Home / Resources
Free software and asset libraries for Blender users
A short list of free tools and free asset sites that work well alongside Blender: CAD and character tools, game engines, texture and image editors, video and audio software, and libraries of free textures, HDRIs, sounds and fonts. Most are free and open source; each card says what the tool is for.
3D & CAD
What free 3D software works with Blender?
Blender handles modelling, animation and rendering. For exact CAD dimensions, FreeCAD is the usual free partner, and the FreeCAD to Blender guide shows the handoff.
3D
Blender
Free and open-source 3D software for animated films, visual effects, art, 3D printed models, interactive 3D, VR, game assets and architectural visualisation.
CAD
FreeCAD
A free parametric 3D CAD modeller, useful when a model has to start from exact dimensions.
Characters
MakeHuman
An open-source tool for creating 3D human characters you can take into Blender.
FreeCAD + Blender
Architectural 3D Modeling & Rendering: FreeCAD & Blender
Model in FreeCAD, then clean up and render in Blender. Real-world scale, no paid CAD · 6 hours of video.
Game engines
Which game engines can I use with Blender models?
All three below take models made in Blender. The Unreal tutorials show the Send to Unreal route.
Engine
Unreal Engine
A game engine from Epic Games, known for high-fidelity graphics and used for games, simulations and real-time architectural walkthroughs.
Textures & 2D
What free tools make textures and images for Blender?
Paint and generate texture maps, then edit renders, vector art and print layouts.
Video & audio
What free software edits video and sound for Blender renders?
Blender has its own Video Sequence Editor, and these tools cover recording, compositing and sound.
Blender VSE
Video Editing in Blender
Prefer to stay in Blender? My course covers cuts, text, audio, transitions and export in the VSE · 3 hours of video.
Free assets
Where can I get free textures, HDRIs and sounds for Blender?
Poly Haven and ambientCG publish their textures and HDRIs as CC0, so you can use them in any project. For the files from my own tutorials, see the assets page.
FAQ
Questions about free Blender tools
Is Blender really free?
Yes. Blender is free and open source, from blender.org, and you can use it for any purpose, including commercial work.
Where can I get free textures and HDRIs for Blender?
Poly Haven and ambientCG are good places to start; both release their assets as CC0. Texture Ninja has photo textures too.
Which free game engine works with Blender?
Godot is free and open source and imports models made in Blender. Armory runs inside Blender itself. Unreal Engine is the route the Unreal tutorials use.
Is there a free CAD program that works with Blender?
FreeCAD. Model to exact dimensions there, export, then render in Blender. The FreeCAD to Blender guide covers the export and units.
Where should I start learning Blender itself?
Try the free tutorials, or pick a course on the courses page. For houses and interiors, the archviz course guide compares the options.
Short Blender tutorials, now and then
New guides and course updates by email. No spam; unsubscribe any time.
