I bought my first 3D printer in 2025, thinking the hard part would be figuring out the printer itself. You know, learning about bed leveling, nozzle temperatures, which filament to use when; the usual stuff that sounds intimidating but is actually just following instructions of a saint youtuber who teaches you all this for free.
Turns out, I was completely wrong.
The actual nightmare? Making the models in the first place! Or rather I would say, finding out where to create the models.
Look, I’m a designer. I work with design tools every day. I thought this would be the easy part. I just wanted to print simple, functional stuff like brackets, bento boxes, kitchen organizers, maybe a cute planter or two. Nothing fancy. The kind of things you see on Reddit and think “oh I could totally make that.”
But finding software that didn’t make me want to throw my laptop out the window became this whole odyssey. So I did what any rational person does when faced with too many options: I tried everything. And by everything, I mean I went down a rabbit hole that cost me weeks of my life and several moments of genuine frustration.
I started exploring every popular 3D modeling software.
Shapr3D
Shapr3D looked promising at first. It has a super clean interface, is easy to get started, and actually feels intuitive. I could open it and start designing without watching 47 tutorial videos. Great!
I felt like this deal was too good to be true, and well, I was right. The free plan exports STLs at such low quality that I could not print even a single model. And upgrading? Way too expensive for someone who just wants to make a soap holder and occasionally a cable management clip. So at that point, I decided to discard Shapr3D.
Plasticity
Next, I tried Plasticity. This one was… fine? Once I got the hang of it, I actually made some decent parts. The learning curve wasn’t steep, and the STL exports were solid. My prints came out clean, dimensions were accurate, and I felt like a competent human being for a brief moment.
I used Plasticity throughout the free trial, but once it ended, I realized I’d need to make a hefty one-time payment just to continue modeling, even for casual personal use.
Blender
Then came Blender. After Shapr3D’s simplicity, opening Blender felt like walking into a spaceship cockpit. Panels everywhere. A thousand shortcuts. Tools clearly built for people making animated movies, not a kitchen organizer.
I’m sure it’s amazing if you are designing figurines or complex geometrical patterns, but for my use case, it felt like overkill.
Tinkercad
I also spent time with Tinkercad. Firstly, I love the fact that I did not need to download anything; this was web-based. However, getting accurate designs was hard due to pre-built shapes.
I think it’s great for kids to play around, and the interface is built for that. I would have loved it as a kid, but this was also not the best for my everyday printing needs.
Fusion 360
Eventually, like many people, I landed on Fusion 360.
And bingo! I finally found a forever free tool! I started using Fusion 360. It does require a learning curve, but after trying out so many softwares, I had started getting a hang of this world!
It’s powerful, precise, and incredibly capable, and the free hobby license is great. I still had to download it, but if I’m working on a part with multiple interdependencies or something that requires exact parametric control, Fusion gets the job done.
The downside is time and complexity. Every time I open it, I am reminded of my college architectural softwares from a decade ago. The terminology is complex, and I am Googling so much while using the tool.
The Realization
And that’s when I realized something important. Most 3D modeling programs aren’t built for everyday printing. They are built for:
- Professional product designers and developers
- Engineering teams working on manufacturing
- Artists, architects, and animators
And I was one of them.
Solids
For everyday prints, I’ve found myself gravitating toward Solids, not because it replaces advanced CAD tools, but because it removes everything I don’t need.
It’s a fairly new tool with low functionality—so low that even spheres are not available. However, they have some unique features which specifically aid in 3D printing needs. One of the coolest features of this tool is that it has a one-click fluting feature, which makes creating beautiful containers and vases super easy.
There are maybe just 6 or 7 actions on the screen which are highly effective to get started. The only export option is STL.
This tool has all the features that I need 90% of the time. You cannot make figurines or swords with it, but you can make containers, bento boxes, brackets, organizers, mounts, etc., efficiently.
Comparison Chart
So here is a final comparison chart based on my experience:
| Tool | Used for | Learnability | App type | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shapr3D | Professional CAD | Easy | Needs download | High |
| Plasticity | Professional CAD | Medium | Needs download | High |
| Blender | Art and animation | Difficult | Needs download | Free |
| Tinkercad | Education for kids | Medium | Web based | Free |
| Fusion360 | Professional CAD | Difficult | Needs download | Free for hobbyists |
| Solids | 3D Printing | Easy | Web based | Free |
So what’s the best 3D model program for 3D printing?
Honestly, there isn’t one universal answer. The best 3D model program depends entirely on what you’re trying to build.
- If you’re designing complex mechanisms, Fusion 360 is hard to beat.
- If you’re just a hobbyist printing practical things at home, a simpler, faster tool like Solids often makes more sense.
I use them both depending on the complexity of the project. They are both free and do make an awesome pair for all 3D printing needs.
However, if you can shell some money, you should swap Fusion 360 for Shapr3D for a much better user experience.