Procreate Brush Commercial Licenses Explained: What You Can Sell

What can you actually sell when you buy or create Procreate brushes? The answer depends on the license attached to the brushes—not simply whether the product says “commercial use.” Many Procreate brush licenses allow you to use brushes in artwork you sell while specifically prohibiting you from reselling, sharing, or redistributing the original brush files. If you’re building a broader digital-product business around a creative niche, Gumroad Engine can also be relevant for creating complementary digital products such as guides, ebooks, planners, and checklists.

Understanding the difference between commercial use, derivative products, redistribution, and brush resale is essential before you put a Procreate brush product on Gumroad. The safest approach is to read the specific license for every brush you use and never assume that one creator’s terms apply to another creator’s products.

What Is a Procreate Brush Commercial License?

A Procreate brush commercial license is a set of permissions that explains how you may use a brush in work intended for commercial purposes.

Depending on the creator, a commercial license may allow you to use the brush to create:

• Illustrations for paying clients
• Artwork you sell
• Prints
• Merchandise
• Books and publications
• Digital artwork
• Commissions
• Other original creative projects

However, commercial use usually does not mean that you can resell the brush itself.

For example, current Gumroad brush licenses commonly allow commercial artwork while explicitly prohibiting resale or redistribution of the original brush files. One current 28-brush Gumroad product permits commercial and personal illustrated works but prohibits reselling or distributing the brush set. View the example license.

Commercial Use vs. Resale: The Most Important Difference

This is the distinction every Procreate creator should understand.

Commercial use generally concerns using the brush as a tool to create something else that you sell.

Resale concerns selling or distributing the brush itself.

Consider this example:

You purchase a watercolor Procreate brush set with commercial-use rights.

You use those brushes to create a finished watercolor illustration.

You sell the illustration as a print.

That may be permitted under the license.

But if you take the original .brushset file and upload it to your own Gumroad store, that is a completely different use—and is commonly prohibited.

One current Gumroad commercial-license example explicitly allows unlimited commercial artwork while prohibiting resale, sharing, or redistribution of the brush files. See the license structure.

What Can You Sell With Commercially Licensed Procreate Brushes?

If the specific license permits commercial use, you may be able to create and sell original finished work made with the brushes.

Potential examples include:

• Art prints
• Posters
• Illustrations
• Book illustrations
• Client artwork
• Commissions
• Stickers
• Shirts and merchandise
• Greeting cards
• Digital artwork
• Illustrated publications
• Other original creative work

The exact permission depends on the individual license.

For example, a current Gumroad brush listing from Studio KAZONA states that its personal/commercial license permits the creation of physical and digital products, while requiring the resulting product to have distinctive new features and prohibiting redistribution of the original brushes. Review the example license.

What You Usually Cannot Sell

Many brush licenses specifically prohibit selling the original brush files.

Common restrictions include:

• Reselling the original .brush files
• Reselling the original .brushset file
• Uploading the brushes to another marketplace
• Sharing the brushes publicly
• Giving the brushes away as your own freebie
• Redistributing the brushes to clients
• Bundling the original brushes into another downloadable product
• Modifying someone else’s brushes and selling them as your own brushes
• Converting the brushes into another format for resale

These restrictions appear repeatedly across current Gumroad brush licenses. For example, one current product allows commercial artwork but prohibits reselling or reuploading the brushes, while another prohibits converting the brushes to other software formats and selling them as new brushes. See an example of these restrictions.

Can You Sell Artwork Created With Procreate Brushes?

Often yes, if the license explicitly permits commercial use.

This is one of the most common commercial-use structures for digital brushes.

The brush is the tool.

Your artwork is the finished product.

For example, you could use a licensed brush to create an original illustration and sell that illustration as a print.

You could also potentially use the brush in a client commission, merchandise design, book illustration, or other commercial project if those uses are permitted by the license.

Current Gumroad listings demonstrate this distinction clearly. Some creators explicitly state that buyers may use their brushes to create commercial artwork while prohibiting redistribution of the brushes themselves. See one current example.

Can You Sell Prints Made With Procreate Brushes?

Potentially, yes.

If the license allows commercial artwork, a finished print may qualify as an allowed end product.

But there can be additional restrictions.

Some licenses require the finished artwork to be meaningfully original rather than simply reproducing a brush stamp with little modification.

For example, a current Gumroad license permits commercial artwork but says the creator’s own work must form a significant portion of the finished design. See the stated license terms.

So don’t interpret “commercial use” as “anything goes.”

Can You Sell Procreate Brushes You Didn’t Create?

Generally, you cannot simply purchase somebody else’s brush set and resell it as your own.

A license is permission to use the product under defined terms. It doesn’t automatically transfer ownership of the creator’s brush files or intellectual-property rights to you.

