If you’ve ever used a 3D printer, you’ve most likely heard about Thingiverse. It’s one of the most popular online collections of 3D printing files and maintains a highly active community. Many current users would be surprised to know it has been in operation since 2008 and was originally started by MakerBot as a companion website for their early 3D printers.
Today, Thingiverse is a growing resource where designers share their work, and enthusiasts can find new files to download and print. However, the site and its community are much more than that.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what makes Thingiverse unique as well as the growing competition that challenges its dominance in the 3D model space.
All About Thingiverse
When Thingiverse first launched, it was primarily used by small manufacturers and designers as a place to share files for physical objects. At the time, there were almost no places to find or share 3D printing files around the web. Growth for the platform was steady but limited in the beginning. It took four years before the site could boast about hosting nearly 25,000 files. The pace continued to pick up, however. By 2015, the site had over a million files being shared.
Once a niche site, Thingiverse has become the largest online repository for 3D files in the world. Currently, the site hosts over 2.5 million files with hundreds of millions of downloads. Engineers, scientists, industry leaders, designers, and teachers all use the site to save, organize, and distribute files. Novice printers find the repository appealing due to its ease of use. Even enthusiasts without a 3D printer can use the site to find the design they need, then get it printed via a 3D printing service.
But why has Thingiverse maintained this popularity? There are plenty of alternative repositories out there. What is so unique and different about Thingiverse?
Setting the Sights
As with any repository, Thingiverse is organized into categories for different types of objects or needs. It has a clean user interface, which puts the 3D files up front and center. The moment the homepage opens, files are already there and ready for download.
Much the same could be said about other repositories, though. So, what are Thingiverse’s key characteristics that set it apart?
Free
While most things in life aren’t free, every file on Thingiverse is. Yes, you read that correctly. Every. File. Free. Thingiverse is about sharing, not buying. As they indicate on the site, “In the spirit of maintaining an open platform, all designs are encouraged to be licensed under a Creative Commons license, meaning that anyone can use or alter any design.”
While some designs do indicate certain limitations, for the most part, everything on the site is available for personal use free of charge. For those exceptional designers with popular downloads, the site even provides a way to “tip” them for their work. This mainly involves linking to a site like PayPal to send the designer whatever compensation you feel like sending them. It’s a great way to encourage file sharing while still leaving open a path for designers to benefit from their work.
Not a Marketplace
Since monetization of file downloads isn’t its primary objective, Thingiverse has concentrated on being an open community. The focus is on discovering, creating, sharing, and remixing designs. Thingiverse tends to have more ads on its site than other repositories, much to the disappointment of some users. While the ads may not support the designers themselves, it’s undoubtedly a revenue stream to keep the site operational and fee-free for users. A bit of advertising is a small price to pay for an open file-sharing platform.
Large Selection
As we mentioned before, Thingiverse hosts over 2.5 million files at time of writing, and that number increases every day. With the continued growth in the 3D printing market and with cheaper and better consumer 3D printers, the site will only continue to grow. This sheer volume of files is a true advantage. Can’t find a particular design or model elsewhere? There’s likely a version available on Thingiverse. While the site’s search functionality does leave a bit to be desired, finding what you want usually isn’t too hard.
Longevity
Being one of the oldest and largest repositories has allowed the site and the files to mature in a way not really possible for newer repositories. For example, a user who uploaded a file in 2012 may have revised and improved the design many times in the past decade. Each version would likely still be there to download. Likewise, many older files not maintained by the original designer may have seen many remixes or improvements by other designers.
The comments section on older files is a goldmine for those who want to improve their knowledge and skills. Users often post finished prints, give feedback, ask for revisions, or simply share their printer settings for others to know. Stumped by something on a popular download? Ask a question, and you’ll likely have a quick answer from the designer or community members.
Education
That sense of community isn’t limited to sharing files and comments. An entire section of Thingiverse is dedicated to 3D printing education. The models available in this section are designed for instruction and structured as ‘lessons” that are easy to follow. Lessons can be filtered by subject, such as art, engineering, or math, and broken down by grade level (skill level). Teachers can even sign up to receive additional guidance and lesson plans for their students.
