Best LightWave 3D Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 apps from 3D modeling software ranked against LightWave 3D on the same published basis.
- 1LightWave 3D vs SketchUp
- 2LightWave 3D vs Onshape
- 3LightWave 3D vs Spline
- 4LightWave 3D vs Meshy
- 5LightWave 3D vs uMake
- 6LightWave 3D vs Creo
- 7LightWave 3D vs Houdini
- 8LightWave 3D vs Blender
- 9LightWave 3D vs SimplerCAD
- 10LightWave 3D vs Shapr3D
- 11LightWave 3D vs Part3D
- 12LightWave 3D vs Blockbench
- 13LightWave 3D vs Rhino 3D
- 14LightWave 3D vs ZBrush
- 15LightWave 3D vs Bforartists
- 16LightWave 3D vs Nomad Sculpt
- 17LightWave 3D vs Tinkercad
- 18LightWave 3D vs SelfCAD
- 19LightWave 3D vs Leopoly
- 20LightWave 3D vs form·Z
LightWave 3D alternatives compared
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SketchUp | 9.7 | Free plan | $0.90/mo | iOS, Web, Windows |
| 2 | Onshape | 9.6 | Free plan | $125/mo | Android, iOS, Web |
| 3 | Spline | 9.3 | Free plan | $15/mo | Android, Web |
| 4 | Meshy | 9.2 | Free plan | $20/mo | Android, API, iOS, Web |
| 5 | uMake | 9.0 | Free plan | $9.99/mo | iOS, Mac |
| 6 | Creo | 8.6 | No | — | Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android |
| 7 | Houdini | 8.3 | Free plan | $7.92/mo | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 8 | Blender | 8.2 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 9 | SimplerCAD | 8.2 | Free plan | Free | Web, Android |
| 10 | Shapr3D | 8.0 | Free plan | $24.92/mo | Mac, Windows |
| 11 | Part3D | 8.0 | Free plan | $3.33/mo | iOS, Mac |
| 12 | Blockbench | 8.0 | Free plan | Free | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| 13 | Rhino 3D | 7.9 | Free plan | $95/mo | Windows, Mac |
| 14 | ZBrush | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Windows, Mac |
| 15 | Bforartists | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 16 | Nomad Sculpt | 7.9 | No | — | Android, iOS, Mac, Windows |
| 17 | Tinkercad | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Web, iOS |
| 18 | SelfCAD | 7.8 | Free plan | $11.67/mo | Web, Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 19 | Leopoly | 7.8 | No | — | Web, iOS, Android |
| 20 | form·Z | 7.6 | Free plan | $18.25/mo | Windows, Mac |
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Questions about LightWave 3D alternatives
What is the best alternative to LightWave 3D?
SketchUp, number 1 in 3D modeling software with a score of 9.7 out of 10. The others here: Onshape, Spline, Meshy and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to LightWave 3D?
SketchUp is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 17 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Is there an open-source alternative to LightWave 3D?
Yes: Blender.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation.