Best Marketplace to Sell 3D Models in 2026
A detailed comparison of 10 platforms — commissions, 3D viewers, piracy protection, analytics, and payout speed — so you can choose where your work earns the most.
TL;DR — Quick Verdict
- 🏆 Highest creator payout: Proofly (0% commission, you keep 100%)
- 👥 Largest existing buyer pool: TurboSquid / CGTrader (but 40–55% cut)
- 🖨️ Best for STL / 3D printing: Cults3D, MyMiniFactory, or Proofly
- 🔒 Only platform with piracy tracing: Proofly (HiddenMark™)
- 👁️ Best 3D viewer built-in: Proofly (STL/GLB/OBJ/FBX) or Sketchfab
- 💰 Best for recurring income: Patreon (subscription) or Proofly (one-time sales, 0% cut)
You've spent weeks perfecting a 3D model. Now you want to sell it. The platform you choose determines how much of that sale you actually keep — and whether your files stay protected after they leave your hands.
The difference between platforms is enormous. On TurboSquid, a $50 sale might net you $22.50 (55% cut). On Proofly, the same $50 sale puts $50 in your pocket — the buyer pays a separate ~$1 service fee. Over a year of consistent sales, that gap compounds into thousands of dollars.
This guide compares the 10 most popular platforms across every dimension that matters to creators: commission rates, 3D viewer quality, piracy protection, analytics, and how quickly you get paid.
Full Comparison Table
| Platform | Commission | 3D Viewer | Piracy Protection | Analytics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProoflyRecommended Premium 3D assets (all formats) | 0% Buyer pays ~$1 fee | ✅ Native WebGL (STL/GLB/OBJ/FBX/3MF) | ✅ HiddenMark™ per-file tracing | ✅ Full dashboard + A/B cover test |
| CGTrader Game-ready 3D assets | 40% → 15%* *15% only after $10k lifetime sales | ✅ Built-in viewer (limited formats) | ❌ None | 🟡 Basic download stats |
| TurboSquid VFX, game, archviz assets | 40–55% StemCell exclusivity gets 60% | ✅ Sketchfab-powered viewer | ❌ None | 🟡 Basic |
| Sketchfab Game assets, fan models | 30% Owned by Epic/Fab since 2021 | ✅ Excellent native viewer | ❌ None | 🟡 Moderate |
| Cults3D 3D printing STL files | 20% Plus PayPal fees | 🟡 Image-only preview | ❌ None | ❌ Minimal |
| MyMiniFactory Miniatures, tabletop, STL | 30% Via MMF store | 🟡 Limited 3D viewer | ❌ None | 🟡 Basic |
| Printables.com Free 3D printing files | 0% (mostly free files) Very few paid listings | ✅ Built-in STL viewer | ❌ None | 🟡 Download count only |
| Gumroad Digital products (all types) | 10% Plus Stripe/PayPal processing | ❌ Image gallery only | ❌ None | 🟡 Basic sales stats |
| Patreon Subscription / recurring STL drops | 5–12% Of monthly subscription revenue | ❌ None | ❌ None | 🟡 Subscriber stats only |
| Etsy Handmade / craft / STL adjacent | 6.5% + listing fee $0.20/listing + offsite ads | ❌ Image gallery only | ❌ None | 🟡 Basic shop stats |
Platform Deep Dives
1. Proofly
Best for Creator Revenueproofly.store
Proofly was built around a single principle: authors keep 100% of every sale. There is no tiered royalty ladder to climb. The buyer adds a flat ~$1 service fee at checkout — that's how the platform funds itself. This makes Proofly the highest-payout marketplace for any creator earning above a few hundred dollars per year.
Key advantages:
- ✅ HiddenMark™ piracy tracing — a unique ownership code is embedded in every STL at upload. If your file leaks, you can prove authorship and generate a DMCA certificate instantly.
- ✅ Native WebGL 3D viewer — buyers can orbit, zoom, check wireframe/clay/X-ray modes, measure dimensions, and see polygon count before buying. No plugin required.
- ✅ Creator analytics dashboard — views, sales, conversion funnel, geographic breakdown of buyers, A/B cover image testing, and boost ROI tracking.
- ✅ Founding Creator program — the first 100 creators get a permanent badge, priority listing placement, and platform benefits.
- ✅ Stripe Connect payouts — earnings transfer directly to your bank via Stripe. No payment threshold delays.
- ✅ Chat + community — built-in messaging, group chats, and a community feed so buyers can reach you directly.
Limitations:
- ⚠️ Newer platform — smaller existing buyer pool than CGTrader or TurboSquid. Best results when combined with social promotion.
2. CGTrader
CGTrader is one of the largest general-purpose 3D asset marketplaces with a large existing buyer base (game studios, architects, VFX houses). The trade-off is a steep commission structure.
New sellers start at a 40% commission (60% payout). The rate improves slowly: 35% at $250 in lifetime sales, 30% at $500, 25% at $1,500, 20% at $5,000, and 15% at $10,000. Reaching the 15% tier typically takes years for most sellers. Meanwhile, Proofly charges 0% from sale #1.