Customizer
Inevitably, it happens to everyone: You find the perfect file to fit your needs, but something is a little off. Often, the size isn’t right, you need to change a piece of text on the object, or maybe you just need more teeth on a gear. If you know CAD, you can modify or create from scratch what you need. If you don’t, Thingiverse’s Customizer might save the day!
The Customizer lets designers make OpenSCAD models with customizable parameters. This could be as simple as changing dimensions, activating specific patterns, defining the number of gear teeth on a model, and many other features. While not every file on Thingiverse can be run through the Customizer, most are compatible.
Easy to Use
One of the best features of Thingiverse is how easy it is to get started. First-time visitors can find a file and download it in seconds. Registering on the site takes less than a minute or two. With an account, you can upload your own designs, message others on the site, like models, sort your favorites into collections, and join groups around specific topics.
The Alternatives
We’ve explored some of Thingiverse’s great features, but it’s no longer the only repository out there. Many have built growing communities around sites with the same characteristics. Below, we’ve taken a look at a few similar sites that share many core features of Thingiverse.
Cults
The French site Cults may have an unusual name (backward, it spells St. Luc, the patron saint of artists and sculptors), but it’s also unique in that it was the first independent 3D file repository when it launched in 2014. Since then, it has grown to be the second most popular repository for 3D printing, right behind Thingiverse.
Although Cults is a repository that allows designers to share or sell their designs, it isn’t obvious at first glance that free files are part of the mix. But with a simple filtering option, the free files come to the forefront.
With more than six million users, the repository has amassed a significant amount of printable files. As with most repositories, it offers categorization as well as good filtering tools to narrow your searches. Categories run the gamut of usual suspects – such as art, architecture, and gadgets – to the more interesting ones, such as Naughties and Ideas. They also frequently host contests, do a monthly featured set of STLs, and even have a random option to help you find a new design.
Their rivalry with Thingiverse is quite apparent on the site: They prominently offer to “automatically import all your 3D models shared on Thingiverse to Cults.” You can’t really get more obvious than that.
- Registration required: Yes
- Number of models: Over 949,000
Printables
When Prusa Research rebranded its repository in early 2022, it caused a few waves. Just as Thingiverse began as the branded repository for MakerBot, the iconic printers by Joseph Prusa needed a place to host files for their ecosystem. That place was PrusaPrinters.
However, as apparent in the stories of other repositories associated with 3D printer manufacturers, closed systems limit growth. By early 2022, a new identity was needed to bring the rest of the world to the site, and rebranding to Printables was a quick way to open up the audience.
Well-known for quality printers, Prusa has a similarly polished repository. Categorization and filtering are particularly well done, so that finding your desired model is fast and easy. Searching can also be done by printer type, material, nozzle diameter, print time, and even filament use amount. The search even supports differentiation for resin 3D printing.
Much like Thingiverse, the site also leans heavily on education to bring 3D printing into the hands of more and more users. Registration for the education section is completely free for schools, universities, and other educational institutions. With it, special discounts are available on the Prusa Eshop, and users can access Prusa Academy online courses.
Printables continues to evolve with plans for more changes and additions in the near future. For example, a reward system for creators was implemented late in 2021. Plans for a marketplace were also announced, but details are sparse for now.
- Registration required: Yes
- Number of models: Over 368,000
MyMiniFactory
MyMiniFactory, unlike Thingiverse, is all about the marketplace. While there are a significant number of free files on the site, the focus is on purchasable designs. Based in the UK and owned by iMakr, the site is extremely popular with gamers and is the go-to for high-quality tabletop figures and models.
While the site has been around since 2013, it really moved into its current marketplace model around 2018. Since then, it has grown into a particularly engaged community. In fact, one of the unique aspects of the repository is that it’s community-curated. Files are tested and checked before being made available for public download. Additionally, the site hosts competitions and even includes a premium subscription service that gives discounts in the marketplace as well as several other benefits.
Like Thingiverse, the success of this site is due to its growing community. The enthusiasm for the site’s offerings is responsible for the explosive growth. In the last year or so, the site has added new features such as PDF hosting and Tribes. Tribes is a system for creators to give their supporters access to exclusive content via a paid tier-based subscription model. If you’re a designer looking to monetize your work, this might be the site for you.
