saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

Design, Video & Audio

Best 3D modeling software

Build 3D models for games, animation, product design and printing, on a Windows PC. 9 3D modeling programs, ranked by points out of 100.

Facts checked 9 Oct 2026 · How we score 3D modeling programs

Not scored yet: Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max, Autodesk Fusion, Tinkercad.

In short

  1. 1
    BlenderAnyone who wants full 3D tools for paid work at no cost
    80/100
    $0cheapest way to use it for paid work
  2. 2
    HoudiniArtists who want procedural, node-driven modeling and simulation
    72/100
    $24.92/mocheapest way to use it for paid work
  3. 3
    FreeCADPeople who want free, scriptable solid modeling for designed parts
    50/100
    $0cheapest way to use it for paid work
  4. 4
    Rhino 3DDesigners who want precise curve and surface modeling and prefer to buy once
    48/100
    $30.92/mocheapest way to use it for paid work
  5. 5
    Cinema 4DMotion designers who want modeling, animation and rendering in one subscription
    48/100
    Not publishedcheapest way to use it for paid work
  6. 6
    ZBrushCharacter and creature artists who sculpt detailed meshes
    39/100
    Not publishedcheapest way to use it for paid work
  7. 7
    Shapr3DProduct designers who want precise solid models and tablet-friendly CAD
    38/100
    $16.78/mocheapest way to use it for paid work
  8. 8
    PlasticityHard-surface and product designers who want to buy once instead of subscribing
    33/100
    $4.86/mocheapest way to use it for paid work
  9. 9
    SketchUpDesigners who want a subscription modeler for desktop, web and iPad
    24/100
    $10.75/mocheapest way to use it for paid work

How the points add up

Points earned out of the points available in each part of the method.

ProductSystems
of 8		Licence
of 33		Modelling tools
of 38		Formats
of 6		Price
of 15		Total
Blender4213851280
Houdini418385772
FreeCAD4211031250
Rhino 3D28246848
Cinema 4D20385348
ZBrush410184339
Shapr3D414551038
Plasticity41253933
SketchUp6054924

Each 3D modeling program in brief

1. Blender

Blender suits anyone who wants a complete 3D package for paid work without paying for it. It scores high because it is free, open source, and covers modeling, sculpting, nodes, animation, simulation, UVs, rendering and Python scripting. The catch: there is no web or iPad version, and no STEP export for precise CAD work.

Best for: Anyone who wants full 3D tools for paid work at no cost. Prices, facts and sources

2. Houdini

Houdini suits artists who want to build models and effects from node networks, and it covers sculpting, UV tools, cloth and fluid simulation, Karma rendering and Python scripting. The cheapest paid-work route is Indie at $299 a year. The catch: the free Apprentice version bars paid work, and Indie is limited to $100K USD in annual gross revenue.

Best for: Artists who want procedural, node-driven modeling and simulation. Prices, facts and sources

3. FreeCAD

FreeCAD suits anyone who needs parametric solid modeling without paying, from hobby parts to professional design tasks. It is open source under LGPL-2.1, has a Python API, and runs on three desktop systems. The catch: its feature list names no sculpting, rigging or ray-traced renderer, and no web or iPad version is listed.

Best for: People who want free, scriptable solid modeling for designed parts. Prices, facts and sources

4. Rhino 3D

Rhino suits people who want NURBS and SubD modeling, Grasshopper and a licence they keep, on Windows or Mac. The 90-day evaluation is long, and exports cover FBX, OBJ, glTF, STL, USD and STEP. The catch: no free version, no Linux, web or iPad edition, and prices are shown in euros.

Best for: Designers who want precise curve and surface modeling and prefer to buy once. Prices, facts and sources

5. Cinema 4D

Cinema 4D suits motion designers who want modeling, sculpting, rigging, simulation and rendering in one subscription. It has a Python and C++ SDK for add-ons. The catch: Maxon's plan page shows no prices, and the only free option described is a 14-day trial.

Best for: Motion designers who want modeling, animation and rendering in one subscription. Prices, facts and sources

6. ZBrush

ZBrush suits sculptors who want a brush-based workflow, UV Master unwrapping and Redshift rendering in a subscription. The free iPad plan is a low-cost way to start sculpting. The catch: the free plan cannot export 3D models, and Maxon's pages show no prices for the Windows desktop subscription.

Best for: Character and creature artists who sculpt detailed meshes. Prices, facts and sources

7. Shapr3D

Shapr3D suits people who want precise solid modeling on an iPad, Mac or Windows PC and are happy to subscribe. The free plan is open-ended but bars commercial use and caps projects at 2. The catch: Shapr3D lists no sculpting, animation or scripting, and its apps are listed only for Windows, macOS, iPadOS and Vision Pro.

Best for: Product designers who want precise solid models and tablet-friendly CAD. Prices, facts and sources

8. Plasticity

Plasticity suits people who want solid and NURBS surface modeling without a subscription. Indie is $175 once and Studio $299, both with commercial use and 12 months of updates. The catch: no animation, simulation, rendering or scripting appears in the manual, and the free option is only a 30-day non-commercial trial.

Best for: Hard-surface and product designers who want to buy once instead of subscribing. Prices, facts and sources

9. SketchUp

SketchUp suits people who want a modeler across desktop, web and iPad, and who are happy to subscribe. Go is the cheapest way in at $10.75 a month, and a public Ruby API supports extensions. The catch: there is no free version for adults, no one-off licence, and only a 7-day trial.

Best for: Designers who want a subscription modeler for desktop, web and iPad. Prices, facts and sources

Every fact, side by side

Each row is one rule of the method and the points it is worth. "–" means the vendor does not publish it, which earns nothing.

Rule (points)BlenderHoudiniFreeCADRhino 3DCinema 4DZBrushShapr3DPlasticitySketchUp
Other systems (8)2 of 42 of 42 of 41 of 41 of 42 of 42 of 42 of 43 of 4
Free version without a time limit (10)YesYesYesNo–YesYesNoNo
Free version allowed for paid work (6)YesNoYesNo––NoNoNo
One-off licence you keep (8)NoYesNoYes––NoYesNo
Open source (5)Yes–Yes–––NoNo–
Free licence for students (4)No–NoNo––YesYesNo
Precise curve and solid modeling (5)YesYesYesYesYes–YesYes–
Digital sculpting (5)YesYes––YesYes–––
Node-based procedural modeling (5)YesYes–YesYes––––
Rigging and animation (5)YesYes––Yes––––
Physics simulation (4)YesYes––YesYes–––
UV unwrapping (4)YesYes–YesYesYes–––
Built-in ray-traced renderer (5)YesYes–YesYesYes––No
Scripting and add-ons (5)YesYesYesYesYes–––Yes
Built-in export formats (6)5 of 65 of 63 of 66 of 65 of 64 of 65 of 63 of 64 of 6
Cheapest way to use it for paid work (12)$0$24.92/mo$0$30.92/mo––$16.78/mo$4.86/mo$10.75/mo
Full-feature trial (3)No–NoYesYesYesYesNoNo

Head to head

We read each vendor's own pages, record every fact with its source and date, and score it by the rules on how we score 3D modeling programs. A tie goes to the lower price. General-purpose 3D modeling programs for individuals and small studios that run on Windows (an app, or in the browser). Pure renderers, scanners, slicers and AI model generators are left out. Plans for schools and large companies are not used for the price. CAD-first tools are judged on the same lines, so animation and sculpting lines score them low. Vendor claims about speed or quality are shown on product pages but never scored. Prices are in US dollars before tax.