Forger vs SelfCAD
Forger
maxon.netSelfCAD
selfcad.comSide by side
| Figure | Forger | SelfCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $11.67/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 5 |
| Spec score · 3D modeling software | 7.8 (#96) | 9.0 (#11) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| 3D print export | Yes | Yes |
| Render engine | built-in | both |
| Sculpting tools | Its sculpting tools include Standard, Clay, Smooth, Move, Pull, Flatten, Polish, Scrape, Planar, Inflate, Crease, Stamp, and Mask brushes. | Yes |
Plans
SelfCAD
- FreeFree
- SelfCAD Pro Monthly$14.99 a month
- SelfCAD Pro Yearly$139.99 a year
- SelfCAD Perpetual License$599, paid once
- 10-day free trialFree
In their own words
Forger
Forger is an iOS application for digital 3D sculpting and texture painting. Its mesh workflow includes multiresolution sculpting, volume-based quad-dominant remeshing, auto-retopology, sculpt layers, masks, and vertex colors. Apple Pencil input supports pressure sensitivity and configurable styles. Forger imports OBJ, Alembic, and C4D files, and exports OBJ, STL, USD, and C4D files; exporting a scene to Cinema 4D requires a subscription. The free version has no time limit, but saves only three scenes and requires a subscription for scene export. Free users must register with Maxon after a 14-day grace period. Forger entered limited maintenance mode on September 10, 2025, after which Maxon said there would be no further updates, bug fixes, or changes. Support was available until that date, or through an existing subscription term if later. Subscription users could re-download it by contacting support.
SelfCAD
SelfCAD is a 3D modeling application that covers work from sketching and sculpting through rendering and 3D printing. It runs in a browser without downloads and also has a PC version for offline project work and storage; online and offline projects synchronize. Listed platforms are web, Windows, macOS and Linux. Tools include sculpting, animation, image-to-3D conversion, shape generators and model changes such as extrusion, reshaping and simplification. Designs can be rendered and prepared for printing with a built-in slicer compatible with most FDM 3D printers. The software supports industry-standard 3D formats and includes interactive tutorials, lessons, videos and starter courses. A limited free plan offers basic modeling. Pro plans add full modeling tools, rendering, animation and image-to-3D. A 10-day trial gives access to all products, requires no credit card and can be canceled anytime. Listed prices include $14.99 a month, $139.99 a year and $599, paid once for a perpetual license.