Protect and sell downloadable files

PDF guides, templates, video lessons, presets and software are some of the most popular membership perks. Ultimate Membership Pro lets you sell digital downloads to members: the files sit on pages only members can open, the download links work only for members, and you can set how many files each Membership may download.

This guide puts three pieces together: a members-only page, the free Download Monitor plugin for the links, and the Download Monitor Integration module for limits.

Choose how you sell the files

Add your files to Download Monitor

1. Install and activate Download Monitor.
2. Go to Downloads›Add New, give the download a title and upload the file.
3. Turn on Members only for the download, so the link works only for logged-in users.
4. Publish the download and copy the shortcode Download Monitor shows for it.

Download Monitor serves each file through its own link, so the file’s real address stays hidden and visitors can’t pass it around.

Put the downloads on a members-only page

1. Create a page, for example Member Library, and paste the download shortcodes into it. Add a short description next to each file.
2. In the Locker box of the page, choose Show Page Only and add the Memberships that include the files.
3. Under If access is not allowed, choose Redirect the Page and pick your pricing page, so visitors see what they need to buy.
4. Update the page.

The full Locker options are in Restrict your first page. To lock a whole group of pages at once, use Access Rules.

Set download limits per Membership

Use limits when Memberships include a different number of files, or to keep members from downloading your whole library in one go.

1. Go to Ultimate Membership Pro›Modules›Download Monitor Integration and turn the module on.
2. Choose the Limit Type: Downloaded Files counts different files, Total Downloads counts every download.
3. Under Memberships limits, enter a number for each Membership, for example 10 for Basic and 1000 for Pro.
4. For Users with no active Membership, enter 0, so registered users who haven’t bought a Membership can’t download.
5. Click Save Changes.

Members whose Membership expires stop downloading until they renew. More details are in Limit downloads with Download Monitor.

Sell a single file

To sell one e-book or template on its own, put its download on a page and sell that page with the Pay Per Post add-on. Buyers pay once for that page and don’t need a Membership.

Test it

1. In a private window, open the member library page. You should land on your pricing page.
2. Log in as a test member with the right Membership and download a file.
3. If you set download limits, log in as a registered user without a Membership and try the download link. It shouldn’t download.

Troubleshooting

What’s next