3D modeling software for beginners is designed to introduce individuals to the world of 3D modeling and empower them to bring their creative visions to life. With user-friendly interfaces and intuitive tools, these software platforms allow users to easily sculpt, shape, and manipulate digital objects in three-dimensional space. Beginners can benefit from using 3D modeling software by exploring their artistic potential, creating stunning visual designs, and learning the fundamental concepts of 3D modeling. These software packages often provide tutorials, resources, and community support, enabling users to develop their skills and grow as 3D artists. Check our list of 3D modeling software below:
SketchUp
SketchUp is an intuitive and powerful 3D modeling software designed specifically for beginners and aspiring 3D artists. With its user-friendly interface and extensive toolset, SketchUp enables users to create stunning 3D models of buildings, objects, and environments. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional, SketchUp offers a streamlined workflow that allows for easy manipulation of shapes, textures, and dimensions. Its innovative push-pull feature and smart snapping capabilities make it a breeze to transform 2D sketches into dynamic 3D models. With SketchUp’s vast library of pre-built components and the ability to import and export various file formats, beginners can quickly bring their ideas to life and explore the world of 3D modeling with confidence.
Features:
- SketchUp boasts a user-friendly interface that makes 3D modeling accessible to beginners
- With its innovative push-pull tool, easily create and manipulate 3D shapes with precision
- Smart snapping capabilities for accurate alignment and placement of objects
- Access a vast collection of pre-built components to expedite your modeling process
- Seamlessly import and export various file formats to collaborate with other software and designers
- Transform 2D sketches into dynamic 3D models with ease
- Apply textures and materials to enhance the realism and visual appeal of your models
Supported Platforms: Brower (Web-Based)
Price: Free with Paid Plans
Access for Free: Get SketchUp
Mega Voxels
Mega Voxels is a powerful mobile voxel editor developed exclusively for iOS and Android for creating voxel art models on smartphones and tablets. It is packed with different tools and features so you can add, delete and paint voxel models. It comes with instant rendering and ambient occlusion that allows you to share crisp images and videos quickly and easily. It also has a built in shop where you can can browse hundreds of voxel models on demand. The app is also game engine friendly with built in support for the obj export format. It also works wells with MagicaVoxel with a built in vox exporter as well. This powerful app to allows for voxel art creation on the go!
Read more about the Mega Voxels Editor
Features:
- Full Featured Mobile Voxel Editor for Adding, Deleting and Painting Voxel Models
- Create and Take your Voxel Models wherever you go!
- View your 3D voxel models in Augmented Reality
- Free to use for Personal and Commercial Projects
- Built-In Shop with Hundreds of Voxel Models
- Instant Ambient Occlusion Rendering
- Lots of Particle Effects to add to your scene
- Several Filters to add to your photos and videos
- Multiple Export Formats including .OBJ and .VOX
Supported Platforms: Android, iOS
Price: Free
Download for Free on Android: Get Mega Voxels on Google Play
Download for Free on iOS: Get Mega Voxels on the App Store
Want to learn how to use Mega Voxels? Check out our free Mega Voxels Tutorials!
MagicaVoxel
MagicaVoxel is a free 3D modeling software also known as a voxel editor actively developed by @ephtracy for creating voxel art models which are basically 3D models made out of cubes. It has all the tools you need to delete, edit, add and paint these cubes also known as voxels. This program is great for beginners because you only work with cubes and nothing else. When your finished with your 3D model, the software also ships with a powerful rendering engine so you can create some amazing images for sharing. If you want to use the model in a game engine or separate 3D program, it also supports obj export. Best of all its 100% free for personal and commercial projects.
Learn more about the Magicavoxel Voxel Editor
Features:
- Full Featured 3D program for Adding, Editing, Deleting and Painting Cubes called Voxels
- Free to use for Personal and Commercial Projects
- Great Built-In Rendering Engine for taking High Quality Photos
- Multiple Export Formats including .OBJ, .QB, and .PNG
- Large Community of 3D Voxel Artists For Support
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Price: Free
Installation Instructions: How to Install MagicaVoxel
Interested in learning MagicaVoxel? Check out our free MagicaVoxel Tutorials!
Tinkercad
Tinkercad is a free online modeling software created by Autodesk for creating 3D models. It is specially designed for beginner 3D Modelers with a standard set of modeling tools. It comes with a wide variety of shapes that you can combine together to make unique 3D models. Also it provides the ability to change the size, rotation and position of these shapes to create cool scenes.
