Modeling Software reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 294 Reddit reviews across 29 subreddits and 75 posts to rank the best Modeling Software brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/3Dprinting, r/3Dmodeling, r/BambuLab, r/PrintedWarhammer, r/Maya. Top-rated brands include Blender (4.5/5), Fusion 360 (4.3/5), Onshape (4.1/5).
Stats
Reviews294
Subreddits29
Posts75
Brands58
Products12
294 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Blender
4.5
(63)
"I believe Blender is the best one for starters."
"Blender was hands down the best software a beginner could pick up for character modeling."
"Blender."
"I would really recommend Blender for any beginner."
"I'd recommend searching Miguel Zavala (aka mz4250) including his Patreon. He's done a huge amount of free D&D minis in Blender and posts details about his process."
"The best free software will be Blender."
"Blender. Source: I’ve imported tons of other people’s Stls, mashed them together cut parts out or just resized for my own specific measurements."
"Blender is the best ans easiest."
"Blender, is the best and only free software."
"Blender, it's free."
#2
Fusion 360
4.3
(43)
"I find fusion 360 very easy to use and model with"
"I’ve been using fusion 360 and I love it."
"If it's for home use, you can get fusion360 for free."
"Fusion 360 (home user) free and powerful."
"Fusion360 in the hobbyist / maker version for everything that is functional / parametric / requires specific dimensions."
"Fusion 360 for non-commercial use is free. Then follow along to Product Design Online’s videos."
"Fusion360."
"Last I knew, Fusion 360 was still free for non-commercial use."
"There is a free version of Fusion360."
"Start with fusion360 and invest the time learning it."
#3
Onshape
4.1
(26)
"Onshape! Definitely great."
"Combining Onshape and Blender should do mostly everything you would need"
"Onshape. Browser based so works on almost any machine."
"Seconding onshape/tinkercad when he gets tired of easy."
"I’d say onshape too"
"Onshape or Tinkercad maybe? Both are Browser CAD Tools so you don't have to worry about the PC Specs."
"Onshape, fusion, freecad are all "engineering" cads where you focusing on constraints and strict measurements."
"Onshape has an android app which is very capable."
"OnShape is a web based one that will run on any device."
"OnShape for easy precise cad modelling"
#4
Tinkercad
4.1
(25)
"Tinkercad! Super easy boolean operations."
"Tinkercad is by far the easiest for me."
"Tinkercad is what you're looking for."
"I really really love Tinkercad."
"For beginners, tinkercad."
"Tinkercad is great for beginners."
"I’ve managed to do a ton with TinkerCAD, even some quite complex projects"
"Tinkercad can import STL files as long as they're not too big, and it is a very intuitive interface meant for beginners."
"Tinkercad is about as easy as it gets."
"Tinkercad is browser based so I think you're covered there."
#5
Autodesk
4.1
(15)
"I base my opinion off of using many different software suites over the last 15 years and believe Fusion to be the best for the money."
"Fusion 360. Yes, it's powerful and can do a lot, but it's also intuitive and there are a lot fantastic videos on YouTube that can show you how to get started relatively quickly."
"Fusion is a good choice since there's a free version"
"I've heard a couple people reccomend Fusion so maybe I'll go with that"
"Fusion has free trial and hobbyist licenses if you want to try it out"
"Fusion is solid and cheap."
"I then switched to Fusion 360 (free for hobbyists). The range of functions overwhelmed me at first."
"You could go with CAD software like fusion 360 but it has a comparable learning curve."
"CAD software such as Fusion 360, AutoCad, Onshape, Plasticity, etc. would probably be your best options."
"Fusion360: Advanced, Free for 3 years. Cloud. Limited to 10 projects."
#6
FreeCAD
3.6
(13)
"Freecad is without a doubt the best free cad software."
"I've been really happy with FreeCAD."
"Personally, I'm using FreeCAD at this point."
"FreeCAD is an alternative to Fusion360"
"FreeCAD"
"FreeCAD is pretty great, just takes a bit of time to get use to it."
"FreeCAD is a good place to start."
"Freecad is fairly simple to learn."
"I tried to start there but as a CAD novice found the UI/UX a bit too overwhelming"
"FreeCAD have mesh workbench, it is not nearly as powerful as blender but .."
#7
SolidWorks
4.2
(10)
"There is only 1 answer; Solidworks."
"It's 48 bucks a year and it's vastly superior to Fusion"
"SolidWorks"
"For parametric designs SolidWorks."
"For cheap you can get SOLIDWORKS for makers for 48$ a year."
"I use SolidWorks. Apparently On shape is free, and similar to SW."
"SolidWorks is kind of “the usual” for most organizations."
"SW and Fusion feel somewhat close-ish."
"Any reason to not just run Solidworks?"
