Resources

Every 3D artist ends up with a messy folder of bookmarks: the texture site, that one HDRI library, the forum where someone answered your exact question in 2019. This page is that folder, cleaned up and organised.

It covers free asset libraries, official software, marketplaces, learning resources, communities and news across Blender, Maya, Houdini, ZBrush, Unreal Engine, Unity, Godot, Cinema 4D and Substance — including excellent non-English sites most roundups skip.

What's On This Page

Where Can You Get Free 3D Models and Assets?

Start here before you buy anything. Check the licence on every download: CC0 means public domain (ship it commercially, no attribution), while “free for personal use” means you cannot use it in client or commercial work at all.

  • Poly Haven — The single best bookmark in 3D. HDRIs, textures and models, all CC0.
  • Blend Swap — Long-running community library of .blend files under Creative Commons licences.
  • Sketchfab — Huge model library with in-browser preview; filter by downloadable and CC licence.
  • OpenGameArt — Free game art: models, sprites, textures and audio, mostly open-licensed.
  • Kenney — Thousands of CC0 game assets, 3D kits, sprites, UI and audio. Legendary among indie devs.
  • Quaternius — Free low-poly and stylised model packs, CC0.
  • The Base Mesh — Hundreds of free CC0 base meshes with clean topology.
  • TurboSquid Free — Free section of the long-established stock marketplace.
  • CGTrader Free — Free tier of a major marketplace.
  • Free3D — Mixed-quality free model library; check licences carefully.
  • 3DSky — Strong for archviz furniture and interiors.
  • Smithsonian 3D — Museum-quality scans released as open access.
  • Scan the World — Free scans of sculptures and cultural artefacts.

We also curate free tools and node setups in the 3DxDEV Library.

Best Sites for Textures, Materials and HDRIs

Essential Blender Resources

Blender has the richest free ecosystem of any 3D package. These are the sites worth keeping open.

3D Marketplaces (And Where to Sell Your Own Work)

  • Superhive — Formerly Blender Market. The main marketplace for Blender add-ons and assets.
  • Gumroad — Where most indie tool developers sell directly. Low friction for creators.
  • Fab — Epic's unified marketplace, replacing the Unreal Marketplace and Quixel Bridge.
  • Unity Asset Store — Assets, tools and templates for Unity.
  • itch.io — Indie hub with a large free and pay-what-you-want asset section.
  • BOOTH — Japanese marketplace, essential for VRChat avatars, VTuber and anime-style assets.
  • ArtStation Marketplace — Brushes, tutorials and assets from working professionals.
  • CGTrader and TurboSquid — Large stock model marketplaces.
  • Ko-fi — Popular for smaller tools and tip-supported releases.
  • Payhip — Simple storefront alternative to Gumroad.

Game Development Resources

Official Software Sites and Free Alternatives

Paid industry tools sit alongside genuinely capable free ones. If you are starting out, the free column is more than enough.

  • Blender — Free, open source, covers the entire pipeline.
  • Maya — Industry standard for animation. See our Maya assets.
  • Houdini — Procedural and VFX powerhouse; Apprentice tier is free for non-commercial use. Our Houdini assets.
  • ZBrush — Sculpting standard. Our ZBrush assets.
  • Substance 3D — Texturing standard. Our Substance assets.
  • Cinema 4D — Motion-graphics favourite. Our C4D assets.
  • Cascadeur — Physics- and AI-assisted keyframe animation, with a free tier.
  • ArmorPaint — Open-source PBR texture painting.
  • Material Maker — Free, node-based procedural material authoring.
  • Krita — Free painting app, excellent for textures and concept art.
  • GIMP — Free image editor.
  • MakeHuman — Free parametric human base-mesh generator.
  • MeshLab — Free mesh processing and scan cleanup.
  • PureRef — Pay-what-you-want reference board app. Nearly universal among artists.

Where Should You Learn 3D?

  • Blender Guru — The donut tutorial that started thousands of careers. Still the best beginner path.
  • CG Cookie — Structured Blender courses and learning flows.
  • CGDive — The best free resource anywhere for Blender rigging.
  • Grant Abbitt — Patient, beginner-friendly modelling and game-asset tutorials.
  • Polygon Runway — Stylised illustration and diorama workflows.
  • Blender Secrets — Short, dense, one-tip-per-video.
  • Ducky 3D — Motion graphics, materials and abstract renders.
  • ArtStation Learning — Professional courses, free to all.
  • Blender Conference Talks — Free recorded production talks.
  • GDC Vault (Free) — Free game-development talks from industry veterans.
  • Line of Action — Free timed figure-drawing practice; improves your 3D more than you expect.

3D News Sites and Blogs Worth Following

  • 80 Level — Artist interviews, breakdowns and tool news.
  • CG Channel — Reliable, no-hype coverage of software releases.
  • BlenderNation — Daily Blender-specific news.
  • CGPress — Long-running CG industry news.
  • fxguide — Deep VFX industry and technique coverage.
  • Creative Bloq — Broader art and design coverage.
  • GameFromScratch — Game engine and tool news, fast on free releases.
  • 3DxDEV — Our own daily coverage of free tools, add-ons and workflows.

Japanese and Non-English 3D Resources

Some of the best 3D coverage anywhere is published in Japanese, and it is often days ahead on new add-on releases. Browser translation handles these sites well, and it is worth the extra click.

  • MODELING HAPPY — Updated daily with new Blender and Maya tools, frequently covering releases before English sites do. One of the best 3DCG blogs on the internet, in any language.
  • CGTracking — Japanese CG news, tutorials and tool coverage.
  • 3DNCHU — Long-running Japanese 3DCG news site with excellent breadth.
  • CGWORLD — Japan's major CG industry magazine and site.
  • BOOTH — Where much of the VRChat, VTuber and anime-style asset scene actually publishes.
  • Niconico — Home of a large MMD (MikuMikuDance) creator community.
  • Klala's Laboratory — Curated Blender/3DCG link collection with an English version.

Communities and Forums

Reference, Anatomy and Audio

Frequently Asked Questions

What does CC0 actually mean?

CC0 means the creator has released the work into the public domain. You can use it commercially, modify it, and ship it in a paid product without crediting anyone. It is the most permissive licence you will encounter, and it is what makes sites like Poly Haven and ambientCG so valuable.

Can I use free assets in a commercial game?

It depends entirely on the licence, not on the price. CC0 and most MIT-licensed assets are fine. Creative Commons BY requires attribution. “Free for personal use” explicitly excludes commercial projects. Always read the actual terms on the download page rather than assuming free means unrestricted.

What is the best free alternative to paid 3D software?

Blender, by a wide margin. It covers modelling, sculpting, UV, texturing, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and video editing in one free package. For texturing specifically, ArmorPaint and Material Maker are capable free options, and Krita handles hand-painted work.

Where do professionals actually get their assets?

A mix. Poly Haven and ambientCG for textures and HDRIs, Fab and Superhive for production-ready packs and tools, Mixamo for quick animation, and custom-made assets for anything hero. Most studios buy time-savers and build the things audiences will look at closely.

Are Japanese 3D sites worth following if I do not speak Japanese?

Yes. Browser translation is good enough now, and sites like MODELING HAPPY often cover new add-on releases before English-language outlets. The Japanese scene is also far ahead on VTuber, avatar and anime-style workflows.

Know a Resource We Missed?

This directory is updated regularly. If you run or use a site that belongs here, submit it and we will take a look. You can also browse our own collection of free tools, add-ons and node setups in the 3DxDEV Library.

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