F3D
What it is
F3D is free software for viewing 3D data, browsing models and generating renderings. Its rendering supports lighting and materials, and it can display animations with GPU-accelerated skinning for character rigs. Visualization options include CAD, Gaussian splatting, volume rendering and scientific data. Supported formats include VTK, STL, DICOM, STEP, OBJ, glTF, FBX, USD, IFC and Gaussian splat files, among many others. F3D packages are provided for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android; a browser viewer opens selected or dropped files and offers rendering and display controls. Developers can use a Python package, a beta JavaScript/WebAssembly package, or the libf3d C++ library with Python and Java bindings. F3D is distributed under the BSD 3-Clause License. Some workflows have documented limits: FBX PBR materials and Alembic materials are unsupported, and Gaussian splatting requires OpenGL 4.3, which macOS does not support. The documentation also says volume rendering and HDRI support require a decent GPU. Available plugins can vary by package.
For and against
For
- Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and web.
- Supports a broad range of 3D and scientific formats.
- Includes animation display with GPU-accelerated skinning.
- Offers Python, JavaScript/WebAssembly and C++ development options.
- Free under the BSD 3-Clause License.
Against
- FBX PBR materials are unsupported.
- Alembic materials are unsupported.
- Gaussian splatting is unavailable on macOS.
- Volume rendering and HDRI require a decent GPU.
The verdict
F3D covers model viewing, rendering and scientific visualization across several platforms, with options for developers as well. Check its documented format and GPU requirements against the files and workflows you need.
Who it suits
F3D suits people who need to inspect 3D models, CAD data or scientific visualizations across desktop, Android and browser environments. Developers can also use its listed language packages and library bindings.
Plans and prices
F3D
Free and open source software · BSD 3-Clause License
Read 8 Oct 2026 · f3d.app
On the record
- Android
- The download page provides Android packages for ARM and x86 architectures.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Animations
- F3D supports animations and GPU accelerated skinning for character rigs.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Dependencies and plugins
- F3D uses libraries including VTK, Open CASCADE, Assimp, Alembic, Draco, OpenUSD, OpenVDB, PDAL, and OSPRay; available plugins can vary by package.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Desktop platforms
- The download page provides F3D packages for Windows, macOS, and Linux.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Developer integrations
- F3D offers a Python package, a beta JavaScript/WebAssembly web package, and the libf3d C++ library with Python and Java bindings.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Format limitations
- The documentation notes that FBX PBR materials are unsupported, Alembic does not support materials, and Gaussian splatting requires OpenGL 4.3, which macOS does not support.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Formats
- F3D supports formats including VTK, STL, DICOM, STEP, OBJ, GLTF, FBX, USD, IFC, and Gaussian splat files.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- License
- F3D is distributed under the BSD 3-Clause License, which permits redistribution and use in source and binary forms with or without modification subject to its conditions.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- macOS signing
- F3D's macOS binary package is not signed, and the documentation gives a command to remove the quarantine attribute if macOS blocks it.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Performance requirement
- The documentation says volume rendering and HDRI support require a decent GPU.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- F3D is software for viewing 3D data, generating high quality renderings, and browsing 3D models.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Rendering
- F3D supports realistic rendering with lighting and materials.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Visualization
- F3D features CAD viewing, Gaussian splatting, volume rendering, and scientific visualization.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Web viewer
- F3D provides a browser based viewer that lets users open or drag and drop a file and adjust rendering and display settings.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
- Windows signing
- F3D is not yet signed by Microsoft, so Windows may display a security warning for the portable binary release.f3d.app · read 8 Oct 2026
