Blender is the open-source software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback. It is available for all major operating systems under the GNU General.
3D modeling is all around you. There are 3D models in the films and TV shows you watch, in the video games you play, and even in the blueprints for 3D printing. It’s all around us.
But 3D modeling isn’t easy, and 3D modeling software can be prohibitively expensive. If you know where you look, however, you can find full-featured 3D modeling software available that won’t cost you a dime.
The type of 3D modeling software you need depends on what you’re trying to do, as certain 3D modeling tools work best with certain types of design. Here’s a short overview of what’s out there:
- Blender: Artistic modeling, but also technical design
- FreeCAD: Engineering and technical design, popular with 3D print designers
- Wings 3D: Good all-around tool for artistic and technical design
- MeshMixer: Artistic modeling, 3D printing
- Tinkercad: Lightweight, entry-level 3D design
- Sculptris: Artistic modeling
- Unity with ProBuilder: Game development with 3D modeling plugin
Let’s take a look at the best free 3D modeling software you can lay your hands on, and which one’s right for you.
1. Blender
Blender features in a phenomenal number of free 3D modeling software guides. Why? Because it ticks so many boxes for a free piece of software. The range of tools outstrips most (if not all) other free competitors, and a healthy number of paid alternatives, too.
To really get to grips with Blender, I would advise finding an online tutorial series and following it. At least until you learn how to navigate Blender and switch between its many tools. And the tools are plentiful: 3D modeling, 3D editing, physical rendering, animation tools, compositing, texturing, material editing—even an integrated basic game engine for quick testing.
Furthermore, the Blender community is prolific and encouraging. If you don’t know something, ask. Chances are someone will have had the same issue, and the question will be long-since answered or resolved in one of the many fantastic Blender tutorials. Blender is donationware. This means it is free and always will be, but the developer does accept donations to keep development moving forward.
Download: Blender for Windows (64-bit) | Windows (32-bit) | Mac | Linux (64-bit) | Linux 32-bit
2. FreeCAD
We move from one of the undisputed best free 3D artistic modeling tools to one with a solid engineering focus. FreeCAD gives users chance to mimic the powerful CAD software suites to develop their own designs, completely free of charge (most CAD suites costs thousands to license).
FreeCAD uses the concept of “work benches.” The work bench is a set of predefined tools you use to work on different stages of your project. Furthermore, FreeCAD uses parametric modeling, meaning you can easily modify your model by heading through its design history and editing key parameters. Better still, you can use the FreeCAD open source library with other programs, as well as import new modules to extend the FreeCAD functionality without requiring any more software.
For many, it is an excellent, stress-free way of learning advanced CAD drawing without worrying about an expensive license. FreeCAD can directly compete with some of its paid-alternatives, too.
Download: FreeCAD for Windows (64-bit) | Windows (32-bit) | Mac | Linux (64-bit)
3. Wings 3D
Wings 3D is a powerful open source subdivision 3D modeler that is perfect for beginners. Wings 3D features a wide range of essential and useful 3D modeling tools but also allows for precise modeling with fine detail (it supports AutoUV for model texturing, too). However, Wings 3D offers no animation support. In that, it is purely for model design rather than a full studio.
Wings 3D is a good tool for beginners because it uses traditional polygonal 3D modeling techniques. Almost anything you learn about geometric meshes will translate to other 3D modeling software. Another plus point is the relatively simply interface (especially compared to some other tools), even if it feels somewhat outdated.
Download: Wings 3D for Windows (64-bit) | Windows (32-bit) | Mac | Linux (64-bit)
4. MeshMixer
Autodesk’s Meshmixer is one of the most popular triangular mesh modeling tools available for free. As an Autodesk product, Meshmixer bulges with useful features for manipulating and managing wire mesh designs, including hollowing, remeshing, print bed orientation, and drag-and-drop mesh mixing.
The drag-and-drop mesh mixing tool allows you to combine existing meshes into a single design with minimum fuss. It doesn’t take long before you’re combining extremely random objects to build fantastical or grotesque models that should never see the light of day. Usefully, Meshmixer doesn’t punish users without prior 3D design or meshing skills, while the interface is fairly easy to navigate.
Download: MeshMixer for Windows | Mac
5. Tinkercad
Tinkercad is another Autodesk development that brings 3D modeling and design to everyone. Rather than a piece of software, Tinkercad is a free online 3D design and 3D printing tool for anyone to enjoy. (Check out our beginners guide to 3D printingUltimate Beginner's Guide to 3D PrintingUltimate Beginner's Guide to 3D Printing3D printing was supposed to be the new 'Industrial Revolution.' It hasn't taken over the world yet, but I'm here to talk you through everything you need to know to get started.Read More for more information!)
You’ll quickly understand what this means once you give it a try. The Tinkercad interface is extremely basic, and your hand is gently guided toward your design destination with minimal fuss.
That said, Tinkercad allows for competent 3D model design. You won’t find the same range of tools Blender or FreeCAD, but Tinkercad is a perfect entry point for absolute beginners.
To use Tinkercad: Head to the Tinkercad website, create an account, and off you go.
6. Sculptris
Sculptris is another excellent free 3D sculpting tool that appeals to all levels of modeling abilities, professional modelers included. Sculptris developer Pixologic is well known and respected for its ZBrush sculpting and modeling suite. In a way, Sculptris is like a free trial for the fully-featured ZBrush suite.
Sculptris still features a huge number of modeling tools, and it is relatively easy to sculpt and texture a model. Beginners will find Sculptris quite forgiving, as well as noting that the layout and overall design is simple to learn. Pixologic includes a decent amount of tooltips and other hints within the program to keep you on track, too. Adding to those tooltips is a passionate community with a wealth of tutorials to help guide and inspire you.
Download: Sculptris for Windows | Mac
7. Unity with ProBuilder
Our final pick is slightly different. Unity is a free game development tool used to produce some massive titles (e.g. Kerbal Space Program, Hearthstone, Wasteland 2 & 3, Temple Run, Rust, Cities: Skylines). The beauty of the Unity platform is almost universal accessibility. Indeed, with the right Unity tutorialsThe Best Unity 3D Tutorials for BeginnersThe Best Unity 3D Tutorials for BeginnersWant to develop games with Unity, but don't know where to start? Try one of these awesome Unity 3D tutorials today.Read More, anyone can get started with it.
Unity also now owns the once-premium tool, ProBuilder, unlocking its extensive toolset for any user. ProBuilder “is a unique hybrid of 3D modeling and level design tools, optimized for building simply geometry but capable of detailed editing and UV unwrapping as needed.”
The ProBuilder Unity plugin is unlike any other 3D modeling tool on this list. You can follow tutorials to learn how to build a huge variety of 3D objects, too. And being a game development platform, you can import these designs into the main engine and walk around them, close-up.
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Download: Unity for Windows | Mac
Download:ProBuilder (via the Unity Asset Store)
Download:ProBuilder (via the Unity Asset Store)
Go Forth and Start Creating 3D Models
The world of 3D modeling awaits you. You now know about tools for creative sculpting, technical sculpting, game development5 Free Game Development Software Tools to Make Your Own Games5 Free Game Development Software Tools to Make Your Own GamesFree game development software is a great way to start video game making. We've compiled the best game software on the market.Read More, for absolute beginners, and more. There are other 3D modeling tools available, but we feel that these are the best out there right now.
Explore more about: 3D Modeling, Computer-Aided Design, .
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- You forgot two of the most used, fusion 360 and onshape. Both are free for most people, easy to learn and quite powerful.
The number and variety of 3D software packages on the market is staggering, but many of the top applications in use by commercial film, gaming, and effects studios cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.
It's true that most commercial applications offer time-limited free trials or abbreviated learning editions for students and hobbyists. If you're planning to work in the computer graphics industry one day, these are well worth exploring even if you can't afford a full license, because your skills in the commercial packages are what will ultimately land you a job.
However, plenty of free 3D software suites are out there for hobbyists, independent filmmakers who don't have the budget for expensive software, and budget-conscious freelance professionals who have found all the tools and power they need in cost-free solutions like Blender or SketchUp.
Just because the software is free doesn't necessarily make it any less valuable. This list isn't exhaustive. There are dozens of other free 3D tools available beyond those mentioned here. However, these are the strongest of the bunch.
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Blender
What We Like
- Interface vastly improved over early versions.
- Great for video games and animation.
- Nearly on par with expensive professional 3D modeling programs.
What We Don't Like
- Less useful in designing architecture and objects like furniture.
- Heavy use of shortcuts to execute commands can be daunting for new users learning the software.
Blender is easily the most versatile entry on this list, and in many regards, it compares favorably to top digital content creation tools like Cinema 4D, Maya, and 3Ds Max. To this day, it stands as one of the greatest open-source development projects ever conceived.
Blender is full-featured, offering a complete range of modeling, surfacing, sculpting, painting, animation, and rendering tools.
The software is good enough to have produced numerous impressive short films and is in use by several professional studios.
Blender was criticized early on for having a confusing interface, but don't let outdated complaints steer you away. The software was given a thorough overhaul recently and emerged with a fresh interface and a feature set that aims for parity with the best.
While you don't see Blender in any Hollywood effects pipelines where Autodesk and Houdini are deeply ingrained, Blender has steadily carved out a niche in motion graphics and visualization, similar to where Cinema 4D excels.
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Pixologic Sculptris
What We Like
- Makes quick editing easy.
- Excellent tool for learning the art.
- Users can transition to ZBrush without a difficult learning curve.
What We Don't Like
- Rendering can be slow at times.