CGTrader does have a built-in 3D viewer and a large established audience. It's a reasonable option for high-volume commercial sellers who can tolerate the commission in exchange for existing traffic.
See also: Full CGTrader vs Proofly comparison →
3. TurboSquid (now part of Shutterstock)
TurboSquid is the oldest 3D marketplace and was acquired by Shutterstock in 2021. It has strong brand recognition in VFX and architecture but charges some of the highest commissions: 40–55% depending on whether you sell exclusively through them.
The StemCell exclusive program pays up to 60% royalty but requires you not to sell those models elsewhere. Non-exclusive sellers receive 40%. Compared to Proofly's 0% commission, a $100 model sale nets you $40–60 on TurboSquid vs $100 on Proofly.
See also: Full TurboSquid vs Proofly comparison →
4. Sketchfab / FAB (Epic Games)
Sketchfab has one of the best 3D viewers in the industry — it's smooth, supports PBR materials, and is widely embedded across the web. However, Sketchfab was acquired by Epic Games in 2021 and merged into the FAB marketplace platform alongside the old Unreal Marketplace and ArtStation Marketplace.
FAB takes a 30% commission (up from Sketchfab's original structure). Buyer traffic is strong for Unreal Engine assets and game-ready content. It's a good choice if your primary audience is Unreal Engine developers.
See also: Sketchfab alternative → · FAB alternative →
5. Cults3D
Cults3D is the most popular French-origin marketplace for 3D printing files, with a strong community of FDM/resin printing enthusiasts. It charges a 20% commission on sales plus PayPal processing fees.
The viewer is image-only — no interactive 3D preview. STL files have no piracy protection. If your work gets reposted on Thingiverse or shared in Discord servers, there is no built-in way to prove authorship or trace the leak.
See also: Cults3D alternative →
6. MyMiniFactory
MyMiniFactory is the leading marketplace for tabletop miniatures, Warhammer-style models, and resin printing files. It has a passionate subscriber base (Tribes — subscription-based model drops) and a strong community for that niche.
Standard store listings take a 30% commission. The Tribes subscription system takes a cut of monthly subscriber revenue. It's a strong choice for miniature designers but limited for general-purpose 3D assets.
See also: MyMiniFactory alternative →
7. Printables.com (by Prusa)
Printables is primarily a free-model sharing platform run by Prusa Research. The vast majority of content is free. There is a limited "paid design" section but it hasn't gained the same traction as the free-sharing community.
Prusa offers "Prusameters" (store vouchers) as rewards for popular free uploads, but this isn't a viable revenue model for most creators. If you want to monetize, use Printables for exposure and sell premium/full versions on Proofly, Cults3D, or MyMiniFactory.
See also: Printables alternative →
8. Gumroad
Gumroad is a general digital products platform (not 3D-specific) with a 10% flat commission. It has good creator tools, flexible pricing, and a strong audience for digital downloads in general. The downside: no 3D viewer, no file-specific piracy protection, and no 3D community.
Gumroad works best for creators who already have a social following and drive their own traffic. Without an existing audience, discoverability is very low.
See also: Selling 3D models on Gumroad →
9. Patreon
Patreon charges 5–12% of monthly subscription revenue (depending on plan) plus Stripe/PayPal processing fees. It's optimized for recurring subscription income — monthly STL drops, patron-only model packs, and build-along series.
Patreon has no 3D viewer, no file piracy protection, and no discovery mechanism (Patreon does not surface your page to new buyers — you need to drive all traffic yourself). It's best as a supplement to a marketplace presence, not as a standalone platform.
See also: Patreon STL alternative →
10. Etsy
Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee plus a $0.20 per-listing fee and mandatory "offsite ads" that can add another 12–15% when a sale comes through an ad. Total effective commission can reach 20–25%.
Etsy has strong consumer buyer intent but its search algorithm is optimized for handmade physical goods, not digital 3D files. Discoverability for digital STL/GLB files is poor compared to dedicated 3D marketplaces. No 3D viewer, no piracy protection.
See also: Etsy alternative for 3D models →
The Commission Math: What You Actually Keep
Let's run the numbers on a model priced at $30 across platforms, assuming 100 sales per year ($3,000 revenue):
| Platform | Per-sale payout | Annual payout (100 sales) | Left on table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proofly | $30.00 | $3,000 | $0 |
| Gumroad (10%) | $27.00 | $2,700 | $300 |
| Cults3D (20%) | $24.00 | $2,400 | $600 |
| Sketchfab / FAB (30%) | $21.00 | $2,100 | $900 |
| CGTrader new seller (40%) | $18.00 | $1,800 | $1,200 |
| TurboSquid non-exclusive (40%) | $18.00 | $1,800 | $1,200 |
| TurboSquid exclusive (45%) | $16.50 | $1,650 | $1,350 |
*Proofly buyers pay a separate ~$1 service fee not included in your $30 payout. Commission comparisons based on publicly available platform rates as of July 2026.
