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Blender VS OpenSCAD

Compare Blender VS OpenSCAD and see what are their differences

Blender logo Blender

Blender is the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D creation.

OpenSCAD logo OpenSCAD

OpenSCAD is a software for creating solid 3D CAD objects.
  • Blender Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-13
  • OpenSCAD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-19

We recommend LibHunt OpenSCAD for discovery and comparisons of trending OpenSCAD projects.

Blender features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Blender is completely free to use, which makes it accessible for anyone. Its open-source nature allows for extensive customization and community-driven development.
  • Comprehensive Toolset
    Blender offers a full suite of tools for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, compositing, video editing, and more, making it a versatile tool for various creative projects.
  • Active Community
    Blender has a large, very active community that supports beginners and veterans alike through forums, tutorials, and a plethora of shared resources.
  • Cross-Platform
    Blender runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring that it can be used by people on different operating systems without any problem.
  • Regular Updates
    The Blender Foundation frequently releases updates and new versions, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and improvements.

Possible disadvantages of Blender

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Blender can be difficult to learn, especially for beginners who are not familiar with 3D modeling and animation software.
  • Complex User Interface
    The user interface can feel overwhelming due to the wide range of available features and tools, making it less intuitive compared to some other 3D software.
  • Performance Issues
    Blender may struggle with performance issues when handling very complex scenes or high-poly models, especially on less powerful hardware.
  • Limited Industry Adoption
    While Blender is growing in popularity, it is still not as widely adopted in certain industries like film and AAA game development, where proprietary software like Maya and 3ds Max are more commonly used.
  • Lack of Official Support
    Given its open-source nature, Blender does not have the same level of official technical support that paid software solutions offer, relying instead on community support.

OpenSCAD features and specs

  • Parametric Design
    OpenSCAD allows for parametric design, meaning that models can be easily adjusted and customized by changing parameters. This makes it highly adaptable for a wide range of applications.
  • Script-based Modeling
    Using a scripting language for modeling allows for precise control and fine-tuning of designs. Users can write scripts to generate complex geometries that may be difficult to achieve through traditional CAD interfaces.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source software, OpenSCAD is freely available to download, use, and modify. This encourages a community-based approach to development and support.
  • Cross-Platform
    OpenSCAD is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, enabling a wider range of users to access and use the software.
  • No GUI Overhead
    Because OpenSCAD relies on text-based scripting instead of a graphical user interface, it is lightweight and less resource-intensive compared to some other CAD programs.

Possible disadvantages of OpenSCAD

  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Users need to learn the OpenSCAD scripting language, which can be a barrier for those unfamiliar with coding or those coming from traditional CAD software background.
  • Limited GUI
    Unlike other CAD programs that offer extensive graphical tools for creating and modifying models, OpenSCAD has a minimal GUI. This can make it less intuitive for users who prefer visual interaction.
  • Rendering Speed
    Complex models can take a significant amount of time to render, which could be a drawback for users who need quick iterations and immediate visual feedback.
  • Limited Interactivity
    The interactivity in OpenSCAD is relatively limited. Users need to compile or preview their designs frequently to see changes, which can slow down the design process.
  • Fewer Features Compared to Professional CAD Software
    OpenSCAD lacks some advanced features and tools that are found in professional CAD software, limiting its use for certain complex design projects.

Blender videos

blender

More videos:

  • Review - blender vs zbrush
  • Review - blender vs substance painter

OpenSCAD videos

Tutorial: Using OpenSCAD To Make Your Wife Happy

More videos:

  • Tutorial - OpenSCAD Tutorial - Beginners Quickstart

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Blender and OpenSCAD)
3D
87 87%
13% 13
3D Modeling
89 89%
11% 11
Architecture
0 0%
100% 100
Game Development
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Blender and OpenSCAD. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Blender and OpenSCAD

