Blender review
Free, open-source 3D for modeling, animation and rendering
- Blender Foundation
- Free
- Mac, Windows, Linux
Does it deserve #2?
Is Blender worth it?
Yes. Blender scores 9.1/10 and ranks #2 in Design & Creativity. It's best for 3D artists, indie game makers and animators who want pro tools for free. Skip it if you want a simple 3D tool you can learn in an afternoon. Price: Free forever for any purpose, including commercial work.
The verdict
Blender is a complete 3D studio that costs nothing. Model, sculpt, animate, simulate, render with Cycles or real-time EEVEE, draw 2D animation with Grease Pencil and even edit video, all in one app. It's open source, needs no account and works offline, and version 5.2 added node-based cloth and hair physics. Be ready for a steep learning curve, and on Mac it needs Apple silicon.
- Cycles and EEVEE renderers
- Geometry Nodes
- Node-based cloth and hair physics
- Grease Pencil 2D animation
- Built-in video editor
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Jul 2026Blender 5.2 LTS adds node-based cloth and hair physics and audio-reactive Geometry Nodes
- Mar 2026Blender 5.1 speeds up animation playback and Cycles GPU rendering
- Nov 2025Blender 5.0 brought ACES and HDR color plus a Video Sequencer overhaul
Privacy 9.6/10
No account or registration needed. Blender doesn't go online by default: Allow Online Access stays off until you turn it on, and an offline mode locks it off.
What we like
- Free and open source, even for commercial work
- No account, and it works fully offline
- One app covers modeling through final render
What could be better
- Steep learning curve with a dense interface
- Mac version needs Apple silicon
- No iPad or Android tablet version yet
3D artists, indie game makers and animators who want pro tools for free
you want a simple 3D tool you can learn in an afternoon
Questions about Blender
Is Blender worth it in 2026?
Yes. Blender scores 9.1/10 and ranks #2 in Design & Creativity. It's best for 3D artists, indie game makers and animators who want pro tools for free. Skip it if you want a simple 3D tool you can learn in an afternoon. Price: Free forever for any purpose, including commercial work.
Is Blender really free?
Yes. Blender is free and open source under the GNU GPL, and you can use it for any purpose, including commercial work.
Does Blender run on iPad?
Not yet. A tablet port was announced in 2025 but was reported on hold in March 2026, so Blender runs on Windows, Linux and Apple silicon Macs.
Does Blender need an internet connection?
No. Blender works offline, and its online features stay off unless you allow online access in Preferences.
What are the best alternatives to Blender?
The closest alternatives are Krita, Affinity and Procreate. See all of them ranked on our Blender alternatives page.
Where does Blender rank?
Blender ranks #2 of 10 in our Design & Creativity ranking, with an overall score of 9.1 out of 10.