3DCentral offers two subscription tiers for community members who want more than standard retail access. Both plans provide access to exclusive content and support the designers whose work fills our catalog, but they serve fundamentally different purposes. Choosing the right plan depends on one question: are you printing for yourself, or are you printing to sell?
This comparison breaks down the features, rights, pricing, and ideal use cases for each plan so you can make an informed decision.
Plan Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | Supporter ($19.99/mo) | Commercial ($49.99/mo) |
|---|---|---|
| STL Library Access | Full access | Full access |
| New Design Previews | Early access | Early access |
| Discord Community | Supporter channels | Supporter + Commercial channels |
| Personal Printing Rights | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Commercial Selling Rights | No | Yes — unlimited volume |
| Marketplace Selling (Etsy, Amazon) | No | Yes |
| Convention/Craft Fair Sales | No | Yes |
| Commissioned Prints | No | Yes |
| License Certificate | No | Yes — verifiable ID |
| Bulk/Wholesale Pricing | No | Discounted material rates |
| Priority Support | Standard | Priority queue |
The Supporter Plan: $19.99/Month
Who It Is For
The Supporter plan is designed for 3D printing enthusiasts who own a printer and want access to high-quality designs for personal use. This is the right plan if you:
- Print figurines, dragons, and collectibles for your own collection
- Want to print gifts for friends and family
- Enjoy having a library of premium designs to print at your leisure
- Want early access to new releases before they hit the retail catalog
- Want to support the artists whose work you admire
What You Get
Supporters gain access to the full STL Library containing downloadable print files for designs across the 3DCentral catalog. New designs are added regularly, and Supporters get preview access before retail availability.
The Supporter community channels on Discord provide a space to share prints, discuss settings, and connect with other enthusiasts who collect similar designs.
What You Cannot Do
The Supporter plan does not include commercial rights. You cannot sell prints made from STL Library files. This restriction covers all forms of commercial activity: online marketplaces, conventions, craft fairs, commissioned work, and resale of any kind.
If you start a Supporter subscription and later decide to sell prints commercially, you can upgrade to the Commercial License at any time through your account dashboard.
The Value Proposition
At $19.99/month, the Supporter plan pays for itself with a single print. The cost of a professionally printed figurine from the 3DCentral shop typically ranges from $15 to $60+. Printing one design per month from the STL Library at home more than covers the subscription cost, and you have unlimited access to the full library.
The Commercial License: $49.99/Month
Who It Is For
The Commercial License exists for people who sell 3D prints as a business. This is the right plan if you:
- Sell on Etsy, Amazon, eBay, Shopify, or your own website
- Operate a print farm producing inventory for sale
- Sell at conventions, craft fairs, or farmer’s markets
- Accept commissions to print catalog designs for paying customers
- Run a 3D printing service that produces copyrighted designs
If any revenue touches your 3D printing output from designs in the 3DCentral catalog, you need the Commercial License. See our complete guide to legally selling 3D prints for background on why proper licensing matters.
What You Get
Everything in the Supporter plan, plus:
- Unlimited commercial production rights for all designs in the 3DCentral catalog
- Verifiable License ID and certificate for marketplace compliance and dispute resolution
- Commercial Discord channels for networking with other licensed sellers
- Priority support for production-related questions
- Discounted material rates on bulk filament purchases (when available)
The Commercial License covers designs from all artists in the 3DCentral catalog, including popular creators like Flexi Factory, McGybeer, Cinderwing3D, and dozens more. One subscription, one monthly payment, full catalog commercial rights.
ROI Scenarios
Small Etsy seller (10-20 prints/month): Average selling price: $25/print. Monthly revenue: $250-$500. License cost: $49.99 (10-20% of revenue). The license pays for itself with two sales.
Growing operation (50-100 prints/month): Average selling price: $30/print. Monthly revenue: $1,500-$3,000. License cost: $49.99 (1.5-3% of revenue). The license is a negligible operational cost that protects thousands in monthly revenue.
Print farm (200+ prints/month): Average selling price: $25/print. Monthly revenue: $5,000+. License cost: $49.99 (<1% of revenue). At this scale, the alternative — operating without a license — risks account bans and statutory damages that could exceed the value of your entire inventory.
The articulated figurines and figurines categories contain some of the highest-margin and best-selling designs for commercial operators.
Making the Switch
Upgrading from Supporter to Commercial
If you start as a Supporter and your printing evolves into a side business, upgrading is seamless. Log into your account dashboard, navigate to your subscription, and upgrade to the Commercial License. Your billing adjusts immediately with prorated credit for your current Supporter period.
Downgrading from Commercial to Supporter
If you close your selling operation and want to continue printing for personal use, you can downgrade to the Supporter plan. Note that commercial rights terminate immediately upon downgrade. Any remaining inventory printed under the Commercial License can still be sold, but no new commercial production is permitted after downgrade.
Cancellation
Both plans can be cancelled at any time. There are no long-term contracts or cancellation fees. STL Library access and any commercial rights (for Commercial License holders) remain active until the end of the current billing period.
FAQ
Can I upgrade mid-month?
Yes. Upgrading from Supporter to Commercial License takes effect immediately. You receive prorated credit for the unused portion of your Supporter subscription, and the Commercial License billing begins on the upgrade date.
What happens to my prints if I cancel?
Prints produced during an active subscription period are yours to keep. For Supporter plan holders, these are personal-use items. For Commercial License holders, prints produced during the active license period can continue to be sold after cancellation. However, you cannot produce new prints for commercial sale after your license expires.
Do I need a Commercial License to print items as gifts?
No. Gifts for friends and family fall under personal use and are covered by the Supporter plan. If you receive payment or trade value for prints, that constitutes commercial activity and requires the Commercial License.
Is there a team or enterprise plan for larger operations?
Contact 3DCentral directly for volume licensing discussions. Enterprise arrangements with custom terms are available for operations with specific scaling requirements beyond the standard Commercial License.
Can I share my STL Library access with other people?
No. Both Supporter and Commercial License subscriptions are tied to a single account. Sharing STL files with others, even within the same household, is not permitted. Each person who prints from the library needs their own subscription.
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Ready to Choose Your Plan?
Whether you print for passion or profit, 3DCentral has a plan for you. Compare plans and subscribe today. Supporter at $19.99/month for personal printing. Commercial License at $49.99/month for full commercial rights.
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Print and Sell These Designs Commercially
Own a 3D printer? Run an Etsy shop or market stall? 3DCentral’s Commercial License gives you legal access to print and sell from our full catalog of 4,300+ designs. One monthly subscription — unlimited prints, full commercial rights.