Blender Reviews

Top 13 Picks for Maxon Cinema 4D Alternatives in 2024
Blender is a robust, free, and open-source 3D computer graphics software toolset. Engineered by Dutch animation studio NeoGeo, its core development was helmed by Ton Roosendaal, and it’s supported on various platforms including Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD, and Haiku.
Source: aircada.com
10 Best Cinema 4D Alternatives for 3D Animation in 2024
Blender is a free software program suite that allows you to create good 3-D content. It has enough tools for each person interested in 3-D modelling, 3-D Animation, visual results, motion graphics, and even video enhancement. Blender is considered a good alternative to Cinema 4D.
10 Best Blender Alternatives: An Overview
While Blender is a fantastic tool with a vast community and resource pool, these 10 Blender Alternatives bring something unique to the table. Depending on your needs, project demands, and preferred workflow, you might find one of these options a more suitable fit. Whether you're after detailed sculpting, architectural visualisation, or intricate simulations, there's a...
Top 10 Best VTuber Maker Software (2023)
Blender is a free, comprehensive, open-source 3D modelling software that is guaranteed to give you a professional-looking avatar. Admittedly Blender does require a great deal of skill and learning. But the level of customisation that Blender offers is exactly what any high-quality 3D avatar needs.
Source: vtuberart.com
10 Best V-Ray Alternative Software for Rendering
Some of the pros of Blender include that it is free to use, it has a built-in game engine, and it supports a wide range of file formats. However, some cons include that it can be difficult to learn and use; there is no official support from Blender Foundation. Overall, Blender is still considered a powerful 3D rendering software.
Source: foyr.com

OpenSCAD Reviews

11 KiCad Alternatives
OpenSCAD is a worldwide 3D CAD modeler that allows skilled programmers and designers to create solid 3D CAD objects in the shortest time feasible. The software works with Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems. This CAD application's distinguishing feature is that it is based on programming that includes 3D modelling, ready-to-use items and designs, and the ability...
9 Free CAD Software to Download
For those who want to work on the specifics, especially engineers, OpenSCAD is your ideal 3D modeling platform. It does not have interactive modeling for you to design your model, but instead relies more on what you defined in the parameters through the script files.

Social recommendations and mentions

Blender might be a bit more popular than OpenSCAD. We know about 137 links to it since March 2021 and only 99 links to OpenSCAD. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Blender mentions (137)

  • Why am getting chinese text when i download blender?
    Update, I just downloaded 3.6 LTS from the blender.org official site, they are asking for donations. This time, the URL stayed. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Why am getting chinese text when i download blender?
    Hold up. When I go to blender.org then add the /thanks to the URL, it goes to that page, then immediately goes to a 404 right after. Interesting.... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Wanting to download blender 3.6 is the site hacked ?
    This is oddly strange its the usual go to for me to download blender updates (i google blender and click the usual blender.org strange..). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Why am getting chinese text when i download blender?
    If this is any other site than blender.org, you're at the wrong place. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Women who run their own businesses, please share some tips/strategies that helped you
    Can't say much, here. But I use this to deliver what my clients need. Before you ask why I can't tell - anonymity through obscurity. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

OpenSCAD mentions (99)

  • Visual Explanations of Mathematics
    There is also Joyce's Java Version of Euclid's Elements: https://mathcs.clarku.edu/~djoyce/java/elements/elements.html and I'm still impressed by the custom Unity tools which Freya Holmér uses for her videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvPPXbo87ds Wish Geogebra was both more capable and widely used: https://www.geogebra.org/ That said, these days if I need to plot out something I just use OpenSCAD:... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Powerful, Open-Source, Programmatic CAD
    Or you can download OpenSCAD. https://openscad.org. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Make a thing
    As part of the task, I needed code-based CAD and I found one, probably the most popular out there - Openscad https://openscad.org/. It’s well known solution and definitely the learning curve is more gentle, but also not trivial, especially for more complex shapes. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • POV-Ray – The Persistence of Vision Raytracer
    If you once enjoyed POV, check out OpenSCAD. It's quite similar in terms of CSG concepts and primitive animation capability, but more useful for getting actual mechanical design work done. https://openscad.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Ask HN: What Underrated Open Source Project Deserves More Recognition?
    There's OpenSCAD, but I don't think it's exactly what you mean https://openscad.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Blender and OpenSCAD, you can also consider the following products

Unity - The multiplatform game creation tools for everyone.

FreeCAD - An open-source parametric 3D modeler

Cinema 4D - Cinema 4D is a 3D modeling, animation, motion graphics and rendering application.

LibreCAD - An open source 2D CAD application for Windows, Apple and Linux.

Autodesk 3DS Max - 3ds Max is software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and visualization. Create stunning game enrivonments, design visualizations, and virtual reality experiences.

BRL-CAD - BRL-CAD: Open Source Solid Modeling