Modly
Free, open-source 3D model generator from images and text, running fully offline on your GPU.
If you have an NVIDIA GPU and want true offline, unlimited 3D generation for free, Modly is the best local choice right now. The node workflows and Agent add serious automation power for repetitive tasks. Just know you'll need 6GB+ VRAM and be willing to tinker—this isn't a polished cloud product.
Verified 1d ago · liveness 69/100 · cite: rightaichoice.com/tools/modly
- Indie game developers who need quick 3D assets from concept art
- 3D printing enthusiasts turning photos into printable STL files
- 3D artists who want a base mesh to refine in Blender or similar
- Privacy-conscious creators who refuse to upload images to cloud services
- Users without an NVIDIA GPU (Apple Silicon supported but limited)
- Projects that need production-ready, high-poly assets without post-processing
- Teams requiring cloud-based sharing or collaborative workflows
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Skip Modly if you don't have an NVIDIA GPU with at least 6GB VRAM, or if you need a turnkey cloud solution with collaborative features and production-ready assets out of the box.
You'll need a powerful NVIDIA GPU (6GB VRAM minimum) to run Modly smoothly, which is a hardware cost not included in the free software.
Modly is completely free and open source, which makes it the cheapest option among AI 3D generation tools. Cloud competitors like Meshy or CSM charge $20–60 per month with credit limits. While Modly requires a capable GPU, the software itself costs nothing, and for users already owning such hardware, it offers unlimited generation with no recurring fees.
In short
Modly — Free, open-source 3D model generator from images and text, running fully offline on your GPU. Best for Indie game developers who need quick 3D assets from concept art, 3D printing enthusiasts turning photos into printable STL files, 3D artists who want a base mesh to refine in Blender or similar. Free to use.
What's new in Modly
Checked yesterdayAcross the latest 4 updates: 4 feature updates.
Modly v0.4.1 Released
Adds While Loop node, For Each iterators, audio process outputs, per-slot inputs, workflow browser, accessibility font sizes, native macOS build, and Jetson guide.
Modly v0.4.0 Released
Introduces full node-based workflow system, Modly Agent, CLI, transform gizmo, Gaussian Splat viewer, workspace asset library, local extension installs, and Apple Silicon support.
Modly v0.3.3 Released
Adds Remesh base workflow node.
Modly v0.3.2 Released
Adds light settings, error copy button, auto-growing text nodes, Hugging Face token setting, /workflow-runs surface, and embedded Python runtime.
What people actually say about Modly — is it worth it?
We ran a structured research pass across product reviews, community discussions, and post-purchase forum threads to surface the patterns vendors won't publish themselves. Below: the recurring strengths, the hidden costs people mention most, and the cohort that consistently regrets adopting this tool.
39 mentions across 5 sources (Hacker News, Product Hunt, Bluesky, GitHub, Lemmy) · researched Jul 6, 2026.
- +Completely free and open source with no credits or subscriptions.
- +Runs entirely offline—nothing leaves your computer.
- +Supports multiple export formats: GLB, OBJ, STL, PLY.
- +Active development with new model support planned.
- +Built-in background removal and 3D preview viewer.
- −NVIDIA GPU mandatory; no AMD or Mac support.
- −Installation often fails due to missing Python dependencies.
- −Windows users report frequent generation errors (HTTP 400).
- −Model quality varies greatly with GPU VRAM limitations.
- −No web or API version—desktop app only.
