What Is Easy Digital Downloads Free Downloads?
The Free Downloads extension for Easy Digital Downloads enables store owners to offer free digital downloads as lead magnets or freebies while collecting user emails. Instead of forcing visitors to go through the full cart and checkout process, users can quickly access free files through a simple modal popup that requests their contact information, usually an email address. This approach streamlines lead generation and boosts your email list growth seamlessly alongside your paid product offerings.

Why Choose Easy Digital Downloads Free Downloads?

• Lead Magnet Friendly – Encourage visitors to exchange their email for free, high-value content such as eBooks, guides, templates, or software samples.

• Modal Popup Interface – Offers a user-friendly popup for instant downloads without redirecting to checkout.

• Email Collection for Marketing – Grows your mailing list by requesting emails before granting file access, perfect for ongoing marketing efforts.

• Simple Setup – Once installed and activated, it automatically adds a “Free Downloads” section in store settings with minimal configuration required.

• Customizable Download Links – Use shortcodes like [edd_free_download] to create custom free download buttons with images or custom text anywhere on your site.

• Skip Cart & Checkout – Users get direct access to free files, improving user experience and lowering barriers to free content delivery.

• Integration Ready – Works seamlessly within the Easy Digital Downloads ecosystem and complements paid product sales and email marketing integrations.

• Unlock More Advanced Features – Supports additional usage scenarios with shortcode customization and manual link creation.

How It Works

1. Install and Activate the Free Downloads extension alongside Easy Digital Downloads.

2. Add Free Downloads to your product list or set up lead magnets to be delivered in exchange for emails.

3. Display Download Buttons anywhere using dedicated shortcodes or automatic modal popups.

4. Collect Visitor Emails before allowing instant access to free digital files.

5. Grow Your Mailing List automatically and engage leads with future marketing campaigns.

Ideal for digital marketers, content creators, and online stores wanting to attract more leads while offering valuable free downloads, the Free Downloads extension provides a smooth, effective way to incorporate freebies into your Easy Digital Downloads store and boost conversions.

This feature is available exclusively with the EDD premium extensions and is not included in the free core plugin.