Popular 3D Modeling Software Programs (Free & Paid)
3D modeling is another dimension of the real world where things are created that don’t really exist in the parallel world or are yet to be introduced in the same.
If you are an artist who works in the direction of 3d model creation, then you must know the best 3d modeling tools that can enhance your creativity and give you a new way to present your work to the world.
We have compiled a list of the best 3d modeling software that gives creative space to the pro creators and are even available for beginners who have a creative string and want to be a part of the 3D world.
Top Paid 3D Modeling Programs
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Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Maya is the most robust software in the world of 3D modeling with the best tools available. It is used to create alive and detailed designs that are very realistic!
Ideal for modeling, creating textures, lightning, and 3d rendering, but its use is quite complex in nature, this is why it is mostly used by the creators of professional level that are quite familiar with the tools it avails.
Maya Features : Fast playback, Polygon modeling, NURBS modeling, Character setup and more.
Free Trial : Available
Maya Pricing : Starts from $225 per month
Operating System: Windows 10; macOS; Linux 7.3 and 7.5
Versions : Maya 2023.3 is the current version and check out the Maya Release Notes for other versions
Supporting file formats
Supported image output and viewport display formats:.ai, .avi, .eps, .psd, .gif, .jpg, .png, .exr, .mov, .tif, .bmp, .svg- etc.
Supported image input formats: .psd, .avi, .gif, .jpg, .iff, .yuv, .eps, .rla, .bmp, .xpm - etc.
Industry usage
- Feature film animation studios
- Video game development companies
- Virtual reality companies
Personal or commercial usage: Has license for both usage
Customer support options
- Tollfree number - 1-844-311-3002
- Chat option available
- Email option available
- Chatbot available - Autodesk Virtual Agent
Pros
- A very powerful 3D design tool with incredible technology
- All-inclusive toolset
Cons
- Difficult to learn (Not for beginners)
- Costly
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Houdini
Houdini software is considered best for creating VFX and 3D imagery and is mostly used in the CG industry. It is a combination of traditional tools and nodal workflow that provides power and control to the creator.
However, it is a bit tricky to be used and is mostly used by professionals, but it has a lighter version as well-known as Houdini Apprentice (A free version of Houdini FX) which is used by beginners, students, and others who want to explore this software.
Sidefx Features : Solaris, CFX, FLIP Fluids and more
Free Trial : Houdini Apprentice is a free version of Houdini FX
Houdini Pricing : Perpetual & Rental
Operating System : Windows 8 SP1 and above; macOS, Linux
Versions : Houdini 19.5 is the current version and check out the Houdini Release Notes for other versions
Supporting file formats: .pic, .pic.gz, .png, .psd / .psb, .gif, .jpg / .jpeg, .tif / .tiff, .yuv, .tga / .vst - etc.
Industry usage
- Media production industry
- Major VFX companies
- Realistic game development companies
Personal or commercial usage
Has license for both usage:
- Houdini Apprentice - for personal non-commercial projects
- Houdini FX - for enterprise and large-scale commercial projects
Customer support options: Email support
Pros
- Considered an industry-leading tool with incredible technology
- Best for VFX (VFX stimulations)
- Free versions availale
Cons
- Difficult to learn (Not for beginners)
- Complex to use
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3ds Max
3ds Max is quite similar to Maya in terms of its robustness and toolset. It is mostly used by 3D artists, video game designers, architectural studios, and product-based companies that rely on the visualization of their items.
The procedure of this tool includes both procedural modeling ways and direct manipulation within. As is robust in the toolset, it provides multiple modifiers that help in creating masterpieces, even for beginners and learners.
3DS Max Features : Retopology tools, Smart extrude, Baking to texture, Interactive viewports and more.
Free Trial : Available
3DS Max Pricing : Starts from $225 per month
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 (SP1), 8, 8.1, & 10
Versions : 3ds Max 2023 is the current version and check out for other 3ds Max versions
Supporting file formats: .FBX, .3DS, .PRJ, .AI, .CATPART, .CATPRODUCT, .CGR, .DEM, .XML, .DDF
Industry usage
- Architecture
- Interior design
- 3D graphic design (mechanical and organic designs)
Personal or commercial usage
- 30-day free trial for non-commercial purposes
- Free Autodesk educational license for students, educators, or academic institutions - includes 3ds Max for non-commercial purposes
- 3ds Max Indie license ($290) - for small businesses and hobbyists - commercial purposes
Customer support options
- Tollfree number - 1-844-311-3002
- Chat option available
- Email option available
- Chatbot available - Autodesk Virtual Agent
Pros
- Plenty of scope for learning
- Ease of usage
Cons
- Available for Windows only
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Fusion 360
Fusion 360 is a professional software for CAD, CAM, CAE, and PCB and includes all sorts of 3D modeling techniques including-
- Freeform sculpting
- Polygon manipulation
- Parametric modeling
And more…
It gives the freedom to create all sorts of solid designs.
