Best File Formats for Digital Products
Choosing the right file format is crucial for customer satisfaction. Use the wrong format and you'll deal with compatibility issues and support requests. Here's what to use for each type of digital product.
Ebooks & Written Content
PDF (Recommended)
Pros
- Universal compatibility across all devices
- Preserves formatting perfectly
- Can include images, links, and interactive elements
- Cannot be easily edited by customers
Cons
- •Larger file size than plain text
- •Not ideal for e-readers
Best for: Guides, workbooks, reports, business documents
EPUB
Pros
- Works on most e-readers (Kindle, Kobo, Nook)
- Adjustable text size and font
- Smaller file size
- Reflowable for different screen sizes
Cons
- •Formatting can vary across devices
- •More complex to create
Best for: Novels, long-form content, e-reader users
Video Courses & Tutorials
MP4 (Recommended)
Pros
- Universal playback on all devices
- Good compression with high quality
- Supported by all major platforms
- Streamable and downloadable
Cons
- •Can be large files for long videos
Best for: Online courses, video tutorials, masterclasses
MOV
Pros
- High quality video
- Good for Mac users
- Supports multiple audio tracks
Cons
- •Larger file sizes
- •Not ideal for Windows users
Best for: Premium video content, Mac-focused audiences
Audio Products
MP3 (Recommended)
Pros
- Universal compatibility
- Small file size
- Works on all music players and devices
- Good quality with compression
Cons
- •Lossy compression (some quality loss)
Best for: Music, podcasts, audiobooks, meditation audio
WAV
Pros
- Lossless quality
- Professional standard
- Uncompressed audio
Cons
- •Very large file sizes
- •Not ideal for online delivery
Best for: Premium music, sound effects for producers
Graphics & Images
PNG (Recommended for graphics)
Pros
- Supports transparency
- Lossless compression
- Perfect for logos, icons, graphics
- Web-friendly
Cons
- •Larger than JPG
Best for: Logos, icons, illustrations, transparent images
JPG/JPEG
Pros
- Small file size
- Universal support
- Good for photos
Cons
- •Lossy compression
- •No transparency support
Best for: Photos, stock images, backgrounds
SVG
Pros
- Scalable to any size without quality loss
- Small file size
- Editable
Cons
- •Not suitable for complex images
- •Requires design software to edit
Best for: Icons, logos, vector graphics
Design Files & Templates
PSD (Photoshop)
Pros
- Industry standard for photo editing
- Fully editable layers
- Supports all Photoshop features
Cons
- •Requires Photoshop to edit
- •Large file sizes
Best for: Photo templates, social media templates, mockups
AI (Illustrator)
Pros
- Vector format - scales infinitely
- Industry standard for illustrations
- Fully editable
Cons
- •Requires Illustrator
Best for: Logo templates, vector illustrations, print designs
Figma/Sketch
Pros
- Modern design tools
- Easy collaboration
- Cloud-based
Cons
- •Requires specific software
- •Less universal than Adobe
Best for: UI kits, web design templates, app designs
Software & Code
ZIP (Recommended)
Pros
- Compress multiple files into one
- Universal extraction tools
- Organize files into folders
- Reduce download size
Cons
- •Requires extraction before use
Best for: Plugins, themes, code libraries, file bundles
General Best Practices
- •Keep file sizes under 5GB: Most platforms have upload limits
- •Use compression: Reduce file sizes without sacrificing too much quality
- •Include multiple formats: Offer both PDF and EPUB for ebooks to maximize compatibility
- •Test before selling: Download and open your files on different devices to ensure they work
- •Provide clear file info: Tell customers what format they're getting and what software they need
Quick Reference Guide
- Ebooks: PDF (primary), EPUB (optional)
- Videos: MP4
- Audio: MP3
- Photos: JPG or PNG
- Graphics: PNG or SVG
- Design templates: PSD, AI, or Figma + PDF preview
- Software/Code: ZIP file
- Multiple files: ZIP to bundle everything together
When in doubt, choose the most universal format. It's better to have slightly larger files that work for everyone than perfectly optimized files that don't open on some devices.