---
title: Blender
canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/blender/
category: 3D Modeling Software
points: 80
rank: 1 of 9
facts_checked: 2026-10-08
---

# Blender

Free, open-source 3D suite that covers modeling, sculpting, animation, simulation and rendering in one program.

80 points out of 100. #1 of 9 3D modeling programs. Vendor: Blender Foundation. Website: https://www.blender.org/

- Blender is free software under the GNU GPL, with no income limit on commercial use [1].
- It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux; Blender 5.0 and later need Apple Silicon on macOS 13 or newer [2].
- Blender is free to download and use for paid work, so the price is $0 a month [1][3].
- It ships with the Cycles path tracer, Geometry Nodes, sculpting, rigging and cloth, fluid and rigid-body simulation [4][6][7][8][9][18][19].
- Export covers FBX, OBJ, glTF, STL and USD; the manual lists no STEP export [11].

Verdict: Blender suits anyone who wants a complete 3D package for paid work without paying for it [1][4]. It scores high because it is free, open source, and covers modeling, sculpting, nodes, animation, simulation, UVs, rendering and Python scripting [4][6][7][9][10][12]. The catch: there is no web or iPad version, and no STEP export for precise CAD work [2][11]. Best for: Anyone who wants full 3D tools for paid work at no cost.

## Points

| Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Other systems | macOS, Linux | 4/8 | Download page offers macOS and Linux builds. No web or iPad version appears on the requirements or download pages [2][3]. |
| Licence | Free version without a time limit | Yes | 10/10 | Blender is free software with no expiry; the download page calls it free and open source [1][3]. |
| Licence | Free version allowed for paid work | Yes | 6/6 | The licence page says Blender may be used for any purpose, including commercially, and names no income limit [1]. |
| Licence | One-off licence you keep | No | 0/8 | Blender is free, not sold as a paid one-off licence. The free-program lines reward it instead [1][3]. |
| Licence | Open source | Yes | 5/5 | Released under the GNU GPL, version 2 or later; Cycles uses Apache 2.0. Source code is public [1]. |
| Licence | Free licence for students | No | 0/4 | Free for everyone, so no separate student licence is offered; the free-program lines reward it instead [1]. |
| Modelling tools | Precise curve and solid modeling | Yes | 5/5 | The manual lists NURBS curve and NURBS surface primitives (NURBS Cylinder, NURBS Surface) under Surfaces [5]. |
| Modelling tools | Digital sculpting | Yes | 5/5 | The features page lists digital sculpting tools; the manual's Sculpt Mode section describes sculpting with a brush [4][7]. |
| Modelling tools | Node-based procedural modeling | Yes | 5/5 | Geometry Nodes modifies geometry with node-based operations through a node editor; it is in the main manual [6]. |
| Modelling tools | Rigging and animation | Yes | 5/5 | The manual documents armatures made of bones for rigging and keyframes for animation [8][20]. |
| Modelling tools | Physics simulation | Yes | 4/4 | The manual has Cloth, Rigid Body and Fluid physics pages [9][18][19]. |
| Modelling tools | UV unwrapping | Yes | 4/4 | The manual documents unwrapping a mesh to UV maps, with seams and UV operators [10]. |
| Modelling tools | Built-in ray-traced renderer | Yes | 5/5 | Cycles, a production path tracer, ships with Blender at no extra charge [4][1]. |
| Modelling tools | Scripting and add-ons | Yes | 5/5 | Blender has a documented Python API that gives access to its tools [4][12]. |
| Formats | Built-in export formats | FBX, OBJ, glTF, STL, USD | 5/6 | The manual documents export for each of these five. No STEP export is listed [11][13][14][15][16][17]. |
| Price | Cheapest way to use it for paid work | $0 | 12/12 | Free program that allows paid work, so $0 a month [1][3]. |
| Price | Full-feature trial | No | 0/3 | No trial is needed because the full program is free for everyone; the free-program lines reward it instead [3]. |

## Plans

| Plan | Price | Per month (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Blender | Free [1][3] | $0 |

## Strengths

- Free for any purpose, including commercial work, with the source code public [1].
- Includes the Cycles path-tracing renderer at no extra charge [4].
- Geometry Nodes builds and edits geometry with node graphs on meshes, curves and volumes [6].
- A documented Python API reaches the tools for scripting and add-ons [12].
- Exports FBX, OBJ, glTF, STL and USD [11][13][14][15][16][17].

## Limits

- No web or iPad version is listed; downloads cover Windows, macOS and Linux only [2][3].
- The manual lists no STEP export, so exchanging solid CAD models needs other software [11].
- Blender 5.0 and later no longer support Intel Macs [2].

## Vendor claims (not scored)

- Blender says Cycles is a high-end production path tracer [4].

## Sources

1. [License](https://www.blender.org/about/license/), Blender, accessed 2026-10-08
2. [System requirements](https://www.blender.org/download/requirements/), Blender, accessed 2026-10-08
3. [Download Blender](https://www.blender.org/download/), Blender, accessed 2026-10-08
4. [Features](https://www.blender.org/features/), Blender, accessed 2026-10-08
5. [Surfaces: Primitives](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/modeling/surfaces/primitives.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
6. [Geometry Nodes: Introduction](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/modeling/geometry_nodes/introduction.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
7. [Sculpting: The Brush](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/sculpt_paint/sculpting/introduction/brush.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
8. [Armatures: Introduction](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/animation/armatures/introduction.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
9. [Physics: Introduction](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/physics/introduction.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
10. [UV unwrapping: Introduction](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/modeling/meshes/uv/unwrapping/introduction.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
11. [Importing & Exporting Files](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/index.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
12. [Python API: Quickstart](https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
13. [FBX](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/fbx.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
14. [glTF 2.0](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/addons/scene_gltf2.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
15. [STL](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/stl.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
16. [Wavefront OBJ](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/obj.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
17. [Universal Scene Description](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/files/import_export/usd.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
18. [Rigid Body: Introduction](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/physics/rigid_body/introduction.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
19. [Fluid: Introduction](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/physics/fluid/introduction.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08
20. [Keyframes: Introduction](https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/animation/keyframes/introduction.html), Blender Manual, accessed 2026-10-08