Live2D commissions run from $50 lite rigs to $3,500 cinematic builds. The five factors that set the price, the 2026 market tiers by rig type, add-ons that change the quote, and what should never cost extra.
If you have been Googling "Live2D commission cost", you have probably noticed the answers vary wildly — some artists charge $80, others charge $3,000+ for what looks like the same model. The truth is the price scales with a handful of specific factors, and once you understand them, picking a budget becomes easy.
This guide breaks down what you actually pay for at every tier of the 2026 market, what should never cost extra, and where our own packages sit in that ladder — so you can budget before you ever fill in a quote form.
The five things that determine Live2D price
Every reputable rigger prices their work along the same axes:
- Body coverage — head-only, half-body, full-body, dancing-rig. A half-body model costs less because there are fewer parts to rig; full-body models need leg and foot deformers, extra physics zones, and often hand poses on top.
- Face tracking depth — basic blink/mouth, full ARKit 52 blendshapes, or hand-tracking setups.
- Physics — basic hair sway is straightforward, but realistic multi-layered physics for hair, ribbons, capes and dangling accessories takes careful tuning of pendulum parameters, collision avoidance and group coordination. Premium physics adds hours to the rig.
- Expressions and toggles — each toggle (angry, smug, crying, blushing, heart eyes) needs its own deformers and parameter keyframes. Three expressions rig far faster than fifteen, and outfit or accessory swaps add more again.
- Engine and format extras — Unity, Unreal or web export, custom apps, and source-file delivery.
Two more things quietly move the number: the complexity of the character design — intricate armor, layered accessories and asymmetrical clothing take far longer to separate into layers and deform than a simple T-shirt — and turnaround time, since rush orders typically carry a twenty to fifty percent premium. If you need your model by a debut date, budget for priority handling.
The 2026 market, tier by tier
Coarse market summaries usually quote three broad bands — budget rigs around $100–$300, mid-range $300–$800, premium $800–$2,000 — but those hide the distinctions that actually matter when you are choosing. Here is the finer ladder:
Tier 1: PNGTuber-Plus / Lite Live2D — $50–$120
If you are just starting out and want more than a static PNG without committing to full Live2D, this is the sweet spot: mouth open/close synced to mic volume, basic blink animation, 1–2 expression toggles, and body sway when speaking. This is not real face-tracking — it is reactive animation tied to your mic and a few hotkeys. Perfect for trial streams and first-time VTubers.
Tier 2: Standard Live2D — $150–$400
What most people mean when they say "Live2D commission": full ARKit 52-blendshape face tracking (any iPhone X+ via VTube Studio) with a webcam fallback (OpenSeeFace) for non-iPhone users, half-body rig, hair physics, 3–5 expression toggles, and mouth shapes for the vowels. Delivery is typically 2–3 weeks, and you receive the layered source PSD, the .moc3 file, a .vtube settings file and a setup guide.
Tier 3: Premium Live2D — $500–$1,200
The professional-VTuber tier: full body with leg sway and a walk-cycle, hand tracking (Leap Motion), detailed clothing physics (skirt, sleeves, ribbons), multiple outfit toggles, 10+ expressions including custom emotes, particle effects such as tears, sweat, blush and sparkles, and background-aware lighting if your art ships multiple lighting setups. Expect 4–5 weeks for a properly polished build.
Tier 4: Cinematic / Talent-Grade — $1,500–$3,500+
Reserved for VTubers signing with agencies or planning long-term content output: a dancing rig with full hip/chest/leg articulation, the Cubism Editor source file, custom shaders, multiple character variants in one file (chibi mode, casual, formal), game-engine SDK exports and voice-line synced animations. Full-pipeline commissions that also include original character design and illustration typically run $2,000–$5,000+.
Add-ons that change the price
Even within a tier, these can add $50–$500 each: rush delivery — roughly 50% faster for about +30% of the base price, a commercial licence (+$100–$300), source file delivery (+$200), extra outfits or variants (+$60–$150 each), and pro voiceover sync for character demos (+$300).
What you should NOT pay for
- Hidden file format fees — .moc3 and .model3.json should always be included.
- Per-revision charges inside the agreed limit — most riggers include 2–3 revision rounds.
- "Setup help" as an extra — a setup guide should always come with delivery.
- Watermarks or branding on your model — that is your IP after delivery.
The AnimArts tiers
Our own packages follow the same structure as the market tiers above — a bust-level starter, a half-body standard, a broadcast-grade premium and a fully custom build. We keep the current tiers, prices and what each one includes on one page so they are never out of date here: see the Live2D VTuber pricing page, where the live calculator itemises every option.
Budget tips for new VTubers
- Start with an entry tier, upgrade later — begin streaming now and save for the advanced model.
- Prepare your PSD correctly — a well-prepared file saves the rigger time and can reduce your cost; our PSD preparation guide covers the exact requirements.
- Bundle services — commissioning overlays or a 3D model with the same studio often earns a discount.
- Keep expressions focused — pick the five or six you will actually use on stream; more can be added later.
- Communicate clearly — references, detailed descriptions and organised layers cut revision cycles, and revision cycles are where budgets die.
What you receive on delivery
A finished AnimArts commission ships the rigged Cubism model file (.moc3), all texture files, the physics configuration, expression presets for VTube Studio, and a short setup guide written for your model. Fully custom commissions also include the layered PSD source, motion files, and any game-engine export formats you need.
FAQ
Why are some riggers $80 and others $800 for "the same thing"? Cheap rigs almost always cut corners on physics, expression count or tracking depth. They look identical in screenshots but feel stiff on stream. The true test is asking for a 30-second tracking demo video before paying.
Can I bring my own art and pay only for rigging? Yes — rig-only pricing typically runs 30–40% below full art+rig packages, provided your PSD is properly layered (separate layers for each eye, mouth shape, and so on).
How long does a commission take? Standard: 2–3 weeks. Premium: 4–5 weeks. Rush delivery can roughly halve those at +30%. Quality rigging rarely beats a week at any price.
Do you offer payment plans? Yes — commissions over $500 can run on a fifty-percent deposit with the remainder due on delivery.
Next steps
Compare the tiers side by side on the pricing page, browse finished commissions in the portfolio, or ask for a personalised quote — we respond within 24 hours.
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