GrabCAD earns you nothing — Proofly pays 100%
GrabCAD was founded as an engineering community and acquired by Stratasys in 2014. Its goal was never creator monetization — it was to build a library that Stratasys could use to promote its industrial printers. Every model you upload to GrabCAD is indexed, served, and downloaded for free. You receive no payment, no royalty, and no share of any advertising revenue.
Proofly flips this model. You upload a file, set a price, and every download is a Stripe payment that goes directly to your connected bank account. The platform charges 0% commission — Proofly earns revenue from a flat buyer service fee (~$1 / ≈4 PLN) charged at checkout, not from your earnings.
Sell STEP files: bundle them as a ZIP
STEP and IGES are the dominant formats for parametric CAD, but most 3D marketplaces don't support them natively in an in-browser viewer. Proofly supports direct upload of STL, GLB, OBJ, and 3MF files with live WebGL preview. For STEP, SolidWorks, or Fusion 360 source files, the recommended workflow is simple: bundle them into a ZIP archive together with an STL or GLB export for the viewer.
The buyer sees a 3D preview of the STL in the browser, then downloads the full ZIP containing your STEP source files. This gives engineering buyers exactly what they need — a CAD-ready file — while still providing the visual inspection experience that drives purchase confidence.
💡 Workflow for STEP sellers
- Export STL or GLB from your CAD software for the viewer preview
- Bundle STL + STEP (+ any other formats) into a ZIP
- Upload the ZIP as the primary file on Proofly
- Use the STL as the preview mesh — buyers see the geometry before buying
HiddenMark™ — piracy protection for paid CAD files
Engineering files have real commercial value. A detailed assembly model, a precision jig, or a unique mechanism can save a buyer hours of design work — which is exactly why buyers pay for them, and why leaking them hurts sellers.
Proofly's HiddenMark system embeds a unique steganographic code per buyer directly into the mesh geometry of every paid download. The code survives re-export and slicing because it lives in the vertex data, not in file metadata. If your file surfaces on a forum or Telegram group, upload one of the leaked files to proofly.store/hiddenmark to identify exactly which buyer it came from.
🔐 HiddenMark™
Unique per-buyer watermark embedded in the mesh geometry on every paid download. Automatic — no setup required from the creator.
How HiddenMark works →Use both — GrabCAD for visibility, Proofly for income
GrabCAD's 9 million registered engineers represent real audience reach. Keeping your models there for community exposure makes sense — especially for portfolio pieces and simple utility models that attract followers and demonstrate your skill.
For your higher-value work — complex assemblies, precision tooling, premium character or prop models — list the paid version on Proofly. Link to your Proofly store from your GrabCAD profile. Buyers who find your work on GrabCAD and want the full parametric version or the latest revision have nowhere to pay on GrabCAD. Proofly is that destination.
Proofly has no exclusivity requirement. Your GrabCAD models stay up; your Proofly listings run in parallel. Upload takes under 2 minutes, the in-browser 3D viewer is automatic, and HiddenMark protection activates on every paid download with no configuration.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell models on GrabCAD?
No. GrabCAD is a free sharing community — all models are free to download and creators earn $0 per download. Proofly is the paid alternative: 0% seller commission, you set the price, you keep 100%.
What is a good GrabCAD alternative for selling CAD models?
Proofly is purpose-built for paid 3D and CAD model sales. You get a branded storefront, an in-browser WebGL 3D viewer, HiddenMark™ per-buyer watermarking, and 0% seller commission. Buyers pay a flat ~$1 service fee — nothing comes out of your earnings.
What file formats can I sell on Proofly?
Proofly supports STL, GLB, GLTF, OBJ, FBX, 3MF, and ZIP archives. For STEP or SolidWorks files, bundle them into a ZIP with an STL export for the 3D viewer preview. Buyers get the full package including your STEP source files.
Does Proofly take a commission?
No. 0% commission from creators. You keep 100% of your listed price. Buyers pay a flat $1 (≈4 PLN) service fee per order — that is Proofly's only revenue from sales.
Should I delete my GrabCAD models and move to Proofly?
No — keep GrabCAD for community visibility and reach. Add Proofly for a paid version of your best work or for premium variants with more detail, pre-configured assemblies, or additional formats. Link to your Proofly store from your GrabCAD profile so followers can support you.
0% commission. 100% yours.
Upload in 2 minutes. In-browser 3D viewer, HiddenMark™ per-buyer fingerprinting, Stripe payouts — no subscription, no setup cost.
Start selling on Proofly →