Zazzle Creators Share Insights on Recent Changes and Royalties

As a fellow Zazzle creator, I’ve been following the lively discussions in the Zazzle community forums, particularly around the recent platform updates and their impact on seller royalties. One thread that has sparked a lot of conversation compares sales data from last year to now, highlights frustrations with the new fee structures, and explores alternatives like Etsy.

It’s a candid look at what’s working, what’s not, and what could be improved. If you’re a Zazzle seller feeling the pinch, this summary might resonate—and hopefully inspire some positive changes from the platform.

The Drop in Zazzle Royalties: A Real Numbers Game

The conversation kicks off with a detailed comparison of average royalties per sale. In April 2024, sellers were seeing about $5.17 per sale on Zazzle. Fast forward to April 2025, and that figure has dipped to $3.68— a noticeable decline even before factoring in extra efforts like self-referrals, which bump it up slightly to $4.57. In contrast, the same seller reports $5.91 per sale on Etsy after all fees, including a modest daily advertising budget of $1.30 that Etsy manages automatically.

This isn’t just anecdotal; multiple creators echo similar experiences, noting that the new 3rd-party referral fees—often around 40%—are eating into earnings, especially since these can apply to internal site navigation that feels more like organic traffic than true external referrals. One seller shared a stark example: a $408.40 sale at a 5% royalty rate should have netted $20.43, but they only received $11.25 due to deductions, effectively dropping it to 2.75%. Another mentioned switching focus to platforms like Spoonflower, where a single sale brought in $478.87 without hidden fees, and even a neglected CafePress shop outperformed Zazzle earnings over time.

The sentiment? These changes make it harder to justify the time invested, with some creators pausing new product uploads or diversifying to other sites to protect their income.

Frustrations with Fees and Transparency

A big pain point is the lack of transparency in how fees are applied. Sellers feel “cheated” by the automatic 3rd-party deductions on nearly every sale, without clear breakdowns in reports. As one put it, “Why would I even add good content if I’m gonna earn cents?” There’s also criticism of the ambassador program, where affiliates sometimes earn more per sale than the designers who create the products. The consensus is that while marketing support is valuable, the current model—charging for Zazzle’s own internal promotions—feels unfair and overly aggressive.

Compared to Etsy, Zazzle is seen as less seller-friendly in this area. Etsy’s ads are optional, budget-controlled, and transparent, with no mandatory cuts from every sale. Creators appreciate Etsy’s dashboards for tracking views, revenue, and traffic sources (like “how shoppers found you”), which help optimize efforts. Zazzle, on the other hand, lacks similar tools, leaving sellers in the dark about performance metrics.

Not everyone is jumping ship, though. Some prefer Zazzle’s print-on-demand ease and variety of products over Etsy’s hands-on shipping requirements. Digital downloads or integrations with services like Printify are suggested as workarounds for those exploring Etsy, but they come with their own hassles, like upfront costs and more customer interactions.

Calls for Improvement and a Balanced View

Despite the gripes, the thread isn’t all doom and gloom. Zazzle gets props for features like responsive customer service (no bots!), incorporating seller feedback, and the royalty system’s simplicity. One creator noted, “Zazzle has given me so much opportunity that I am extremely thankful for,” while hoping for royalties closer to last year’s levels and better analytics.

Suggestions include:

• Opting out of internal referral fees for organic traffic.
• Renaming or reducing the marketing fee to something less obvious and burdensome (e.g., a flat 1% “Zazzle fee”).
• Enhanced dashboards with graphs, traffic insights, and seasonal trends.
• Adjusting ambassador cuts to better reward creators.
• More communication from Zazzle—many feel the changes were rolled out without enough input or explanation.

A few voices push back against copying Etsy’s model entirely, preferring Zazzle’s sales-based fees over upfront ad spends. But overall, there’s a call for fairness: “Zazzle and creators should trust each other. Now creators are starting to distrust Zazzle and that is not good.”

Final Thoughts: Diversify and Advocate

This thread underscores a growing unease among Zazzle creators, but it’s also a reminder of the platform’s strengths and the power of community feedback. With sales slowing for some (one mentioned barely hitting payout thresholds after years of steady income), many are diversifying—uploading to Spoonflower, reviving Etsy shops, or even taking side jobs. Strategies like focusing on seasonal niches, social media promotions, and self-referrals are helping bridge the gap in the meantime.

If you’re a Zazzle seller, I encourage you to check out the full discussion here and chime in.

Sharing our experiences could push Zazzle toward the adjustments we need. In the end, a thriving creator community benefits everyone—let’s keep the conversation going and hope for brighter royalties ahead.

What are your thoughts on these changes? Have you noticed a drop in earnings, or found ways to adapt? Drop a comment below!