For example, current Gumroad licenses can explicitly prohibit:

• Resale
• Redistribution
• Sharing
• Re-uploading
• Claiming the brushes as your own
• Modifying brushes for resale

One current free Procreate brush listing permits personal and commercial use but specifically says the brushes cannot be resold or reuploaded. See the example.

Can You Modify Someone Else’s Procreate Brushes and Sell Them?

Not unless the license specifically permits it.

Changing the name, adjusting settings, adding a texture, or making minor modifications does not automatically give you the right to sell the resulting brush.

Some commercial licenses explicitly prohibit modifying downloaded brushes and selling them as new brushes.

One current Gumroad listing states that buyers may modify the brushes for their own use but may not modify them for resale or redistribution. Review the product terms.

If your goal is to sell Procreate brushes, the safest route is to create your own original brushes or obtain an explicit license that grants the commercial rights you need.

Can You Use Commercial Brushes in Client Work?

Often, yes—but check the license.

Some creators specifically allow commissions and commercial client work. Others separate personal licenses from commercial licenses.

For example, one current Gumroad brush license allows personal use and commissions under its personal license while requiring a commercial license for certain commercial products. See the current licensing example.

Before accepting a commercial project, check:

• Whether client work is permitted
• Whether commercial use requires an upgrade
• Whether there are limits on the number of users or seats
• Whether the client may receive source files
• Whether the artwork can be sold commercially
• Whether merchandise is allowed

What Does “No Redistribution” Mean?

“No redistribution” generally means you cannot pass the original digital resource to another person.

For example, if you buy a brush set and then send the original .brushset file to a friend, client, employee, or another artist, you may be violating the license.

The same restriction can apply when you upload the file to:

• Your website
• A cloud folder
• A free-download site
• A marketplace
• A membership library
• A digital-product bundle

One current Gumroad license explicitly prohibits sharing the brush files in any form, including resale or redistribution. View the example.

Can You Include Procreate Brushes in a Digital Product?

This is an area where creators need to be especially careful.

Suppose you’re creating an ebook about digital illustration.

You want to include a third-party brush set as a bonus.

Don’t assume your commercial-use license permits this.

Many licenses allow you to use the brushes while creating the ebook’s artwork but prohibit including the original brush files in the ebook’s downloadable package.

A current Gumroad product policy, for example, specifically prohibits including original brush files in commercial products or packages. See the stated policy.

If you want to distribute brushes with your own product, you need a license that explicitly permits that distribution.

What About Print-on-Demand Products?

Print-on-demand can be permitted under some commercial brush licenses.

However, the conditions can vary considerably.

One current Gumroad listing explicitly allows print-on-demand when the resulting end product doesn’t compete with the original brush product. See the license example.

Another current brush license allows commercial artwork but requires the finished work to be meaningfully original. Review the example terms.

So before putting brush-created artwork on a POD platform, check the exact license for:

• Print-on-demand permissions
• Merchandise permissions
• Derivative-work restrictions
• Asset-library restrictions
• Minimum originality requirements

Commercial License vs Personal License

The difference is easiest to understand as a permissions ladder.

“Commercial license” does not mean “ownership of the brush.”

What Should Your Own Procreate Brush License Include?

If you’re creating your own Procreate brushes to sell on Gumroad, make your licensing terms clear from the beginning.

Your license should address questions such as:

• Can customers use the brushes commercially?
• Can they use them for client projects?
• Can they sell finished artwork?
• Can they use them for print-on-demand?
• Can they use them for digital products?
• Can they use them in books?
• Can they use them for merchandise?
• Can they modify the brushes?
• Can they redistribute the original files?
• Can they share the files with employees or contractors?
• Can they sublicense the brushes?
• Can they include the brushes in another downloadable product?

Clear terms reduce confusion for both the creator and customer.

How to Write a Simple Procreate Brush License

A basic license structure could contain four sections:

1. Permitted Uses

Explain what customers can create and sell with the brushes.

2. Prohibited Uses

Explain what customers cannot do, especially resale, redistribution and re-uploading.

3. Commercial Use

Define what you mean by commercial use instead of relying on the phrase alone.

4. Ownership and Intellectual Property

Clarify that purchasing a license does not necessarily transfer ownership of the underlying brush files.

If your license is intended to have legal effect, consider having it reviewed by an appropriately qualified legal professional rather than relying on a generic template.

How Gumroad Creators Are Structuring Brush Licenses

Current Gumroad listings show several different approaches.

Some creators offer one product with commercial use included. Others sell personal and commercial versions separately. Some offer free samples and paid versions, while others price commercial licensing substantially higher.

For example, one current creator offers a personal version at $125 and a commercial version at $325 for a large Procreate collection. See the current listing.

Another creator separates a personal-use version from a commercial-license version of a 40-brush collection. See the current listing.

This demonstrates an important point: there isn’t one universal Procreate brush license model. Creators structure permissions and pricing differently.

How to Protect Your Own Procreate Brush Products

If you’re selling your own brushes, make the license easy to find.

