Sketchfab
sketchfab.com
What it is
Sketchfab is a platform for publishing and finding 3D content through an interactive viewer. The viewer can be embedded on websites, allowing 3D and VR viewing without leaving the host site. Its built-in editor adjusts orientation, materials, lighting, camera parameters, and post-processing filters. Upload formats include OBJ, FBX, Blender, STL, and glTF, and exporter plugins are available for Blender, Maya, SketchUp, Unity, and ZBrush. APIs support model uploads, data access, downloads, and viewer control or embedding. The Download API provides glTF, GLB, and USDZ, not source formats such as FBX and OBJ; owners control whether their models are downloadable. Basic is free and allows model files up to 50MB. Pro costs $15 a month billed yearly, with a 200MB model limit and private uploads. Premium costs $79 a month billed yearly, with a 500MB limit and advanced embed customization. Enterprise pricing is by quote.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Sketchfab is a web platform for publishing, finding, editing, buying, selling, sharing and embedding interactive 3D content.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Purpose
- Sketchfab lets people publish and find 3D content online using an interactive 3D viewer.Read 2 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Audience
- The company describes its community as including artists, designers, architects, hobbyists, engineers, brands, museums, game studios, and schools.Read 2 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Integrations
- Sketchfab lists exporter integrations for tools and ecosystems including Blender, Maya, Photoshop, Unity, Unreal Engine, SketchUp, Minecraft and 3D scanners.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Mobile apps
- Sketchfab announced that its official iOS and Android apps were removed and recommended using the web browser instead.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Privacy
- The privacy policy describes GDPR-related rights for eligible people in the EEA, UK, and Switzerland and says EU data transfers use safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses.Read 2 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Support
- Sketchfab directs users to contact Support and offers Enterprise plans for organizations with global scale, security, and support needs.Read 2 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Founded
- 2012Read 28 Sep 2026 · sketchfab.com
- 3D editor
- The built-in editor supports orientation, materials, lighting, camera settings, animation, audio, annotations and post-processing filters.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Company facts
- Sketchfab says it began in Paris in early 2012 and was founded by Alban Denoyel, Cédric Pinson and Pierre-Antoine Passet.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Company headquarters and size
- LinkedIn lists New York headquarters, a Paris office and company size of 11–50 employees.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Data API
- Data API v3 provides REST access to upload models, edit settings, manage collections, search and read or write other Sketchfab data.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Developer APIs
- The developer portal provides OAuth2 Login, Data API, Download API, Viewer API and oEmbed interfaces.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Documentation depth
- Official documentation includes API navigation, initialization examples, function references, authentication guidance, integration guidelines and code examples in Java, JavaScript, PHP, Python, Ruby and Swift.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Download API
- The Download API returns glTF, GLB and USDZ archives, requires authenticated end users by default and does not expose source formats such as FBX or OBJ.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Download control
- Sketchfab says models are not available for download unless the owner allows it.Read 2 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Download limit
- The Download API provides downloadable models in glTF, GLB, and USDZ formats, not source formats such as FBX and OBJ.Read 2 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Editor
- The built-in 3D editor lets users adjust orientation, materials, lighting, camera parameters, and post-processing filters.Read 2 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Embedding
- Models can be embedded on websites, forums, social media and other iframe-supporting services.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Hosting model
- Sketchfab describes itself as cloud hosting and viewing technology for 3D assets rather than a desktop 3D creation application.Read 14 Oct 2026 · static.sketchfab.com
- Legal entity
- The terms identify Sketchfab, Inc. as a Delaware corporation operating the service.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Licence
- The Sketchfab platform and viewer are proprietary; user models retain creator ownership and may carry separate Creative Commons or commercial licences.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Limit: Capterra organization and pricing
- Capterra reviewers ask for better file organization and integrated configurator tools, and some consider the pricing high or want trials for paid plans.Read 14 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
- Limit: G2 performance and library
- G2 reviewers mention slow loading or rendering and say some of the model library is low quality or not useful.Read 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Limit: Trustpilot account access and moderation
- Trustpilot reviewers report difficulty creating or accessing accounts after Epic sign-in changes, plus complaints about slow loading, poor search, low-quality models, scams and unwanted content.Read 14 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Limit: Trustpilot support and billing
