TurboSquid
Depends
Confidence: Medium
Buy if you're a professional picking up specific, production-ready 3D models one at a time . the catalog is unmatched.
Comparison
TurboSquid vs CGTrader
TurboSquid and CGTrader both land on Depends.
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.
| Compare | TurboSquid | CGTrader |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Depends | Depends |
| Best for | Game, VFX, and arch-viz artists buying one-off models | Game and VR/AR studios needing stock assets |
| Who it's not for | Sellers who need reliable, on-time royalty payments | Sellers wanting predictable payouts . terms recently changed |
| Privacy | 2015 breach disclosed by the CEO; later warnings about compromised accounts; no newer incidents in the sources reviewed.⁶ | No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed. |
| Support quality | Negative reviews cited; royalty problems persist | Trustpilot 4/5; complaint threads persist |
| Public sentiment | Opinions split: the catalog is praised as vast and the site long-trusted, but sellers report payout and sales problems since Shutterstock, and some buyers cite bad reviews.³ | Review sites average around 4-4.5 stars, while Reddit threads warn sellers about payout changes and buyers about model reliability.11 |
| Biggest gotcha | 2015 breach disclosed; later warnings about rising compromised accounts . lock down your login.⁷ | Payout rates changed; sellers raised prices ~15% to compensate |
Pick TurboSquid when
- Game, VFX, and arch-viz artists buying one-off models
- Teams needing specific production-ready assets fast
- Sellers wanting the largest 3D marketplace audience
- Budget buyers using the free-model library
When TurboSquid is not a fit
- Sellers who need reliable, on-time royalty payments
- Anyone wanting a flat-rate subscription asset library
- Hobbyists who only need casual free models
- Studios strict about vendor AI-training policies
Pick CGTrader when
- Game and VR/AR studios needing stock assets
- 3D printing hobbyists
- Brands outsourcing product modeling
- Designers wanting a cheap subscription library
When CGTrader is not a fit
- Sellers wanting predictable payouts . terms recently changed
- Buyers who need guaranteed print-ready quality
- Anyone hiring 3D modelers . mixed freelancer reviews
- Creators expecting meaningful income . most sellers earn little
Sources
- Shutterstock to Acquire TurboSquidprnewswire.comnews
news
- TurboSquid Trustpilot reviewstrustpilot.comreview
- TurboSquid G2 reviewsg2.comreview
review
- Letter from the CEO Regarding Security Breachblog.turbosquid.comsecurity
- Keep Your Account Safe and Secureresources.turbosquid.comsecurity
- TurboSquid Pricing resourcesresources.turbosquid.comofficial
- Free & Premium Secure 3D Modelsturbosquid.comofficial
- TurboSquid vs CGTrader . Foundry Communitycommunity.foundry.comreview
- CGTrader Reviews - Trustpilottrustpilot.comreview
review