- • Requires own GPU hardware—no cloud fallback
- • Potential time cost for troubleshooting installation errors
Viability Score
How well maintained and how widely used is Modly? Built from what the vendor actually publishes (docs, changelog, tutorials, integrations, pricing), whether the site is live, and how much real users discuss it. How we calculate this
Last calculated: August 2026
How we score →Key Features
- Generate 3D models from a single image
- Generate 3D models from text prompts
- Full offline operation, no data uploaded
- Export to GLB, OBJ, STL, PLY
- Node-based workflow editor with While Loop and For Each
- Modly Agent for automated pipelines
- CLI for scripting and batch tasks
- Gaussian Splat viewer
- Workspace asset library
- Native macOS support (v0.4.0+)
- One-click extension installs (Hunyuan3D 2, TripoSG, Trellis2)
- Light settings control in generation
- Remesh base workflow node
- Headless operation via /workflow-runs API
About Modly
Modly is a free, open-source desktop application that turns a single photo or text prompt into a textured 3D mesh entirely on your local NVIDIA GPU. It works fully offline—no account, no credits, and no data uploads. You can export your models in GLB, OBJ, STL, and PLY formats for use in game engines, 3D printing, or modeling software. The app is powered by open-source AI models like Hunyuan3D 2, TripoSG, and Trellis2, which you can install via a one-click extension system. The latest v0.4.1 release adds While Loop nodes, a workflow browser, and native macOS support, making it a serious contender for structured, repeatable generation tasks. Modly suits indie game developers, 3D printing enthusiasts, and privacy-conscious creators who want full control over their 3D asset pipeline. The node-based workflow editor lets you chain operations like remeshing or looping, and the Modly Agent plus CLI enable automation for batch tasks. A Gaussian Splat viewer and workspace asset library help you organize and review your generations. Everything happens locally—your images never leave your machine. This contrasts with cloud services like Meshy or CSM, which upload data and charge per render. Modly is free and offers unlimited generation, but it does require a powerful NVIDIA GPU with at least 6 GB of VRAM (Apple Silicon is supported from v0.4.0, but with limitations). For developers, the open-source pipeline is fully hackable—you can swap models, modify the pipeline, or integrate your own tools. Extensions are GitHub repositories you install in one click, and the community is active on Discord and GitHub. If you value privacy and zero cost over cloud convenience, Modly is the standout local option.
Behind the Verdict
Modly stands out in the AI 3D generation space for its uncompromising commitment to local, private, and free generation. Unlike cloud services that charge subscription fees and upload your data, Modly runs everything on your own hardware. This is a major advantage for privacy-conscious creators and those who want unlimited experimentation without worrying about credit usage. Strengths: The node-based workflow system, introduced in v0.4.0 and expanded in v0.4.1, is a powerful feature that allows you to create complex, repeatable generation pipelines. The Modly Agent and CLI further enable automation, making it ideal for batch processing and integration into existing workflows. The one-click extension system means you can easily swap between different AI models like Hunyuan3D 2, TripoSG, and Trellis2, and even add your own. The open-source nature (MIT license) means the entire codebase is inspectable and modifiable. Weaknesses: The tool is not for everyone. It requires a relatively powerful NVIDIA GPU (6GB VRAM minimum), and Apple Silicon support is limited. The learning curve for the node editor and extension system might be steep for casual users. The output quality varies by model and may require post-processing for production use, so it's not a one-click solution for high-poly assets. Where it fits: Indie game developers who need quick base assets, 3D printing enthusiasts who want to turn photos into STL files, and privacy-focused creators who refuse to upload images to the cloud. Where it doesn't fit: Users without a compatible GPU, teams needing cloud collaboration, or those who prefer a turnkey SaaS experience without any setup.
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Real-world workflow fit
Concrete scenarios for the personas Modly actually fits — and what changes day-one when you adopt it.
You have character concept art and need a base 3D model to prototype in Unity.
Outcome: Install Modly, add the Hunyuan3D 2 extension, import the image, generate a mesh in minutes, then export as GLB directly into your Unity project.
You captured a photo of a small object and want to create a printable STL file.
Outcome: Open Modly, load the photo, generate a mesh, refine it with a remesh node if needed, export as STL, and import into your slicer—all without uploading anything to the cloud.
You need to generate 3D assets in bulk from a set of images for a project.
Outcome: Create a node workflow with a loop, run it via the Modly Agent or CLI, and generate hundreds of models without manual intervention, saved directly to your workspace.
Use Cases
- Generate a 3D model of a product prototype from a single photo for quick iteration.
- Convert character concept art into a GLB asset for Unity or Unreal Engine prototyping.
- Turn a photo of a real object into an STL file for 3D printing within minutes.
- Create a base mesh from a reference image to speed up sculpting in Blender or ZBrush.
- Populate game levels with instant 3D objects derived from concept sketches or photographs.
- Experiment with local AI 3D generation for learning or personal projects without cloud costs.
Models Under the Hood
as of 2026-09-01
Limitations
- Modly runs all inference locally on an NVIDIA GPU, so a compatible GPU is required and there is no cloud fallback.
- The desktop app is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS, and can also be run from source.
- It is a desktop application with no API, though a CLI is available in recent versions.