- Lacks some useful tools and features found in other software.
Sculptris is a digital sculpting application similar to ZBrush or Mudbox, but with an easier learning curve. Because Sculptris uses dynamic tessellation, it is essentially geometry-independent, meaning it is an ideal learning package for someone with few or no modeling skills who wants to try his hand at sculpting. Sculptris was originally developed independently by Tomas Pettersson, but is now owned and maintained by Pixologic as a free counterpart to ZBrush. Sculptris is aimed at beginners. The website offers video tutorials and an assurance that the skills you learn in Sculptris easily translate to ZBrush.
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SketchUp
What We Like
- Great for architectural modeling.
- Large library of models available.
What We Don't Like
- Interface may be a challenge for new users to get used to.
- Importing 3D models created in other programs can sometimes be a problem.
SketchUp is an intuitive and accessible modeler, originally developed by Google and now owned by Trimble. SketchUp excels at practical and architectural design and probably has more in common with a CAD package than traditional surface modelers like Maya and Max.
Like Blender, SketchUp has been amazingly well received and has gradually carved out a niche with professionals in the visualization field due to its ease of use and speed.
The software has little in the way of organic modeling tools, but if your primary interest is in architectural modeling, SketchUp is an excellent starting point. You begin by drawing lines and shapes and then stretch and copy them to make whatever you like. You don't have to draw everything, though. SketchUp offers an enormous library of free 3D models to get you started — search the 3D Warehouse for what you need.
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Wings 3D
What We Like
- Good tool for learning 3D modeling basics that help in professional grade software packages.
- Supports many other 3D file formats.
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't offer features beyond the basics.
- No animations.
Wings is a straightforward open-source subdivision surface modeler, which means it has similar modeling capabilities to Maya and Max but none of their other functions.
Because Wings uses traditional (standard) polygon modeling techniques, everything you learn here is applicable in other content-creation packages, making this an ideal starting point for anyone looking to learn how to model for animation, film, and games.
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Tinkercad
What We Like
- Easy-to-learn interface.
- Design tools are online—no software to download.
What We Don't Like
- Doesn't fare well with very complex designs.
- Requires an internet connection.
Tinkercad is an impressive suite of free, lightweight 3D tools offered by Autodesk as an easy entry point into the world of 3D. Autodesk develops five different applications under the Tinkercad banner, including modeling and sculpting apps, an iPad based creature designer, and a tool to assist with fabrication and 3D printing.
In a way, Tinkercad is AutoDesk's answer to Sculptris and Sketchup and is meant to interest beginners in 3D without the tremendous learning curve of their Autodesk's flagship applications: CAD, Maya, Max, and Mudbox.
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Daz Studio
What We Like
- Includes lots of props and models to use.
- Strong in animation, image, and film creation tasks.
What We Don't Like
- Limited sculpting, modeling, and surfacing tools; easier to create new models in other 3D software and import for use.
Daz Studio is an image creation tool that comes with a wealth of characters, props, creatures, and buildings that you can arrange and animate to create still images or short films. The software is primarily meant for users who want to create 3D images or films without the overhead of creating all their models and textures by hand.
The software's animation and rendering toolset is fairly robust, and in the right hands, users can create impressive shots. However, without a full range of modeling, surfacing, or sculpting tools built in, your content can become limited unless you're willing to buy 3D assets in the Daz marketplace or create them yourself with a third-party modeling package.
Still, it's a great piece of software for people who just want to jump in and create a 3D image or film without a whole lot of overhead.
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Mandelbulb 3D
What We Like
- Create impressive fractal objects and scenes.
- You can begin by simply playing around with formulas and seeing what you get.
- The website offers downloadable examples to experiment with.
What We Don't Like
- Takes some time to acclimate to this software.
- Interface is overwhelming at first and not as intuitive as other 3D software.
If you're interested in fractals, Mandelbulb 3D should be right up your alley. The application certainly takes some getting used to, but the result is stellar once you know what you're doing. The 3D fractal environment includes color, lighting, specularity, depth-of-field, and shadow and flow effects used to generate amazing fractal objects. If the concept of fractals is Greek to you, visit the featured artists' section of the Mandelbulb website to see the types of things you can do with this software.
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Autodesk Software (Free but Limited)
What We Like
- Free top-tier 3D design software if used only non-commercially.
- Powerful and feature-rich software tools that are industry standards.
What We Don't Like
- Steep learning curve when starting to use these complex software packages.
- Software can have hefty system requirements and be resource intensive.
Autodesk offers virtually its entire software line free for non-commercial use to 'students and community members.' However, you don't have to be enrolled in a school to download them. If you want to work in the industry eventually, knowing Autodesk software is a valuable skill, so this is a highly recommended path. The only limitation is that you can't use any of the software in commercial projects. Among the educational downloads are 3DS Max, Maya, Inventor Professional, and AutoCAD.