CGTrader
Depends
Confidence: Medium
Buy the $9.99/mo subscription or individual models if you need stock 3D assets . the catalog is huge and cheap.
Comparison
CGTrader and Cults 3D both land on Depends.
Buy the $9.99/mo subscription or individual models if you need stock 3D assets . the catalog is huge and cheap.
Buy if you're a hobbyist or indie designer . it's the leading independent marketplace for STL files.
| Compare | CGTrader | Cults 3D |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Depends | Depends |
| Best for | Game and VR/AR studios needing stock assets | Hobbyist makers wanting curated paid and free STLs |
| Who it's not for | Sellers wanting predictable payouts . terms recently changed | Sellers of game/franchise fan models . active IP enforcement |
| Privacy | No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.14 | No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed. |
| Support quality | Trustpilot 4/5; complaint threads persist | Creators report ignored payout disputes |
| Public sentiment | Review sites average around 4-4.5 stars, while Reddit threads warn sellers about payout changes and buyers about model reliability.¹ | Buyers repeatedly ask whether the site is safe to purchase from, several creators publicly allege unpaid profits, yet many still rank it above Thingiverse. |
| Biggest gotcha | Payout rates changed; sellers raised prices ~15% to compensate | Some creators report earnings withheld with support unanswered |