10 Best 3D Printing Websites
3D printing websites are a great place for people to find 3D models and use them for their projects. They vary greatly with everything from repositories to marketplaces of highly technical 3D model designs.
These printing technologies are used to produce either physical models or digital models that can be displayed on a computer screen. Because 3D printing can take anywhere from a couple of minutes to many hours, finding designs needs to be simple.
There are many different types of 3D printers, so the website must have a variety of models available for each type of printer. These websites are often free too, allowing users to download a variety of 3D models for use with no payment required.
Below we have included 10 of the best 3D printing websites for you to check out. All of these sites have something amazing to offer that you could potentially take advantage of today.
1. Cults
Cults is a 3D printing marketplace where designers and makers can interact. You can find the perfect 3D printable design for your project without breaking the bank. The community building on this website is the most important feature.
The designs are either free or paid for download, but all of them are of high quality and come with detailed instructions on how to print them out. They also host regular contests for designers and makers to compete in for prizes.
The best part about this platform is that it is all about the community. It encourages collaboration, creativity, and interaction between designers and buyers. By signing up, you can join the community and get more features too.
If you are ever lacking inspiration, they also have a random button that will automatically direct you to a random design. You can read about it and learn how it was made to potentially spark some creativity.
2. Thingiverse
Thingiverse is a platform for sharing, remixing, and downloading designs for 3D printers. Users can upload their designs or download other users’ designs and use them for personal or commercial purposes.
It has a large library of printable objects that are categorized into different categories such as Art, Gadgets, Jewelry, and so on. The website provides free downloads of 3D models as well as the option to upload your own models for others to use.
One of the most impressive things about Thingiverse is the wide range of educational content that is available for users. In this section, you can get an in-depth breakdown of a specific design that tells you how it was made by the settings and process description.
The website was made to be extremely easy to navigate too. You can filter through designs based on category, popularity, and more. By signing up, you can also save designs for later to check out.
3. YouMagine
YouMagine is a 3D object-sharing website where you can find inspiration and collaborate with others in the space. It was created to allow people to share their ideas for 3D models, download them, and remix them.
You can upload your 3D models, download other people’s models, or browse through the library of 3D objects to get inspiration. The site offers a free membership that gives you access to more features such as downloading files in multiple formats and creating personalized collections.
It started as an open-source project for design professionals but now it is used by makers of all levels of expertise, educators, and researchers. You can find anything from realistic human organs to toy cars.
Everything on YouMagine is filtered and searchable with over 19,000 different open designs ready to be printed.
4. Pinshape
Pinshape is a marketplace and community for 3D printing. It provides the necessary tools and resources to help people in their 3D printing journey. This website was created to provide a platform for people who want to share and sell their 3D printable files.
Users can find the files they need by searching in the library or by browsing categories such as architecture, fashion, food, or gaming. The site also has a learning center that offers tutorials and videos on how to use various 3D modeling programs to create printable objects.
The community aspect of this website is strong with many contests for users to compete in based on their models, designs, and prints. There are also forums where deeper conversations take place to help others learn.
5. Free3D
Free3D has a vast library of 3D models for printing, ranging from animals to vehicles, and buildings to furniture. The site has an interface that is easy to use and allows you to find the perfect model for your project.
When you use Free3D, you can upload a design that you have already created or download a model from the Free3D library. The site also offers a variety of templates and tutorials, so it’s easy to get started with 3D modeling without any prior experience.
The site also has a category dedicated to 3D printing projects where users can share their latest creations with other members. This website is a great place to find free and premium designs to choose from.
6. Yeggi
Yeggi is a 3D printer model search engine. You can find over 3 million objects here for your 3D printing projects to download. It is designed to help you find the right model for your project, by searching through the largest database of 3D models on the internet.
The reason this website is so valuable is that it pulls data from some of the top-rated 3D printing marketplaces on the internet and stores them in one place. For example, you can find designs from Thingiverse and MyMiniFactory here.
It operates as an easily filtered place to find options from every marketplace that exists. The best part about this website is that it is completely free to download nearly every model it lists.