Fusion 360 Features : Interactive assemblies, Sheet metal part creation, Unlimited hierarchical schematic capture and more.
Free Trial : Available
Fusion 360 Pricing : Starts from $70 per month
Operating System: Windows 10 & 11, macOS
Supporting file formats: .ipt, .step, .obj, .stl, .sldprt
Industry usage
- Industrial designers
- Mechanical engineers
- Electrical engineers
- Machinists
- Hobbyists
- Startups
Personal or commercial usage
- Fusion 360 for personal use - Free (qualification required)
- Fusion 360 commercial edition - $545/year
Customer support options
- Tollfree number - 1-833-843-3437 (For commercial subscribers)
- Community Forum (For non-commercial subscribers)
Pros
- Flexible 3D CAD for quick iterations
- Seamless stimulation
- Photorealistic rendering and documentation
Cons
- Limited to 10 active and editable docs (Free version)
- Some functionalities changed during the project
- Steep learning curve
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Autodesk Mudbox
Mudbox is a digital 3D sculpting and texture painting tool that helps 3D modelers create intricately detailed organic and inorganic 3D assets, characters, and environments using the effective tool set it has. One can create ultra-realistic and stylized 3D geometry and textures with Mudbox in a quick and easy manner.
The software is currently developed by Autodesk; initially, it was conceptualized by Skymatter - a New Zealand-based 3D software-providing company founded by David Cardwell, Tibor Madjar, and Andrew Camenisc.
Features: Brush Paint, Import of sculpted data, Texture baking, Dynamic tessellation system, Linkage to Autodesk Flame.
Free Trial: Available
- $285/paid every 3 years
- $95/paid annually
- $10/paid monthly
Operating System: Windows, Mac, and Linux
Supporting file formats: .obj, .mud, and, . fbx
Industry usage
- Manufacturing
- Computer games
- Animation
- Computer software
- Education
- Business services
Personal or commercial usage : Commercial usage - subscription only
Customer support options : Tollfree number - 1-844-311-3002
Pros:
- Simplistic UI, navigations, etc., and easy to learn
- The character generator is one of the best parts 3D artists use
- Has multiple templates, brushes, and easy selection
- Comes with tutorials
Cons:
- Right-click commands cause some functionality issues
- The “Character Generator” option has some limitations
- Inbuilt sculpting and texturing options, as well as brushes, are a bit limited.
- Frequent software updates make it difficult to use
Best Free 3D Modeling Software Programs
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Blender
Blender is one of the best and most professional 3d modeling applications that comes with free open source.
Blender is the best choice for creating visual effects, animation, and video game visuals.
Features: Raster graphic editing, UV unwrapping, Texturing, Rigging, Sculpting and more
Pricing: Open-Source Program
Operating System: Windows 8.1, 10 & 11; macOS; Linux
Versions : Blender 3.4 is the new version and check out the other blender versions.
Supporting file formats: .sgi, .rgb, .bw, .png, .jpg, .jpeg, .jp2, .jp2, .j2c
Industry usage: Animation in the film and video game development (VR games and AR games)
Personal or commercial usage: Blender can be used for both purposes seamlessly.
Customer support options: Contact through website , Email support
Pros
- The best alternative to the paid software
- Plenty of scope for learning
- Jack of all trades
Cons
- Not based on industry standards
- Steep learning curve
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DAZ Studio
DAZ Studio is a complete package for 3D design programs including
This is an easy-to-use program that is helpful for all artists with skill sets of all types. Using this tool, an artist can create anything visually be it environment, accessories, vehicles, props, etc.
Features : Morphing, posing, texturing, rendering , animation
Pricing : Free
Operating System: Windows Vista & above, macOS
Supporting file formats: .bvh, .dae, .fbx, .obj
Industry usage
- 3D graphic designs
- Print illustrations
- Game development companies (ready-to-use models and figures, 3d environments, weapons, cars, castles, animals, trees, etc)
- Comics & visual novels
- VR companies
- Animation
- Web design
Personal or commercial usage
- Standard License Agreement for content - for personal, non-commercial use.
- Commercial 3D print license - for non-commercial use
Customer support options : Contact by submitting a ticket on Daz 3D website
Pros
- Crates real to life designs
- Has motion capabilities
Cons
- Lacks some essential features
- Better options are available
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SketchUp
Sketchup is marketed as ‘the simplest free 3D designer software for the Web’ and it is so as it runs on the web browser and is quite easy to use.
