saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

3D modeling program · Blender Foundation

Blender

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

80/100

#1 of 9 3D modeling programs
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

Blender suits anyone who wants a complete 3D package for paid work without paying for it1,4. It scores high because it is free, open source, and covers modeling, sculpting, nodes, animation, simulation, UVs, rendering and Python scripting4,6,7,9,10,12. The catch: there is no web or iPad version, and no STEP export for precise CAD work2,11.

Best for: Anyone who wants full 3D tools for paid work at no cost.

Where the points come from

Systems4 of 8
Licence21 of 33
Modelling tools38 of 38
Formats5 of 6
Price12 of 15

Systems 4 of 8 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Other systemsmacOS, LinuxDownload page offers macOS and Linux builds. No web or iPad version appears on the requirements or download pages2,3.4 / 8

Licence 21 of 33 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Free version without a time limitYesBlender is free software with no expiry; the download page calls it free and open source1,3.10 / 10
Free version allowed for paid workYesThe licence page says Blender may be used for any purpose, including commercially, and names no income limit1.6 / 6
One-off licence you keepNoBlender is free, not sold as a paid one-off licence. The free-program lines reward it instead1,3.0 / 8
Open sourceYesReleased under the GNU GPL, version 2 or later; Cycles uses Apache 2.0. Source code is public1.5 / 5
Free licence for studentsNoFree for everyone, so no separate student licence is offered; the free-program lines reward it instead1.0 / 4

Modelling tools 38 of 38 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Precise curve and solid modelingYesThe manual lists NURBS curve and NURBS surface primitives (NURBS Cylinder, NURBS Surface) under Surfaces5.5 / 5
Digital sculptingYesThe features page lists digital sculpting tools; the manual's Sculpt Mode section describes sculpting with a brush4,7.5 / 5
Node-based procedural modelingYesGeometry Nodes modifies geometry with node-based operations through a node editor; it is in the main manual6.5 / 5
Rigging and animationYesThe manual documents armatures made of bones for rigging and keyframes for animation8,20.5 / 5
Physics simulationYesThe manual has Cloth, Rigid Body and Fluid physics pages9,18,19.4 / 4
UV unwrappingYesThe manual documents unwrapping a mesh to UV maps, with seams and UV operators10.4 / 4
Built-in ray-traced rendererYesCycles, a production path tracer, ships with Blender at no extra charge4,1.5 / 5
Scripting and add-onsYesBlender has a documented Python API that gives access to its tools4,12.5 / 5

Formats 5 of 6 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Built-in export formatsFBX, OBJ, glTF, STL, USDThe manual documents export for each of these five. No STEP export is listed11,13,14,15,16,17.5 / 6

Price 12 of 15 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Cheapest way to use it for paid work$0Free program that allows paid work, so $0 a month1,3.12 / 12
Full-feature trialNoNo trial is needed because the full program is free for everyone; the free-program lines reward it instead3.0 / 3

The rule behind each line: how we score 3D modeling programs.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

PlanPrice as listedPer monthNotes
BlenderAnyone, including commercial useFree1,3$0Full program, no time limit; the licence page names no income limit

Strengths

  • Free for any purpose, including commercial work, with the source code public1.
  • Includes the Cycles path-tracing renderer at no extra charge4.
  • Geometry Nodes builds and edits geometry with node graphs on meshes, curves and volumes6.
  • A documented Python API reaches the tools for scripting and add-ons12.
  • Exports FBX, OBJ, glTF, STL and USD11,13,14,15,16,17.

Limits

  • No web or iPad version is listed; downloads cover Windows, macOS and Linux only2,3.
  • The manual lists no STEP export, so exchanging solid CAD models needs other software11.
  • Blender 5.0 and later no longer support Intel Macs2.

What Blender Foundation says

Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.

  • Blender says Cycles is a high-end production path tracer4.

Other 3D modeling programs

  1. 2
    HoudiniArtists who want procedural, node-driven modeling and simulation
    72/100
    $24.92/mocheapest way to use it for paid work
  2. 3
    FreeCADPeople who want free, scriptable solid modeling for designed parts
    50/100
    $0cheapest way to use it for paid work
  3. 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
  4. 5
    Cinema 4DMotion designers who want modeling, animation and rendering in one subscription
    48/100
    Not publishedcheapest way to use it for paid work

Blender vs Houdini · Blender vs FreeCAD · All 9 3D modeling programs

Sources

  1. License, Blender. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  2. System requirements, Blender. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  3. Download Blender, Blender. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  4. Features, Blender. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  5. Surfaces: Primitives, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  6. Geometry Nodes: Introduction, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  7. Sculpting: The Brush, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  8. Armatures: Introduction, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  9. Physics: Introduction, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  10. UV unwrapping: Introduction, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  11. Importing & Exporting Files, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  12. Python API: Quickstart, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  13. FBX, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  14. glTF 2.0, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  15. STL, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  16. Wavefront OBJ, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  17. Universal Scene Description, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  18. Rigid Body: Introduction, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  19. Fluid: Introduction, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  20. Keyframes: Introduction, Blender Manual. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: www.blender.org · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Blender Foundation.