Best Sites for 3D Models

STLRepo indexes models from many popular 3D model websites including Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory, Cults, and Printables. Here are some of the best sources for finding quality 3D printable files.

Popular Model Repositories

Thingiverse

Thingiverse has the largest collection of free 3D models on the internet. It's been around since 2008 and is a good starting platform for most makers and creators.

The site is community driven, meaning that anyone can upload their designs, including you. You'll find millions of models covering every category imaginable, from practical household items to artistic sculptures. It's a great beginner's choice because there's a wide variety and everything available on Thingiverse is free to download. No paid models here.

It needs to be mentioned that the quality of models varies greatly. With millions of uploads, some models are great, while others might need work or won't print well depending on your printer. Always look at the thumbnails, printer settings, and comments to see if the model you're considering will be a good fit for your 3D printer.

MyMiniFactory

MyMiniFactory focuses mostly on curated collections of high quality models. Unlike Thingiverse, every model is tested before it goes live on the site. This means you're less likely to download something that won't print on your 3D printer.

There is a mix of free and premium content on this model site. Free models are solid, and premium designs from professional creators are available through their subscription service. All models are tested and printable, which saves you time and filament in the long run.

MyMiniFactory has strong community support with active forums, detailed project pages, and creator profiles. It's especially popular for miniatures and tabletop gaming.

Cults

Cults offers a mix of free and paid models with high quality designs. Many professional designers sell their models here, so you'll find unique models you won't see on other free platforms such as Thingiverse. We found that most popular or well-known models will require you to pay in order to download from this model site.

The active designer community means there's always new content being added. Models range from simple functional prints to complex artistic pieces. Free models are usually quite good, and paid models typically range from a few dollars to around $30 USD.

Cults runs regular sales and promotions on paid models and you can often get premium designs at discounted prices. Even if you stick to the free section, the quality is consistently high.

Printables

Printables is a growing platform with a modern interface that makes browsing and searching easy. Formerly known as PrusaPrinters, the site was created by Prusa Research back in 2021, but models will work with any 3D printer brand. Make sure you check the thumbnails, use their 3D model viewer, and read the comments to double check.

All models are free with optional tips you can leave for creators if you want to show your support for their work. The site has strong community features including contests, challenges, and detailed project pages similar to Makerworld. Creators often include multiple thumbnails, print settings, and easy to follow instructions. Their 3D model viewer is useful before downloading model files.

Regular contests and challenges mean you'll find lots of seasonal and themed content throughout the year.

Specialized Sites

For Functional Parts

If you're looking for mechanical parts or engineering components, these sites specialize in technical designs:

GrabCAD focuses on engineering and mechanical parts. It's popular with engineers and professionals who need functional components, brackets, enclosures, and parametric designs.

YouMagine specializes in technical and functional designs. Created by Ultimaker, the site has a good selection of practical prints and open-source hardware projects.

For Art and Decoration

For artistic models, sculptures, and decorative pieces, these platforms offer high quality options:

Sketchfab offers 3D models with interactive previews, letting you rotate and examine models before downloading. It's a mix of free and paid content with an emphasis on visual quality.

Tips for Finding Models

When searching, it is important to use specific keywords. Instead of using keywords such as "box," try "jewelry box" or "tool box." The more specific your search, the better your results will be. Include printer model names if you're looking for specific upgrades or accessories.

Check the model ratings and reviews on the model site. They can tell you a lot about the model upfront. Most sites let users rate models and leave comments for models whether positive or negative. High ratings and positive reviews usually mean the model prints well and you won't have common issues printing them. Look out for comments about print difficulty, common issues, or fixes that might be specific to your 3D printer.

Look at print photos from other users to see real results. The thumbnail might look great, but actual print photos show you what to expect. If multiple users have posted successful prints in the comments, that's a good sign the model works well.

Read descriptions for print settings. Good creators include recommended layer height, infill percentage, support requirements, and material suggestions. This information saves you time and helps avoid failed prints because of missing simple settings such as using supports.

How STLRepo Helps

STLRepo searches across all these sites, making it easy to find models from multiple sources in one place. Instead of visiting Thingiverse, then Printables, then MyMiniFactory separately, you search once and see results from everywhere.

When you click on a model in STLRepo, you're taken directly to the creator's page on the model site to download it. We don't host the files ourselves, we just help you find them faster across dozens of platforms.