Sell Digital Downloads with Google Scripts

You can set up your own digital shop on the Internet with the help of PayPal and Google Scripts. You upload your file on Google Drive, the buyer makes a purchase through PayPal and Google Apps Script will deliver the file to the buyer through Gmail.

See: Sell Digital Products Online

/* PayPal Shop with Apps Script */

/* Add the PayPal Item Ids and Google Drive Files names here */
PAYPAL = [
  ['product-001', 'useful-websites-book.pdf'],
  ['product-002', 'linux-training-course.mp4'],
  ['product-003', 'labnol-audio-book.mp3'],
  ['product-004', 'presentation-template.ppt'],
];

/* The script will scan your Gmail inbox every 5 minutes for PayPal emails */
function PayPal() {
  ScriptApp.newTrigger('myShop').timeBased().everyMinutes(5).create();
}

function myShop() {
  var file, size, files, threads;

  for (var p in PAYPAL) {
    threads = GmailApp.search('is:unread from:paypal ' + PAYPAL[p][0]);

    if (threads.length > 0) {
      /* Find the file in Google Drive */
      files = DriveApp.searchFiles('title contains "' + PAYPAL[p][1] + '"');

      if (files.hasNext()) {
        file = files.next();
        size = file.getSize() / (1024 * 1024);

        for (var i = 0; i < threads.length; i++) {
          /* The PayPal transaction emails container the buyer's email in the Reply-To field */
          var buyer = threads[i].getMessages()[0].getReplyTo();
          var subject = 'Thank you for your purchase';
          var body = 'Please download the file using the link below.\n\n';

          /* Check the size of the Google Drive file (in MB) */
          if (size > 20) {
            file.addViewer(buyer); /* For big files, share the file with the buyer */
            GmailApp.sendEmail(buyer, subject, body + file.getUrl());
          } else {
            /* Else attach the file in the email message itself */
            GmailApp.sendEmail(buyer, subject, body, { attachments: file.getBlob() });
          }

          /* Move the PayPal email to Archive and Mark it as Read */
          threads[i].markRead().moveToArchive();
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Amit Agarwal is a web geek, solo entrepreneur and loves making things on the Internet. Google recently awarded him the Google Developer Expert and Google Cloud Champion title for his work on Google Workspace and Google Apps Script.

Awards & Recognition

Google Developer Expert

Google Developer Expert

Google awarded us the Developer Expert title recogizing our work in Workspace

ProductHunt Golden Kitty

ProductHunt Golden Kitty

Our Gmail tool won the Lifehack of the Year award at ProductHunt Golden Kitty Awards

Microsoft MVP Alumni

Microsoft MVP Alumni

Microsoft awarded us the Most Valuable Professional title for 5 years in a row

Google Cloud Champion

Google Cloud Champion

Google awarded us the Champion Innovator award for technical expertise

Want to stay up to date?
Sign up for our email newsletter.

We will never send any spam emails. Promise 🫶🏻