Learn more about the Tinkercad Voxel Editor
Features:
- Full Featured 3D Modeling Software for Creating and Modifying 3D Models
- Free to use for Personal and Commercial Projects
- Large library of pre-made shapes like cubes, cylinders and spheres
- Multiple Export Formats
- Large Set of Free Tutorials for Getting Started
Supported Platforms: Web Browser (Windows, macOS)
Price: Free
Installation Instructions: How to Sign Up for Tinkercad
Interested in learning Tinkercad? Check out our free Tinkercad Tutorials!
Qubicle
Qubicle is a powerful 3D voxel editor developed by Minddesk for creating 3D models using voxels for images and games. Similar to MagicaVoxel, it also supports tools for creating and editing voxel models which makes it easy to pick up because it is very similar to building models with blocks in real life. One huge plus with Qubicle is that the interface was designed for simplicity which makes it great for beginners. Qubicle does have some features in the software you won’t find anywhere else however, like an unlimited matrix size (size of the model) and easy to use color editor. One huge advantage of Qubicle is the export formats it supports such as FBX, DAE, and OBJ. This makes it very attractive voxel software for game developers. Many hit games have been developed using Qubicle including Crossy Road and Shooty Skies. There is a free trial that comes with all the functionality that can be downloaded from there website. If you want to be able to export your models out, there is a one time fee for a license.
Learn more about the Qubicle Voxel Editor
Features:
- Full Fledged Voxel Editor with the ability to Add, Edit, Delete and Paint voxels to create 3D models
- Large Set of Pre-made commands to assist in the creation of 3D models using voxels
- Support for Voxel models larger than the traditional 128x128x128 constraint of MagicaVoxel
- Numerous export options including .FBX and .DAE, which are widely used file types in Game Development
- Great Track Record of Award Winning Games including Crossy Road and Shooty Skies
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Price: Free Trial (no export), $99 Indie License
Installation Instructions: How to Install Qubicle
Interested in learning how to use Qubicle? Try out our free Qubicle Tutorials!
Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Maya is a powerful 3D modeling software that caters to both beginners and professionals in the field. With an intuitive interface and a comprehensive set of tools, Maya allows beginners to dive into the world of 3D modeling with ease. Its user-friendly features include customizable templates, drag-and-drop functionality, and interactive viewport navigation, enabling users to sculpt, texture, and animate 3D objects seamlessly. Maya’s robust rendering capabilities ensure that the final results are visually stunning, while its integration with other software, such as Adobe Photoshop, offers further creative possibilities. Whether creating characters, environments, or intricate visual effects, Autodesk Maya empowers beginners to bring their imaginative ideas to life in the realm of 3D modeling.
Features:
- Versatile and comprehensive set of modeling tools, allowing users to create complex 3D geometries with precision and ease
- Powerful animation capabilities enable users to bring characters and objects to life through keyframe animation, rigging, and advanced simulation tools
- Robust rendering engine that produces high-quality visuals, with support for advanced rendering techniques
- Wide range of built-in effects and dynamics tools, such as particles, fluids, and cloth simulations, adding realism and dynamism to animations
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
Price (Desktop): $235/month
VoxEdit
VoxEdit is a free software by Pixowl for creating voxel models for The Sandbox Game. If you can add cubes together, then this program is a great choice for you. It is similar to MagicaVoxel and Qubicle as it also supports a common feature set such as editing, deleting and creating voxels which can then be combined to create 3D models. A unique feature of VoxEdit however is the ability to not only rig character 3D models created in VoxEdit but also animate them as well. The current version is in Beta and is free to download and use. It supports Windows and Mac.
Learn more about VoxEdit Voxel Editor
Features:
- Full Featured Voxel Editor for creating 3D voxel models
- Built in rigging tools for 3D Animation
- Free to Download and Use
- Support for the Sandbox Game
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Price (Desktop): Free
Want to learn how to create voxel art using VoxEdit? View our free VoxEdit Tutorials!
Blender
Blender is an open-source modeling software for creating 3D models. Although Blender comes with many features that are considered advanced, it has become a favorite amongst beginner 3D modelers because it is free to download and use for personal and commercial projects. Also there is a massive community of 3D artists that have written a tutorial for virtually any topic. It supports Windows, macOS and Linux. Once you get more comfortable with the program you can animate, rig and export models directly inside the program.
Features:
- Full Featured 3D Modeling Software
- Built in tools for modeling, rigging, animating and mapping models
- Free to Download and Use
- Large Community of 3D Artists
- Many export options including FBX, DAE, OBJ and more
Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Price (Desktop): Free
Installation Instructions: How to Install Blender
Learn VoxEdit: Blender Tutorials
Want to learn how to build voxel art using Blender? Check out our free Blender Tutorials!
