Spline
3D design tool that runs in the browser and exports interactive 3D for websites
Spline brings 3D design into the browser the same way Figma brought 2D design into the browser. You can model objects, add materials, set up lighting, and animate — all without installing anything. The real selling point for web developers is the export: you get an embed code or React component that drops an interactive 3D scene directly into your site.
The free tier is generous enough for most use cases. Pro at $7/month adds private projects and removes the Spline watermark from exports. The main limitation is scope — this is for hero sections, interactive product showcases, and landing page eye candy. If you need serious 3D modeling, you still need Blender. But for the “I want a spinning 3D object on my homepage” use case, Spline gets it done in an afternoon instead of a week.
What's good
- Browser-based 3D editor with no install — much lower barrier than Blender
- Exports interactive 3D scenes you can embed directly on a webpage
- Free tier includes unlimited projects and real-time collaboration
Watch out for
- Exported 3D embeds can be heavy — adds 1-3MB to page load if not optimized
- Not suitable for production 3D work like game assets or product renders
- Smaller community and fewer tutorials compared to Blender or Three.js