The math on 30 minis at $5 each
Say you sell a miniature pack of 30 sculpts at $5. After 100 sales on Itch.io at the default 10% split, the platform takes $150 — or $0 if you set the slider to zero, though Stripe still charges ~3% on top. On Proofly, the creator keeps 100% of the $5 regardless. The buyer pays a flat ~$1 service fee that goes to the platform.
At scale this compounds: 1,000 sales of a $5 pack = $500 kept by Itch.io at 10%, or $0 on Proofly. More importantly, the two platforms reach different audiences — Itch.io is primarily game buyers, while Proofly's audience actively searches for print-ready STL files.
Calculate your revenue difference
| Period | Itch.io (10%) | Proofly (0%) | Your gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per sale | $14 | $15 | +$2 |
| Monthly (100 sales) | $1,350 | $1,500 | +$150 |
| Per year | $16,200 | $18,000 | +$1,800 |
Itch.io default suggestion is 10%; can be set lower, but Stripe processing (~3%) still applies. Proofly charges 0% to sellers — only the buyer pays a small flat fee.
Miniature buyers purchase on detail — not blind screenshots
Tabletop miniature buyers are not impulse shoppers. They care about undercut angles, base attachment points, support density, and scale accuracy. A static PNG thumbnail cannot answer any of these questions.
On Itch.io, buyers download without seeing the mesh — then ask questions in comments, request refunds, or simply churn. Proofly embeds a full WebGL 3D viewer on every listing page. Buyers orbit the sculpt, switch to wireframe, check topology, and confirm scale before purchasing — no plugin, no download, no extra friction.
For complex multi-part kits and pre-supported packs, this makes a measurable difference in buyer confidence and reduces post-purchase support volume.
When your mini pack leaks to a 'free STL' Discord
Itch.io has no mechanism to trace a pirated STL file. Once a buyer downloads your pack and shares it in a Discord server, Telegram group, or 'free files' forum, you have no forensic way to identify the source — or prove which purchase the leak came from.
Proofly's HiddenMark system embeds a unique steganographic code into every downloaded mesh. The code is placed inside the geometry itself — not in metadata (which gets stripped by format conversion) and not visible in the final print. Each buyer receives a differently-coded copy of your file.
🔐 HiddenMark™ — how it works
A leaked file surfaces on a piracy site. Upload it to proofly.store/hiddenmark — the verifier reads the embedded code and returns the exact purchase record: buyer, date, order ID. Under 10 seconds. No account needed to verify.
How HiddenMark works →Keep your Itch.io page — add Proofly as a second channel
Proofly requires zero exclusivity. Your Itch.io presence stays exactly as-is — the gaming community there is a different audience from the 3D-print buyer searching for STL files.
Many creators dual-list: Itch.io for the indie gaming community (discovery + free versions), Proofly for the print-focused buyer who wants pre-supported ZIPs, multi-scale variants, or premium editions with print settings documented per part.
Uploading to Proofly takes about 5 minutes. The 3D viewer and HiddenMark fingerprinting are automatic — no extra steps required on your end.
Frequently asked questions
What commission does Itch.io charge on 3D model / STL file sales?
Itch.io uses a sliding-scale model: default suggestion is 10%, but creators can set it to 0%. Even at 0%, Stripe processing fees (~3%) still apply. Proofly charges 0% from sellers — the platform earns only from the buyer's small flat fee (~$1).
Can buyers preview 3D miniatures before buying on Itch.io?
No. Itch.io shows only static screenshots. Buyers download blind. Proofly includes a full in-browser WebGL 3D viewer on every listing — buyers orbit, zoom, and inspect the mesh before purchasing.
How does Proofly protect against STL piracy compared to Itch.io?
Itch.io has no per-buyer piracy tracing for 3D files. Proofly's HiddenMark embeds a unique code inside the mesh geometry per buyer — if your mini pack leaks, upload it to proofly.store/hiddenmark to identify the exact purchase in under 10 seconds.
Can I sell on both Itch.io and Proofly at the same time?
Yes. Proofly has no exclusivity requirement. Your Itch.io page stays unchanged. Proofly reaches the 3D-print-specific audience; Itch.io keeps the gaming-community audience. Two channels, same files.
What 3D formats does Proofly support for miniature creators?
STL, GLB, OBJ, 3MF, FBX, and ZIP packages — all with in-browser 3D viewer and HiddenMark fingerprinting on every paid download. Bundle pre-supported variants, multi-base options, or multi-scale kits in a single ZIP listing.
Ready to protect your minis?
Upload your first pack in 5 minutes. No exclusivity, no monthly fee, 0% commission, and every buyer's download is fingerprinted automatically.
Start selling on Proofly →