Is Selling AI Art Worth It in 2025? My Honest Experience

In recent years, there’s been a surge of excitement around selling AI-generated art. Platforms like Adobe Stock, Dreamstime , freepik , 123RF, Panthermedia, Vecteezy, and Zedge are becoming popular choices for creators to sell their work. You might have seen countless YouTubers claiming that selling AI art is "easy money." They make it sound simple: upload your work, sit back, and watch the income roll in.

But let me be honest with you—it’s not easy, and it’s certainly not fast money.

The Reality of Selling AI Art

In reality, making a decent income from platforms like Adobe Stock is a lot more challenging than many people make it sound. I started by uploading abstract designs, thinking it would be as easy as the YouTubers made it seem. However, the truth is, you need a lot of uploads to see even a small income. It’s a numbers game.

The market is saturated, and you’re competing against many others, both human and AI-generated artists. When uploading abstract designs to stock image platforms, the competition is fierce, and it takes time to gain visibility. The more uploads you have, the higher the chances of making sales, but it still doesn’t guarantee a consistent or significant income. For example, with Adobe Stock, if you're uploading abstracts, you might need 1,000 to 2,000 images just to see some meaningful downloads.

And even then, it depends on the type of abstract art you’re selling. If your designs aren’t getting noticed, your uploads will go largely unnoticed as well. So, don’t expect quick or easy money.

Freepik vs. Adobe Stock

Freepik is another platform that offers more visibility compared to Adobe Stock. While the income per sale may be lower, you’ll notice more downloads happening sooner. This can be encouraging, as it gives you quicker feedback on what’s working and what’s not. Adobe Stock, on the other hand, takes a lot more time and patience before you start seeing results. So, if you want faster feedback, Freepik might be a better option than Adobe Stock.

Zedge: A Different Platform

Zedge is another platform where you can sell your AI art, particularly in the form of phone wallpapers. While the earning potential might not be as high as some other sites, Zedge can be more accessible, especially for AI art. The catch is that there’s an upload limit of 100 images per day, but despite that, it's still worth trying. You can make some extra income here, and the user base is quite large, so it’s easier to get your art noticed. If you want to make extra income from selling phone wallpapers and other mobile-related content, Zedge could be a good option.

A Word of Caution

However, you shouldn't expect to make a substantial income solely from selling AI-generated images. It’s not a reliable primary source of income, especially if you're not uploading constantly. If you're aiming to work full-time, you will need to commit to uploading a large number of images across multiple stock sites, including AI videos and other media. It’s not a passive income that comes in quickly—it's a long-term effort that grows as your portfolio expands.

Conclusion: Is It Worth It?

Selling AI art in 2025 can be rewarding, but it's not as easy as many people make it sound. Platforms like Adobe Stock and Freepik offer opportunities, but success requires consistent uploads and patience. If you’re hoping to make AI art your primary income, you might want to reconsider—unless you're willing to dedicate a lot of time and effort to it. However, if you're committed to uploading a ton of images, videos, and expanding your portfolio across various platforms, you might start seeing decent returns down the line.

Just remember: selling AI art is more of a marathon than a sprint.