Operating System: Windows 10 & 11, macOS
Features : Interoperability, 3D Warehouse, Mobile model viewing and more
Pricing : Free (For non-commercial use) & Subscription
Versions : Checkout the sketch up release notes for release history
Supporting file formats: .jpg, .png, .tif, .bmp, .psd, .tga, .pdf, .eps, .skp, .dwg, .dxf, .dae, .3ds
Industry usage
- 3D graphic design
- The AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) industry
- Entertainment
- Interior design
- Landscape architecture
- Film and video game design
Personal or commercial usage
- Has license for both
- SketchUp Make license - for non-commercial use
- SketchUp Pro license - for commercial use
Customer support options
- Ph: 303-546-1100
- Contact through website
- By filling up website form
- Answer Assistant chatbot
- SketchUp Community
Pros
- Helps in creating beautiful geometrical objects
- A perfect mix of quality and simplicity
Cons
- Rendering is limited
- Doesn't create photo-realistic images
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FreeCAD
FreeCAD is a parametric and open-source 3D modeling software that helps 3D modelers builds real-life objects of any size. Users can sketch regulated 2D shapes, considering them as a base to create other objects on a unified 3D design platform.
The software includes diverse components to extract details and geometrical data from 3D models and adjust their dimensions in order to create production drawings.
Features: A “Sketcher” with integrated constraint-solver, a “Robot simulation” module, a technical drawing module with options for detail views, cross-sectional views, dimensioning, and more, a “Rendering” module that can export 3D objects for rendering with external renderers, etc.
Free Trial : Available
Pricing: Free
Operating System: Linux, macOS, and Windows
Supporting file formats
Import: .3ds, .obj, .dwg, .dxf, .bms, .dae, .svg, .frd, .ifc, .smf, .html, .xhtml - and more.
Export: .3mf, .amf, .obj, .dwg, .dxf, .svg, .svgz, .poly, .meshpy, .svg, .ifc, .json - and more.
Industry usage
- Industrial design
- Mechanical engineering and product design
- Architecture design
- Electrical engineering design
Personal or commercial usage: Can be used for both, no barrier
Customer support options
- Chat option available
- Support help through their official forum
Pros:
- Effective tool for engineering and construction drawings creation
- Perfect for 3D modelling
- Rendering of large 3D designs is quick
- Architectural design management
- Has a free program with good features
Cons:
- Unintuitive interface, slowdowns, glitches
- Has slow performance.
- Difficult to edit or view large models
- Design rendering speed is a little bit slower than expected
- The lasso tool is missing
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OpenSCAD
OpenSCAD is a free, script-only 3D modeling software application aimed at designing and developing solid, 3D computer-aided objects that have dimensions and are mechanical in nature.
This software is more like a 3D compiler that renders any 3D model by reading the scripts describing the object. This feature allows a 3D modeler to change certain steps during the modeling process as they wish. Besides, they can also control the process and customize the parameters, ensuring the designs come out accurately and well-defined.
Features: Extrusion of 2D primitives into 3D space, Constructive Solid Geometry, a gallery of pre-made projects, Autocad DXF files as the data exchange format for 2D outlines, and special variables for passing arguments to modules and functions.
Free Trial: Available
Pricing: Free
Operating System: GNU/Linux, Microsoft Windows, and mac OS X
Supporting file formats: .stl, .off, .amf, .3mf, .dxf, .svg
Industry usage:
- CAD designs & drawings
- Industrial designs
- Mechanical designs
Personal or commercial usage: Can be used for both, no barrier
Customer support options: Email - info@openscad.org
Pros:
- It is open source
- Has great community libraries
- Parametric to the core
- Language is fairly simple and, therefore, easy to pick up
- The ability to complex creations using math equations
Cons:
- Unintuitive CAD interface
- Complex shapes can be challenging
- Lacking mature features
- The OpenSCAD code editor is not very versatile; does not provide code assistance or on-the-fly syntax validation
These various types of 3D modeling programs are considered the best. And we hope this topic will help you choose the best one for you.
Related Article : List of Top 3D Rendering Software
We come up with such relevant topics every now and then to help the seekers with our knowledge sharing.
Parting thoughts!
There you go, a detailed compilation of the most handy 3D modeling software that any beginner, intermediate, or professional can try in 2023, and beyond. Hope this list of useful tools helps you to increase your knowledge base, as well as hone your 3D design skills. Each 3D designing software has its own distinct benefits; therefore, make your pick wisely considering factors like:
- Your goals
- Your budget
- Software assistance option
- Easy UX-UI
- Free trial
Alternatively, you may also reach out to an expert team with thorough experience in leveraging all the latest tools and technologies, and let them do all the hard work, while you focus on the core business development area.
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