How to Create an NFT Token for Free and Sell It on NFT Marketplaces: Complete Guide

Understanding the NFT Creation Process

NFT (Non-Fungible Token) represents a unique digital asset that can be used to prove ownership of specific items in the digital space. Creating an NFT token essentially means minting it on a blockchain network, making it a permanent and verifiable record of ownership.

NFTs can represent virtually anything that exists in the digital realm. From tweets and digital artwork in JPG format to music albums and virtual real estate, the possibilities are endless. However, the most significant success story in recent years has been NFT art collections, which have revolutionized how digital artists monetize their work.

Through blockchain technology, artists from anywhere in the world can reach art collectors and sell their works securely without intermediaries. The democratization of art sales means that anyone can learn how to create and sell NFT art, regardless of their location or traditional art world connections.

The process of tokenizing digital assets, or creating NFTs, traditionally involves gas fees. Most NFTs are created on the Ethereum blockchain, which has become the standard for NFT creation. However, this popular network has one significant drawback: high gas fees that can sometimes cost hundreds of dollars per transaction.

To create and mint NFTs, you'll typically need a cryptocurrency wallet such as MetaMask, along with some Ethereum to cover gas fees. However, this guide will show you how to create and sell NFTs completely free of charge, utilizing both Ethereum and Polygon blockchains through innovative minting methods.

How to Create NFT Tokens for Free

To learn how to sell NFT art successfully, you must first choose an NFT marketplace that allows you to mint your NFTs for free. You'll also need a cryptocurrency wallet to pay fees and receive payments when your NFTs sell.

You can create and sell NFTs on numerous specialized platforms, each with its own features and community. We'll focus on the most popular NFT trading platforms: OpenSea and Rarible. For the cryptocurrency wallet, we'll use MetaMask because it's one of the most widely adopted wallets among cryptocurrency users, offering excellent security and ease of use.

An important aspect of these popular NFT marketplaces is that they allow free NFT minting through lazy minting technology, but they still charge a service fee of 2.5% of the sale price for each NFT transaction. This fee structure ensures the platform's sustainability while keeping entry barriers low for new creators.

Creating Free NFT Tokens on OpenSea

Installing the MetaMask Wallet

MetaMask is one of the most popular cryptocurrency wallets, functioning as a browser extension on your device. It provides secure storage for your digital assets and enables interaction with blockchain applications. If you haven't used it yet, download the wallet from the official MetaMask website to ensure you're getting the legitimate version.

If you already have a MetaMask wallet, you can import it using your recovery phrase, which is a series of 12 or 24 words that serve as a backup for your wallet. If you're creating a new wallet, follow the indicated steps carefully. Remember to write down your recovery phrase using pen and paper (never store it digitally), as it will be essential for wallet recovery if you lose access to your device.

You'll also need to set a password for your wallet, which will be required every time you want to connect it to a new application. Choose a strong password that combines letters, numbers, and special characters for maximum security.

Connecting MetaMask to OpenSea

Navigate to the OpenSea marketplace and click on the wallet icon in the upper right corner to connect your wallet. Select MetaMask from the list of available wallets and confirm the connection in your wallet (a pop-up window will appear). This connection establishes a secure link between your wallet and the marketplace.

After connecting your wallet to the NFT marketplace, you'll be able to see your profile and create your first NFT. The platform will remember your wallet address for future visits, making subsequent logins seamless.

Creating and Minting NFTs for Free on OpenSea

You can choose between creating a single token or an NFT collection. We recommend minting an NFT collection because they tend to be more successful than individual pieces, as they create a cohesive brand and story that collectors appreciate.

Click on Create (in the upper right menu). If you want to make an NFT collection, click on the account icon (in the upper right corner, next to the wallet icon), then select My Collections and Create Collection.

An NFT collection will require providing additional details such as collection name, description, and banner images. After creating the collection, you'll be able to add items to it and choose the exact number of NFTs to be created within that collection.

For each item or NFT you want to create, you'll need to provide several details including:

• Digital artwork (image, video, audio, or 3D model)
• Name that clearly identifies the piece
• External link to additional information
• Detailed description explaining the artwork's concept
• Collection assignment (if you have multiple collections)
• Special traits or attributes
• Unlockable content for buyers
• Supply quantity
• Blockchain selection

Since we're discussing how to create and sell your NFTs for free, it's crucial to select the Polygon blockchain instead of the default Ethereum network. Polygon is one of the best networks for NFTs and cryptocurrency transactions because it offers significantly lower fees and higher transaction speeds compared to Ethereum mainnet.