Piracy Protection: The Feature Most Platforms Ignore
A single viral Telegram group can distribute your model to thousands of people in hours. Once an STL leaves your control, most platforms offer zero recourse. Here's how each platform compares:
Proofly — HiddenMark™ (only platform with this)
Every STL file uploaded to Proofly gets a unique ownership code ("PROOFLY_HM:…") embedded into the binary file header — invisible during normal use, but readable by our public verifier. If your file appears on Cults3D, a Discord server, or Thingiverse under someone else's name, you can verify authorship instantly and generate a legally formatted DMCA certificate with one click. No other marketplace offers file-level piracy tracing.
Everyone else — no file protection
CGTrader, TurboSquid, Sketchfab/FAB, Cults3D, MyMiniFactory, Printables, Gumroad, Patreon, and Etsy all deliver raw unprotected files. Once a buyer downloads your STL, the platform has no technical mechanism to trace or prove ownership if the file is redistributed. They may offer DMCA takedown assistance if you identify the infringing listing, but there is no automated detection.
Which Platform is Right for You?
You want maximum revenue per sale
→ Proofly. 0% commission means every dollar you charge goes directly to you. Start here, build your store, and drive traffic from social media.
You want the biggest existing buyer pool
→ CGTrader or TurboSquid for game/VFX/archviz assets. Accept the 40%+ commission as the price of discovery until you build your own audience.
You sell STL files for 3D printing
→ Proofly for piracy protection and 0% cut, plus Cults3D for access to an established 3D printing community.
You design miniatures for tabletop
→ MyMiniFactory for the established miniatures community. Run your primary store there, but also list on Proofly for the extra income stream at 0% commission.
You want recurring monthly income
→ Patreon or MyMiniFactory Tribes for subscription-based STL drops. Supplement with Proofly one-time sales for buyers who prefer individual purchases over subscriptions.
You need piracy protection for valuable IP
→ Proofly only. No other marketplace offers file-level ownership tracing. HiddenMark™ embeds a unique code into the STL itself — not just metadata or a watermarked image.
The Smart Multi-Platform Strategy
You don't have to choose just one. Most successful 3D creators run a multi-platform strategy:
- List on Proofly first — get HiddenMark protection embedded into your files before they go anywhere. Earn 100% from buyers who find you through Proofly.
- Cross-list on Cults3D / CGTrader / TurboSquid — tap into their existing buyer pools. Accept the commission as a discovery cost, but know that every file is already protected by HiddenMark.
- Drive social traffic back to Proofly — when your model trends on Instagram, Reddit, or YouTube, anyone who finds you through your own promotion buys at 0% commission through Proofly instead of paying 30–40% to a third-party marketplace.
- Use Patreon for subscribers, Proofly for one-time buyers — the two models complement each other. Patreon superfans pay monthly; casual buyers pay once on Proofly.
FAQ
What is the best marketplace to sell 3D models?
The best marketplace depends on your goals. If you want to keep the most money per sale, Proofly is the top choice — it charges 0% commission, so you keep 100% of the listed price (buyers pay a flat ~$1 service fee). For maximum existing buyer traffic, TurboSquid or CGTrader have large audiences but take 30–55% commission. For STL/3D printing files specifically, Cults3D, MyMiniFactory, or Printables.com all have active communities, though each takes a commission or subscription cut. Proofly combines the creator-first economics of Gumroad with a native 3D viewer, HiddenMark piracy tracing, and a built-in analytics dashboard.
Which 3D model marketplace has the lowest commission?
Proofly has the lowest commission for sellers: 0%. You keep 100% of the price you set; the buyer pays a small ~$1 platform service fee on top. Gumroad charges 10% but no per-item fee. Cults3D takes 20%. MyMiniFactory takes 30%. CGTrader starts at 40% for new sellers (improving to 15% after $10,000 in sales). TurboSquid takes 40–55% depending on exclusivity. Patreon charges 5–12% of subscription revenue.
Can I sell 3D models on multiple platforms at once?
Generally yes, unless you have an exclusivity agreement. TurboSquid's StemCell program and some Turbosquid premium tiers require exclusivity in exchange for a higher royalty rate. CGTrader does not require exclusivity. Proofly does not require exclusivity — you can list the same model on Proofly, Cults3D, and Gumroad simultaneously. If you do multi-platform, use HiddenMark (built into Proofly) to embed a unique ownership code in each file so you can trace piracy back to the source.
What is the best platform to sell STL files for 3D printing?
For STL files specifically, Cults3D and MyMiniFactory have the largest established communities of 3D printing enthusiasts. Printables.com (by Prusa) has a fast-growing free-download community but most models are free. Proofly focuses on premium paid STL/GLB/OBJ/FBX sales with 0% commission, HiddenMark piracy protection for your STL files, and an in-browser STL viewer so buyers can inspect before purchasing.
How do I protect my 3D models from piracy when selling online?
Most platforms offer no piracy protection. Proofly embeds a unique HiddenMark™ code into the binary header of every STL file at upload — invisible to users, readable by our verifier tool. If your file leaks, you can prove authorship and generate a DMCA certificate with one click. Other platforms (CGTrader, TurboSquid, Cults3D, MyMiniFactory) do not offer file-level ownership tracing.
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