"Solidworks is fastest/easiest to model the widest variety of stuff in but it crashes all the time, is unstable as hell, and sucks for huge assemblies."
#8
Rhino
4.2
(6)
"Rhino is also worth checking out - you can get 90day free trial very easily. Rhino is great for more creative CAD/industrial design work and it has Grasshopper, which is incredibly powerful but also super steep learning curve."
"You might want to check out Rhino too."
"Rhino is very prevalent. It was built for naval architecture applications."
"Tapping in that Rhino and Maxsurf are great."
"Rhino3D and AutoCAD."
"Rhino 3d"
#9
Pixologic
4.0
(6)
"The best software will be Zbrush."
"Zbrush is good"
"That would be Zbrush."
"Zbrush is one of those but there is no cheap version."
"If you want to do sculpting - Zbrush"
"If you have an ipad you can use the free version of zbrush."
#10
SketchUp
3.7
(6)
"I would also recommend Sketchup for something like this."
"It's the ubiquitous choice for woodworkers."
"SketchUp is the go-to for most because it’s free."
"You can use SketchUp trial (free for 40 days). Or blender (free always)."
"SketchUp is free too, but somewhat limited for the free version."
"Sketchup. That is the answer if the question is just about 3D modelling."
#11
Shapr3D
4.2
(5)
"Shapr3d is free for students, real easy to learn and it is really only one of the cad programs for iPad if you have an iPad, works on Windows and Mac also."
"Shapr3D is by far the easier to learn to use."
"It has a super simple and intuitive UI and it had an iPad app, you can use a combo of Apple Pencil and multi touch screen."
"Shapr3D for me since i have short attention span."
"I use shapr3d for 3D."
#12
Solid Edge
4.2
(5)
"Solid Edge is similar to NX, and the hobbiest edition is free, instead of $50/year. It's powerful, fast, capable, and free."
"You can try Solid edge, Rhino3D and Inventor for these kinds of things because they are an indistry standard when it comes to modelling vehicles."
"Solidedge is free for students, fusion 360 and onshape Work too."
"Solid Edge. It has a free and fully featured community edition."
"Solid edge"
#13
Plasticity
3.8
(5)
"Plasticity is probably the most intuitive of you don’t come from a 3D background."
"Highly recommend plasticity."
"Plasticity …"
"I've recently been using Plasticity and I'm liking it a lot."
"Plasticity if you want to use non polygonal modelling but don't need precise measurements (plasticity is super easy to use)"
#14
ZBrush
4.8
(4)
"For sculpting minis - zbrush. Everything else - blender."
"Zbrush and it's not even close."
"Z brush is king when it comes to organic shapes."
"Zb and sp."
#15
Nomad Sculpt
4.5
(4)
"Nomad Sculpt
SculpGL is also ran by the same developer."
"I use Nomad Sculpt for iPad Pro and it’s incredible and cheap."
"Nomad sculpt is only like a 16 buck one time payment and it’s very powerful."
"Nomad Sculpt for sculpting if someone has a Pen tablet (iOS/Android)"
#16
Maya
4.3
(4)
"Maya for modeling and UVs, Zbrush for sculpting, Marmoset Toolbag for baking and rendering, Photoshop for things like baking errors, Substance Painter for texturing."
"Maya."
"Maya for modelling, and i texture my stuff in photoshop since the assets i create don't require any detail."
"I use Maya for modeling ,Substance painter for texturing and zbrush for some model tweeking."
#17
OpenSCAD
4.0
(4)
"I myself use OpenSCAD (programming 3D scenes) and TinkerCAD which are both free."
"OpenSCAD is free and my favourite."
"If you use OpenSCAD, I recommend you pick the dev/nightly build directly from their GitHub, so you get access to the Manifold renderer."
"For purely functional parts, I like OpenSCAD, which is more of a programming approach to 3d modelling."
#18
Gravity Sketch
4.0
(3)
"Gravity Sketch (free for personal use) is fantastic for intuitive modeling."
"If you have a vr headset I would check out Gravity Sketch. Excellent for subd modeling and retopology."
"On meta quest, you could try Gravity Sketch it is free and already somewhat powerful."
#19
Zmodeler
4.5
(2)
"Zmodeler is amazing. I’ve gotten so used to it that I prefer it over Blender, Max or Maya for most of my modeling needs."
"99% of the time I just stay in Zbrush and use Zmodeler."
#20
Solid Edge Community Edition
4.5
(2)
"Powerful 3D modeling software, and completely free for non-commercial use."
"Don't forget Solid Edge Community Edition."
#21
Catia
4.0
(2)
"Catia V5"
"I was taught solid works in school but catia is more popular and used in my field"
#22
AutoCAD
3.5
(2)
"AutoCAD!"
