What is a Digipak?

Digipaks (Or as they're sometimes stylized, Digi-paks) are a type of CD case. The Digipak consists of a card or cardboard slip, containing an attached plastic tray for the disk (or sometimes just a card pocket) and sometimes a pamphlet on the band.

Jewel cases are clear, plastic CD cases. Jewel cases are have an inbuilt tray for the disk, and a pamphlet/cover slip that slides into the front lid of the case to form the cover.

Digipak pros and cons

Pros

•  Digipaks don't shatter like Jewel cases, giving them more longevity.
• They are much cheaper to produce, therefore meaning they are easier to mass-produce.
• They have a much more professional, yet home-brewed aesthetic.
• There is a lot more that can be done in terms of design with a Jewel case, meaning that they can link in with a band's promotional package consistently.
• They are much lighter, and therefore easier to ship.
• They have an air of nostalgia towards old Vinyl cover slips.

Cons

• They are more likely to retain damage through general wear and tear - they can rot if moist.
• The disk tray is likely rather cheaply produced, and can be brittle.
• They can deform or tear, and this makes them irreplaceable.
• Sometimes, it can be harder to remove the disk.

Digipaks are preferred as of late, due to the increasing need to be environmentally friendly, as digipak producers advertise. Digipaks also possess a much more professional aesthetic than Jewel Cases, due to the much more personal and crafty production method behind them. However, certain, more popular Genres such as Pop, Metal and Classical, favor jewel cases.