UniLink Product Types Explained (Digital, Physical, Subscription, and Service)

Choose the right product type before you create a listing — each type controls how payment, delivery, and fulfillment work.

When you add a product to your UniLink storefront, the first setting you choose is the product type. This single choice determines how payment is collected, whether delivery happens automatically or manually, what information the buyer fills in at checkout, and how the order appears in your dashboard. Picking the wrong type creates extra work later — so this article explains each type, when to use it, and what settings are specific to it.

What Product Types Do

Product types are a framework that tells UniLink how to process each order end to end. They affect the checkout form (a digital product does not need a shipping address; a physical product does), the fulfillment workflow (digital delivery is automatic; physical requires you to mark the order as shipped), and the billing model (subscriptions bill on a schedule; the other types bill once).

You set the product type once when creating the listing in your UniLink Dashboard. It can be changed while the product has zero sales, but once a buyer has completed a purchase, the type is locked to preserve order integrity. This means it is important to choose correctly at the start — a subscription product accidentally created as a one-time service cannot simply be changed after launch.

UniLink uses Stripe under the hood for all payments. Each product type maps to a specific Stripe payment pattern, which is configured automatically. You do not need to touch your Stripe dashboard to manage product types.

How to Get Started With Product Types

1. Open the Storefront section in the Dashboard — log in, go to Sites, click Edit on your page, then open the Storefront tab in the sidebar.
2. Click Add Product — the product creation form opens. The Type field is at the top of the form.
3. Select your product type — choose from Digital, Physical, Subscription, Service, or Event Ticket. Read the short description shown under each option before confirming.
4. Fill in the core fields — product name, description, price, and thumbnail image are required for all types. Additional fields appear depending on the type you chose.
5. Configure type-specific settings — upload a file for Digital, set a stock count for Physical, configure a billing interval for Subscription, and so on. Details for each type are in the section below.
6. Set visibility — choose whether the product is Published (visible to visitors), Draft (hidden), or Scheduled (published at a specific date and time).
7. Save the product — click Save. The product appears on your storefront block immediately if it is set to Published.

How to Use Product Types

1. Digital products — after selecting Digital, upload the file you want to deliver (PDF, ZIP, MP3, video, etc.). Set how many times the download link can be used and how many days it stays active. The buyer receives a secure download link by email automatically after payment.
2. Physical products — after selecting Physical, set the stock quantity (or leave it as unlimited). The checkout form automatically includes name and shipping address fields. When an order comes in, go to Orders, fulfil it, and enter a tracking number — the buyer receives a shipping notification.
3. Subscription products — after selecting Subscription, choose the billing interval (weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually) and the price per period. Optionally set a free trial period in days. Stripe handles recurring billing automatically; cancellations are managed from the Orders section.
4. Service products — use this type for coaching calls, consultations, or any offering where delivery is arranged separately. No file upload or shipping address is collected. After payment, the buyer receives a confirmation and you contact them to schedule or fulfil the service.
5. Event Ticket products — after selecting Event Ticket, set the event date, venue or link, and the maximum number of tickets. Each buyer receives a unique ticket code in their confirmation email. Scan or verify codes manually at the event or connect a check-in integration.
6. Set inventory limits for Physical and Event Ticket — enter a stock number and enable the "Hide when sold out" or "Show sold out badge" option so visitors know availability in real time.
7. Manage active subscriptions — go to Orders, filter by Subscriptions, and view the status of each subscriber. Cancel, pause, or update a subscription from the same panel.

Key Settings Explained

How to Get the Most Out of Product Types

The most common mistake is using the Service type for digital products to avoid the file upload step. This breaks automatic delivery — buyers pay but receive no file. Always use the Digital type for any product where the buyer should receive a file, even if you plan to also follow up manually.

Subscription products benefit from a clearly written description that states the billing interval explicitly. Buyers who understand they are signing up for monthly billing rather than a one-time charge have far lower dispute rates. Put the interval in the product name or the first line of the description: "Monthly Membership — $19/month, cancel anytime."

For Event Ticket products, publish the product well in advance of the event and set a stock number that matches your actual capacity. Use the "Show sold out badge" option rather than hiding the product when it sells out — a sold out badge creates social proof that can help future events sell faster.

Physical products work best when paired with a clear shipping policy. Add a short note in the product description — expected dispatch time, countries you ship to, and a returns policy link. This reduces pre-purchase questions and post-purchase support tickets significantly.

Troubleshooting Common Issues