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How to Make Money Creating and Selling Digital Stickers for Messaging Apps

 Meta Description:

Learn how to earn money by designing and selling digital stickers for messaging apps like Telegram, LINE, and WhatsApp. A complete guide for beginners, designers, and creatives in 2025.

Introduction

Messaging apps are no longer just tools for communication — they’ve become cultural ecosystems. From Telegram and LINE to WhatsApp and iMessage, users love personalizing chats with digital stickers. What many people don't realize is that creating and selling these stickers can be a real source of income — even passive income.

If you're an artist, designer, or even just someone with a flair for digital creativity, this guide will show you how to turn your digital stickers into real cash.

What Are Digital Stickers?

Digital stickers are expressive images or illustrations used in messaging apps to convey emotions, reactions, or humor. They’re similar to emojis but often larger, more personalized, and more artistic.

You’ve likely seen or used them in:

  • Telegram (custom sticker packs)

  • LINE (with its own creators marketplace)

  • WhatsApp (supports third-party sticker packs)

  • iMessage (App Store integration)

  • Discord (custom emojis and server stickers)

Now the good news: you can create and sell your own!

Why Selling Stickers Is a Great Online Income Stream

Here are five reasons why selling stickers online is a smart (and underrated) way to make money in 2025:

  1. Low startup cost — You only need a drawing tool and time.

  2. Growing market — Messaging app usage continues to rise.

  3. Niche communities — Stickers are highly contextual (anime, pets, inside jokes).

  4. Scalable income — Sell a pack once, earn repeatedly.

  5. Creative freedom — Build your own brand or aesthetic.

Who Can Do This?

  • Digital artists or illustrators

  • Graphic designers

  • Cartoonists and animators

  • Non-designers using tools like Canva or Procreate

  • Even AI-assisted creators using image generation tools

If you can create expressive visuals, you can create stickers.

Best Platforms to Sell or Share Your Stickers

Let’s break down the major platforms and how they let you profit:

1. LINE Creators Market

  • Best for: Asian markets (Japan, Taiwan, Thailand)

  • Revenue model: You earn ~50% of sticker pack sales

  • Sticker specs: 8/16/24/40 stickers per pack, PNG format

  • How to join: Sign up at creator.line.me

๐Ÿ‘‰ Pro Tip: Use localized humor or cute styles — they sell well in Japan.

2. Telegram

  • Best for: Global users, meme culture

  • Monetization: Directly not through Telegram — but:

    • Link to your shop (Gumroad, Ko-fi)

    • Use stickers to grow followers or communities

    • Sell custom packs via commissions

๐Ÿ‘‰ Popular creators charge $50–$300+ for custom Telegram sticker packs.

3. WhatsApp

  • Best for: Personal use and third-party apps

  • Monetization: You’ll need to sell sticker packs via:

    • Your own app (published on Play Store or App Store)

    • Online shops like Etsy or Gumroad

    • Bundle packs with digital journals, scrapbooks, etc.

๐Ÿ‘‰ You can use WhatsApp Sticker Maker to test your own sets.

4. iMessage App Store

  • Best for: iPhone users

  • Monetization: Sell sticker packs as paid iOS apps

  • Requires: Apple Developer Account ($99/year) + Xcode

  • Revenue: 70% after Apple’s 30% cut

5. Other Marketplaces

  • Etsy — Great for selling themed sticker bundles

  • Gumroad / Ko-fi — Ideal for digital delivery and fan support

  • Itch.io — For artistic and indie-style sticker packs

  • Redbubble / Society6 — Convert stickers into physical merch

Tools You Need to Create Stickers

You don’t need a degree in design. These tools are beginner- and pro-friendly:

Free or Beginner-Friendly

  • Canva (web-based, drag-and-drop)

  • Ibis Paint X (for mobile drawing)

  • Sticker.ly (for WhatsApp creators)

Pro Tools

  • Procreate (iPad, most popular among sticker creators)

  • Adobe Illustrator (for vector stickers)

  • Clip Studio Paint (for manga/anime styles)

  • Figma (for clean, minimalist stickers)

๐Ÿ‘‰ Tip: Export your stickers in transparent PNG format, 512x512px is a common standard.

How to Design Stickers That Sell

  1. Know your audience

    • Are they anime fans? Pet lovers? Gen Z meme addicts?

    • Design with specific communities in mind.

  2. Use a consistent theme or character

    • Packs with recurring characters are more recognizable.

  3. Think in expressions

    • Include faces like: happy, sad, angry, confused, crying, shocked, tired.

  4. Keep backgrounds transparent

    • Makes them usable across any chat interface.

  5. Bundle them right

    • 8 or 16 stickers is a good start.

Pricing Your Digital Sticker Packs

Here’s a basic pricing guide (you can adjust based on your following and platform):

PlatformPack SizeSuggested Price
LINE8-40$1.99 – $4.99
Gumroad10-20$3 – $8
Etsy15-30$4 – $12
Telegram CommissionsCustom$50 – $300+
Bundle deals, seasonal packs, and limited editions can increase perceived value.

Marketing Your Stickers

You won’t sell much without visibility. Try these tactics:

1. Create a Sample Pack

Let people download one pack for free to build trust.

2. Use Social Media Creatively

  • Instagram Reels showing time-lapse of your designs

  • Pinterest boards with sticker mockups

  • TikTok: "How I made $500 from my Telegram stickers"

3. Leverage Niche Communities

  • Reddit subs (e.g., r/telegram, r/digitalart)

  • Facebook Groups for sticker lovers

  • Discord servers with fan communities

4. Run Limited-Time Offers

Scarcity works. Launch seasonal packs with discounts.

Success Stories to Learn From

  • @kattsketch (on LINE): Created thousands of stickers with recurring animal characters. Now has a global fanbase.

  • @StickersByAnya (on Etsy): Turned her love for retro cartoons into a five-figure side income.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Want to stand out? Focus on aesthetic + emotion + niche.

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?

Absolutely — if you’re patient, creative, and consistent. Making and selling digital stickers won’t make you rich overnight, but it can be a low-cost, high-joy side hustle that grows into passive income.

It’s perfect for:

  • Students wanting creative freedom

  • Artists tired of underpaid commissions

  • Designers looking for passive income streams

Next Steps: Start Now

✅ Pick your first platform (LINE or Telegram is easiest)
✅ Sketch 8–10 expressive characters
✅ Export as transparent PNGs
✅ Publish and promote your first pack

Don’t wait for perfection — just ship it. The sticker economy is only growing from here.

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