Pinshape charges creators 25–35% on every model sale. If you sell 100 models at $10 each, that's $250–$350 handed to the platform before you see a cent. This guide compares Pinshape to Proofly and other alternatives so you can decide where your 3D printable files belong.
Published 2026-07-22 · 8 min read
Pinshape uses a commission model where the platform takes a percentage of every sale. The standard creator split leaves you with 65–75% of each transaction, depending on your account tier and sale type. For creators who price their models at $5–$20 — the typical range for STL files — the math gets painful quickly.
| Model Price | 100 Sales | Pinshape (30% cut) | Proofly (0% cut) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5 | $500 gross | $350 to creator | $500 to creator |
| $10 | $1,000 gross | $700 to creator | $1,000 to creator |
| $20 | $2,000 gross | $1,400 to creator | $2,000 to creator |
| $50 | $5,000 gross | $3,500 to creator | $5,000 to creator |
How Proofly's fee works differently: Instead of taking a percentage from the creator, Proofly charges buyers a flat $1 service fee on top of the model price. If you price your model at $10, the buyer pays $11 — and you receive $10. Your listed price is your actual income, always.
| Feature | Pinshape | Proofly |
|---|---|---|
| Creator commission | 25–35% per sale | 0% — you keep 100% |
| Buyer fee | Included in price split | Flat $1 per purchase |
| In-browser 3D viewer | Basic STL preview | Full GLB/STL/FBX/OBJ viewer with orbit, zoom, display modes |
| Piracy protection | None | HiddenMark per-buyer watermark (steganographic) |
| File formats | STL, OBJ, ZIP | STL, 3MF, GLB, OBJ, FBX, ZIP |
| Analytics | Basic views/downloads | Sales, conversion, revenue trends, buyer geography |
| Free models | Yes | Yes ($0 listed, no buyer fee) |
| Multi-currency pricing | USD only | USD, EUR, PLN — auto-converts to buyer's currency |
| Payout method | PayPal | Stripe Connect (bank transfer) |
| Founding creator program | No | First 100 creators get Founding Creator status (lifetime) |
If you're evaluating multiple options, here's how the main 3D printing marketplaces compare on commission:
| Platform | Commission | 3D Viewer | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proofly | 0% (buyer pays $1) | ✓ GLB/STL/FBX/OBJ | Max revenue, piracy tracing |
| Cults3D | 20% | Basic STL preview | Large 3D printing community |
| MyMiniFactory | 10–30% | ✓ STL viewer | Tabletop miniatures, verified models |
| Printables (Prusa) | Free hosting only | ✓ STL viewer | Community sharing, no direct sales |
| Pinshape | 25–35% | Basic preview | Established 3D printing community |
| Gambody | 30–40% | Images only | Licensed game/film IP figures |
| Gumroad | ~10% + Stripe fees | ✗ No viewer | Own audience, social following |
If you're primarily in the 3D printing niche, Cults3D and MyMiniFactory are the most established marketplaces with the largest print-focused buyer bases. However, both still take 10–30% commission. For creators who prioritize keeping more of each sale and protecting files from redistribution, Proofly offers the better economics.
Buyers who can inspect a model in an interactive 3D viewer before purchasing convert at significantly higher rates than those relying on static images alone. Pinshape's viewer is basic — it renders STL in a simple orbit control without display modes, lighting presets, or wireframe views.
Proofly's in-browser viewer supports:
For 3D printable files especially, the measurement tool and watertight check are direct conversion drivers — buyers want to verify the model is print-ready before they spend money.
3D printable models — especially miniatures, cosplay pieces, and niche fan-art adjacent designs — are among the most heavily pirated digital goods. Telegram channels and Discord servers distribute stolen STL files to thousands of members. Pinshape has no protection mechanism: once a buyer downloads your file, you have no way to trace redistribution back to a specific source.
HiddenMark on Proofly embeds a unique steganographic identifier in every download — invisibly in the mesh geometry, surviving format conversion and basic decimation. If your model appears on a piracy channel, you upload the leaked file to proofly.store/hiddenmark and identify exactly which buyer's purchase was the source.
What HiddenMark enables:
Moving your catalog doesn't require deleting your Pinshape store. Most creators run both simultaneously — Pinshape keeps your existing audience while Proofly becomes your primary store for new uploads and the platform where you direct traffic (because you keep 100%).
Export your files from Pinshape. Download your original STL/ZIP files. You own the IP — there are no restrictions on selling the same model elsewhere under Pinshape's standard terms.
Add a GLB file for each model. If you only have STL, export a GLB from Blender (File → Export → GLTF 2.0, format: GLB). This enables the in-browser viewer, which increases conversion rates significantly.
Upload to Proofly at the same price. Your price on Proofly is your gross income — no need to inflate prices to cover commission. A $10 model listed at $10 earns you $10 (buyers pay $11 total).
Update your social links and bio. Add your Proofly store URL to your Instagram, Twitter/X, Discord, Reddit posts, and Pinshape profile. Wherever you currently send buyers, add Proofly as the 0%-commission option.
Connect Stripe for payouts. Proofly pays out via Stripe Connect. Setup takes 5–10 minutes. Payouts are available on demand — no minimum threshold delay like some platforms impose.
Pinshape charges a 25–35% commission on paid model sales, depending on your account tier and whether the sale is a one-time purchase or part of their premium membership program. Proofly charges 0% commission — creators keep 100% of the listed price. Buyers pay a flat $1 service fee directly, which keeps the platform funded without touching creator earnings.
The main reasons creators seek Pinshape alternatives are: high commission rates (25–35% of every sale), limited 3D preview capabilities compared to modern standards, lack of per-buyer watermarking for piracy tracing, and limited analytics. Many creators want a platform that gives them more revenue, better model protection, and clearer insight into what their buyers are doing.
For 3D printing creators, Proofly is the strongest Pinshape alternative: 0% commission, in-browser 3D viewer (buyers can inspect models before purchasing), HiddenMark per-buyer watermarking to trace redistribution, and multi-currency pricing. Other alternatives include Cults3D (20% commission), MyMiniFactory (10–30%), and Printables (free to upload, no direct sales). For printable miniatures specifically, Proofly also supports the full miniature niche with tabletop-focused categories.
Yes. Pinshape's standard terms allow non-exclusive selling — you are not required to list models exclusively with them. You can upload the same STL or ZIP files to Proofly in parallel. However, always verify your Pinshape plan's current exclusivity clauses before cross-posting, especially if you are on any premium creator tier with revenue bonuses. Proofly has no exclusivity requirements.
Yes. Proofly accepts STL, 3MF, GLB, OBJ, FBX, and ZIP bundles. STL and 3MF are the primary 3D printing formats and are fully supported for upload and download. GLB files enable the in-browser 3D preview (buyers can rotate and inspect your model before buying). You can include your STL files inside a ZIP bundle alongside support files, license text, and any slicer presets.
Proofly uses HiddenMark — a steganographic watermarking system that embeds a unique per-buyer identifier in the mesh geometry of every downloaded file. If your STL or GLB appears on a piracy site or Telegram channel, you can upload the leaked file to proofly.store/hiddenmark to identify exactly which buyer's download was the source, enabling a targeted DMCA takedown and permanent ban. This is especially valuable for printable miniatures and cosplay files that circulate heavily in piracy communities.
List your 3D printable models on Proofly: 0% commission, in-browser viewer, and HiddenMark piracy tracing included free.
Upload your first model →