Top 10 Platforms for Selling Graphic Designs
The digital market for graphic design has proliferated over the last decade, providing artists with a multitude of platforms to sell their works. Each platform, from Adobe Stock and Shutterstock to Etsy and GraphicRiver, provides unique benefits and opportunities. Creators are no longer restricted to traditional methods of selling their works; instead, they can showcase their talents to a global audience. These platforms not only offer monetization opportunities but also provide exposure, networking, and diverse market insight. This guide will delve into ten of the most popular platforms where creators can sell graphic designs, exploring their unique attributes, advantages, disadvantages, and why they might be the perfect fit for your creative business.
1. Shutterstock ☆☆☆☆☆
Website: shutterstock.com
Description: Shutterstock is a global marketplace for artists to sell images, footage, vectors, and illustrations. It offers tools to upload, organize, and manage your portfolio. With millions of users, it is an excellent platform for reaching a large audience.
Key Features: User-friendly interface, advanced search options, large customer base. Type of Videos: Stock footage, animations, vector graphics, photos.
Pros:
▹ Large global audience;
▹ User-friendly interface.
Cons:
▹ Competitive;
▹ Lower royalty rates for non-exclusive contributors.
Good for selling: Animations, vector graphics, photos.
Price: Earnings range from $0.25 to $120 depending on license type and contributor level.
What A free Demo Trial Offers: Browsing and downloading of free assets.
Conclusion: Shutterstock is ideal for creators looking to reach a vast, global audience.
2. SellPal ☆☆☆☆
Website: sellpal.io
Description: SellPal is making waves in the digital monetization space, particularly catering to the needs of the creative community. If you’re a graphic designer, this platform is tailored to help you monetize templates, design assets, brushes, tutorials, and more. Start by uploading your design file — whether it’s a PSD, AI, or even a video tutorial — to SellPal’s expansive storage, which generously allows files up to 5GB. Once uploaded, you get a shareable link, which you can then distribute to your clientele. What’s more, payments are streamlined through the well-regarded Stripe system, ensuring secure transactions not just in the West but also in countries like India, Brazil, and Indonesia. A highlight of SellPal? Zero commissions! You retain every dollar you earn.
Key Features: Extensive storage, safe transactions, a 5GB cap on individual files;
Pros:
▹ Zero cost to use;
▹ Hassle-free Stripe integration for payments;
Cons:
▹ Absence of a dedicated display storefront;
▹ Not designed for more complex digital offerings;
Good for selling: templates, design brushes, Figma resources, tutorials, and other design-centric assets.
Price: Absolutely free.
What A free Demo Trial Offers: No trial periods or premium plans.
Conclusion: For graphic designers seeking a streamlined monetization method, SellPal offers a promising solution. If you’re looking to occasionally sell design assets or are based in a Stripe-supported country, SellPal could be your next big earning channel.
3. Canva ☆☆☆☆☆
Website: canva.com
Description: Canva is a graphic design platform that allows users to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, and other visual content. Designers can upload and sell their designs on the platform.
Key Features: User-friendly interface, diverse design tools, wide audience.
Pros:
▹ Easy to use;
▹ High-demand for Canva templates.
Cons:
▹ Competitive marketplace;
▹ Limited royalties.
Good for selling: Focuses on social media graphics, presentations, and other visual content.
Price: Royalties based on licenses (typically around 12.5%-25%).
What A free Demo Trial Offers: Free access to basic features.
Conclusion: Canva is ideal for designers creating templates for social media and presentations.
4. Freepik ☆☆☆
Website: freepik.com
Description: Freepik is a platform offering high-quality resources for graphic design and web design, including vectors, photos, icons, and PSD files. As a contributor, you can earn money with your creations by sharing them with other users and receiving a commission each time your resources are downloaded.
Key Features: High-quality resources, user-friendly interface, comprehensive contributor’s guide.
Pros:
▹ Large, global audience;
▹ Opportunity to earn passive income.
Cons:
▹ Fierce competition;
▹ Resources must be approved by Freepik before being available.
Good for selling: Mainly for vectors, stock photos, and PSD files.
Price: Freepik shares 60% of net advertising revenue with contributors.
What A free Demo Trial Offers: Free to register and upload items.
Conclusion: Freepik is a great platform for graphic designers seeking to earn passive income from their creations.
5. Envato Elements ☆☆☆☆
Website: elements.envato.com
Description: Envato Elements is a subscription-based platform offering millions of digital assets, including graphic templates, fonts, photos, and more. Creators can earn from their items on a share of subscription revenue basis.
Key Features: Subscription-based model, broad audience, wide range of categories.
