5+ places where to sell your 3d models

Thanks to the adoption of 3D design by big brands such as Apple and Facebook, there are a number of online marketplaces geared towards the buying and selling of digital 3D graphics.

Some focus on general use, like CG design, 3D illustrations, presentations, and UI. Others cater more specialized towards niche markets, such as architectural models, or industry-specific product models, like jewelry or furniture.

Each marketplace has its own requirements, benefits, and profit share rates, so make sure to weigh your options before committing to a particular platform.

To help get you started, here are five 3D marketplaces for you to consider:

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1. TurboSquid

Founded in 2000, Turbosquid has championed growth in the 3D space through partnerships with leaders in the industry. Their collaborative efforts have led them to co-creating products like CheckMate, which defines quality specifications for the 3D industry, and StemCell, which allows 3D models to be converted to every major 3D application.

It comes as no surprise then that TurboSquid is considered to be one of the largest sources for professional 3D models. They're also the official 3D content licensee for Ford, General Motors, USPS, etc. In 2021, TurboSquid was acquired by Shutterstock.

Benefits:

• List your 3D design content across various Turbosquid platforms and partner sites with just one upload.
• Earn up to 80% commission when joining their affiliate program, SquidGuild.
• Get insights and reports, with more detailed info about lucrative keywords and popular categories.
• Customer support is handled by Turbosquad.

Used by: game developers, news agencies, architects, visual effects studios, advertisers, and creative professionals around the world.

Payment platforms: PayPal and Payoneer.

2. CG Trader

CGTrader was established in 2011 with the intention of being the first designer-friendly online marketplace for 3D content. It’s one of the largest sources for licensable stock and custom 3D models and offers two solutions for sellers and buyers.

CGTrader Marketplace is a community-based, self-service platform with a strong designer community with 4.52 million members. CGTrader Enterprise 3D Modeling is the enterprise solution that allows businesses to convert 2D product images into photorealistic 3D models for Augmented Reality and other 3D customer experiences.

Benefits:

• Earn between 70-80% in royalties, which is one of the highest royalty rates in the market.
• Immediate access to tips and a knowledge base with an ever-growing design community.
• Access to potential clients requiring custom 3D projects.
• Insights and reports to help maximize your earning potential.

Used by: 3D artists, design studios, and businesses all share and trade their models on CGTrader. If a business cannot find a specific 3D model on the platform, they can hire from the designer Marketplace community for custom jobs.

Payment platforms: There are four methods for royalty and freelance payments. PayPal, Payoneer, Wire transfer, and Webmoney.

3. Renderosity

Renderosity is a community-driven platform for digital artists. With nearly 800,000 members, the platform caters to both 2D and 3D art.

If you choose to sell in their MarketPlace, they offer free advertising options while also giving competitive industry rates.

Benefits:

• A community created by artists for artists.
• More artistic approach vs. commercial content.
• Numerous features that maximize community learning and creativity.
• Store marketing support is available.

Used by: 2D and 3D digital artists, animators, photographers, and writers.

4. Cubebrush

Described as an "eCommerce platform for artists, game developers & designers," Cubebrush's aim is to provide ongoing value to its sellers. The platform givers creators freedom and control over the digital items they sell.

Benefits:

• Easy-to-use, free platform.
• Two revenue stream options to maximize income: (1) When sharing your store URLs directly or via social networks, you make approximately 95% on each sale generated. (2) For sales generated by Cubebrush, you receive 70% of profits from a sale.
• A broad range of payment types is accepted, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, PayPal, and most major credit cards.
• A variety of digital projects can be sold, e.g. 3D assets, materials/substances, CG tutorials, 2D game assets, etc

Used by: digital artists, game developers and designers.

Payment platforms: PayPal

5. Sketchfab

Sketchfab has a “paid download” feature for models hosted on their site. Users wanting to sell models and have them featured in the Sketchfab store, need to apply to become sellers. Read more about becoming a seller in the help section.