"I began modeling in Revit & Inventor."
#23
ZBrush Core Mini
3.5
(2)
"For basic sculpting try free smaller version of the industry giant Zbrush."
"Zbrush Core Mini."
#24
Bambu Studio
3.5
(2)
"Bambu Studio is very intuitive. I'd stick with that."
"For me Bambu Studio seems ok...don't get wrong I have loads to learn but trying lol."
#25
Substance Painter
3.5
(2)
"Is this a trick question? Substance Painter and ZBrush, right?"
"I think you are actually looking for a texturing program like substance painter."
#26
Rhinoceros, Blender and Zbrush
5.0
(1)
"I’m with Rhinoceros, Blender and Zbrush on M1 Max."
#27
Blender, Maya, 3DS Max, Cinema4D, Substance painter, Quixel mixer, Marmoset toolbag
5.0
(1)
"Software wise, Blender, Maya, 3DS Max, Cinema4D as base packages ,Substance painter or Quixel mixer and Marmoset toolbag for texturing/baking"
#28
TinkerCad, FreeCAD, Blender
5.0
(1)
"TinkerCad.com: Something basic and easy, FreeCAD: to learn the basics of CAD, Blender: To create some badass organic/CAD models"
#29
Ecut
5.0
(1)
"Ecut is like $50 and makes boxes like a hot damn along with a bunch of other options."
#30
FormZ
4.0
(1)
"FORMZ?"
#31
SketchUp 2016
4.0
(1)
"If you are a sailor, you may want to consider sketchup 2016."
#32
Unity ProBuilder
4.0
(1)
"Blender is genuinely awesome, but if you're hitting a snag with materials, maybe give Unity's ProBuilder a try!"
#33
SketchUp Make 2017
4.0
(1)
"Sketchup make 2017 (the only free version) still exists and people over on the subreddit will provide you with virus-free links."
#34
Acon 3D
4.0
(1)
"Acon 3D has recently released a 3D modeler for free that looks amazing."
#35
DesignSpark Mechanical
4.0
(1)
"DesignSpark mechanical is also simple."
#36
ViaCAD
4.0
(1)
"I use ViaCAD. It's only £200 one time purchase in the App Store, no subscription."
#37
Hexagon
4.0
(1)
"Doesn't exactly count as free, because \~$15, but Hexagon 2.5 can be quite powerful."
#38
Cisco
4.0
(1)
"Cisco Packet Tracer is free and will allow you to design functioning network models."
#39
Plasticity 3D
4.0
(1)
"Plasticity 3D is worth a look imho."
#40
Maxsurf
4.0
(1)
"Maxsurf is great in learning both 3d design and vessel behavior."
#41
Alibre Atom
4.0
(1)
"Alibre Atom if you want to own something outright and not be at mercy of a subscription."
#42
RedSeal
4.0
(1)
"Something like RedSeal seems like what your after. Can be a bit pricey though."
#43
Mari
4.0
(1)
"I’d put Mari on that list."
#44
3ds Max
4.0
(1)
"For modeling 3ds Max easily (Zbrush for sculpting details and organic stuff), for texturing Substance package of Designer, Painter, Sampler or Mari."
#45
Inventor Pro
4.0
(1)
"Personally i use inventor pro, sadly all high end programs are seriously expensive. It's not very user friendly but there's loads of tutorials."
#46
Onshape, Solidworks Maker edition
4.0
(1)
"I liked Onshape as a free option. I recently started paying for Solidworks Maker edition ($10/month)"
#47
SideFX
4.0
(1)
"If you want to do procedural modelling - Houdini"
#48
SelfCAD
4.0
(1)
"It's very simple to master compared to other software that I have tried. It's interface is very easy to navigate and the tools aren't that hard to master."
#49
NX
4.0
(1)
"I like NX"
#50
Creo
4.0
(1)
"Creo. 30 years in the chair."
#51
Curvy 3D
4.0
(1)
"Curvy 3D if you want something simpler than zbrush or blender."
#52
Paint 3D
4.0
(1)
"Paint 3D for sure."
#53
Polygonjs
4.0
(1)
"Try [Polygonjs](https://polygonjs.com/), it allows you to do procedural modeling."
#54
SCARM
4.0
(1)
"I use SCARM. Learning curve wasn't too bad."
#55
Anyrail
4.0
(1)
"I like Anyrail because it has an inbuilt database of Kato pieces."
#56
Vectary
3.0
(1)
"I used Vectary for some pretty basic stuff, might be worth having a look."
#57
Bambulab
2.0
(1)
"I find myself doing all my modeling in Bambulab/Orca slicer, which is extremely limiting."
#58
ToyCAD
2.0
(1)
"ToyCAD maybe."
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