7. Turbosquid
TurboSquid is a digital media company that sells stock 3D models. These models are used by many professionals in key industries such as animation, architecture, entertainment, and so on. It has grown to become one of the leading providers of 3D content for professionals worldwide.
These models are also some of the most impressive you will see anywhere. They are highly detailed and everything on the website is searchable based on the type of print or the category the model falls under.
They also provide plenty of 3D modeling resources that users can take advantage of along with an option for artists to submit their work. If they like it, you will be accepted and compensated appropriately.
8. STLFinder
STLFinder is another reliable 3D model search engine that can be used to find some of the best models for your 3D printing project. It has a simple interface with an advanced search algorithm that will help you find the perfect model in no time.
The STL Finder is an easy-to-use search engine that will help you find the model you need in a matter of seconds. Many sites have 3D models, but not all of them are easy to navigate and find what you need.
This website is completely free too. As you would guess, all of the prints are STLs and they are quick and easy to download too. While this project is relatively new, it continues to grow and add many new models to consider.
9. Sketchfab
Sketchfab is a 3D and AR modeling platform that provides the tools for artists to create and publish their work in one place. With Sketchfab’s tools and community, you can upload your 3D models, create an interactive preview of your model, and distribute it to anyone in the world.
Sketchfab provides a way for artists to make their work available for sale in one place. They list designs with excellent texture quality so it is easy to embed them onto your websites without any quality problems.
It allows users to publish their 3D models for free or for a fee. Sketchfab also provides a marketplace where people can buy and sell 3D models. This makes it easy for anyone to publish their work online and make it available to the world.
10. Thangs
Thangs is a free 3D model community for users to find inspiration and designs. Users can upload and download designs to use. This site is a great resource for designers who want to upload their 3D models for use.
The site also features tutorials, articles, and how-to videos that will help beginners learn the basics of 3D modeling. This is a community with a focus on creativity, where users can upload and download designs to use in their projects.
The site also has a variety of categories for different types of models, such as characters, vehicles, animals, and more. Once uploaded, users can download the model or share it with others.
You can also follow designers, interact with their work, and share it on social media. Thangs has a leaderboard that tracks the projects of designers and grades them based on followers, model views, and total downloads.
Types Of 3D Printing Websites
There are many types of 3D printing websites on the internet, and each one offers something different. Some provide free software that can be downloaded to create objects from scratch, while others offer paid services such as printing and shipping.
Some sites provide templates for downloading or designing software to make your own objects from scratch. You can understand the different 3D printing websites and what they can be used for below.
3D Printing Services
One of the most popular 3D printing business models and websites includes providing services for potential customers. This can be done in a few different ways, but there are plenty of marketplace-style websites to consider.
One example of this type of website is Craftcloud. They allow you to upload your designs and printing needs to find someone capable of getting the job done. You can get an instant quote on your project too.
3D Printing Collection Libraries
The most common 3D printing website is a collection library with designs, models, and objects to use to print with. Users can upload their own designs for others to download and print as well.
They also have an advanced search tool on many sites that allows users to filter by materials, size, or type of printer they have access to. This type of website is an easy way for people to find the right design or object they want to print.
3D Printing Publications
You will see many different news websites and 3D printing publications in this industry as well. It is good to keep up with these sites to learn about the leaders of the industry and other related news so you are always informed.
All3DP is one of the most visited publications in this industry. They have everything you need from product reviews to news updates. There is always something to learn when you visit this website.
Are 3D Printing Websites Free?
3D printing websites are not always free and sometimes they are not even cheap. A lot of them charge monthly or yearly subscriptions to use their website. However, some of them do have a free trial period, but then you will be charged for the full service once the trial period ends.
It ultimately depends on the website and what type of product or service is before offered. Many different websites have a free library of objects and models for download, you simply need to make an account to get started.
But if you want to create a 3D printable model without the equipment, then you will need to use a paid service. You can send these companies designs and they will do all of the printing and shipping for you.
There are free online publications you can subscribe to and follow for free too. These websites will send out newsletters and updates about the industry that help you stay informed and continue to learn.