Pros:
▹ Regular income through a shared subscription model;
▹ Diverse range of categories.
Cons:
▹ Earnings dependent on overall subscription revenue;
▹ High competition.
Good for selling: Offers graphic templates, fonts, photos, and more.
Price: Revenue shared between contributors depending on the number of subscriber downloads.
What A free Demo Trial Offers: Free to register and upload items.
Conclusion: Envato Elements is perfect for designers seeking to tap into a regular income stream.
6. 99Designs ☆☆☆
Website: 99designs.com
Description: 99designs is a platform that connects designers and clients. It offers a unique competition format where designers submit designs based on client requirements, and the client picks the best one.
Key Features: Competition format, designer-client interaction, diverse design categories.
Pros:
▹ Competition format can lead to higher earnings;
▹ Exposure to diverse client needs.
Cons:
▹ No guarantee of payment;
▹ Highly competitive.
Good for selling: Mainly for logos, web design, and other graphic design works.
Price: Fees vary based on the design category and prize amount.
What A free Demo Trial Offers: Free to join and participate in contests.
Conclusion: 99designs is great for competitive designers who want exposure to diverse projects.
7. Redbubble ☆☆☆☆
Website: redbubble.com
Description: Redbubble is a platform that allows independent artists to sell their artwork on a variety of products, like T-shirts, stickers, and phone cases. Artists upload their artwork and select which products to sell, setting their margin for each product.
Key Features: Print-on-demand model, set your own prices, wide variety of products.
Pros:
▹ Variety of products to sell your designs on;
▹ Set your own prices.
Cons:
▹ Redbubble’s base price can be high, reducing profit margins;
▹ Competition is fierce.
Good for selling: Mainly for print-on-demand items with unique designs.
Price: Sellers receive payment of the retail price minus Redbubble’s base price.
What A free Demo Trial Offers: Free to set up a shop and start selling.
Conclusion: Redbubble is great for designers looking to sell their artwork on physical products.
8. Creative Market ☆☆☆☆☆
Website: creativemarket.com
Description: Creative Market is a platform for handcrafted, mouse-made design content from independent creatives around the world. It offers graphics, WordPress themes, stock photography, and other digital goods.
Key Features: Handcrafted designs, broad categories, large independent community.
Pros:
▹ Unique marketplace for handcrafted designs;
▹ High degree of autonomy for sellers.
Cons:
▹ Lower traffic compared to larger platforms;
▹ Higher fees.
Good for selling: Offers graphics, themes, photos, and other digital goods.
Price: Fees for Sellers: 40% commission on each sale.
What A free Demo Trial Offers: Free to set up a shop.
Conclusion: Creative Market is great for independent creators of handcrafted designs.
9. DesignCuts ☆☆☆☆
Website: designcuts.com
Description: Design Cuts offers high-quality assets for designers at affordable prices, including fonts, graphics, templates, and more. It operates on a bundle system, offering high discounts on packages of design assets.
Key Features: Bundle deals, curated marketplace, live design sessions.
Pros:
▹ High discounts on bundle deals;
▹ Quality-focused marketplace.
Cons:
▹ Not a traditional stock platform;
▹ Might not suit all types of design works.
Good for selling: Focuses on graphic designs, fonts, and templates.
Price: Fees for Sellers: Not publicly disclosed.
What A free Demo Trial Offers: Free to browse, freebies available.
Conclusion: Design Cuts is perfect for designers interested in high-quality assets and bundle deals.
10. This Is a Limited Edition ☆☆☆
Website: thisisalimitededition.com
Description: “This Is a Limited Edition” operates as a specialized platform collaborating with artists to develop unique, limited-run items. The platform’s emphasis is on exclusivity, quality, and innovation, featuring distinctive art pieces on a variety of products such as prints, ceramics, and cushions. Access to the platform is primarily through invitation, although artists from the UK and Ireland can also apply for consideration. The details regarding the fees for sellers, as well as the specifics about the user base and transaction numbers, remain undisclosed.
Key Features: Limited edition model, curated selection, exclusive partnerships with artists.
Pros:
▹ Exclusive, curated platform;
▹ Limited editions can demand higher prices.
Cons:
▹ Strict curation process;
▹ Not all types of designs may be accepted.
Good for selling: Focuses on prints, homeware, and other physical products.
Price: Fees are not publicly disclosed.
What A free Demo Trial Offers: N/A;
Conclusion: This Is a Limited Edition is ideal for artists seeking to sell exclusive, limited edition items.
Unlock the potential of your creative prowess by exploring the world of graphic design selling platforms — a treasure trove waiting to amplify your reach, revenue, and recognition in the digital age
