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

Amit Agarwal

Google Developer Expert, Google Cloud Champion

Amit Agarwal is a Google Developer Expert in Google Workspace and Google Apps Script. He holds an engineering degree in Computer Science (I.I.T.) and is the first professional blogger in India.

Amit has developed several popular Google add-ons including Mail Merge for Gmail and Document Studio. Read more on Lifehacker and YourStory

Awards & Titles

Digital Inspiration has won several awards since it's launch in 2004.

Google Developer Expert

Google Developer Expert

Google awarded us the Google Developer Expert award recogizing our work in Google Workspace.

ProductHunt Golden Kitty

ProductHunt Golden Kitty

Our Gmail tool won the Lifehack of the Year award at ProductHunt Golden Kitty Awards in 2017.

Microsoft MVP Alumni

Microsoft MVP Alumni

Microsoft awarded us the Most Valuable Professional (MVP) title for 5 years in a row.

Google Cloud Champion

Google Cloud Champion

Google awarded us the Champion Innovator title recognizing our technical skill and expertise.

Email Newsletter

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

We will never send any spam emails. Promise.