3DCentral’s license comes in three tiers: Supporter ($19.99 CAD/month, personal use only), Commercial ($49.99 CAD/month, adds the right to sell) and Premium ($89.99 CAD/month, Commercial with 100 design unlocks a month instead of 30). This post compares Supporter and Commercial, which 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 |
| Personal Printing Rights | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Commercial Selling Rights | No | Yes — unlimited volume |
| Selling Through Approved Retail Channels | No | Yes |
| Convention/Craft Fair Sales | No | Yes |
| Commissioned Prints | No | Yes |
| License Certificate | No | Yes — verifiable ID |
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 to support the artists whose work you admire
What You Get
Supporters get full access to original 3DCentral STL designs in the member STL Library, with 10 design unlocks a month. New original designs are added as they release.
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 move to the Commercial License at any time: cancel Supporter from My Account → Subscriptions, then subscribe to Commercial.
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 the plan unlocks up to 10 original designs each month.
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 through approved retail channels or your own store
- 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 original 3DCentral designs
- Verifiable License ID and certificate for marketplace compliance and dispute resolution
The Commercial License covers original 3DCentral designs only. Designs by community artists such as Flexi Factory, McGybeer and Cinderwing3D are not included; for commercial rights to those, contact the artist directly. One subscription, one monthly payment, commercial rights to original 3DCentral designs.
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, moving up is simple. Each tier is a monthly subscription: cancel Supporter from My Account → Subscriptions, then subscribe to Commercial. Rights follow the active subscription.
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. Each tier is a monthly subscription: cancel Supporter from My Account → Subscriptions, then subscribe to Commercial, whose billing starts the day you subscribe. Rights follow the active subscription.
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?
The largest published plan is Premium ($89.99 CAD/month): everything in Commercial, with 100 design unlocks a month instead of 30 and early access to new releases. For anything beyond it, contact 3DCentral directly.
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.
