Best 3D Modeling Software in 2026
3D modeling software can be used for projects that call for sculpting, parametric modeling, animation, rendering, or print preparation. The ranking compares those capabilities alongside platform access, free plans, and “Paid from” details. Blender, Houdini, and SketchUp are among the first entries, followed by Onshape and FreeCAD. As you compare options, consider which modeling approach fits your work, whether animation or a render engine matters, and whether the listed 3D print export and platform access meet your needs.
140 3d modeling software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | App | Score | From | Free plan | Paid from | Platform access | Sculpting tools | Animation tools | Parametric modeling | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blender | 9.5 | Free | Yes | — | desktop | Yes | Yes | — | View |
| 2 | Houdini | 8.2 | $7.92/mo | Yes | — | desktop | Yes | Yes | Yes | View |
| 3 | SketchUp | 8.1 | $0.90/mo | Yes | $10.75/user/mo | both | — | Yes | Yes | View |
| 4 | Onshape | 8.0 | $125/mo | Yes | Free | browser | — | — | Yes | View |
| 5 | FreeCAD | 8.0 | Free | Yes | — | desktop | — | Yes | Yes | View |
| 6 |  Rhino 3D | 7.9 | $95/mo | No | — | desktop | — | Yes | Yes | View |
| 7 | Shapr3D | 7.9 | $24.92/mo | Yes | Free | both | No | No | Yes | View |
| 8 |  SOLIDWORKS | 7.9 | $4/mo | Yes | $2,820/user/mo | both | Yes | Yes | Yes | View |
| 9 | SelfCAD | 7.9 | $11.67/mo | Yes | $11.99/user/mo | both | Yes | Yes | — | View |
| 10 | ZBrush | 7.8 | Free | Yes | — | desktop | Yes | Yes | Yes | View |
| 11 |  Bforartists | 7.8 | Free | Yes | — | desktop | Yes | Yes | — | View |
| 12 |  Autodesk Inventor | 7.8 | Free | No | — | Microsoft Windows | — | — | Yes | View |
| 13 | 3DCoat | 7.8 | €379/mo | Yes | — | desktop | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 14 |  Solid Edge | 7.7 | Free | Yes | — | both | — | Yes | Yes | View |
| 15 |  form·Z | 7.7 | $18.25/mo | Yes | — | desktop | Yes | Yes | Yes | View |
| 16 |  MeshLab | 7.7 | Free | Yes | — | desktop | — | — | — | View |
| 17 | Spline | 7.7 | $15/mo | Yes | $12/user/mo | both | Yes | Yes | Yes | View |
| 18 | Meshy | 7.7 | $20/mo | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | View |
| 19 | Browzwear VStitcher | 7.6 | $62.50/mo | No | — | — | — | — | — | View |
| 20 | Adobe Substance 3D Modeler | 7.5 | Free | Yes | — | desktop | Yes | — | Yes | View |
| 21 |  uMake | 7.5 | $9.99/mo | Yes | — | both | — | Yes | — | View |
| 22 | build123d | 7.5 | Free | Yes | — | — | — | — | Yes | View |
| 23 | T-FLEX CAD | 7.4 | Free | Yes | — | — | — | — | — | View |
| 24 |  DesignSpark Mechanical | 7.4 | Free | Yes | — | — | — | — | Yes | View |
| 25 | Gravity Sketch | 7.4 | £15.99/mo | Yes | — | both | Yes | No | No | View |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which 3d modeling software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Blender is ranked #1 of 140 with a score of 9.5. Houdini is second and SketchUp third.
How many of these have a free plan?
25 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, SketchUp has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.90/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.