- Trustpilot complaints repeatedly describe unanswered support requests, PayPal or login failures, invoice problems and upload issues.Read 14 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Model formats
- The platform supports uploads in formats including OBJ, FBX, Blender, STL, and glTF.Read 2 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Notable ownership news
- Epic announced Sketchfab joined the Epic Games family on July 21, 2021; ArtStation announced that KitBash acquired Sketchfab from Epic on August 10, 2026.Read 14 Oct 2026 · magazine.artstation.com
- Plan limits
- The plans page says model traffic is generally not limited, but Sketchfab may require an upgrade if an account's traffic exceeds that of 99% of customers.Read 2 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Praise: Capterra usability
- Capterra reviewers repeatedly describe Sketchfab as easy to upload, edit, share and embed, with strong visualization quality and broad format support.Read 14 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
- Praise: G2 viewing and sharing
- G2 reviewers praise the real-time browser viewer, interactive inspection before downloading, easy sharing across devices and ready-made model library.Read 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Praise: Gartner reviewer
- A Gartner-listed reviewer describes the product as easy to set up and deploy, suitable for higher education and other organizations beginning with 3D, and good value for that use case.Read 14 Oct 2026 · gcom.pdo.aws.gartner.com
- Rating on Capterra
- 4.7 out of 5 from 18 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
- Rating on G2
- 4.4 out of 5 from 25 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Rating on Gartner Peer Insights
- 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings for Augmented Reality for Business by Sketchfab.Read 14 Oct 2026 · gartner.com
- Rating on Google Play
- 3.8 out of 5 from 14 reviews for an independent app named Sketchfab 3D Interactive View; the listing states it is not official or affiliated with Sketchfab.Read 14 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
- Rating on Software Advice
- 4.7 out of 5 from 18 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · softwareadvice.com
- Rating on Trustpilot
- 1.5 out of 5 from 34 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
- Scale
- Sketchfab reports more than 8 million models, 25 million registered users, 6 million monthly unique visitors and over 10 billion page views since launch.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Security and data handling
- The plans page says Sketchfab does not store payment-card information and models cannot be downloaded unless the owner permits downloading; its terms mention controller-to-processor Standard Contractual Clauses for some EU data processing.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Supported formats
- Uploads include formats such as BLEND, FBX, glTF, GLB, OBJ, STL, PLY, 3DS, DAE, ABC, IGES and several CAD and point-cloud formats.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Viewer
- Its viewer can be embedded on websites and supports 3D and VR viewing without leaving the embedding site.Read 2 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Viewer API
- The JavaScript Viewer API can control loading, cameras, objects, materials, annotations, animation, lighting, post-processing, screenshots and AR.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- Viewer compatibility
- Its browser viewer works on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android without a plugin.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
- VR and AR
- Models can be viewed in VR and in app-free AR from mobile browsers.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
Plans and prices
Basic Free 10 uploads/month · 50MB maximum model · up to 5 annotations Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
Pro $15 a month billed yearly ($180/year) 50 uploads/month · 200MB maximum model · private uploads · 3D configurator · priority support Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
Premium $79 a month billed yearly ($948/year) 200 uploads/month · 500MB maximum model · unbranded viewer · app-free AR · 10 seats Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
Enterprise Priced on request custom uploads and seats · SSO · analytics · dedicated account management · custom traffic volume Read 14 Oct 2026 · sketchfab.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Embedded viewer supports 3D and VR viewing
- Built-in editor adjusts materials and lighting
- Exporter plugins cover five named tools
- Free Basic plan includes 50MB model files
Limits
- Download API does not provide FBX or OBJ
- Owners decide whether models are downloadable
- Pro and Premium prices are billed yearly
- Enterprise price is available by quote
Who it suits
Sketchfab suits creators and organizations that want to publish 3D content, embed a viewer, or access models through APIs. Its listed community includes artists, designers, architects, hobbyists, engineers, brands, museums, game studios, and schools.
Sketchfab in depth
Read the full write-up
Overview
Sketchfab is a web platform for publishing and discovering 3D models, built around an interactive viewer. It is best suited to creators and organizations that need to present models online or add 3D viewing to a website. Its editing and embedding tools are useful, but per-model size caps and owner-controlled downloads can constrain asset distribution.
Key features
Viewing and presentation
The viewer can be embedded in a website and supports 3D and VR viewing without taking visitors away from the host page. That makes Sketchfab a strong fit for portfolios and other presentations where viewers should be able to inspect a model in context. Its built-in editor adjusts orientation, materials, lighting, camera parameters, and post-processing filters, giving publishers control over how a model appears without making the viewer itself a substitute for a full production workflow.
