Where to Sell STL Files: Platform Comparison for Tabletop Gaming Creators

If you're creating 3D printable miniatures for tabletop gaming, you've probably asked yourself: "Where should I sell STL files?" The answer depends on what you're making, who you want to reach, and how much you're willing to pay in platform fees.

We're going to break down the real costs of selling 3D print models across the most popular platforms, including MyMiniFactory, Cults3D, CGTrader, and Plaza. By the end, you'll know exactly which platform makes sense for your work.

The Question Everyone's Asking: Is Selling 3D Models Profitable?

Short answer: It depends on where you sell.

Platform fees range from 8% to 20% of every sale. Add payment processing fees (usually 3-5%), and you're looking at anywhere from 11% to 25% of your revenue going to middlemen before you see a penny.

Let's use real numbers. If you make $1,000 in sales:

At 8% commission: You keep ~$870 after fees
At 12% commission: You keep ~$830
At 20% commission: You keep ~$750

That's a $120 difference between the best and worst platform. Multiply that over a year of sales, and platform choice becomes one of your biggest business decisions.

Platform Comparison: Where to Sell 3D Print Models

Here's what the major platforms actually charge:

MyMiniFactory (MMF)

Commission: 10% (Free tier) or 12% (Studio Pro)
Monthly fees: $0 (Free) or $24.99 (Studio Pro)
Focus: General 3D printing, strong in tabletop gaming
Audience: Large, generalist

Real cost at $500/month sales:

Free tier: $50 commission + ~$17.50 payment processing = $67.50 (13.5%)
Studio Pro: $24.99 monthly + $60 commission + ~$17.50 payment = $102.49 (20.5%)

Best for: Creators who need MMF's brand recognition and are okay with higher fees

Cults3D

Commission: 20% (one of the highest in the industry)
Monthly fees: $0
Focus: General 3D printing
Audience: Large, very generalist

Real cost at $500/month sales:

$100 commission + ~$17.50 payment processing = $117.50 (23.5%)

Best for: Creators who want maximum exposure and don't mind losing 20%+ to fees

CGTrader

Commission: Varies (typically 12-15% depending on exclusivity)
Monthly fees: $0
Focus: Professional 3D models (game assets, architectural, etc.)
Audience: Game developers, professional studios

Best for: Game asset creators (Unity/Unreal models), not tabletop gaming STLs

Plaza (Wargaming3D / Minihoarder)

Commission: 8% (lowest in the industry)
Monthly fees: $0
Focus: Tabletop gaming miniatures (historical, fantasy, sci-fi)
Audience: Genre-specific (Wargaming3D for historical, Minihoarder for fantasy/sci-fi)

Real cost at $500/month sales:

$40 commission + ~$17.50 payment processing = $57.50 (11.5%)

Best for: Tabletop gaming creators who want low fees and genre-specific audiences

The Math: What Low Commission Actually Means

Let's compare Plaza's 8% to industry averages across different revenue levels:

At $500/month in sales:

Plaza (8%): Keep $442.50/month = $5,310/year
MMF Free (10%): Keep $432.50/month = $5,190/year
Cults3D (20%): Keep $382.50/month = $4,590/year

Plaza saves you $120-720/year at this level.

At $2,000/month in sales:

Plaza (8%): Keep $1,830/month = $21,960/year
MMF Free (10%): Keep $1,790/month = $21,480/year
Cults3D (20%): Keep $1,530/month = $18,360/year

Plaza saves you $480-3,600/year at this level.

The difference compounds. Every dollar you save on fees is a dollar you can reinvest in better tools, more models, or your business.

Beyond Just Fees: What Else Matters

Commission rates are important, but they're not the only factor. Here's what else to consider:

Genre-Specific vs Generalist Marketplaces

Generalist platforms (MMF, Cults3D, CGTrader):

Massive catalogs with everything from keychains to architectural models
Hard to stand out if you're making niche tabletop content
Buyers have to wade through unrelated content to find what they want

Genre-specific platforms (Wargaming3D, Minihoarder):

Curated for specific audiences (historical wargaming, fantasy/sci-fi miniatures)
Buyers come looking specifically for tabletop content
Less noise, better discoverability for creators

If you're making historical Roman legions or fantasy dragons, which audience makes more sense?

