Learn how and where to sell AI art.
You have spent thousands of hours generating AI art, but you’re still the only living soul to see your creations.
Maybe it’s time to think about selling your AI art.
In this post, I will show you how to start selling AI-generated art and highlight some of the best places to sell your AI images.
Let’s jump into it!
Can You Sell AI Generated Art?
Yes, in most cases, it is okay to sell artwork created by AI image generators like Midjourney.
Many artists and freelancers make money selling their AI art on platforms like Etsy, Redbubble, and Fiverr.
But keep in mind there are guidelines, legal, and ethical issues that you should take into consideration.
Is it legal to sell AI images?
Yes, it’s legal to sell AI images.
You must understand which license your AI images are generated under.
These licensing terms can range from full commercial usage to limited personal use.
For example, Midjourney provides all paid subscribers with a commercial license to all images generated on the platform.
On the other hand, free trial accounts are granted only for personal use.
This means that free accounts cannot legally sell or use their AI art commercially.
Stable Diffusion is under the CreativeML Open RAIL-M license, which restricts using the model for harmful, deceptive, or unethical purposes.
However, this license allows commercial use of the model, such as selling generated AI art on various platforms.
Do you own the rights to the image?
No, the US Copyright Office has taken the position that AI-generated art cannot receive copyright protection.
However, you can still sell your art that’s under commercial use.
But theoretically, anyone can use your work without legal consequences.
Where To Sell AI Art
There are several ways to sell your AI artwork online.
The most popular channel is marketplaces like Etsy and Redbubble.
Stock image sites and freelance platforms like Fiverr are also filled with customers open to buying AI-generated art.
I will also touch on personal websites or blogs, which is another great way to save on fees if you already have a following interested in your art.
Marketplaces
As I mentioned, both Etsy and Redbubble allow the sale of AI art on their platforms.
These sites are a great starting place to test if there is demand for your work quickly.
The advantage of using a marketplace is that it’s easier to find customers.
One way to succeed on these platforms is to make sure you sell unique and trending pieces people are searching for.
For example, take a look at Etsy and see what products are performing well. These platforms are often driven by occasion buying.
If it’s December, try selling images or products with a Christmas holiday theme.
Alternatively, you could niche down to specific events like birthdays, anniversaries, or graduations.
Stock Image Sites
Selling your AI images on stock images is a great way to earn passive income.
Many sites like Adobe Stock and Freepik allow users to submit their AI-generated content to sell on the platform.
From what I’ve seen, the most in-demand types of content on stock image sites are scenic backgrounds and photorealistic images.
Think about who the buyers are on stock image sites.
Often, they are designers, journalists, or businesses.
This means your customers probably aren’t looking for flashy anime digital art.
Instead, think of things like natural gas plants, drone imagery of solar panels, and corporate office photos.
Freelance Sites
Fiverr and Upwork are the most popular options here.
The simplest way to make money on these sites is to directly sell your AI art files.
A better way to sell your AI art is to package your service in a customizable manner.
For example, create personalized couples’ digital art based on submitted photos.
Or sell a pack of AI avatars based on a submitted image.
Most people still don’t know about AI avatar generators and would be thrilled to pay for a collection of 20 images.
Maybe you can even add in some photo editing to polish the final product.
There are many ways to craft your offer on these freelancer sites.
But to succeed, you need to consider the value you provide to the customer.
Personal Site
This is the best option if you don’t want to pay exorbitant fees.
Upload your images and add a payment option with a free service like Poof.
The biggest challenge with this method is finding a way to drive traffic to your website.
This is easier if you already have a large following on social media that you can direct to your page.
But if you don’t, you will need to find potential customers through:
- Building a social media presence by sharing your work
- Paid advertising (Google or Facebook ads)
- Collabs or partnerships with influencers and other artists
- Joining art communities or forums to promote your work
How To Sell AI Art
I covered several channels where you can sell AI art.
But let’s briefly cover how you can monetize your AI creations.
Selling the Image File
This one is pretty straightforward.
When selling your AI art on a site like Fine Art America, you will upload the original file.
Based on the guidelines and requirements of the platform, your image will need to be a certain file type and resolution.
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If your AI image resolution is too small, use AI upscaling to increase the resolution.
AI image generators like Midjourney also have built-in features to maximize the resolution.
Selling the image file is easy, but you might be leaving some money on the table with this method.
Let’s see if we can drive more sales.
Merchandise
Among the AI art success stories that I have seen, merchandising seems to be the common theme.
Many platforms like Amazon Merch and Printify allow you to upload your AI images and then select various apparel and gift items to print your artwork onto.
By putting your AI art on merchandise, you significantly expand your potential customer base.
More sales equal more revenue. And you also have the possibility to create a brand around your merch.
Selling the AI Art Prompt
Lastly, there are AI prompt marketplaces that let users buy and sell the text prompts used in tools like Midjourney and ChatGPT.
If you have used an AI generator before, you know how much of a difference a good prompt can make on the final output.
Marketplaces like PromptBase let you sell your text prompts.
I don’t have a good sense of how many sales Promptbase drives for its users, but this method is probably the lowest effort of the three I mentioned.
However, the competition appears pretty steep on prompt marketplaces.
So you really need to make sure you have something special to set yourself apart.
I wrote a guide on buying and selling prompts if you want to learn more.
FAQ
Can I sell AI-generated art?
Yes, it is okay to sell AI images, but you need to make sure the images are licensed for commercial use.
Midjourney paid memberships and most Stable Diffusion applications permit commercial use.
You also need to ensure the platform you are selling the images on allows AI-generated images.
Is selling AI-generated art profitable?
Yes, selling AI art can be profitable.
Many people will pay for artwork and merchandise created with the assistance of AI.
The startup cost for selling AI art can be as little as the monthly fee for a Midjourney subscription or a computer that can run Stable Diffusion.
Is AI art worth anything?
Yes, AI art can be valuable. In 2018, an AI-generated portrait sold for over $400,000 at auction. Additionally, several NFT projects are based on AI artwork.
Can I sell digital art made with AI?
Yes, selling AI digital art is a great way to make money while
How to start selling AI art?
The easiest way to get started selling AI art is through a marketplace like Etsy or a stock image site like Adobe Stock.
Is it legal to sell AI-generated art on Etsy?
Yes, as long as your AI images are permitted for commercial use, you may sell the art and products using the art on Etsy.
Where is the best place to sell AI art?
Some of the best places to sell AI art are Etsy, Redbubble, Adobe Stock, and Freepik.
