ambientCG vs Poly Haven

ambientCG is a free library of downloadable assets for 3D art, architectural visualization, game development, VFX, and related work. Its collection includes PBR materials, HDRIs, Substance graphs, atlases, decals, photo textures, models, and terrain; the homepage lists 2,895 assets. Downloads are available in JPG and PNG. The assets use the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal license, permitting copying, changes, distribution, and commercial use without permission, and attribution is not required. You can browse and download on the website or use the API to search and download assets with code; its documentation lists v1, v2, and v3 endpoints. The creator cautions that the API may not be stable or reliable enough for enterprise applications. Documentation also covers use with Blender's Asset Browser. Patreon supporters may receive early access and easier batch downloads, and the homepage mentions ad-free browsing. Access to downloadable assets is free at free.

Poly Haven is a curated public library of HDRIs, textures, and 3D models for visual effects artists and game designers. Its assets use a CC0 license and can be used commercially. The library describes its HDRIs as 16k+ resolution and unclipped, and its photoscanned seamless PBR textures as at least 8k. The public collection costs nothing, with no paywall or signup required. A Blender add-on brings assets into the software's asset browser and provides organized catalogs, resolution switching, automatic texture scaling, and one-click displacement setup. Poly Haven also offers an API whose default endpoints are free for personal, academic, and commercial use without login or an API key. Live API users must provide clear attribution and a unique User-Agent header. The organization says its assets are made by humans, avoiding generative AI and overreliance on procedural methods. Optional paid offerings include Vault access for $3 a month, a Blender add-on via Patreon for $5 a month, or an identical add-on via Superhive for $49, paid once.