List of 3D model sharing websites

1. Cults

Cults is one of the leading websites to download free STL files. The website is a digital marketplace where you can find thousands of 3D models related to fashion, jewelry, architecture and more. Cults is also a community that allows people to discuss their interests, and communicate about their love of 3D printing, connecting designers, makers, and other creators. They organise contests, and regularly create content for their community or publish on their blog. You can find the best 3D models to download on Cults in our ranking.

The variety of STL file downloads on Cults.

2. Free3D

Free3D is another marketplace that offers a wide range of 3D models. Not all of them are STL files, however many are OBJ, which work for 3D printing too. You will also find many models for software such as Blender, Cinema 4D or 3ds Max. The Marketplace counts different sections such as architecture, vehicles, aircraft or electronics for example. You can easily join the Free3D community to share your 3D models with the world and build your own portfolio to show your skills or get freelance work. Finally, the platform is available in 14 languages!

3. GrabCAD

GrabCAD is one of the largest online libraries of CAD models. The community that uses GrabCAD is mostly made up of professional engineers, designers, manufacturers and STEM students. Moreover the company says that almost 6 million members use its platform to share files but also get tips on design challenges and work together on improving models. Today, GrabCAD has about 4 million free files that you can access and download, making it the largest professional library of 3D models.

Incredible STL file to 3D print this vehicle.

4. MyMiniFactory

MyMiniFactory is a platform that aims to increase collaboration between 3D designers by enabling them to share their work freely. The website offers free files specifically made for 3D printing. Each of the files uploaded to the platform are carefully selected and tested by community members. In addition to having thousands of files, MyMiniFactory has a service which allows you to request files from a professional designer, if you can’t find the file you are looking for.

5. Pinshape

Today, Pinshape brings together more than 70,000 manufacturers and designers who publish their 3D models on the platform every day. The platform offers free and premium files that users can download directly for printing. Designers can be financially rewarded by selling their creations. Acquired in 2016 by the manufacturer Formlabs three years after its creation, Pinshape also offers various 3D printing guides and articles to learn more about 3D printing  technologies and their applications. The platform is quite intuitive, directly suggesting the most trendy 3D models and highlighting a few famous designers.

6. STLFinder

When you log in to the STLFinder site, you will find a very basic page: a search bar where you can type in the 3D file you are looking for. The platform will then suggest all the models associated with your query found on other online sites. STLFinder is more of a search engine that will allow the user to compare all the designs available on the web. This will save time from searching on ten sites at once! STLFinder takes the description of each 3D file indicated on the source platform and sends it back to the source platform so that the user can download the model and print it.

7. SketchFab

Created in 2012, Sketchfab is a platform that features a 3D model viewer. In addition to this function, it also offers a section where community users can browse, rate and download existing 3D models on the web. The fact that it includes all types of 3D design makes Sketchfab a very broad platform for users. Therefore, if we want to focus on 3D printing, we must go to the STL labels section. There we can find all the files for additive manufacturing under Creative Commons licenses, some being free and others not.

8. Thingiverse

The Thingiverse platform was launched in 2008 and belongs to the 3D printer manufacturer, Makerbot. Currently it is one of the websites with the most STL files to download for free, thanks to its community of creators. What most characterizes Thingiverse is the interactivity between users, who upload their files to the platform to share them with others and let them download and give their opinion. With more than 1,700,000 files for 3D printing, Thingiverse is one of the most popular websites to find 3D models on the market.

9. Yeggi

Just like STLFinder, Yeggi is a search engine that will allow you to find what you are looking for among more than 2 million STL files available on different platforms. However, Yeggi offers more filters and options than its competitor. You will be able to choose between free or paid files, popular models, recently added models, etc. It is probably the most popular search engine in the additive manufacturing market.

10. YouImagine

Created by the founders of Ultimaker, the YouMagine platform now gathers 16,000 free STL files and brings together thousands of designers and makers who want to share their ideas and invent together. The templates are mainly open-source, leaving the possibility for any user to modify designs if needed. YouMagine gathers all kinds of files, from small decorative figurines to functional prototypes like a wind turbine.

11. 3DShook

3DShook is a service offered in 7 different languages, which unlike other sites has a different business model, as it offers a subscription service on demand to access more than 6,000 models for printing. It has 42 categories, some of which are free when you sign up, but if you prefer to download models with more complexity or quality, 3DShook has an annual subscription of $ 25 dollars to download 40 models and access their CAD tools, or a premium option of $ 50 dollars that allows you to download up to 100 models from the catalog.

3DShook has over 40 STL file categories

12. 3DWarehouse

This website is a service offered by the Sketchup team, where the users can create and share models created with the software. This website is mainly dedicated to professionals, and is highly valued within sectors such as architecture or design, as it serves as a platform for the exchange of 3D models and as a possible source of income for some creators. In addition to the possibility of downloading models with different prices, the platform also allows add extensions to Sketchup to improve model quality.

Shapeways

TurboSquid

CGTrader

Threedin

3DBaza

CGStudio

CreativeMarket

1 – Thingiverse / 3d model platforms

Obviously the first site that you heard when you start work with 3dprinters and ask in the groups or forums about it where download 3d models, the first answer that you probably get is Thingverse.

A few months ago I use some models from Thingiverse to print, like a model of the Tardis of Doctor Who and the Millenium Falcon, was good prints and the models didn’t have any errors. But you need to check the meshes to confirm if the model is ok to print. =)

2 – My Mini Factory /3d model platforms

Well, after a few minutes searching and meeting this site I have fallen in love. I search for models of Tardis and found a lot of models, different models that I had found on my search’s on Thingverse. I found this model of a bookends with Tardis themes and definitely enter on the list of things to print.

It’s easy to make an account and search models. Definitely is a good website to keep on the favorites. =)

3 – You Imagine /3d model platforms

Well, You Imagine appears to me that they only have a small database of models with the searches that I did, in comparison with My Mini Factory and Thingiverse.

4 – Autodesk 123D / 3d model platforms

My first impression with 123D by Autodesk is that this site have a good database and realistic models to 3dprints. The models on my search are very realistics, and the website have a good presentation of the models.

5 – Yeggi / 3d model platforms

Yeggi did’nt capture my intrest when I loaded the website, the design of the website is poor. Yeggi is a search engine for 3dmodels, so the results that it gives to you is the models and the origin of them.

6 – Yobi3D / 3d model platforms

Well, Yobi3D is also a search engine to 3dmodels, but in comparison with Yeggi, the design and the way that the models is loaded and are show up to the user, is very good. And this website give’s me good results with models that appears have good quality from a good variety of websites.

7 – Cg-trader / 3d model platforms

Cg-trader is a good website if you are rich. It appears that most of the models needs payments to download.

8 – GrabCad / 3d model platforms

GrabCad is more focused in Cad files to engineers. People that like to print and test mechanical parts could use this site to help and see the models.

9 – Smithsonian X 3D / 3d model platforms

When you hear about Smithsonian what is the first thing that you think of? To me is that they work with archeology. And this site have a lot of that. A lot of sculptures of dinosaurs and ancient things to be downloaded and printed.

10 – Cults / 3d model platforms

On the first look, Cults appears to be a good website to download models, is very good the presentation, and most of the models have pictures of the models printed. I love the purple color of the site <3