The popularity of 3D printing has risen immensely over the past decade. It is becoming increasingly affordable and accessible, thanks to the inexpensive models, numerous online tutorials, and open source applications. Although it is easy to start working with the 3D printers, the creation of a 3D model from scratch can be difficult. As a result, beginners can use files from online repositories, instead of creating models themselves for printing. There are various online repositories and marketplaces, where you could find STL files. Users need to have a 3D model, usually an STL file before they can start 3D printing. STL files represent a three-dimensional model that is then " sliced " into several layers for printing in 3D. This article provides a thorough overview of marketplaces for STL files that can be used to print 3D models.

Top Marketplaces for STL Files

There are online stores that offer free STL files, as well as models that you could buy. The 3D model libraries listed in this article are either totally or partially free. You can get great 3D models without spending a lot of money. This list has the best sites to find STL files, so that you can get the best results from your machine and let your creativity run wild.

Cults3D

This French website is among the biggest marketplaces for STL files, which was introduced in 2014. On Cults3D, language support for 3D models includes English, Spanish, and French. There are also paid and free versions of 3D models available on this site.

Once you sign up, you can communicate with other community members, ask questions and queries, and save designs you like. Cults3D also offers a premium 3D design option for a fee, allowing users to place requests for custom 3D models. Professional designers then create these models.

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YouMagine

Launched by the people behind the Ultimaker, the YouMagine has collected over 16,000 free STL files. It has brought together scores of designers and creators. YouMagine is a place for them to share ideas and create together. Models are mostly open-source, allowing users to modify their designs as needed. YouMagine integrates various types of models, from miniature decorative figures to operational prototypes such as wind turbines.

Thingiverse

Thingiverse was created by MakerBot in 2008 and has since grown into one of the most extensive online marketplaces for STL files. 3D printing enthusiasts can freely share and download free printable 3D models. Thingiverse also regularly organizes 3D design competitions and challenges.

In addition, this marketplace has a very active 3D printing community, where users interact and discuss different topics, help each other, share projects, and much more. Discussion topics range from models of 3D printers to Star Wars, etc.

Free3D

Free3D is a market that has a variety of 3D models. These models are available in both STL and OBJ formats and can be printed in 3D. They also offer a great deal of models for Blender, 3Ds Max, and Cinema 4D. The repository has different sections for buildings, vehicles, aircraft, electronics, and much more. Whether you are looking for 3D models or someone with excellent design skills, you can simply join the community. You can find a variety of files and share your creations with the fellow members. Lastly, Free3D has multilingual support for 14 languages.

MyMiniFactory

MyMiniFactory is one of the best online marketplaces for STL files. 3D designers can improve their collaborations and cooperation with each other. Designers can freely share their creations with the rest of the community. The site has free files explicitly created for 3D printing. Files uploaded to MyMiniFactory are carefully selected and thoroughly tested by the members. Furthermore, along with the thousands of free designs, users can also request a custom model design from professional designers.

GrabCAD

GrabCAD is among the leading online repositories for CAD models. The GrabCAD community consists mainly of professionals like designers, STEM teachers, manufacturers, and engineers. In addition, according to the company, about 6 million users use the platform to share their models. They also share and receive advice on modeling problems and work together to improve their designs. Currently, GrabCAD has over 4 million free files available, which makes it the most significant repository for professional 3D models.

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STLFinder

STLFinder helps users find 3D models from different websites and platforms. Once you search for a file, you will get the results from online repositories for your query. It is a search engine that allows users to compare the available designs on the internet. It saves time and helps the users compare the various available options. Users get a short overview of each 3D model to help them make the right choice.

SketchFab

Sketchfab was founded in 2012 and is one of the marketplaces for STL files. It also features visualization capabilities for 3D models. Moreover, it has a community section where users can view, rate, and directly download the available 3D models. The inclusion of all kinds of 3D designs makes it a hugely beneficial option for 3D printing enthusiasts. If you are looking for STL files on Sketchfab, they can be found under the STL section. The available models are labeled under the Creative Commons license, as well as premium designs.

Pinshape

Pinshape was introduced in 2014 and has a wide range of both premium and free 3D models for 3D printing. It features OBJ and STL formats as well as models in ZIP files. In 2016, it was acquired by the 3D resin printer brand, Formlabs. The site offers an exciting streaming option that allows you to edit, slice, and directly print 3D models from the website without downloading the STL files.

Yeggi

Similar to STLFinder, it is a search engine that helps the users find what they are searching for. The results are curated from over 2 million STL files featured on various platforms. However, Yeggi has different options and filters than its competitors. You can choose between premium or free models. You can also rank them based on popularity, addition date, and many more. Yeggi is among the most popular 3D model search engines.

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