As promised in new payout system announcement, for many users, the payout rate will remain the same or at a similar level.
Really?
Let's do simple math.
Beginner - 0 points - 70% rate
Explorer - 100 points - 71% rate
Modeling Enthusiast - 250 points - 71% rate
Ambitious Geek - 500 points - 72% rate
Rising Star - 1,000 points - 72% rate
Polygon Expert - 2,000 points - 73% rate
Talented Maker - 4,000 points - 74% rate
3D Master - 7,000 points - 75% rate
Leading Artist - 11,000 points - 76% rate
Top Designer - 15,000 points - 77% rate
Genius - 20,000 points - 78% rate
Superstar - 30,000 points - 79% rate
Legend - 40,000 points - 80% rate.
Thus, if I am at 3D Master level, it means, that my points are somewhere between 7000-11000, let's say, 8000. Remember that I have 75% rate. That means, that my lifetime sales can't be more than 8000$. If we deduct 8000 by points from likes, models, ratings, and taking into account the royalty percents, it means, that my lifetime sales are significantly less than 5-6000$, so my 12 month income is OBVIOUSLY LESS than 5-6000$, so my rate will become significantly less than 74% after introducing the new system!
This can be counted for all levels. And remember, that the sellers achieved their levels not in 12 months, but in several years being here.
So literally no one will keep his payout rate, besides several sellers which work by companies.
I know that nothing will be changed in their plans, but they must remember, that their forum thread is number 1 by received dislikes in all forum.
Yes, as usual, banal hypocrisy on the part of the company. Cowards as usual are afraid to name the real reason that they just want to make more money on us. I have not published new models for a long time and now I definitely do not intend to do so when my royalty drops by 10-12%
You don't need to be a mathematical genius to understand that their statements are complete bullshit. EVERYONE who is earning less than $40K a year on cgt will have their rates reduced. How many sellers are earning $40K+ here? I bet you don't need too many hands to count them all on fingers.
They are gaslighting and straight up lying. It sadly shows how far the company has gone over the past decade.
Deception and misdirection are the hallmarks of a bad faith actor.
As soon as I read "For many users, the payout rate will remain the same or at a similar level" I knew it wasn't going to be true. Have to love the language of "we are expanding the payout rate range to 60%-85%" when the negative 5% will affect everyone and the positive 5% will affect only a handful.
I'd recommend being transparent about this with your products' price so that buyers can see the ridiculous markup necessary for the creator to make a profit. Damn near tempted to make notes everywhere that if they want a cheaper price, contact and deal directly through PayPal instead.
I hope Fab is prepared for a surge in creators!
TO EVERYONE.
Did you saw the 26 steps? Its fucking hilarious.
300.000$ MONTHLY to get 80% Are you fucking idiots or what?
Look at ArtStation Marketplace 95% PAYOUT!!!! 95 fucking %
You all here in the system of CGTRADER are insane.
60% payout is where you SELLERS are all gonna be for the couple of years or more.
Lets assume: from 2mln models available here
the average monthly sales on all the platform is roughly 250.000$
(from which CG Trader grabs to itself and ASTONISHING amount of money!!! 40% is 100.000$ to the pocket
I'm sorry to say this but, did you looked at your site from 2005?
With such an amount of income monthly you doing ASTONISHINGLY BAD JOB and you want MORE MONEY!
Your payout rate must be AT LEAST 85% to 95% to all of the USERS PERIOD!
USERS.... LETS VOTE FOR THIS!!!!!!!! 85 to 95 or we just QUIT to any other available place with better %
Otherwise its not a platform its a fucking robbery. Are you a TAX 40% system on which we pay another fucking 40% tax on top? GET OUT!
We either need to get organized and start writing them letters to express our dissatisfaction with the new system, or accept it. Leaving the platform is pointless only a few will leave, and it won't change anything. Your income won’t improve because of that.
I used to have a 78% royalty, and now it's 70%, and that upsets me - it’s not fair. Now I have to earn $3,500 more per year just to reach 71% =))) It’s ridiculous, it’s insane. I share the frustration of every 3D artist - only a few will ever get the 80% rate.
CGTrader keeps tossing around this “payouts will remain the same or similar” excuse like it’s gospel, but the truth is: they're banking on people being too tired or too confused to notice they're being screwed. If you're not part of some mega-studio or didn't already make $50k+, you're not just plateauing — you're dropping down the ladder you spent YEARS climbing.
They’re trying to hide it under all this “explorer,” “genius,” “superstar” fluff like we’re in some gamified mobile app. You know what it really is? A deliberately obfuscated pay cut. They’re trying to bury people under point systems, thresholds, titles, and corporate double-speak while hoping we won’t realize our royalties are evaporating in real time.
This isn't just greedy — it's insulting.
I have been selling 3d models on quite a few platforms since 1996 I started with private sales, then the Viewpoint Catalogue... Yes it was a physical book, and as each one did this exact same thing as we are about to see here (ie ripping off the authors), I moved. Turbosquid lasted a fair while, as did CGTrader, *but in the end, they all think they deserve more money that the creators, of the products they sell,* and they all lose sales because a new platform will always come along & offer what they ORIGINALLY did.
The decision to reduce the payout percentage for model designers is a complete disappointment. It doesn’t just affect our earnings — it deeply damages our motivation. Uploading affordable models is no longer an option, because we’re simply not being compensated fairly for our work.
!!! Under these conditions, the only logical response is to opt out of every discount event. Maybe that’s the only way we can even begin to reach the already reduced percentage they expect us to earn from.!!!
We’ve spent years building up our portfolios, meeting every standard this platform demands, investing countless hours into creating high-quality models. And this is the thanks we get? Designers are the backbone of this system, yet we’re the ones being neglected the most.
This is a major letdown for every artist who’s ever contributed to this platform. You need to hear our voices — because if this decision stands, many of us are losing faith in the future here.
The reduction in earnings percentage for model designers is simply unacceptable. This isn’t just a financial loss — it’s a complete disregard for the years of effort, time, and creativity we’ve put into our work. Uploading affordable models no longer makes sense, because the compensation doesn’t reflect the value of our labor.
!!!Joining any discount event under these new terms would only hurt us further. That’s why we must not participate in any discount campaigns. Maybe then, our voices will be heard and this unfair revenue model will be reconsidered.!!!
We’ve contributed to the growth and quality of this platform for years. We’ve met the standards, consistently produced content, and invested ourselves fully. But clearly, all that effort means nothing now. Designers are the foundation of this system, yet we’re the ones suffering the most from this decision.
Being part of a system that ignores its creators like this is becoming harder to justify. We are truly disappointed.
The reduction in earnings percentage for model designers is simply unacceptable. This isn’t just a financial loss — it’s a complete disregard for the years of effort, time, and creativity we’ve put into our work. Uploading affordable models no longer makes sense, because the compensation doesn’t reflect the value of our labor.
!!!Joining any discount event under these new terms would only hurt us further. That’s why we must not participate in any discount campaigns. Maybe then, our voices will be heard and this unfair revenue model will be reconsidered.!!!
We’ve contributed to the growth and quality of this platform for years. We’ve met the standards, consistently produced content, and invested ourselves fully. But clearly, all that effort means nothing now. Designers are the foundation of this system, yet we’re the ones suffering the most from this decision.
Being part of a system that ignores its creators like this is becoming harder to justify. We are truly disappointed.
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