32 Best Free 3D Modeling Applications You Must Try Out

Updated on July 2nd, 2018 by Jules, Quertime Editorial in Graphics

Three Dimensional (3D) computer graphics are not something new or special. They can be easily seen anywhere and are commonly used in movies, advertisements, product design, etc. However, a common thing doesn’t mean it can be easily created. To create a 3D object, you need to download 3D modeling software programs which are usually costly to a non-professional user. Therefore we thought there’s a need to find out the availability of free 3D modeling applications and share with you all.

After hours of searching, here’s the list of 32 free and open source 3D modeling applications that allows anyone to easily create, publish and share their ideas in 3D! Just try them out and share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

If you’ve come across any free and worth sharing 3D modeling tools, don’t forget to let us know!

Blender
Blender is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License. It can be used to model, shade, animate, render and composite and create interactive 3D models.

Google SketchUp
Google SketchUp is an easy-to-use program that lets you create, modify and share 3D models. From history to calculus, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to see your ideas in 3D. And when you’re done, you can export an image, make a movie or print out a view of what you made.

Anim8or
Anim8or is a simple, free, but well featured, 3D computer animation program that is designed to allow straightforward creation of animations. It is an ideal introduction to 3D animation. You interactively create and edit objects, figures, and scenes directly on the computers screen. The basic interface is similar to most 3D animation and CAD programs.

Art of Illusion
Art of Illusion is a free, open source 3D modelling and rendering studio. Some of the highlights include subdivision surface based modelling tools, skeleton based animation, and a graphical language for designing procedural textures and materials.

3DCrafter
3DCrafter is a real-time 3D modeling and animation tool that incorporates an intuitive drag-and-drop approach to 3D modeling. Complex models can be constructed from simple 3D primitives, or created using 3DCrafter’s Shape Building Tools. Modeling tools are provided to deform, sculpt, and paint 3D shapes.

K-3D
K-3D is free-as-in-freedom 3D modeling and animation software. It features a plugin-oriented procedural engine for all of its content, making K-3D a very versatile and powerful package. The software excels at polygonal modeling, and includes basic tools for NURBS, patches, curves and animation.

Zmodeler
Zmodeler or Zanoza Modeler is a 3D modeling program to build and design models. It is specifically designed for games and supports various game formats including NFS,GTA, Re-Volt, MidtownMadness, and many others.

Seamless3d
Seamless3d is open source 3D modeling software free and available for all under the MIT license. It is designed for the artist who is realistic about the time it takes to learn any tool that’s going to offer creative freedom.

AutoQ3D Community
AutoQ3D can be used by anyone who wants an easy way to imagine, create, and publish in 3D. It is ideal for you to use as modeling editor for your home additions, game design, math geometrical education or whatever your imagination tells you.

BRL-CAD
BRL-CAD is a powerful cross-platform constructive solid geometry solid modeling system that includes an interactive geometry editor, ray-tracing for rendering and geometric analyses, network distributed framebuffer support, image and signal-processing tools.

eDrawings
eDrawings is a freeware utility which will give the user the power to view, create and share 3D models and 2D drawings. It offers unique capabilities like point-and-click animations that make it easy for anyone with a PC to interpret and understand 2D and 3D design data.

MINOS
MINOS makes it easy to design 3D parts and assemblies. The design methodology is based on defining simple geometric elements including lines, curves, and circles, and then linking them together to form contours. Fillets and chamfers can be added to a contour and are represented when the contour is used to produce a solid model.

freeCAD
freeCAD is a basic 3D CAD with advanced Motion Simulation capabilities. It is suitable for anyone interested in learning 3D CAD and Motion Simulation for free before using more sophisticated packages. Its motion simulation capabilities are comparable to the best and can provide accurate answers to engineers and scientists in diverse fields.

K3DSurf
K3DSurf can be used by every one interested in 3D Mathematical drawing functions and don’t require any special competences by users. It supports parametric equations and Isosurfaces.

DesignWorkshop Lite
The free DesignWorkshop Lite software package provides all you need to build your own 3D models for home design and visualization of architecture, landscapes, exhibits, or any kind of spatial design. You can view and walk-through ready-made models of any size, like the free 3D building models in the Great Buildings Online, in DXF, DesignWorkshop, or 3DMF format, with amazing live 3D speed.

GDesign 2.0
GDesign is a 2D/3D free generative art application for Windows. With GDesign you can interactively build, test, and edit complex models using DOL, Stochastic and Parametric LSystems.

Sweet Home 3D
Sweet Home 3D helps you to design your interior quickly and easily: draw the rooms of each level of your home upon the image of an existing plan, change the color or the texture of each room, and drag and drop furniture onto the plan from a catalog organized by categories (windows, doors, living room, kitchen), in which you can import 3D models created by yourself or downloaded from various Web sites.

Bishop3D
Bishop3D is a modeler and animation tool that allows you to model the scenes interactively and it will automatically generate the correspondent POV-Ray SDL script. It offers native keyframe animation support, POV-Ray SDL import and a powerful texture editor.

3DVIA Shape
3DVIA Shape is a free online 3D modeling, remix and publishing application that allows anyone to easily share their ideas in 3D. The software allows users to create models, add textures and then publish them directly to its free online community located at 3DVIA Web site.

DeleD
DeleD is a 3D modeler designed to help you create content for your game project, whether you’re a professional or indy game developer. Other areas in which you can put DeleD to good use are, for example, educational services, webdesign, prototyping and image creation.

OpenFX
OpenFX is a suite of advanced 3D modeling, animation and rendering tools. A powerful feature-set includes a full renderer and raytrace engine, NURBS support, kinematics-based animation, morphing, and an extensive plugin API.

Wings 3D
Wings 3D offers a wide range of modeling tools, a customizable interface, support for lights and materials, and a built-in AutoUV mapping facility.

LEGO Digital Designer
The program lets you build with LEGO bricks on your computer without the mess of cleaning up. Avoid the chance of losing your Legos to the vacuum and try out this 3D modeling application.

Vue Pioneer
Vue Pioneer lets you easily create your own 3D Worlds. With the software you can create vast expanses of terrains, add trees, select the best point of view and render hyper-realistic images of your landscapes in moody atmospheres in a few mouse clicks.

CB Model Pro
CB Model Pro was built around the idea that surfaces should be manipulated directly. The result is a very intuitive and highly productive tool for 3D content creation that seamlessly fits into the production pipeline.