diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/api/plugin.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/api/plugin.py
index 07167a9a32a..212c4df4927 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/api/plugin.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/api/plugin.py
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ def _default_remove_instances(self, instances):
 @six.add_metaclass(ABCMeta)
 class MayaCreator(NewCreator, MayaCreatorBase):
 
-    settings_name = None
+    settings_category = "maya"
 
     def create(self, subset_name, instance_data, pre_create_data):
 
@@ -317,24 +317,6 @@ def get_pre_create_attr_defs(self):
                     default=True)
         ]
 
-    def apply_settings(self, project_settings):
-        """Method called on initialization of plugin to apply settings."""
-
-        settings_name = self.settings_name
-        if settings_name is None:
-            settings_name = self.__class__.__name__
-
-        settings = project_settings["maya"]["create"]
-        settings = settings.get(settings_name)
-        if settings is None:
-            self.log.debug(
-                "No settings found for {}".format(self.__class__.__name__)
-            )
-            return
-
-        for key, value in settings.items():
-            setattr(self, key, value)
-
 
 class MayaAutoCreator(AutoCreator, MayaCreatorBase):
     """Automatically triggered creator for Maya.
@@ -343,6 +325,8 @@ class MayaAutoCreator(AutoCreator, MayaCreatorBase):
         any arguments.
     """
 
+    settings_category = "maya"
+
     def collect_instances(self):
         return self._default_collect_instances()
 
@@ -360,6 +344,8 @@ class MayaHiddenCreator(HiddenCreator, MayaCreatorBase):
         arguments for 'create' method.
     """
 
+    settings_category = "maya"
+
     def create(self, *args, **kwargs):
         return MayaCreator.create(self, *args, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/openpype/pipeline/create/creator_plugins.py b/openpype/pipeline/create/creator_plugins.py
index 6aa08cae705..b51f69379ca 100644
--- a/openpype/pipeline/create/creator_plugins.py
+++ b/openpype/pipeline/create/creator_plugins.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 import copy
 import collections
 
@@ -193,6 +194,12 @@ class BaseCreator:
     # QUESTION make this required?
     host_name = None
 
+    # Settings auto-apply helpers
+    # Root key in project settings (mandatory for auto-apply to work)
+    settings_category = None
+    # Name of plugin in create settings > class name is used if not set
+    settings_name = None
+
     def __init__(
         self, project_settings, system_settings, create_context, headless=False
     ):
@@ -233,14 +240,90 @@ def __init__(
                 " need to keep system settings."
             ).format(self.__class__.__name__))
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_settings_values(project_settings, category_name, plugin_name):
+        """Helper method to get settings values.
+
+        Args:
+            project_settings (dict[str, Any]): Project settings.
+            category_name (str): Category of settings.
+            plugin_name (str): Name of settings.
+
+        Returns:
+            Union[dict[str, Any], None]: Settings values or None.
+        """
+
+        settings = project_settings.get(category_name)
+        if not settings:
+            return None
+
+        create_settings = settings.get("create")
+        if not create_settings:
+            return None
+
+        return create_settings.get(plugin_name)
+
     def apply_settings(self, project_settings):
         """Method called on initialization of plugin to apply settings.
 
+        Default implementation tries to auto-apply settings values if are
+            in expected hierarchy.
+
+        Data hierarchy to auto-apply settings:
+            ├─ {self.settings_category}                 - Root key in settings
+            │ └─ "create"                               - Hardcoded key
+            │   └─ {self.settings_name} | {class name}  - Name of plugin
+            │     ├─ ... attribute values...            - Attribute/value pair
+
+        It is mandatory to define 'settings_category' attribute. Attribute
+        'settings_name' is optional and class name is used if is not defined.
+
+        Example data:
+            ProjectSettings {
+                "maya": {                    # self.settings_category
+                    "create": {              # Hardcoded key
+                        "CreateAnimation": { # self.settings_name / class name
+                            "enabled": True, # --- Attributes to set ---
+                            "optional": True,#
+                            "active": True,  #
+                            "fps": 25,       # -------------------------
+                        },
+                        ...
+                    },
+                    ...
+                },
+                ...
+            }
+
         Args:
             project_settings (dict[str, Any]): Project settings.
         """
 
-        pass
+        settings_category = self.settings_category
+        if not settings_category:
+            return
+
+        cls_name = self.__class__.__name__
+        settings_name = self.settings_name or cls_name
+
+        settings = self._get_settings_values(
+            project_settings, settings_category, settings_name
+        )
+        if settings is None:
+            self.log.debug("No settings found for {}".format(cls_name))
+            return
+
+        for key, value in settings.items():
+            # Log out attributes that are not defined on plugin object
+            # - those may be potential dangerous typos in settings
+            if not hasattr(self, key):
+                self.log.debug((
+                    "Applying settings to unknown attribute '{}' on '{}'."
+                ).format(
+                    key, cls_name
+                ))
+            setattr(self, key, value)
+
 
     @property
     def identifier(self):