3D modeling can have a dauntingly steep learning curve, and booting up many of the advanced CAD software commonly used to create digital objects is sure to leave total newcomers totally bewildered. The most celebrated tools, like SketchUp or Blender, will present you with an intimidating array of tools and unfamiliar control schemes that could force anyone’s hands to raise in defeat.
But fear not! Even the most advanced 3D modeling software can be accessible given the right introduction.
Many excellent programs, even from the best CAD software developers, are freely available and geared specifically toward users just starting out with 3D modeling. UIs are more approachable, documentation more robust, and tutorials are shoved in your face ready to walk you through each step of learning the software and creating your first 3D model. With time and practice, that collection of mind-boggling tools will start to look pretty intuitive.
It’s best to consider the sort of modeling you’d like to do before settling on a program to start with. Many of the best 3D modeling software cover multiple methods of design, but not all – and some are better for one kind than others. For example, will you focus on sculpting and mesh modeling? These are highly artistic “soft modeling” methods used to design organic-looking models using digital brushes that mold virtual clay or wireframes. Or, would you prefer more traditional CAD design methods, “solid modeling”, and parametric design? These are employed by architects, engineers, and product designers. Beginners have plenty of options for both, and we’ll list them below.
Know that beginner 3D modeling software, though simple and more limited in features, are still plenty useful no matter your skill level. The skills you gain learning through entry-level software will be largely transferable to more advanced software, and even seasoned designers will pop into Tinkercad from time to time to design a quick print; so you’ll still be learning practical software and skills while getting to grips with the basics. Let’s dive in!
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How to 3D Model: The Basics of 3D Modeling
OVERVIEWSEARCH:
| Software | Platform | Specialization | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tinkercad | Browser | Direct Modeling, OpenSCAD | Education |
| Vectary | Browser | Mesh Modeling, Parametric Modeling | Product Design, Graphic Design, Animation |
| Meshmixer | Windows, macOS | Direct Modeling, Sculpting, Optimization | 3D Printing Optimization/ Repair |
| SculptGL | Browser, Windows, ios, android | Sculpting | Digital Art, Animation, Game Design |
| ZBrushCoreMini | Windows, macOS | Sculpting | Digital Art, Animation, Game Design |
| SketchUp Free | Browser | Direct Modeling | Architecture, Product Design |
| Wings 3D | Windows, MacOS, Linux | Mesh Modeling | Architecture, Product Design |
| Leopoly | Browser | Sculpting | Digital Art, Animation, Game Design |
| BlocksCAD | Browser | OpenSCAD | Education |
| Blender | Windows, MacOS, Linux | Sculpting, Mesh Modeling | Digital Art, Animation, Game Design |
THE BEST FREE 3D MODELING SOFTWARE FOR BEGINNERS
Tinkercad
- File FormatsOBJ, SVG, STL, PART
- PlatformBrowser
- SpecializationDirect Modeling, OpenSCAD
- Use CasesEducation
With a simple, bright interface and plenty of educational resources, Tinkercad is specifically designed for those with no prior CAD experience. In addition to being one of the most accessible pieces of 3D modeling software around, it can also be used right in your browser.
Don’t let the colorful look fool you. The Tinkercad software from Autodesk is simple but powerful, allowing you to use primitive shapes, such as cubes, cylinders, and spheres, to realize your ideas in CAD by means of drag and drop. You can move, rotate, and scale each shape and assign them to be a solid or “hole”. Grouping shapes allows you to create the intricate 3D models you’ll find in Tinkercad’s gallery.
There are plenty of tutorials by Tinkercad itself that are basic and slowly paced. If you find yourself frozen in most CAD interfaces, the Tinkercad learning page is the place to start. It features short, individual lessons for every aspect of the interface, and a list of lessons that walk you through a variety of simple models. For more involved lessons, the “projects” section will guide you through model-making in more detail. The tutorials are especially suitable for children.
Tinkercad also provides users with the ability to design, program, and simulate electronic assemblies, as well as a feature called Codeblocks, which uses lines of code to create 3D objects with OpenSCAD. It’s a great all-around tool for learning modern maker tech.
