore24?
Digistore24 was founded in Hildesheim in 2012 and today employs approximately 180 people. The platform positions itself as a reseller-based sales platform with an affiliate network. Vendors sell digital products, coaching services, software, events, and select physical products. As a reseller, Digistore24 handles payment processing, tax remittance, invoicing, and commission payments to affiliates.
What is ablefy?
ablefy (formerly elopage) was founded in Berlin in 2013 and now employs around 120 people. The platform for coaches, creators, and digital entrepreneurs combines payment processing, online courses, community features, memberships, e-ticketing, and a sales operating system for telephone sales into a single system. ablefy also handles payment processing, tax remittance, invoicing, and commission payments. Providers can choose the extent to which they want payment processing handled.
ablefy or Digistore24? The Differences in Detail
Platform Architecture
ablefy: Payment processing, course hosting, community features, memberships, and sales tools are all integrated into a single system. All features are included in every plan, and the scope of features expands with the plan you choose.
Digistore24: The core functionality is sales processing. For courses, communities, or telemarketing, Digistore24 refers users to separate add-on modules with their own pricing structures, such as Digibiz for online courses and communities or Digiclose for telemarketing.
Overview: If you already operate your own tool stack and only need payment processing, you can also connect ablefy to external platforms for sales processing only. However, the monthly software fee still applies, whereas Digistore24 does not charge any software fees in this case. On the other hand, if you want to manage multiple product types in a single system, ablefy saves you the hassle of managing multiple add-on modules and dealing with their more complex cost structures.
Sales Model & Law
ablefy: Offers two models. In the reseller model, ablefy acts as the Merchant of Record, handling invoicing, collections, return forms, and sales tax remittance in all sales regions (OSS). You can also sell under your own name through ablefy. In this case, you still benefit from the technical infrastructure, tax calculation, and automated sales, but you are the direct contractual partner of your customers.
Digistore24: Operates exclusively as a reseller and, like ablefy, handles payments, billing, and other processes. Legally, the customer purchases from Digistore24, not from the vendor itself; accordingly, the invoice is issued by Digistore24.
Overview: The reseller model is suitable for anyone who wants to minimize accounting effort and handles a large number of transactions. Sellers receive a monthly payment, which is subject to taxation. The German reseller is a GmbH (limited liability company) subject to value-added tax on both Digistore24 and ablefy, which is why individual tax benefits do not apply.
Selling under your own name is only possible on ablefy. This is suitable for personal brands, companies seeking tax benefits, and companies with high sales volumes. If you’re seeking recognition from health insurance providers or educational institutions, they sometimes require that you sell under your own name.
This model offers companies more freedom, for example, in terms of contract terms and the choice of sales region. Brands act directly as their customers' contractual partners. Additionally, there is no product review by ablefy.
However, selling in your own name requires accounting experience, and the legal responsibility lies with the seller. On the other hand, transaction fees are significantly lower, and weekly payouts are possible.
Checkout & Conversion
ablefy: Input form with 4 best-practice templates. The components and order are predefined, but the colors and layout can be customized.
Digistore24: A page builder that allows you to arrange individual components freely. The order is not fixed.
Comparison: Both platforms offer customizable brand design, the ability to incorporate images and videos, and a mobile-optimized layout. Digistore24’s page builder offers more creative freedom but requires some experience to ensure the payment page looks polished. Ablefy’s best-practice templates limit creative freedom but reduce the likelihood of errors during setup. Ablefy also supports 100% white-labeling.
Conversion tools help encourage more visitors to complete a purchase—for example, by displaying a limited-availability notice, a countdown timer for payment options, or a social proof bubble. Both platforms offer these types of tools.
Upsells via "order bumps" (add-on offers at checkout) and "1-Click upselling funnels" (add-on offers displayed after the sale) can also be used on both platforms.
Classes & Membership
ablefy: Payments, online courses, the community, and members-only areas are all in one system.
Digistore24: Does not offer its own course hosting. For this feature, Digistore24 refers users to the separate add-on module Digibiz or other software.
Overview: If you want to firmly integrate courses and community features into your business model, ablefy lets you manage members and features all within a single system. With Digistore24, this is spread across multiple tools, which entails additional costs and requires an extra system integration.
Sales & Affiliates
ablefy: Sales OS for telephone sales is natively integrated, including customized offers, multi-tier commissions, and automated commission settlement. For affiliate programs, the seller builds their own network, for example through existing contacts or former customers.
Digistore24: Offers an open affiliate marketplace with several thousand products, where independent affiliates can find and promote offers. For telemarketing, Digistore24 refers users to the separate add-on module, Digiclose.
Overview: Those who rely on third-party reach through a marketplace will find Digistore24 to be a good fit. Those who build their own sales structures—including a sales team and their own network—will find the right tools already integrated into ablefy.
Payment Methods
ablefy and Digistore24: Both offer the most common payment methods: credit card, Klarna, SEPA direct debit, PayPal, and mobile express checkout with Google Pay and Apple Pay. Both platforms support installment payments and subscriptions, as well as "pay later" options through purchase on account or Klarna.
Overview: It’s important to offer a variety of payment methods, since your customers have their own individual preferences. Both Digistore24 and ablefy offer the most common payment methods. There are differences in specific payment methods: Amazon Pay is only available through Digistore24, while local payment methods like Twint are only available through ablefy. However, this is only a deciding factor if you know that your customers absolutely need one of these methods.
Keep an eye on the status of "Buy Now, Pay Later" options: Klarna, for example, revokes platforms' licenses if it loses confidence in them, which limits your options for financing installment payments.
Klarna is currently available on both platforms. PayPal Pay Later is not available on either platform under the Merchant-of-Record model. PayPal is currently blocking access for the entire coaching industry. When selling under their own name via ablefy, individual sellers still have access to it if they link their own PayPal Business account.
Fees
How much does Ablefy cost?
Two plans, depending on the product type:
Sell for €27/month for all sales features, such as landing page creation, checkout, payment processing, invoicing, commissions, and payment reminders. No course hosting.
Create & Sell starting at €59/month for sales features and hosting of member areas such as online courses, communities, and memberships. Pricing scales based on the number of members.
The transaction fee is 2.7% + €0.50 (sales under your own name, total fee) or 5.6% + €1.50 total (reseller model, including tax processing and automatic invoicing).
How much does Digistore24 cost?
Digistore24: No monthly base fee for the payment module. The transaction fee is 7.9% + €1; for product prices of €400 or more, the fee is 4.9% + €1.
If additional software is needed for courses, sales, or landing pages, a modular solution like Digistore24 incurs additional costs for external tools.
Which is cheaper, Digistore24 or ablefy?
Because the two platforms have different structures, it’s difficult to compare their costs. Which platform is more affordable depends on the individual situation.
If you only need payment processing and don’t use any course or sales features, you’ll pay less with Digistore24 because there’s no base fee. With ablefy, these learning management features are included in the software fees and are overall more affordable than using several separate tools.
The option to sell under your own name on ablefy makes the platform particularly cost-effective—thanks to the significantly lower base fee (2.7% + €0.50)—for sellers with high sales volumes and product prices.
Support for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
ablefy and Digistore24: Both offer support in German and English. Email and contact forms are available to all active sellers on both platforms. ablefy also offers phone support.
Who is a better fit for ablefy or Digistore?
Digistore24 is a better fit for you if you…
- already have your own set of tools for courses, landing pages, or sales and just need a payment processing solution
- …you're just getting started, only need a payment solution, and don't want to sell online courses or community memberships
- …want to rely on third-party reach through an open affiliate marketplace
- …you don't have any tax advantages due to, for example, your location or industry
ablefy is a better fit for you if you…
- …want to consolidate payment processing, courses, community, and sales into a single system
- …sell high-priced products through telemarketing and need an integrated sales module for that
- …you’re already generating high revenue or expect to, and want to benefit from a low transaction fee
- …want to take advantage of the individual tax benefits that come with selling in your own name
- …want personal support over the phone
Switch to ablefy
ablefy offers a free 14-day trial. During this time, interested users can get a feel for the platform and the product creation process. The trial also includes an onboarding session to explain how the platform works.
If you currently host course sections on another platform, you don't necessarily have to move them. You can also start by integrating ablefy solely as a payment provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Digistore24 cost compared to ablefy?
It depends on what you need.
ablefy offers the option to sell under your own name, which allows you to start with a significantly lower transaction fee of 2.7% + €0.50, regardless of your sales volume. This is worthwhile for higher sales volumes and product prices. In the reseller model, ablefy charges 5.6% + €1.50.
ablefy charges a monthly subscription fee (Sell starting at €27, Create & Sell starting at €59) in addition to transaction fees, but also offers integrated solutions for online courses, communities, members-only areas, and a sales module. With Digistore24, however, you’ll need to integrate additional tools, which incurs monthly costs.
Digistore24 does not charge a monthly base fee, but it does charge a transaction fee (7.9% and 4.9% for product prices of 400 euros or more). If you only need a payment module, sell products priced at 400 euros or more, and use the reseller model, Digistore24 is the more affordable option.
Does Digistore24 also offer online courses and a community?
No. Digistore24 offers a separate add-on module (Digibiz) for this purpose, with its own pricing structure. Or you can use a third-party provider. With ablefy, online courses and the community are included in the Create and Sell Plan.
Can I sell on Digistore24 under my own name?
No, Digistore24 operates exclusively as a reseller. In addition to the reseller model, ablefy offers the option to sell under your own name.
Do I have to stop using my current course platform to use ablefy?
No. ablefy can initially be connected to an existing course platform solely as a payment provider. It is not absolutely necessary to switch platforms.
How do I get started with ablefy?
Through a free 14-day trial period that includes onboarding, during which the platform is explained.
