F3D
f3d.app
What it is
F3D is free software for viewing 3D data, browsing models, and generating renderings. It supports lighting and materials for realistic rendering, animations with GPU-accelerated skinning for character rigs, and visualization tasks such as CAD, Gaussian splatting, volume rendering, and scientific work. Its supported formats include VTK, STL, DICOM, STEP, OBJ, glTF, FBX, USD, IFC, and Gaussian splat files, among many others. Packages are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, and a browser viewer can open or accept dropped files and provides rendering and display controls. Developers can use a Python package, a beta JavaScript/WebAssembly package, or the libf3d C++ library with Python and Java bindings. F3D is distributed under the BSD 3-Clause License. Some capabilities have specific limits: FBX PBR materials and Alembic materials are unsupported, while Gaussian splatting requires OpenGL 4.3, which macOS does not support. Documentation also says volume rendering and HDRI need a decent GPU. Plugins can vary by package.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- F3D is software for viewing 3D data, generating high quality renderings, and browsing 3D models.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- License
- F3D is distributed under the BSD 3-Clause License, which permits redistribution and use in source and binary forms with or without modification subject to its conditions.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- Android
- The download page provides Android packages for ARM and x86 architectures.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- Animations
- F3D supports animations and GPU accelerated skinning for character rigs.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- Dependencies and plugins
- F3D uses libraries including VTK, Open CASCADE, Assimp, Alembic, Draco, OpenUSD, OpenVDB, PDAL, and OSPRay; available plugins can vary by package.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- Desktop platforms
- The download page provides F3D packages for Windows, macOS, and Linux.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- Developer integrations
- F3D offers a Python package, a beta JavaScript/WebAssembly web package, and the libf3d C++ library with Python and Java bindings.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- Format limitations
- The documentation notes that FBX PBR materials are unsupported, Alembic does not support materials, and Gaussian splatting requires OpenGL 4.3, which macOS does not support.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- Formats
- F3D supports formats including VTK, STL, DICOM, STEP, OBJ, GLTF, FBX, USD, IFC, and Gaussian splat files.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- macOS signing
- F3D's macOS binary package is not signed, and the documentation gives a command to remove the quarantine attribute if macOS blocks it.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- Performance requirement
- The documentation says volume rendering and HDRI support require a decent GPU.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- Rendering
- F3D supports realistic rendering with lighting and materials.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- Visualization
- F3D features CAD viewing, Gaussian splatting, volume rendering, and scientific visualization.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- Web viewer
- F3D provides a browser based viewer that lets users open or drag and drop a file and adjust rendering and display settings.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
- Windows signing
- F3D is not yet signed by Microsoft, so Windows may display a security warning for the portable binary release.Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free software under the BSD 3-Clause License.
- Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and web.
- Supports a broad range of 3D formats.
- Includes CAD and scientific visualization.
- Offers Python and C++ developer options.
Limits
- FBX PBR materials are unsupported.
- Alembic materials are unsupported.
- Gaussian splatting is unavailable on macOS.
- Volume rendering and HDRI need a decent GPU.
Who it suits
F3D suits people who need to inspect 3D models or scientific and CAD data across desktop, Android, and browser options. Developers can also use its packages and library bindings to integrate 3D viewing.
Verdict
F3D covers a wide mix of 3D viewing and visualization needs, with multiple platform options and developer interfaces. Review its format caveats and GPU requirements against the particular workflow you need.
Where Specifiction places it
- 3D Model Viewer Software#8 of 298.1