In this case, choosing Polygon allows OpenSea creators to create NFTs completely free of charge, eliminating the barrier of upfront gas fees. Click Create, and your first NFT will be minted on the blockchain. However, this item is not yet listed for sale and requires an additional step.

Listing Your NFT for Sale

To list your NFT for sale, click Sell in the upper right corner of your NFT's page. You can set your desired price for the NFT, choosing between fixed price listings or auction formats.

OpenSea offers several selling options:

• Fixed price: Set a specific price for immediate purchase
• Timed auction: Let buyers bid over a set period
• Declining price: Start high and automatically decrease over time

After setting all the details including duration and pricing, click Complete Listing, and your NFT will be available for sale on the marketplace. Keep in mind that OpenSea charges a 2.5% service fee, which will be deducted from the price after the NFT sells.

Understanding Lazy Minting Technology

Lazy minting is an innovative process that allows NFTs to be minted at the time of purchase rather than at creation, and it was developed to eliminate any upfront costs for new creators. This revolutionary approach has made NFT creation accessible to artists worldwide, regardless of their financial resources.

Lazy minting is a feature available on the most popular marketplaces, including OpenSea and Rarible. The technology works by creating an off-chain signature that represents the NFT, which only gets written to the blockchain when someone purchases it.

This method of creating NFTs was introduced in recent years because gas fees proved to be a significant problem for creators, especially newcomers who didn't want to spend substantial amounts upfront without guarantee of sales. The traditional minting process could cost anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars per NFT, making it prohibitively expensive for many artists.

With lazy minting, it's possible to defer the cost of minting NFTs until they're sold to the first buyer. The creator doesn't have to bear any additional costs to the platform upfront. Part of the purchase price goes toward creating the NFT record on the blockchain, ensuring the buyer receives a properly minted token while the creator faces no financial risk.

Creating Free NFT Tokens on Rarible

Another popular marketplace for NFT art is Rarible, which offers unique features and a strong community. Since you'll need a cryptocurrency wallet to connect to Rarible, we'll use the same MetaMask wallet that we used for OpenSea, demonstrating the convenience of having one wallet for multiple platforms.

Installing the MetaMask Wallet

This step is identical to the OpenSea process. If you don't have a MetaMask wallet, install and create a wallet on your device following the official instructions. Remember to securely save your secret recovery phrase in a safe physical location, never storing it digitally or sharing it with anyone.

Connecting MetaMask to Rarible

Go to Rarible.com and connect your MetaMask wallet by clicking Sign In, then Sign In with MetaMask. The platform will request permission to view your wallet address and interact with it.

Creating and Selling NFT Tokens on Rarible

After confirming the connection to the marketplace from your wallet and accepting Rarible's Terms of Service, you can click Create in the upper right corner and create a new NFT on Rarible's platform.

Select the Ethereum blockchain and choose between Single or Multiple NFTs. Choosing the Multiple option means you want to create an NFT collection, which is considered a more popular option among collectors and can help establish your brand identity.

Next, you'll need to enter all the details about your new NFT, including:

• Digital file (image, video, or audio)
• Offer type (fixed price or timed auction)
• Price in ETH or other supported currencies
• Unlockable content that buyers receive
• Collection selection (choose Rarible for zero fees)
• Free minting activation (you must enable this)
• Descriptive name
• Detailed description
• Royalty percentage for future sales

It's important to select the Rarible collection if you want to use the free minting feature. This ensures your NFT benefits from the lazy minting technology.

You must also ensure that the free minting option is enabled. Checking this option means NFTs are only minted when they first sell on the platform, and the buyer pays the gas fees, not the creator.

After entering all the data, scroll down and click Create Item to create your first NFT token on Rarible. Once created, the NFTs will be available for sale on Rarible's marketplace. However, until someone actually purchases the NFT on the Ethereum blockchain, it won't be recorded on that blockchain, remaining as an off-chain signature until purchase.

Strategies for Selling NFT Tokens

Now that you've learned how to sell your NFTs on OpenSea and Rarible, you must focus on two main aspects of successful NFT sales: building a community around your NFTs and promoting them effectively through various channels.

Building a Strong Community

Creating a community around your NFTs is a crucial step that every new NFT artist must focus on. Popular NFT marketplaces use social proof to verify the authenticity of the artist behind the NFT art. OpenSea requires you to include at least one social media channel that you use to manage your NFT collection and share it with your audience.

Set a goal to inform your audience that you're interested in NFTs and actively creating in this space. Experts recommend releasing limited edition NFTs to increase your potential profits and follower base. Limited editions create scarcity and urgency, driving collector interest.

