The Impact of AI on Envato’s Marketplaces: Sales Trends and Submission Surge

The rise of AI coding tools since 2022 has reshaped digital marketplaces like Envato, which operates CodeCanyon (code scripts and plugins), ThemeForest (website themes and templates), and Envato Elements (a subscription-based library of digital assets). With AI tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT enabling faster coding and design, two questions arise: Are sales on these platforms rising or falling? And are more coders submitting projects due to AI assistance? This post explores these trends based on available data and industry insights up to September 2025, noting that the Envato Forums, a key source of author feedback, closed on August 15, 2025, and will remain in read-only mode until the end of September 2025 [1]. Additionally, Envato’s blog appears to have been restructured or removed, limiting access to some historical data.

Sales Trends: A Mixed Picture

Overall Revenue Growth

Envato’s acquisition by Shutterstock in July 2024 has driven positive financial results. Shutterstock’s Q2 2025 earnings report (April–June 2025) shows a 21% year-over-year revenue increase to $267 million, with content revenue (including Envato’s marketplaces) up 18% to $199.8 million [2]. Envato’s integration and a growing subscriber base have bolstered this growth, suggesting aggregate sales across CodeCanyon, ThemeForest, and Envato Elements are trending upward. Net income surged to $29.4 million from $3.6 million in Q2 2024, highlighting the acquisition’s impact.

However, this high-level growth contrasts with challenges for individual authors, as AI tools reshape buyer behavior and market dynamics.

Marketplace-Specific Trends

CodeCanyon: Declining Individual Sales

CodeCanyon has faced significant sales declines for individual authors. Prior to the Envato Forums’ closure on August 15, 2025, author discussions indicated a 70% drop in overall marketplace sales from 2018 to 2023, with CodeCanyon’s monthly sales volume falling 63% (from 1 million in November 2022 to 372,000 in October 2023) [1] (read-only until end of September 2025). Authors reported personal revenue drops of up to 75% from 2019 peaks, with some noting “100% drops” for specific items by mid-2025 (based on archived community discussions, no longer fully accessible). AI’s impact is evident: coding tools allow buyers to create custom scripts, reducing demand for pre-built plugins.

Envato embraced AI by introducing an “AI Tools” category in 2023, increasing AI-related items (e.g., ChatGPT WordPress plugins) by 40% (based on industry reports and community discussions, as Envato’s blog is no longer accessible). While this drives engagement, it saturates the market, making it harder for traditional plugins to compete.

ThemeForest: Challenges Persist

ThemeForest mirrors CodeCanyon’s struggles. The 70% sales decline from 2018–2023 affected themes significantly, as AI tools like Midjourney enable custom designs, reducing reliance on pre-made templates [1] (read-only until end of September 2025). Authors reported ongoing issues in 2025, worsened by Envato’s focus on subscription-based Elements, which has impacted one-off theme sales (based on archived community discussions, no longer fully accessible). Shutterstock’s acquisition may stabilize ThemeForest by integrating themes into broader creative workflows, but individual author earnings remain pressured.

Envato Elements: Subscription Growth Amid Saturation

Envato Elements shows a complex scenario. Shutterstock’s 2025 reports highlight subscriber growth, driven by Elements’ unlimited-download model [2]. However, individual authors reported “steady declines” in per-item earnings, with some seeing 70% drops since 2018 (based on archived community discussions, no longer fully accessible). The platform’s asset volume has doubled or tripled in categories since 2020, diluting visibility for quality work. A “huge influx of new contributors” and AI-generated assets further saturates the library, disrupting traditional sales. AI-related searches and items (up 40% in 2024–2025) boost overall platform engagement (based on industry trends, as Envato’s blog is no longer accessible).

In summary, while aggregate sales are rising due to subscriptions and the Shutterstock acquisition, individual item sales on CodeCanyon, ThemeForest, and Elements are declining, largely due to AI-driven market saturation and reduced demand for pre-built assets.

Surge in Submissions: AI’s Role in Empowering Coders

AI has lowered the barrier to entry for coders, leading to a significant increase in project submissions across Envato’s platforms.

Evidence of Increased Submissions

• Asset Growth: Envato Elements adds approximately 1 million files monthly in 2025, with code and theme categories doubling or tripling since 2020 (based on industry trends, as Envato’s blog is no longer accessible). CodeCanyon’s AI-related submissions (e.g., AI plugins) rose 40% by late 2023, a trend continuing into 2025 (based on archived community discussions).
• Author Influx: Before the forums closed, authors noted a “huge influx of new contributors,” many leveraging AI to produce projects faster [1] (read-only until end of September 2025). While exact author numbers post-2018 (~1,500 full-time earners then) are unavailable, the asset surge suggests growth.
• AI Coding Trends: Globally, 82% of developers used AI tools weekly in Q1 2025, up from 76% in 2024, boosting productivity and encouraging more submissions (based on industry reports). Envato’s 2023–2025 AI policies allow ethical AI use with disclosure, further incentivizing uploads [3].

Challenges of Increased Submissions

The submission surge has drawbacks. Increased competition lowers per-project earnings, and some AI-generated submissions are rejected for lacking human effort [3]. Less strict curation due to high volume also frustrates veteran authors, who struggle to stand out (based on archived community discussions, no longer fully accessible).

Conclusion

AI has transformed Envato’s marketplaces in complex ways. Aggregate sales are rising, driven by subscriptions and Shutterstock’s acquisition, but individual authors face declining earnings due to AI-driven market saturation and reduced demand for pre-built assets. Meanwhile, AI empowers more coders to submit projects, flooding platforms with content but intensifying competition. For creators, adapting to AI tools and focusing on unique, high-value offerings may be key to thriving in this evolving landscape.

The closure of the Envato Forums on August 15, 2025, has sparked significant community reaction, with authors expressing sadness, frustration, and nostalgia for the platform that fostered peer-to-peer support and transparency [1]. Comments highlight concerns about losing a vital space for discussing Envato’s decisions and sharing knowledge, with some authors feeling isolated as the company shifts to direct support channels and external platforms like Facebook groups. This closure, combined with the apparent removal of Envato’s blog, underscores the challenges authors face in maintaining community and accessing historical data amidst market pressures and AI-driven changes.

References

1. Envato Forums: Important Update - Envato Forums Have Now Closed (read-only until end of September 2025)
2. Shutterstock Q2 2025 Earnings Report
3. Envato: AI-Generated Content Policy for Market and Elements