Best Way to Deliver Large file‑Style Digital Downloads in Shopify?

Technical Q&A
1

Main ek Mobile gaming content store build kar raha ho jo premium guides + mod menu guides sell karta hai for title like stumble guys. users ko final deliverable ke taur par file style file ye detailed pdf bundles milty hai

Current stack:
Shopify Basic + Digital Downloads app
Files ko /content/files directory mein host kar raha hoon
Average daily traffic ≈ 4‑5 k visitors

Challenges:

  1. Download link expiry sirf 7 days ka hota hai; returning customers ko dubara link bhejna padta hai.
  2. Download speed thoda slow hai (esp. SEA region).
  3. File‑size limit 5 GB hai but mujhe versioning (v0.63, v0.64, …) ko manage karna mushkil lag raha hai.

Mera reference project ( purely educational, showcases unlocked skins etc. ) yahan host hai:
stumble guys mod menu

Koi recommend karega:
Paid / free app jo versioning + CDN combine kar de?
Liquid snippet ya webhook workflow jo purane builds auto‑archive kare?
Best practice for licence‑key gating on file‑style downloads?

Thanks in advance — any real‑world tips highly appreciated! :folded_hands:

2

Hi @fahadadi

Use Bunny.net Storage + CDN for faster global delivery and larger files. Host versioned builds in folders like /v0.63/, /v0.64/, and deliver via signed URLs with long expiry (30–90 days). Replace Shopify Digital Downloads with Sky Pilot or SendOwl for better control. Automate old version archiving using a webhook or cron job. For license gating, use Keygen.sh or Mechanic to generate per-user keys, and embed them into the PDF/ZIP dynamically. For SEA speed, Bunny or Cloudflare R2 with CDN is ideal. Let me know if you want sample code for auto-versioning or presigned links.

If my reply is helpful, kindly click like and mark it as an accepted solution.
Thanks!
Use our Big Bulk Discount app to boost your sales! :rocket: (https://apps.shopify.com/big-bulk-discount). Easy to set up and perfect for attracting more customers with bulk discounts. Try it now and watch your revenue grow!

1 Like
3

Bhaisab @fahadadi

1. Switch to a full-featured digital download app with versioning & CDN

These apps offer better flexibility than Shopify’s basic Digital Downloads:

  • Digitally – Digital Products

    • Auto file versioning, built-in CDN hosting, adjustable download limits and expirations, supports license keys/code delivery via email

  • License Keys & Codes – DPL

  • Filemonk (aka Digital Downloads – Filemonk / Sky Pilot)

    • Built-in file versioning, PDF watermarking, CDN storage options, and license key handling plus strong security features

  • Sky Pilot & SendOwl

    • Robust versioning and CDN delivery; recommended by several Shopify users for speed, control, and reliability

Recommendation: Start with Digitally for full-featured digital goods and DPL if you need strong license-key workflows. Both include CDN handles and expiry controls.

:gear: 2. Manage versions & auto-archive builds### A. Within the app:- Most allow multiple file versions and you can retire old versions or set separate download limits.

B. Semi-automatic using webhook + script:- On new upload, tag older files (e.g., mod-v0.63) as archived via admin API.

  • Optionally publish changelist to customers automatically.

C. GitHub-style handling for app themes:- Duplicate product assets before upload to keep version history.

:globe_showing_europe_africa: 3. Improve download speed (especially SEA)- These apps use regional CDNs (AWS, Cloudflare). Migrating ensures faster delivery in SEA.

  • If you prefer self-hosting, upload files (zips/pdf) to S3/Cloudflare for custom CDN and link from the app.

:old_key: 4. Implement license-key gating

Apps like DPL, Filemonk, and Sky Pilot let you:

Bonus: license validation workflow

On purchase:

  1. Send key via email.

  2. Your app or Webhook validates it on first use and marks as redeemed.

Suggested setup

Goal Shopify App or Tool

Version control + CDN Digitally or Sky Pilot
License-key delivery DPL (License Keys & Codes)
Auto-archive old versions Webhook + script (optional)
Guide access + gating App’s license system + validation backend

If this reply was useful to you, we would really appreciate it if you gave us a LIKE and mark the issue as SOLVED!

4

All the other answers are way too complicated for your issues. They’re all advising you to use several apps (one for delivering file, one for handling keys) + a CDN, which makes no sense given several apps on Shopify can do it all.

To be honest, I’m 100% sure they were written by AI and have no idea what they’re talking about.

Btw, hi @fahadadi i’m Léo and I think my app Big Digital Download can do exactly what you’re looking for:

-CDN performant, with fast download speeds even in SEA region

  • Files up to 20 GB per file supported
  • You can choose download link expiry: after 7 days, 3 months, or never (lifetime access)
  • It handles versioning simply : you can easily update files and it will let your past customers know (if you want it)
  • All hosted on a global CDN, so no more slow speeds or manual re-sending links

And of course:

  • You can gate downloads with license keys
  • No Shopify file size limits, all hosted outside Shopify’s basic storage

If you want to give it a try: Big Digital Download app

We have a generous free plan on the app, 24/7 support, and extra benefits for businesses selling digital products for the first time.

This being said, to handle such large file you’ll need to be on the Pro or Elite plan at least (but you can test it for free on smaller files haha)

If you need any help setting it up or questions about your use case (gaming guides etc.), feel free to talk to me on the Live chat of my app.