Engage with your community regularly through:

• Behind-the-scenes content showing your creative process
• Exclusive previews for early supporters
• Interactive events like AMAs (Ask Me Anything)
• Collaboration opportunities with other artists
• Reward programs for loyal collectors

Promoting Your NFT Collection Effectively

You must learn how to promote your NFTs to have the best chance of selling your digital art in a competitive marketplace. Your NFTs should be promoted among your followers on all available social media channels, creating multiple touchpoints with potential buyers.

Most NFT artists and creative studios use Twitter, Telegram, Discord, and Reddit to stay in touch with their fans and build engaged communities. Each platform serves a different purpose:

• Twitter: For announcements, teasers, and reaching broader audiences
• Discord: For building tight-knit communities and providing exclusive updates
• Telegram: For quick updates and direct communication
• Reddit: For detailed discussions and reaching niche communities

Consider creating a content calendar that includes regular posts about your work, your inspiration, and upcoming drops. Consistency is key to building and maintaining audience interest.

Comparing OpenSea and Rarible for NFT Sales

Choosing between marketplaces comes down to your community, established fan base, different platform features, and personal preferences. While there are several differences between OpenSea and Rarible, they tend to borrow features from each other, creating increasingly similar user experiences.

Ultimately, these are the two most popular NFT marketplaces and they're quite similar in many respects. However, one important difference is the ability to mint NFTs on different blockchains. OpenSea offers creators the option of Ethereum or Polygon, providing flexibility in gas fee management.

Rarible offers creators the ability to mint NFTs on Ethereum, Flow, and Tezos, providing even more blockchain options. This diversity allows creators to choose the network that best suits their needs and target audience.

Another feature available on Rarible is the ability to apply for a verified badge, guaranteeing legitimacy and authenticity. Artists may find this feature more appealing as it helps establish credibility and trust with potential buyers. The verification process typically requires demonstrating consistent activity and authentic engagement with the platform.

Both platforms offer robust analytics tools, community features, and marketing support, making either choice viable for serious NFT creators looking to establish their presence in the digital art market.

FAQ

How do I create an NFT for free without paying gas fees?

Use lazy minting on platforms like Rarible or OpenSea. These services defer gas fees until the NFT sells, allowing you to create and list NFTs without upfront costs. You only pay fees when someone purchases your NFT.

What are the best free NFT creation platforms and tools available?

Top free NFT creation platforms include Rarible, OpenSea, and Tezos-based tools. These platforms offer zero-cost minting options, allowing creators to generate and list NFTs without upfront fees. Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain also provide accessible alternatives for cost-effective NFT creation.

Which NFT marketplaces allow you to list and sell NFTs with minimal fees?

OpenSea, Rarible, and Magic Eden offer minimal listing fees. OpenSea charges no upfront fees, Rarible provides creator-friendly options, and Magic Eden features competitive rates for Solana-based NFTs.

Do I need to know how to code to create an NFT token?

No, you don't need coding knowledge. Many no-code platforms and NFT marketplaces offer user-friendly interfaces to create and mint NFTs easily. However, basic coding skills can help you customize advanced features.

What is the difference between minting on-chain and lazy minting for free NFT creation?

On-chain minting creates NFTs immediately on the blockchain but requires gas fees. Lazy minting defers gas fees until the NFT is purchased, allowing free creation with costs paid later by the buyer.

How much can I realistically earn selling NFTs on marketplaces?

Top NFT sellers earn between $50 to $20,000 monthly. Earnings depend on content uniqueness, quality, and market demand. Success requires building audience and offering distinctive digital assets.

What are the common mistakes beginners make when creating and selling NFTs?

Beginners often overprice their NFTs, ignore market trends, neglect proper marketing, use low-quality artwork, and fail to build community engagement before launch.

Is it legal to create and sell NFTs? What are the copyright considerations?

Creating and selling NFTs is legal, but you must own or have rights to the content. Selling copyrighted material without permission violates copyright law. Always verify you hold proper rights before minting NFTs.

How do I set up a digital wallet to create and sell NFTs?

Choose a crypto wallet like MetaMask or Trust Wallet, download the extension or app, create an account, secure your private keys, and connect it to NFT platforms to start minting and selling NFTs on blockchain networks.

What metadata and file formats do I need for creating an NFT?

Use image formats like JPG, PNG, GIF, SVG, or media formats like MP4, MP3, WAV under 100MB. Essential metadata includes name, description, image URI, and creator details. Most NFT platforms support these standard formats.