- Registration required: Not for downloads, but it is required for all other features
- Number of models: Over 134,000
Pinshape
Pinshape began as an independent website when launched in 2013. Formlabs acquired it in 2016 to act as their companion marketplace, much as MakerBot does with Thingiverse.
Unlike Thingiverse, free and paid files are available on Pinshape. The site provides a filter to easily separate them. There are typical features such as community prints, likes, and collections, but unlike Thingiverse, there are no remixes. Designs are organized into categories and tagged with various identifiers for licensing and printer type.
Pinshape’s standout feature is its educational hub with guides covering software and hardware projects, post-processing, 3D printing materials, and more. Similar to Thingiverse, they even provide lesson plans for teachers looking to introduce students to 3D printing.
Unfortunately, the site maintenance and updating have been inconsistent over the past few years. Several links throughout the site don’t work, and the educational materials they provide have become somewhat dated.
- Registration required: Yes
- Number of models: Over 57,000
CGTrader
CGTrader is an online marketplace offering free and paid 3D models. Founded in 2011 by designer Marius Kalytis, it has become one of the largest commercial marketplaces. The community has been expanding since its creation and currently has over 7 million users and over 2 million 3D models, of which over 15,000 are free.
This site has a royalty system where sellers can earn 70% to 80% of income from their sales. This makes it a place for professionals looking to make some extra cash selling 3D models or who want to take on freelance projects. CGTrader is mainly focused on professionals who use VR/AR and CG, but STL files and other formats are available.
The website itself has a clean interface with clear images. Several filters help you narrow down your search to find exactly what you’re looking for. In addition, if you find a paid model that you’re interested in, you can contact the seller and negotiate the price. Either way, it’s worth checking out CGTrader if you still haven’t found the model you’re looking for.
- Registration required: Yes
- Number of models: Over 2,000,000
YouMagine
YouMagine is a completely free database. Similar to Thingiverse’s approach, the designs are available for download based on licensing. YouMagine suggests that all designs are open source, but designers can choose their preferred license when uploading.
Launched in 2013, YouMagine began as a companion repository for UltiMaker printers. Just like Thingiverse, it grew beyond a single manufacturer in a few short years. In 2017, the site went independent and now serves as a free resource to the larger 3D printing community.
Like most repositories, it showcases featured designs, favorites, collections, remixes, and community prints. With its focus on open-source community projects, each model page also has an “issues” section to track to-dos, bugs, and requests, which seems like a great collaboration tool. It even has a browser-based 3D file viewer to check things out in detail before downloading.
The site is undergoing some changes as its founders move on to newer projects, and there are occasionally some issues with downloads when maintenance issues crop up on the site. They’re also experimenting with Patreon support as a way to avoid advertising on the site.
- Registration required: Yes
- Number of models: Over 15,000
GrabCAD
GrabCAD was created in 2009 by Hardi Meybaum and Indrek Narusk to create a space where CAD professionals could collaborate on engineering and architectural projects. Over time, the community expanded into other areas, including 3D printing and the Internet of Things (IoT). In 2014, it was purchased by Stratasys, one of the leaders in 3D printing. This acquisition allowed Stratasys to expand its product and service offering by integrating the GrabCAD Workbench platform into its 3D printing platform.
GrabCAD is proud that it has a community of over 11,810,000 engineers with millions of free CAD files. However, when searching, only about 10,000 free files appear in STL format. To see all of the results, you’ll need to select the STL filter and then change the “Popular this month” filter to “Popular all time”.
Since GrabCAD is aimed at engineers and architects, there is a large variety of technical and structural models. However, it still has some fun print-in-place models available, like Wall-E. By applying the STL and 3D printing filters, it’s possible to find several pages of models and more elaborate projects, such as the Turbo Jet Motor 550.
- Registration required: Yes
- Number of models: Over 5,650,000
Free3D
Created in 2012, Free3D is, as the name suggests, dedicated to free 3D models across a wide variety of categories. This platform has grown to become a community of over 2.7 million registered users with more than 100,000 free 3D models. More than 6,800 of them are available in STL and OBJ format. In 2020, the platform was bought by TurboSquid, which has the distinction of being the largest 3D model marketplace.
