Stackless
EDD Passes vs Stackless for EDD
Easy Digital Downloads passes renew at $199 to $999 a year, and Stackless for EDD costs $99 once for every site you run. Stackless runs on the free Easy Digital Downloads plugin and covers subscriptions, software licensing, content restriction and multi-currency.
My advice is simple. Stackless is a good choice for any Easy Digital Downloads store, and I would pick it first. A pass still makes sense for a store that needs Frontend Submissions, Commissions or abandoned cart recovery today. Gatilab makes Stackless and I lead its development, so weigh my view with that in mind.
Quick Verdict
Stackless for EDD fits
- Easy Digital Downloads stores of any size
- Plugin and theme developers who need licensing without a $599 renewal
- Owners who'd rather pay once than renew every year
- Agencies running more sites than a pass covers
- Sellers who want Polar, Paddle or Dodo Payments to handle sales tax
Easy Digital Downloads passes fits
- Stores with subscribers already on Recurring Payments, because Stackless has no importer
- Marketplaces that need Frontend Submissions and Commissions
- Stores that recover abandoned carts by email
- Stores that need Reviews or Amazon S3 delivery today
- Stores that take payments through Square or Authorize.net
Pricing
A 3-year example shows the gap. The Professional pass, the first one with Software Licensing, renews at $599 a year for 2 sites and comes to about $1,498 over 3 years with its half-price first year. Stackless for EDD costs $99 once at the launch price and $399 once the deal ends, for unlimited sites.
| Compared | Easy Digital Downloads passes | Stackless for EDD |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly license | Personal $199 (1 site), Extended $399 (1 site), Professional $599 (2 sites), All Access $999 (3 sites) | $39 a year (regularly $69), unlimited sites |
| First year | Half price, then renewals at full price | $39 or $99 at the launch price |
| One-time license | Not offered | $99 once (regularly $399), unlimited sites |
| Stripe fee | 3% per transaction on the free plan and Personal pass | No fee from Stackless |
| Refund | 14-day money-back guarantee | 14-day unconditional refund |
| After you stop paying | Support and updates stop, and you lose your existing pricing | Every module keeps working. Updates and support stop. |
easydigitaldownloads.com/pricing and the Stackless store, checked October 30, 2026.
Feature Comparison
Most of what a store buys a pass for is in Stackless. The passes still lead on marketplace tools and some growth extensions.
| Feature | Easy Digital Downloads passes | Stackless for EDD |
|---|---|---|
| What the passes unlock | ||
| Subscriptions and free trials | All passes | Subscriptions module, included |
| Multi-currency | All passes | Multi-Currency Checkout, included |
| Content restriction | Extended and up | Page Access, included |
| Custom prices | Extended and up | Pay What You Like, included |
| Software licensing | Professional and up | Software Licensing, included |
| Checkout fields and wish lists | Professional and up | Fields & Paid Add-ons and Wishlist, included |
| Payments | ||
| Built-in gateways | Stripe, PayPal, Square, Authorize.net and 2Checkout, by pass | Stripe, PayPal, Polar, Paddle and Dodo Payments |
| Merchant of record | Not listed on its pricing page | Polar, Paddle and Dodo Payments handle sales tax and VAT |
| Square, Authorize.net and 2Checkout | Yes, by pass | Not offered |
| Marketplace and growth | ||
| Frontend Submissions | Professional and up | Not offered |
| Commissions | Professional and up | Coupon Affiliates pays commissions on coupon sales |
| Abandoned cart recovery | All passes | Not offered |
| Reviews | Extended and up | Coming soon |
| Amazon S3 and Dropbox delivery | Extended and up | Coming soon |
| Automation | Zapier, Extended and up | Signed webhooks and a REST API for Zapier, Make and n8n |
| Around the store | ||
| Runs on | Easy Digital Downloads Pro | Free Easy Digital Downloads or EDD Pro |
| Invoices and quotes | Not listed on its pricing page | Custom Invoices and Request a Quote, included |
| Order bumps | Cross-sells and upsells | Order Bumps, included |
| Migration from other plugins | Not listed on its pricing page | No importer |
| Track record | 50,000+ professionals, 4.7/5 from 566 reviews | Version 1.3.0, with far less history |
From easydigitaldownloads.com/pricing and the Stackless docs and plugin code, checked October 30, 2026.
Where Each One Wins
Stackless for EDD
- $99 once covers every site, against yearly passes with site limits
- Software Licensing comes included, without a $599 renewal
- No fee from Stackless on top of your Stripe rates
- Polar, Paddle and Dodo Payments can handle sales tax as merchant of record
- Invoices, quotes and order bumps come with the same license
Easy Digital Downloads passes
- Frontend Submissions and Commissions run a multi-vendor marketplace
- Abandoned cart recovery comes with every pass
- Reviews and Amazon S3 delivery come from Extended up
- Square, Authorize.net and 2Checkout are available
- 50,000+ professionals show a long track record
Stackless for EDD on Screen
These screens come from the Stackless demo store, which sells to fictional customers.
(full size) 
(full size) 
(full size) Switching From an EDD Pass
Stackless has no importer for Recurring Payments subscriptions, so moving live subscribers isn't a one-click job. Stackless also pauses its Subscriptions module while Recurring Payments is active, so two plugins never bill the same customer.
It is wise to keep live subscribers where they are. The other Stackless modules work alongside your pass, so your store can use them today.
FAQs on EDD Passes vs Stackless
Something else? Ask product support before you buy.
Do I still need an EDD pass?
Not for the jobs Stackless covers. Stackless for EDD runs on the free Easy Digital Downloads plugin. You'd only keep a pass for extensions Stackless doesn't replace, such as Frontend Submissions and Commissions.
Can Stackless import my Recurring Payments subscriptions?
No. Stackless has no importer, so existing subscribers should stay on Recurring Payments.
Does Stackless add a fee to Stripe payments?
No. You connect your own Stripe account and pay Stripe's normal rates. EDD's own Stripe integration adds 3% per transaction on the free plan and the Personal pass.
Can both run on one store?
Yes. Stackless pauses a module when an EDD extension already does the same job, and it names that extension. The other modules keep working.
Which one is cheaper?
Stackless costs less on both of its licenses. EDD passes renew at $199 to $999 a year, and Stackless costs $39 a year (regularly $69) or $99 once (regularly $399) for unlimited sites.
What I Would Do
I'd put Stackless on any Easy Digital Downloads store, and the 14-day refund covers you if it doesn't fit. A marketplace running Frontend Submissions should keep its pass.