Consider including it:

• On the Gumroad product page
• Inside the downloadable package
• In a separate license document
• In the product FAQ
• In the product description

Also make the prohibited uses unambiguous.

For example:

• Do not resell the brush files.
• Do not upload them to another marketplace.
• Do not share the files publicly.
• Do not claim the original brushes as your own.
• Do not redistribute the original files as part of another product.

The exact wording should match the rights you actually intend to grant.

Where Gumroad Engine Fits Into a Digital Product Business

If your goal is to build a business around digital art, brushes don’t have to be your only product.

Your audience may also need:

• Procreate guides
• Digital-art ebooks
• Illustration checklists
• Creative planners
• Workflow guides
• Reference books
• Templates
• Educational resources

This is where a tool such as Gumroad Engine can become relevant.

It isn’t positioned as a Procreate brush generator or a replacement for the creative work involved in making original brushes. Instead, it is designed around broader digital-product creation, including ebooks, guides, planners, checklists and other products, along with supporting assets such as covers, sales copy and licensing material.

In other words, your Procreate brush can be the entry point into a niche, while additional digital products can serve other problems faced by that same audience.

Read the complete Gumroad Engine review to explore its features, pricing, OTOs and bonuses →

Watch the Gumroad Creator Ecosystem

Gumroad’s creator ecosystem includes digital products from independent artists, designers and other creators. Looking at real product pages is useful because licensing terms can differ significantly from one creator to another.

Explore Gumroad Engine and see how it can help expand your digital-product workflow

Before Selling Artwork Made With Procreate Brushes, Check These 10 Things

1. Read the actual license. Don’t rely on the product title alone.
2. Confirm commercial use. Make sure your intended use qualifies.
3. Check client-work restrictions. Some licenses treat commissions differently.
4. Check merchandise rights. Prints and products may have separate conditions.
5. Check POD permissions. Don’t assume they are included.
6. Check derivative-work rules. Some creators require substantial original work.
7. Never redistribute the original brush files. Unless explicitly licensed to do so.
8. Don’t claim third-party brushes as your own.
9. Keep your licenses organized. Save the terms associated with every brush you purchase.
10. Ask the creator when uncertain. Written clarification is better than guessing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sell artwork made with Procreate brushes?

Often yes, when the brush license explicitly permits commercial use. Many current Gumroad brush licenses allow buyers to create and sell original artwork while prohibiting resale or redistribution of the brushes themselves.

Can I resell Procreate brushes I bought?

Usually not. Purchasing a brush generally gives you a license to use it under specified terms rather than ownership of the original brush files. Many current Gumroad licenses explicitly prohibit resale and redistribution.

Does commercial use mean I can sell the Procreate brush?

No. Commercial use typically refers to using the brush in commercial creative work. It does not automatically grant permission to sell or redistribute the brush itself.

Can I use Procreate brushes for client work?

It depends on the license. Some commercial licenses explicitly allow client and commercial projects, while others impose additional restrictions. Always check the creator’s terms before using a brush in paid work.

Can I use Procreate brushes for print-on-demand?

Some licenses allow it, while others don’t. Even when POD is allowed, the creator may require the final artwork to be meaningfully original and not simply a reproduction of the brush asset.

Can I modify a Procreate brush and sell the modified version?

Not unless the license specifically gives you that right. Many brush licenses prohibit modifying the original brush and selling the modified version as a new brush product.

Can I include Procreate brushes in an ebook or course?

Not automatically. Many commercial-use licenses allow you to create artwork for an ebook or course but prohibit including the original brush files as downloadable bonuses or resources.

Can I sell merchandise created with Procreate brushes?

Potentially, if the license permits commercial artwork and merchandise. Check the specific terms for prints, apparel, stickers, POD and other physical products before selling them.

What is the difference between a personal and commercial Procreate brush license?

A personal license generally limits use to non-commercial projects, while a commercial license may permit the brush to be used in work created for sale or profit. The exact rights vary by creator.

Can I create my own Procreate brushes and sell them on Gumroad?

Yes, creators can make original Procreate Brush Sets and sell them online. If you create your own brush products, you should provide clear licensing terms explaining what customers can and cannot do with the files.

Final Thoughts

The most important Procreate brush licensing rule is simple: commercial use and resale are two different things.

A commercial license may allow you to use a brush to create artwork that you sell. It may allow commissions, prints, merchandise, digital artwork or other commercial projects.

But the same license can still prohibit you from selling, sharing, redistributing or modifying the original brush files for resale.

If you’re buying brushes, read the license before building a commercial product around them.

If you’re creating brushes, write your own license clearly so customers understand exactly what they purchased.

And if you’re building a larger digital-product business, think beyond the brush itself. Your brush audience may also be interested in guides, ebooks, checklists, planners and other niche-specific digital products.

Read the full Gumroad Engine review for the features, pricing, OTOs, bonuses and broader digital-product workflow →