Uploads, integrations, and APIs
Uploads support formats including OBJ, FBX, Blender, STL, and glTF. Exporter plugins for Blender, Maya, SketchUp, Unity, and ZBrush connect common creation tools to the publishing workflow. APIs support uploading models, accessing data, downloading models, and controlling or embedding the viewer, which gives developers ways to integrate Sketchfab into applications and sites.
Upload support does not mean source-format downloads: the Download API provides glTF, GLB, and USDZ, not FBX or OBJ. Models are downloadable only when their owners permit it. That distinction matters for workflows built around retrieving editable source assets; access to the viewer or API does not guarantee access to a model file.
Licensing and account limits
Commercial licensing is available, but its scope is custom. Check the terms for an individual asset before using it commercially. Model traffic is generally not limited, though Sketchfab may require an upgrade if an account’s traffic exceeds that of 99% of customers. This leaves room for typical publishing needs, but unusually popular models could prompt a plan change.
Pricing
Sketchfab uses a freemium model. Basic costs nothing and limits each model to 50MB. It is a practical starting point for smaller uploads, but the cap can rule it out for larger assets.
Pro costs $15 a month, billed per month billed yearly; the yearly plan is $180. It raises the per-model maximum to 200MB and adds private uploads, making it a better fit for creators who need larger files or want to keep uploads private. Premium costs $79 a month, billed per month billed yearly; the yearly plan is $948. Its 500MB per-model maximum and advanced embed customization are aimed at publishers with larger models and more control needs for embedded presentations.
Enterprise has custom pricing and is intended for organizations with global scale, security, and support needs. Sketchfab directs users to Support and offers Enterprise plans for those requirements. Choose a plan based on file size and privacy or embedding needs rather than assuming that larger traffic alone is always covered indefinitely.
Platforms
Sketchfab supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, and web, and provides API access. The platform range suits both browser-based publishing and workflows that involve desktop or mobile environments.
Who it's for
Sketchfab can serve artists, designers, architects, hobbyists, engineers, brands, museums, game studios, and schools. It is particularly well matched to creators who want to publish and present 3D work, and to teams embedding interactive models in web experiences. It is less suitable when a workflow depends on guaranteed downloads of source formats or files larger than the chosen plan allows.
Pros and cons
Pros: An embeddable viewer supports 3D and VR viewing on the host site, keeping the model in the presentation context.
Pros: The built-in editor adjusts several presentation attributes, while plugins and APIs support links to creation tools and custom publishing flows.
Pros: Paid plans raise the model-size cap and add private uploads or advanced embed customization, addressing specific publishing needs.
Cons: Basic caps each model at 50MB, so larger uploads require a paid plan.
Cons: Download API formats are glTF, GLB, and USDZ rather than FBX or OBJ, and owners control whether models can be downloaded at all.
Cons: Commercial license scope is custom, so commercial use requires checking the terms for the asset in question.
Alternatives
For a broader browse across relevant options, see 3D Asset Libraries and 3D Model Viewer Software.
Blendkit is a better fit if the priority is a large catalog of models and materials with private storage: its free plan includes 23,300 models, 40,938 materials, and 200 MiB of private storage. Choose ambientCG when free downloadable assets under CC0 matter more than Sketchfab’s publishing and embedded-viewer tools. Textures.com may suit buyers seeking a credit-based asset service: its Starter plan costs $13 a month and includes 1,000 credits per month, while its free account requires registration to download a sample selection. CGAxis is another credit-based option, with an Essential plan at $16 a month and 30 download credits per month.
Poliigon is worth considering for PBR textures, models, and HDRIs through its Polydex Core plan, which is free forever and includes automatic identification and drag-and-drop import. KitBash3D offers a different route for asset libraries, including free access to 100+ assets through its Cargo desktop app. Daz 3D is an alternative with a free Daz Studio base plan, starter content, monthly legacy content, and cross-platform exporters. Unity Version Control is a freemium alternative with a free tier and unlimited cloud seats, though its focus is version control rather than model publishing.
Verdict
Choose Sketchfab if you need to publish 3D models with an editable presentation, an embeddable 3D and VR viewer, and API access. Its strongest case is keeping interactive models inside web experiences while supporting a range of formats and production tools. Look elsewhere if you need assured access to downloadable source formats, larger files on the free plan, or a clearly scoped commercial license.
Verdict
Sketchfab combines model publishing, editing, embedding, and API access. Consider the model-size limits and download permissions if distributing or retrieving assets matters to your workflow.
Where Specifiction places it
- 3D Model Marketplaces#2 of 298.7
- 3D Asset Libraries#4 of 318.8
- 3D Model Viewer Software#4 of 298.7
