Cults3D compared: creator share, fees and paid requests
Cults3D is one of the most creator-friendly file marketplaces, and it publishes its terms clearly. This page compares its documented model, as of 2026-09-16, with ours.
Cults3D's documented terms (as of 2026-09-16)
We are not stating Cults3D's current commission on this page. We could not reach a Cults3D-owned page to re-verify it, and we would rather say nothing than publish a competitor's pricing we cannot check. What we can say is our own side, below. If you are comparing, read their terms on their site.
This marketplace
Creators keep 92% of the listed price and the platform keeps 8%, with no subscription, listing fee or tier. Every solution carries a licence the creator picks: personal use only, commercial, or attribution-required remix. Details are on the pricing page.
There is also a second way to earn: bounties. Someone posts a request with money attached, and when your solution is accepted each pledge is charged directly to your Stripe account with a 0% platform fee. Our research did not cover whether Cults3D offers anything similar, so we make no claim either way.
Side by side
| Cults3D (documented 2026-09-16) | This marketplace | |
|---|---|---|
| Creator share of a file sale | 80% of net price ex-VAT | 92% of listed price |
| Subscription or listing fee | None | None |
| Licence choice | Creator-set, personal or commercial | Personal, commercial or attribution remix |
| Paid requests (bounties) | Not covered by our research | Yes, 0% platform fee |
| Ads | Not covered by our research | None, ever |
| Audience today | Established | New and small |
Where Cults3D is stronger
Cults3D has an established audience that this marketplace does not have yet, and many creators already cross-post there from Patreon. Weigh the five-point difference in creator share against that reach.
Trust and safety here
Uploads are scanned for malware before anyone can download them, executables are refused, and G-code is flagged as higher risk. There is a public takedown route, and a dispute can be opened within 14 days of a purchase.
What is live today, and what is not
This is a young marketplace, so here is exactly where it stands. Bounties are posted, pledged to and accepted in the MakeBounty app, backed by the same API this site uses. Each bounty and each solution has a public page here. Catalogue checkout with the published split is built in the API; a purchase control on the public solution page is not live yet. Print-on-demand fulfilment is not live yet either: today you receive design files, not a manufactured part.
Frequently asked questions
What commission does Cults3D take?
We are not going to state it, because we could not verify it. Cults3D is the authority on its own pricing, so check their site. Our own share is 92%, flat, with no tiers and no listing fee.
How much do creators keep here?
92% of the listed price. The platform keeps 8%, with no tiers, listing fees or subscription.
Can I get paid to design something new, not just sell existing files?
Yes. Claim an open bounty and submit a solution. When the poster accepts it, each pledge is charged directly to your Stripe account with a 0% platform fee.
Is Cults3D a better place to reach buyers?
Today, probably yes. It has an established audience and this marketplace is new. Our advantage is the share you keep and paid requests, not reach.
Sources
- Cults3D: how to make money with a 3D printer (accessed 2026-09-16)
- Cults3D Patreon tag page (accessed 2026-09-16)
Fees are published in full on the pricing page. Operated by Heron Networks LLC.