Multi-Storefront Reach (Plaza's Unique Angle)

Most platforms give you one storefront. With Plaza, you upload once and appear on multiple marketplaces:

List on Wargaming3D (reaches historical wargaming enthusiasts)
Simultaneously appear on Minihoarder (reaches fantasy/sci-fi gamers)
Future marketplaces get added automatically

You're not splitting your catalog across platforms. You're multiplying your reach with a single upload.

Free Distribution for Kickstarter Creators

If you run Kickstarters or Patreon, you know the pain of fulfillment. How do you get files to backers? How do they re-download months later?

Plaza includes free file distribution:

Give backers access to specific models
They can re-download anytime (no ongoing costs for you)
No separate distribution tool needed

This is especially valuable for Patreon creators who need ongoing fulfillment without ongoing costs.

The Small Team Advantage

Here's something that doesn't show up in a fee comparison: who are you actually talking to?

On large platforms, you submit support tickets to corporate teams. Feature requests disappear into backlogs. You're one of thousands.

With Plaza, you're talking to Piete and Steve—the people who actually built the platform. Need a feature? We can build it. Have a problem? You get direct access to the builders, not a support queue.

We're small, and that's an advantage. We can move fast, build what creators need, and actually listen to feedback without layers of corporate process.

Coming Soon: All-in-One Creator Platform

Right now, most creators juggle:

A marketplace for sales (MMF, Cults3D, etc.)
Kickstarter for funding new projects
Patreon for subscriptions
Separate distribution tools

Plaza is building all of this into one platform:

Sales (already live)
Free distribution (already live)
Internal preorders (coming soon - Kickstarter alternative)
Internal subscriptions (coming soon - Patreon alternative)

One platform, one dashboard, one fee structure. Everything in one place.

Who Plaza Is (and Isn't) For

Plaza works best for:

Tabletop gaming creators (historical wargaming, fantasy, sci-fi miniatures)
Kickstarter creators who need ongoing distribution
Creators tired of paying 12-20% in fees
Creators who want genre-specific audiences instead of generalist noise

Plaza probably isn't the best fit for:

Game asset creators (Unity/Unreal models) - CGTrader or TurboSquid are better
Architectural model creators - different market entirely
Creators making general 3D printing content (keychains, phone cases, etc.) - broader platforms might work better

We're honest about what we're good at. We built Plaza for tabletop gaming creators, and that's who we serve best.

Getting Started

No monthly fees means there's no cost to try it. Apply as a creator, get approved (we manually review every application to maintain quality), and list your first models.

You can test the waters without committing to monthly subscriptions or exclusive deals.

Want to see what 8% commission means for your revenue? Sign up as a creator or learn more about our features.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I sell STL files for?

Pricing depends on complexity, uniqueness, and your audience. Tabletop miniatures typically range from $2-15 for individual models, $10-50 for small sets, and $30-100+ for large army bundles. Check what similar models sell for on your target platform, then price based on your quality and detail level.

Can you make money selling 3D print files?

Yes, especially with low platform fees. Successful creators treat it like a business: regular releases, quality models, good presentation, and engagement with their audience. At 8% commission, more of your revenue stays with you to reinvest in tools and growth.

Where to sell STL files besides Etsy?

Etsy works for some creators, but dedicated 3D printing marketplaces give you better discoverability. Platforms like MyMiniFactory, Cults3D, Printables, and Plaza are built specifically for 3D printable content, so buyers come looking for STL files, not general crafts.

Is MyMiniFactory or Cults3D better?

MMF has better brand recognition and a larger audience, but charges 10-12% commission. Cults3D has a large audience too, but charges 20% commission (one of the highest in the industry). For tabletop creators, genre-specific platforms like Wargaming3D or Minihoarder offer lower fees (8%) and more targeted audiences.

Bottom line: If you're creating tabletop gaming miniatures, the combination of low fees (8%), genre-specific audiences, multi-storefront reach, and free distribution makes Plaza worth a look. If you're already on other platforms, there's no exclusivity requirement—you can test Plaza alongside your existing sales channels.

The best platform is the one that keeps more money in your pocket while reaching the right audience. Run the numbers for your situation, and choose accordingly.

— Piete & Steve, Playable Prints