Society6 is a print-on-demand marketplace where artists upload designs and Society6 prints them on wall art, home decor and accessories, then ships to the buyer. You earn a royalty on each sale. Since 2025 it runs a selective model: artwork goes through review, and many older artist accounts were closed.
At a glance
| What it is | A print-on-demand art marketplace |
| How you earn | A royalty on each product sold with your design |
| Cost to join | Free; there are no longer artist plan fees |
| Entry | Selective: submissions are reviewed before they go live |
| Who it’s for | Illustrators, painters, photographers and pattern designers |
| Where it works | Online, worldwide; check payout options for your country |
How Society6 works
You upload high-resolution artwork through Society6’s Artist Studio. Once a design is approved, Society6 places it on products, lists them in its store and handles printing, shipping, returns and customer service. When someone buys, you earn a royalty. You never hold stock or pack an order.
What changed in 2025
Society6 moved from an open-upload marketplace to a selective one in 2025. In the first wave, many artist accounts were removed. A second round of changes followed in October 2025, when Society6 reduced its artist community again and trimmed its product range. Society6 says its royalty structure stayed the same through these changes and that Artist Studio stays open for new submissions.
At the end of 2025 Society6 also simplified artist shops. Each shop became a single shoppable collection page, and artist About pages and individual design pages were removed. The goal, Society6 says, is better search visibility for the catalog as a whole.
Earlier in that shift, Society6 also dropped its paid artist plans and stopped taking shipping fees out of artist earnings.
What you earn
Society6 sets the retail prices and pays a royalty per product type. For most products you don’t control the price. Check the current royalty table in Society6’s help centre before you upload, since it differs by product.
The practical lesson from the 2025 changes: a sale on Society6 earns a small amount, so income comes from many designs selling a little, not one design selling a lot.
Getting accepted and getting sales
Submit your strongest, most finished work. Selective stores favour cohesive collections over one-off pieces, so upload sets that share a style or theme. Use clear titles and tags that match how shoppers search, such as the subject, style and room. Promote your collection page on your own social channels, because marketplace traffic alone is less dependable than it was.
What sells on Society6
Society6 shoppers are mostly buying for their homes. Wall art, framed prints, canvas and home decor are the heart of the store, so design with walls and rooms in mind. Botanical prints, abstract shapes, landscapes, retro and mid-century styles, and calm colour palettes suit that audience well. Patterns can work across many products at once, which helps a single design earn in more places.
Think in sets. A buyer decorating a room often wants two or three prints that match, so offer pairs and trios in the same palette. Seasonal work, such as holiday art, can sell well for a few weeks each year, but evergreen pieces carry a shop.
Protecting your work
Keep your original high-resolution files and your rights. Selling on Society6 doesn’t mean giving up ownership of your art, so you can offer the same work on your own site or other marketplaces. Watermark preview images you share on social media, and keep records of when you created each piece in case you ever need to report a copy.
Owen’s take
I’d still list on Society6 if you’re accepted. It reaches buyers who want art for their walls and homes, and it costs nothing to try. But 2025 showed how fast a platform can change the rules. Treat it as one sales channel, keep your original files and a list of your fans, and sell in more than one place.
Who it suits
It suits artists with a polished, consistent portfolio who want a hands-off way to sell art on home goods. It suits less well beginners still finding their style, or anyone who needs a dependable income from a single platform.
Similar options
- Redbubble is open to all artists and lets you set your own markup.
- Zazzle lets you choose your royalty rate on a huge product range.
- Etsy lets you run your own shop, including print-on-demand items.
More options are in Print on Demand.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No upfront cost or stock
- Society6 handles printing, shipping and service
- Audience shopping for art and home decor
Cons
- Selective entry; many accounts were closed in 2025
- You don’t set retail prices on most products
- Royalties per sale are small
FAQ
Can anyone sell on Society6?
Not anymore. Society6 is selective: you submit through Artist Studio and designs are reviewed before they go live.
Does Society6 charge artists fees?
Society6 removed its paid artist plans during its move to a selective model. Check its help centre for current terms.
How do Society6 artists get paid?
You earn a royalty on each product sold with your design. Rates differ by product type.
Is Society6 still worth it in 2026?
It can be, as one channel among several. Its changes in 2025 are a good reason not to rely on it alone.