Although the acquisition took place over two years ago, the site remains as it was before, maintaining a simple interface with thumbnail images and different categories to help sort through search results. What makes this a worthy alternative is the large amount of 3D models and the specific filter that helps you quickly find 3D printable models. Like other sites on this list, Free3D also has a marketplace side with premium 3D models for commercial use at relatively reasonable prices.
It’s important to note that not all Free3D models are high quality, and, in some cases, adjustments may be necessary.
- Registration required: No
- Number of models: Over 10,000
Zortrax Library
The Zortrax Library was originally launched as an integrated part of the company’s Z-Suite software and was only accessible to users of Zortrax 3D printers. Much like Thingiverse, the company eventually split the library from the software and made it openly available online. That means anyone can now browse and download the free STL files and print them on any brand of machine.
While the site doesn’t have as many files as others, they’re neatly arranged into a dozen categories, including a section just for Zortrax parts. As a company, Zortrax focuses on providing precision printing primarily to business professionals. Because of this, the contents of the repository tend to lean in that direction. However, as more and more users have found the site, the available content has diversified.
- Registration required: Yes
- Number of models: Not specified
Smaller Repositories
Considering the growing popularity of 3D printing, it’s not surprising that several new, smaller repositories are making a name for themselves. Here are some other options worth checking out for 3D models:
Artec3D
Artec3D is best known as a developer and manufacturer of 3D scanning hardware and software. However, hidden away on their site is an entirely free library of files! Just like Thingiverse back in its early days, Artec3D provides these files to showcase the company’s technology. Lucky for us, it also makes for a great repository.
Most files are high quality and on the upper end of what would be considered a printable file. The categories are divided between industrial design and manufacturing, medical, science and education, and art and design. You can even sort by the type of scanner used to create the file. The majority of the files are available in multiple formats and are under a Creative Commons license.
- Registration required: No
- Number of models: Over 170
Threeding
Founded in 2013 by a group of friends in Bulgaria, Threeding began with the idea of sharing 3D files to print at home, but soon realized there was potential for growth. The following year the platform started to allow users to buy and sell models, which made the platform even more popular with enthusiasts, modelers, and designers. Threeding is also known for its work in digitizing and preserving cultural heritage. In 2016, they partnered with Artec to digitize and preserve a collection of historical artifacts at the Bulgaria’s National Museum of Military History. They created a series of 3D models of the artifacts, which are now available online.
- Registration required: Yes
- Number of models: More than 1,700 free STL models
Repables
Launched in 2014 by MatterHackers, a company specializing in 3D printing, Repables began with the aim of growing the 3D printing community and sharing free models. The platform is focused on providing high-quality, print-ready templates, with the assurance that they’ve been tested and validated before becoming available for download.
- Registration required: No
- Number of models: Not specified
Bonus: Thangs
One of the most popular alternatives to Thingiverse is Thangs. The site isn’t so much a repository as it is a search engine for 3D files. Amazingly, the site has amassed over 14 million files from around the web. While this may sound very impressive, only a portion of these are actually hosted on the site. Many models link to “external sites” such as Thingiverse.
While the site is relatively young (it only launched in August 2020), it has rapidly grown a community. Much like software designers use GitHub to organize, collaborate, and revise, Thangs provides a similar resource for designers, engineers, architects, and scientists working on 3D objects. Designers can upload their creations and use collaboration tools to annotate, compare, and track their work.
Like Thingiverse, the files on Thangs are available for free. Offsite models are mostly free but do connect to some paid files. The site also has some great filtering tools, allowing you to sort free and paid models as well as by file type and even which external site you’d like to search.
Thangs underwent a refresh and now has a cleaner UI. It also boasts features such as augmented reality for Android or Apple phones to visualize a model in the real world. They’ve even launched a 3D file backup service called Thangs Sync that lets designers store revisions in the cloud.
- Registration required: Yes (also depends on external vs. internal files)
- Number of models: Over 2,400,000
License: The text of "The Best Thingiverse Alternatives of 2023" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.