- Home
- 3D Rigging Software
- Rigify
Rigify
What it is
Rigify is a free Blender add-on for automatic character rigging. It builds an armature by combining rig components around a metarig template. You position the metarig bones to match a character, then generate the rig from Blender’s Armature properties. Listed metarigs include Basic Human, Basic Quadruped, Human, Cat, Wolf, Horse, and Shark. Bundled rig types address spines, limbs, fingers, faces, and skin rigs. Feature set packages installed through the add-on settings can provide custom rig classes. During generation, Rigify duplicates the metarig, finds the required rig types, creates their instances, and runs their generation methods. The generated rig interface can show or hide bone collections, change custom properties, and switch between inverse kinematics and forward kinematics. A user-provided Python text block can apply repeatable customizations after generation. Rigify runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, requires Blender, and assumes one Blender unit equals one meter. It is included with Blender at no additional cost.
For and against
For
- Free Blender add-on
- Multiple human and animal metarigs
- Supports custom rig classes
- IK and FK switching
- Repeatable Python customizations
Against
- Requires Blender
- Assumes one unit equals one meter
- Removing metarig can hinder updates
The verdict
Rigify provides a structured way to create Blender character rigs from templates and reusable components. Keep the metarig available so later updates or Blender changes remain manageable.
Who it suits
Rigify suits Blender users who need automatic character armatures and configurable animation controls. It also fits users who want scripting or custom rig classes.
Plans and prices
Free
Bundled Blender add-on · no paid tiers stated
Read 15 Oct 2026 · docs.blender.org
Rigify
Included as a Blender add-on; requires Blender
Read 4 Oct 2026 · developer.blender.org
On the record
- Animation controls
- The generated rig UI can switch visible bone collections, change custom properties, and convert between IK and FK.docs.blender.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Bone collections
- Generated rigs can hide and show bone collections through their rig controls.docs.blender.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Built-in metarigs
- The manual lists Basic Human, Basic Quadruped, Human, Cat, Wolf, Horse and Shark metarigs.docs.blender.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Bundling
- Rigify is bundled with Blender rather than distributed as a separate commercial application.docs.blender.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Compatibility limitation
- The manual advises keeping the metarig, because removing it or substantially modifying the generated rig can prevent later feature updates or adaptation to breaking Blender changes.docs.blender.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Customization
- Rigify can run a user-provided Python text block after generation to apply customizations that remain repeatable after regeneration.docs.blender.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Custom rig classes
- Developers can implement custom Rig classes in feature-set packages and register parameters and UI callbacks.developer.blender.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Custom rigs
- Users can add custom rig classes through feature set packages installed in the add-on settings.developer.blender.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- Official documentation covers user basics, bone-positioning guides, generated features, customization, feature sets and developer APIs.docs.blender.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Face support
- The manual documents a modular face system and a legacy face-rig upgrade operation.docs.blender.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Feature sets
- Third-party feature sets can add new metarigs and rig types and are installed from ZIP files through Rigify settings.docs.blender.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Generated controls
- Generated rigs provide control, mechanism and deformation bones and organize them with ORG, MCH and DEF naming conventions.developer.blender.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Generated UI
- Each generated rig receives a Python script that creates rig-specific panels, operators and custom-property controls.developer.blender.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Generator API
- The Generator class duplicates metarigs, instantiates rigs, creates root controls and executes generation stages.developer.blender.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- IK and FK
- The generated rig includes controls for switching between IK and FK control types.docs.blender.org · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent repository popularity
- That archived repository page shows 18 stars and 34 forks.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Independent repository status
- The public cessen/rigify repository is archived and read-only as of April 10, 2020.github.com · read 15 Oct 2026
- Library linking
- Rigify documentation includes a library-linking workflow for generated rigs.docs.blender.org · read 15 Oct 2026
