The claim
Generate AI designs, upload to Redbubble, Merch by Amazon and Etsy, earn passively..
Still a staple of side-hustle content, but news coverage in 2026 is mostly about platform decline and Amazon's own AI merch tool.
How we checked
This is an evidence check, not a hands-on test. We reviewed platform rules and policies, published earnings data, regulator warnings and reporting: 4 sources, listed below.
Costs
- Start-up cost
- £0–£25/month (AI image tool, optional mockup or keyword tools)
- Effort
- medium
What the evidence shows
Anyone can make AI designs in seconds, so every niche is full of near-identical listings, and the platforms themselves are struggling. Redbubble's marketplace revenue has kept falling, Etsy has tightened its originality rules several times, and since June 2026 Amazon has let shoppers make their own AI merch, which takes away the reason to buy from a middleman designer. A few people with a real brand or a well-researched niche still sell, but uploading in bulk mostly brings in pennies.
Realistic earnings: Most beginners make £0–£50 in total over 6–12 months; a minority who niche down and build audiences reach £100–£300/month.
Limitations
Earnings ranges are typical outcomes for a beginner, drawn from the sources; some people do far better or worse. Platform rules change often, so check the latest policy before you start.
Rarely matches what is promised.
Sources
- Amazon launched AI-generated custom merch for shoppers in June 2026, cutting out third-party designers shopifreaks.com
- Redbubble owner Articore: FY25 revenue down 10%, Redbubble leading the decline ragtrader.com.au
- Articore half-year to Dec 2025: marketplace revenue still down 4.5% ragtrader.com.au
- Etsy removed 17,000+ listings for disclosure breaches and tightened design-origin rules again in Aug 2026 ecomcrew.com