- The node-based workflow editor and model extension system may have a learning curve, and output quality varies by model and may require post-processing for production use.
as of 2026-09-01
Verification history
We have re-verified Modly 8 times since . Each pass re-reads the vendor's own pages and re-checks every listed field against that evidence; passes where nothing had changed are marked as such.
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
- — re-verified summary, description, our verdict, our analysis, pricing model, pricing tiers, features, integrations, who it suits, who should skip it
Showing the 6 most recent of 8 verification passes.
Free to cite with attribution — this page re-verifies continuously.
12-month cost
Project the real annual outlay, including the implied monthly cost when only an annual tier is published.
Vendor list price only. Add-on usage, seat overages, and contract minimums are surfaced under Hidden costs & gotchas.
Plans compared
For each published Modly tier: who it actually fits, and what it adds vs. the previous tier. Cross-reference the cost calculator above for projected annual outlay.
Free
$0
Ideal for
Anyone with an NVIDIA GPU who wants unlimited, private 3D generation at zero cost; perfect for hobbyists, indie devs, and privacy-focused creators.
What this tier adds
This is the only tier and includes all features: unlimited local generation, offline operation, node workflow editor, Modly Agent, CLI, and one-click extensions—all free forever.
Where the pricing makes sense
The company stage and team size where Modly's pricing actually pencils out — and where peers do it cheaper.
Modly is completely free and open source, which makes it the cheapest option among AI 3D generation tools. Cloud competitors like Meshy or CSM charge $20–60 per month with credit limits. While Modly requires a capable GPU, the software itself costs nothing, and for users already owning such hardware, it offers unlimited generation with no recurring fees.
Setup time & first value
How long it actually takes to get something useful out of Modly — broken out by persona, not the marketing-page minute.
For a first-time user with an NVIDIA GPU: install the app, download an extension (e.g., Hunyuan3D 2), and generate your first model in about 10–15 minutes. For developers wanting to set up custom workflows or run from source, expect 1–2 hours to get familiar with the node editor and CLI.
Switching to or from Modly
How to bring data in from common predecessors and how to get it back out — written for the switcher, not the buyer.
- →From Meshy or CSM: Download Modly, install an extension, and import your existing images. There's no direct migration path, but you can start generating locally immediately and export in the same formats you used in
- →From using raw Python scripts: Since Modly is open source, you can inspect the code and adapt your existing scripts to use the Modly CLI or node workflows for more structured generation.
- ↗To Meshy or CSM: Export your Modly-generated models in standard formats like GLB or OBJ, then upload them to the cloud service. Keep in mind you'll lose local privacy and face usage limits.
- ↗To Blender or other DCC tools: Export from Modly as GLB or OBJ and import directly into your 3D software for further refinement.
Resources & Guides
Tutorials & Learning
Official links
Tools that pair well with Modly
Common stack mates teams adopt alongside Modly, with the specific reason each pairing earns its keep.
GET3D by NVIDIA
Open-source 3D generative model creating textured meshes from 2D images. Research-stage, GPU-hungry.
Meshy
AI 3D model generator that turns text, images, or chat into ready-to-use 3D assets for games and printing.
Rodin
AI 3D model generator from text and images with advanced control tools.
Featured Head-to-Head Comparisons
Modly vs Adobe Firefly Services
Choose Modly if you need free, private, local 3D generation from a single image and have an NVIDIA GPU — it's ideal for indie game devs and 3D printing enthusiasts. Pick Adobe Firefly Services if you're an enterprise automating 2D image creation at scale with commercial safety and Adobe integration. They solve different problems: 3D vs 2D, offline vs cloud, free vs paid.
Modly vs Qoves
Choose QOVES if you want a research-backed, personalized non-surgical facial improvement plan based on over 160 beauty markers; pick Modly if you need free, local, private 3D model generation from a single photo. They solve completely different problems—one is beauty analytics, the other is 3D asset creation.
Modly vs The New Black
Buy The New Black if you need AI-powered fashion design with textile-specific features like tech packs and virtual try-on. Buy Modly if you want to generate 3D models privately from photos for free, and you have an NVIDIA GPU. Completely different domains.
Alternatives to Modly
View allGET3D by NVIDIA
Open-source 3D generative model creating textured meshes from 2D images. Research-stage, GPU-hungry.
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