What’s it good for? Entry-level students and people with no experience using 3D modeling software.
THE BEST FREE 3D MODELING SOFTWARE FOR BEGINNERS
Vectary
- File FormatsOBJ, DAE, USDZ, GLB, gITF, STL
- PlatformBrowser
- SpecializationMesh Modeling, Parametric Modeling
- Use CasesProduct Design, Graphic Design, Animation
Vectary is a browser-based mesh and parametric modeling software that claims to be the “easiest online 3D and AR design tool.” It certainly manages to include some great features in its simple and easy-to-learn interface.
The software has a focus on rendering as it’s targeted at graphic design, product design, and game design professionals, but can be used for any 2D or 3D modeling application.
Using Vectary’s simple tools requires just a basic knowledge of design concepts. Its UI is approachable, but it adds a lot compared to the simplest modelers like Tinkercad. Users can leverage an assortment of pre-rendered 3D typography, web headers, and other pre-made models. Be aware: many of these aren’t free.
You’ll be prompted to follow the program’s integrated video tutorials on launch, asking that you follow the “Getting Started” tutorial that covers 3D modeling basics. Other tutorials are around to help you learn how to use each of Vectary’s features, but past Getting Started, there aren’t a lot of guides for those just starting with 3D modeling.
Vectary comes with a very unique sharing and collaboration tool that could be appealing: you can create teams that make working together on projects much easier. The feature is locked in the free tier, however, and requires a $12 monthly subscription. The free tier is great, though, and aside from collaboration and project limits holds very little back. Be aware that in the free tier you can only have 10 different projects saved at the same time
What’s it good for? Mesh and parametric modeling in the browser with more flexibility than simpler programs and integrated animation, AR, and rendering.
THE BEST FREE 3D MODELING SOFTWARE FOR BEGINNERS
Meshmixer
- File FormatsOBJ, STL, 3MF, AMF, DAE, PLY, WRL, SMESH
- PlatformWindows, macOS
- SpecializationDirect Modeling, Sculpting, Optimization
- Use Cases3D Printing Optimization/ Repair
Meshmixer is a lightweight 3D modeling software developed by Autodesk that should be in every maker’s toolbox. As the software’s website puts it, it’s a “Swiss Army Knife” for 3D objects that allows you to manipulate, add to, splice, merge models, and more, with ease.
The program is mostly used to tweak, repair, or optimize existing 3D models, but also has sculpting and solid modeling tools built in. The tool selection is simple but offers enough variety to get you intimately familiar with the tools you’ll need for either form of 3D modeling.
Since Meshmixer is tailor-made for 3D printing, not only can you design and repair 3D models in the program but also add support structures, orient models, and use Meshmixer’s variety of unique optimization tools to prepare your design for printing.
There might be a slightly steeper learning curve with Meshmixer in some places compared to software made especially for beginners, but there’s a manual by Autodesk to learn any unfamiliar terminology and get your footing. The program is a little dated at this point and not being updated, but it’s completely free and will always come in handy – so you can’t really go wrong. While the latest Windows version is available for download on their website, the macOS version is unfortunately no longer available due to a “security issue” in the installer but can be downloaded from third-party websites.
What is it good for? Beginners who want a simple tool that will remain useful later on.
Where can I get it? Meshmixer
THE BEST FREE 3D MODELING SOFTWARE FOR BEGINNERS
SculptGL
- File FormatsSGL, OBJ, PLY, STL
- PlatformBrowser, Windows, ios, android
- SpecializationSculpting
- Use CasesDigital Art, Animation, Game Design
SculptGL is a freely accessible, open-source, browser-based sculpting program. Like most sculpting programs, it simply pops a lump of digital clay into your workspace and lets you mold it with a variety of tools called “brushes”.
It’s a very basic software that includes the sculpting bare essentials; brushes, texture imports, and rendering. If you want to do anything more, even so much as play with light on your rendering, you’ll need to step it up to another program. Still, SculptGL is great to get a feel for sculpting without any commitment whatsoever.
Since it’s so limited, SculptGL doesn’t have a lot of tutorials. There’s a small YouTube series covering the features and a community tutorial or two that choose it specifically for its approachability. It’s a good starting point to sate your curiosity for 3D sculpting.
You can also download a standalone version for offline use, but it’s exactly the same as the online one.
If you look to use a pen tablet for sculpting, Ginier also developed an ios and android enabled version of the program called Nomad Sculpt. Android users can enjoy the tool free of charge while ios fans will have to fork out $14,99.
What’s it good for? Curious experimenting with sculpting or quick practice with a lightweight browser program.
Where can I get it? Stéphane Ginier’s website
THE BEST FREE 3D MODELING SOFTWARE FOR BEGINNERS
ZBrushCoreMini
- File FormatsOBJ
- PlatformWindows, macOS
- SpecializationSculpting
- Use CasesDigital Art, Animation, Game Design
ZBrushCoreMini is a stripped down version of Pixologic’s ZBrush, a powerful and popular sculpting program among many advanced and professional designers. Don’t let that scare you off, though. CoreMini is made with beginners in mind, so it’s easy to learn for those with little 3D modeling experience.
Like many other sculpting programs, you’re given a lump of digital clay to edit using brushes. ZBrushCoreMini keeps things simple with a selection of eight basic brushes that add to, smoothen, subtract from, inflate, pinch, and polish your model. the program also includes four of Pixologic’s “Vector Displacement Meshes” (VDM). These are brushes that enable you to instantly create a complex shape on your model, and there’s a huge variety of shapes included. This gives you a very helpful foundation when you’re just getting used to sculpting. Having trouble making a decent ear? Just pop one in with the VDM and start customizing it.
It’s worth noting that CoreMini is restricted to non-commercial use, limits you in polygons and file types, doesn’t allow imports or renders (though includes live ambient occlusion), and restricts you in a few other ways. The great thing about getting started with it is that transitioning to the more advanced Zbrush software down the road will be easy once you’re ready. ZBrushCore, the next tier up from the free CoreMini software, is just $10 a month for a subscription, or $180 for a one-time purchase.
Pixologic offers a good variety of tutorial content with ZClassroom and you’ll be prompted to check it out upon installing ZBrushCoreMini. They have lessons for all the basics, but the top tutorials are for the full ZBrush program – so scroll down to the smaller ZBrushCore selection to see a more familiar interface in your lessons.
What is it good for? Beginners interested in learning digital sculpting, especially those who want some help from VDM brushes.
THE BEST FREE 3D MODELING SOFTWARE FOR BEGINNERS
SketchUp Free
- File Formats3DS, DWG, DXF, FBX, KMZ, OBJ, VRML, XSI, SKP, PNG, STL
- PlatformBrowser
- SpecializationDirect Modeling
- Use CasesArchitecture, Product Design
SketchUp is a sketch and extrude CAD program considered one of the best professional software on the market. The free version, SketchUp for Web, is a great browser-based edition that’s easy for beginners.
Sketch and extrude programs like SketchUp are essentially direct modeling programs where you draw a 2D shape and then add depth to it with the “extrude” tool. Of course, that’s a simplification and SketchUp can get very exact, but it’s what you’ll see at the onset. Alongside parametric software, sketch and extrude programs like SketchUp are probably what most people think of when you say “CAD”.
The simplified web version has a selection of just the most common design tools and an approachable, user-friendly interface. There’s a handy integrated “instructor” that will tell you how to use each tool, and access the helpful SketchUp Warehouse where you can find pre-existing models to work with.
As such a professional mainstay, there are plenty of SketchUp tutorials available for new designers to check out. SketchUp Campus offers great, detailed courses for free, like SketchUp Fundamentals, and you can find anything they may not cover in the array of community tutorials on YouTube and various blogs.
If you’re interested in using SketchUp’s more advanced programs, this is definitely the place to start as you’ll be familiar with the software’s core tools and interface. SketchUp for Web comes with 10GB of cloud storage and no strings attached for use.
What’s it good for? Beginners looking to hone their 3D modeling skills on a navigable interface without too many limitations.