If you’ve been trying to make money online and feel like everything is already saturated, you’re not alone. Most people looking into online business hit the same mental roadblocks:
- “Everyone is already selling digital products.”
- “I don’t have a big audience.”
- “I’m not technical.”
- “I’m too late.”
Here’s the reality: digital products are not only still working, they’re one of the best business models going into 2026 and beyond.
In this post, we’re breaking down real examples of digital products making $10K or more per month. These aren’t hypothetical case studies or “trust me bro” stories. These are real people, in real niches, using simple products like spreadsheets, templates, planners, and courses to generate consistent income online.
Some of them show their face. Some don’t. Some use Etsy. Others use YouTube or Instagram. What they all have in common is that they stopped overthinking and focused on solving one specific problem with one simple product.
By the end of this article, you’ll understand:
- What types of digital products are actually selling
- Why “boring” products often outperform flashy ideas
- How people with small audiences still hit $10K per month
- How you can apply these ideas to your own situation
Why Digital Products Are One of the Best Online Businesses in 2026
Before we get into the examples, it’s important to understand why digital products work so well.
Digital products give you:
- Full control over pricing and margins
- No inventory or shipping
- No splitting revenue with suppliers
- The ability to sell the same product repeatedly
- More income from the same customers over time
Unlike services, you’re not trading hours for dollars. Unlike physical products, you don’t have logistics headaches. And unlike relying purely on ads or platform payouts, you’re building something platform-proof.
That’s why so many people are quietly building digital product businesses on the side and scaling them into full-time income.
Now let’s look at the real examples.
Example #1: Excel and Google Sheets Templates on Etsy
One of the simplest and most overlooked digital products making serious money is spreadsheet templates.
There are creators on Etsy who have been selling Excel and Google Sheets templates for just a few years and have already generated tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales.
These products include:
- Budget trackers
- Debt payoff calculators
- Snowball and avalanche calculators
- Business finance dashboards
- Simple planning tools
What’s interesting is that many of these products are essentially the same spreadsheet with small variations:
- Different color schemes
- Slightly different layouts
- Excel and Google Sheets versions of the same product
The creator isn’t reinventing the wheel every time. They’re repackaging the same core solution to appeal to different preferences.
Why This Works
People don’t want to build systems from scratch. They want:
- Something plug-and-play
- A tool that gives them instant clarity
- A shortcut to a result
You don’t need to be a tech expert to do this. If you can build a basic spreadsheet or even adapt an existing one ethically, you can turn it into a sellable digital product.
Key Lesson
You don’t need a revolutionary idea. You need a usable solution to a real problem.
Example #2: Turning Knowledge Into an Online Course
Another strong example of digital products making $10K per month comes from people who turn existing knowledge into courses.
One example discussed in the video is someone who started as a tutor helping students prepare for standardized tests like the LSAT. Instead of continuing one-on-one tutoring, they packaged that knowledge into an online course.
This allowed them to:
- Help more people
- Scale income without scaling time
- Build a digital asset instead of trading hours
You can verify demand for this type of product easily by looking at platforms like Udemy. There are hundreds of courses on test prep, certifications, and skill-based learning with thousands of students enrolled.
Why This Works
Every year, new people enter the same situations:
- Preparing for exams
- Learning job skills
- Studying for certifications
- Trying to advance their careers
You don’t need to be the best in the world. You just need to be a few steps ahead of someone else.
Key Lesson
Teach what you already know or have learned. There will always be someone behind you who needs that information.
Example #3: Templates Built From “Unrelated” Backgrounds
One of the most powerful examples is a creator who had a background in higher education administration and psychology. On the surface, this doesn’t scream “online business.”
But instead of dismissing their experience, they converted it into business templates and digital tools:
- Planning templates
- Organizational frameworks
- Party games and printable resources
These products now generate around $10K per month in passive income.
Why Templates Are So Powerful
Templates work because they:
- Save time
- Reduce decision fatigue
- Deliver immediate results
When someone buys a template, they feel progress instantly. That positive experience makes them more likely to buy again.
Key Lesson
Your past experience is not a disadvantage. It’s raw material.
Example #4: Using YouTube to Sell Digital Products at Scale
One of the most eye-opening examples is a creator making six figures per month selling digital products primarily through YouTube.
Their YouTube ad revenue is relatively small. The real money comes from:
- Resume templates
- Career advancement tools
- Guided systems sold for around $37 per month
The channel focuses on helping people:
- Find remote jobs
- Improve resumes
- Navigate hiring processes
The videos attract the audience. The digital products monetize the attention.
Why This Is Important
Many creators obsess over:
- Views
- Subscribers
- Ad revenue
But if you know how to monetize, even a small audience can outperform a large one.
Key Lesson
YouTube is not the product. Your digital product is.
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Example #5: Notion Templates and “Boring” Software
Another example highlights creators selling Notion templates.
Notion is free software. Anyone can sign up. Yet people are paying $50–$80 for done-for-you templates.
Why?
Because software alone doesn’t solve problems. Implementation does.
Notion templates help users:
- Organize tasks
- Manage projects
- Track goals
- Save time
Even though Notion is “boring,” the results aren’t.
Why This Works
People don’t pay for tools. They pay for outcomes.
The same applies to:
- AutoCAD shortcuts
- Software hotkeys
- Workflow templates
- Industry-specific systems
Key Lesson
If people struggle with a tool, there’s an opportunity to sell a shortcut.
Example #6: Faceless Digital Products on Instagram
You don’t need to show your face to make money online.
One example in the video discusses a faceless Instagram account that generated over $10K selling:
- E-books
- Planners
- Templates priced between $19 and $49
Traffic came from Instagram content. Sales happened through a simple website.
Why This Matters
Many people avoid starting because they don’t want to:
- Be on camera
- Build a personal brand
- Be visible online
This proves that faceless digital products can still work.
Key Lesson
Your face is optional. Your value is not.
Pricing Strategies: Low-Ticket vs Higher-Ticket Products
There are two main ways people approach pricing:
Strategy A: Low-Ticket Front End
- Products priced between $5 and $17
- Easier to sell
- More volume
- Upsells increase average order value
Strategy B: Higher-Ticket Front End
- Products priced between $29 and $79
- Fewer buyers
- More qualified customers
- Less volume, higher intent
Neither is “right” or “wrong.” The key is choosing one strategy and committing to it.
Key Lesson
Clarity beats complexity. Pick a lane and optimize it.
The Real Barrier: Marketing, Not Products
Most people don’t fail because their product is bad. They fail because:
- Nobody knows it exists
- They stop too early
- They fear failure
Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated. The creators in these examples used:
- YouTube
- TikTok
- Etsy search traffic
They picked one platform and went all in.
Fear of Failure Is the Real Cost
You’re already living your worst-case scenario if you’re stuck, frustrated, and not making progress.
Failure isn’t falling down. It’s staying down.
Every successful creator you see failed repeatedly before things worked. The difference is they didn’t stop.
Final Thoughts: Why You’re Not Too Late
People in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s are starting digital product businesses every day.
The opportunity isn’t gone.
The money isn’t gone.
The demand isn’t gone.
What usually is gone is patience.
If you:
- Pick one idea
- Create one simple digital product
- Market it consistently
- Learn as you go
You give yourself a real shot.
Your Next Step
If you want more breakdowns like this—real examples, real numbers, real strategies—this can easily become an ongoing series.
And if you want a faster path:
- Start with one small product
- Build one simple system
- Focus on progress, not perfection
That’s how digital products quietly turn into $10K per month businesses.