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Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

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24 alternatives to Write a 3D modeling software from scratch

Dust3D is a free, open source low poly 3D modeling tool for video games and 3D printing. Features sketch-to-mesh, auto-rigging, procedural animation, and single-tool GLB/FBX export.

Dust3D is a free, open source 3D modeling software designed for creating low poly models for video games and 3D printing. It automates tedious aspects of character creation by converting 2D sketches into 3D meshes in… Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Prices are shown for the 1 we have checked on their own sites, 1 of them free or with a free tier. Write a 3D modeling software from scratch launched in 2018; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

  1. 1CP

    Dust3D 1.0 is finally released — about 10 years after the first commit in December 2016. I posted a preview version here in April 2018 and a beta in December 2018. Back then I thought 1.0 was just around the corner, but I kept adding new features that I could barely find time to finish as a weekend side project. I finally got it done with GitHub Copilot, using models including Claude Opus 4.6, Raptor mini (Preview), Claude Haiku 4.5, and Claude Sonnet 4.6. It's a cross-platform low-poly 3D modeling app focused on making it fast to create game-ready characters and objects from scratch. Source…

    2018 · dust3d.org · its alternatives →

  2. 2CA

    I'm currently developing Chili3D, an open-source, browser-based 3D CAD application. By compiling OpenCascade to WebAssembly and integrating Three.js, Chili3D delivers near-native performance for powerful online modeling, editing, and rendering—all without local installation. Access it here: https://github.com/xiangechen/chili3d Features: Modeling Tools: Create basic shapes (boxes, cylinders, cones, etc.), 2D sketches (lines, arcs, circles, etc.), and perform advanced operations (boolean operations, extrusion, revolution, etc.). Snapping and Tracking: Precisely snap to…

    2025 · its alternatives →

  3. 3
    Meshy-4▲767

    AI powered 3D model generator

    2024 · meshy.ai · its alternatives →

  4. 4
    Meshy-1▲611

    Create stunning 3D models with AI

    2023 · meshy.ai · its alternatives →

  5. 5
    Mesh▲608

    Design 3D illustrations & icons in a quick and engaging way

    2022 · morflax.com · its alternatives →

  6. 6
    Blenderfree▲309

    Creative Freedom Starts Here

    2017 · blender.org · its alternatives →

  7. 7IB

    I've been working on an MMORPG that is now in alpha as a solo developer. Here are the major open source technologies that I use: Blender - 3D modeling software for creating the overall environment and every game object. I've gotten a lot of CC and Public Domain assets from https://poly.pizza GLTF - I export assets from blender to the GLTF asset format JSON - I write a JSON config for every game object that describes things like its name, its interactions, its collisions, etc. Node.js exporter - I iterate over the environment and every asset to create a scene hierarchy. I use…

    2024 · alpha.reconquer.online · its alternatives →

  8. 8

    Hi all This has been my hobby project for quite a few years now It started as a small engine to serve as a sandbox to try out new 3d graphics ideas After adding many features through out the years and re-writing the entire engine a few times, this is the latest state It currently supports loading models with animations, textures, lights, shadow maps, normal maps, and some other goodies I've also recently added voxel raymarching as an alternative renderer, along with a fun physics simulation :)

    2024 · github.com · its alternatives →

  9. 9

    Animate your static 3D models with AI

    2023 · app.anything.world · its alternatives →

  10. 10
    V2Fun▲449

    Generate 3D character with 8K textures and AI motion capture

    Jul 2026 · v2fun.ai · its alternatives →

  11. 11

    Extremely powerful, completely free 3D CAD modeling

    Mar 2026 · wiki.freecad.org · its alternatives →

  12. 12

    New way to 3D

    2022 · womp.com · its alternatives →

  13. 13

    Render 3D models (OBJ, glTF, GLB, STL, .vox) as ASCII art — in the browser, in React or Vue, or straight in your terminal. A three.js-style API with no WebGL and no canvas: just text in a single <pre>.

    Jun 2026 · glyphcss.com · its alternatives →

  14. 14

    Goxel: Free and Open Source 3D Voxel Editor . Contribute to guillaumechereau/goxel development by creating an account on GitHub.

    2015 · github.com · its alternatives →

  15. 15

    Blender-style 3D editing in your browser

    May 2026 · 3d-editor.com · its alternatives →

  16. 16
    Polydust▲140

    3D polygon modeling finally meets iPad

    2019 · polydust.com · its alternatives →

  17. 17
    Threedio▲291

    Perfect 3D models for your videos, consistent & optimized

    2023 · icons8.com · its alternatives →

  18. 18
    echo3D▲224

    3D asset management in the cloud, for & by developers

    2023 · echo3d.com · its alternatives →

  19. 19PV

    2016 · guillaumechereau.github.io · its alternatives →

  20. 20

    Hey HN! I'm Zach from Adam (https:&#x2F;&#x2F;adam.new&#x2F;). We’re building an AI co-pilot for mechanical CAD software. As part of our broader research, we built a browser-based Text-to-CAD app (https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=44182206) and are now open sourcing it. This is a React SPA with a Supabase backend. What it does: * Generates parametric 3D models from natural language descriptions, with support for both text prompts and image references * Outputs OpenSCAD code with automatically extracted parameters that surface as interactive sliders for instant dimension…

    2025 · github.com · its alternatives →

  21. 21

    Free Opensource Procedural 3D Modelling and Texturing Tool

    2021 · github.com · its alternatives →

  22. 22

    Generate & Texture 3D models faster, smarter-now even better

    2025 · 3daistudio.com · its alternatives →

  23. 23

    Free 3D illustration library for web & mobile app designers

    2021 · its alternatives →

  24. 24

    From images to high-fidelity 3D with PBR materials

    2025 · github.com · its alternatives →

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Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →