3D miniatures play an essential role in today’s world. They are used in various important works, from game design to building critical structures replicas. With the help of modern technological advancements and 3D printing, we can easily make miniatures. But for creating a 3D model, you require software for designing it. And Hero Forge is the best custom miniatures creator on the market. This tool allows you to easily design intricate 3D parts, 3D dolls, and figurines.
You might not be satisfied with Hero Forge. We always crave the best, and there is no limit to what is the best. So, we have searched the internet and tested around 50 custom miniatures creators. Here are 12 of the best Hero Forge alternatives to make custom miniatures in 2023.
What is Hero Forge?
Hero Forge is an online miniature and character-designing tool that is free to use. Hero Forge lets its users create and purchase custom 3D miniatures. It is the leading app in the sector that offers dozens of ready-to-use models and character designs to help you create the perfect 3D creation.
Hero Forge contains hundreds of body shapes for you to choose from. You can select the gender, hair type, and all other aspects of the custom figurine. Around 70 different coloring tools let you deeply customize your avatar.
Hero Forge only requires you to register on the website. It is free to use and gives you access to many features. They also 3D print tabletops and ship them to you cheaply.
Why Do You Need a Hero Forge Alternative?
Well, the answer to this question varies from man to man. Hero Forge is a complete app for creating 3D models and characters for 3D printing. But if you are unsatisfied with their service or require more options, you should look for an alternative. It is your right to wish to choose the best option available on the market. If Hero Forge’s features don’t meet your demand, looking for an alternative is the best option.
What is the Best Hero Forge Alternative?
Well, one cannot select a single product as the best. Every product has its pros and cons. But we have gathered and made a list of 12 of the best Hero Forge alternatives to make custom miniatures in 2023. Here is the list of alternatives to Hero Forge for custom miniatures.
1. Anvil. co
Anvil. Co is similar to Hero Forge in many aspects. They offer excellent service and guaranteed customer satisfaction. The website lets its users create unique 3D miniatures and tabletops. The intuitive features of Anvil.co make it user-friendly and give freedom to the customer.
Additionally, the site holds an extensive library of models. You can choose a preset and customize it to your needs. You can go on the site and customize the body shape, hair length, color, dress, and pose of every figurine you design. Anvil. Co will help you make your dream of owning a 3D Loli figurine come true.
Pros
- Anvil. Co has intuitive features.
- The product printing is comparatively cheaper than other Hero Forge alternatives.
- The service has a library of personalized body shapes, weapons, bases, etc.
Cons
- If you choose the lower-priced options, the library customization limits.
- It contains buggy files.
2. Hero Mini Maker
Hero Mini Maker, free, is the perfect software for creating fantasy 3D models and figurines from Windows PCs. It has a vast library and different customization modules to choose from. It is among the best Hero Forge alternatives for free. The users can design figurines from 800+ styles and 1000 poses and bases. You can shape your dream almost in every way.
Additionally, Hero Mini Maker lets you customize a single outfit, such as a helmet, dress, vest, etc., and those can be removed. After completing the design, you can download the STL file for 3D printing. It is a great desktop hero maker for you.
Pros
- It comes with a vast number of features to meet your demand.
- It provides an STL file for printing.
Cons
- The quality of the miniatures is not always up to the mark.
3. Desktop Hero
Desktop Hero is another great Hero Forge free competitor. It is a unique tool to create miniatures that can be used to create gaming tabletops and other 3D dolls. The users can choose from the vast library or design their poses and standing positions. The app lets you model and print 3D custom figurines easily.
3D printing and miniature delivery costs as cheap as $3.80 to $5.00. Desktop Hero lets you design any design you wish with minimal effort. It provides the best service at your fingertips. Give this fantastic service a try.
Pros
- The printing of 3D models is affordable compared to other alternatives.
- You can easily share your designs with others.
Cons
- Desktop Hero has limited features for the users to utilize.
4. Eldritch Foundry
With the fantastic app Eldritch Foundry’s help, you can create any hero figure without sweat. It can enhance your design, and the creativity of the service will amaze you. The site offers an excellent collection of presets and styles for you to choose from.
Eldritch Foundry is an easy-to-use 3D miniature creation tool for designing and 3D printing. The quality of the prints from Eldritch Foundry is the best on the market. However, the price of the premium service is not low. You might have to spend around 35 USD for the best quality product per miniature model.
Pros
- They offer the best quality print on the market.
- The user experience is satisfactory.
- You can create intricate designs with Eldritch Foundry.
Cons
- The products are slightly more expensive compared to other alternatives of Hero Forge.
5. PCGen
PCGen is a free-to-use, bug-free Hero Forge alternative. This excellent site allows you to design 3D models without any issues. With the app, you can customize the 3D figurines to your liking. PCGen is feature-enriched software, and it is written in JavaScript. The software gives you freedom over what you want to design.
Like Hero Forge, it offers multiple designs to choose from and use as your base. You can customize a model or design from scratch if you want. The load time of a design is swift, and there is a minimum lag while using it. This game could be the best option for you regarding 3D printing dolls.
Pros
- It comes with a wide range of features.
- The site is quick and very efficient.
- Free of charge to use PCGen.
Cons
- The customization features are limited to some fixed orientations.
6. MyMiniFactory
MyMiniFactory is a great online platform for creating 3D models for free and paid 3D printing. You can design any models and figurines easily on the site. You can also custom print them or download the STL file.
Like other Hero forges, you get several styles and poses for your figures in the alternative UK. You can color them to your liking and change any part of them before the final print. The advanced level editor of MyMiniFactory lets you create the best 3D tabletops you can imagine.
Pros
- They offer free service.
- Using the editor is easy.
- The UI of MyMiniFactory is splendid and attractive.
Cons
- There are not many customization options available for free.
7. Gambody
Gambody is an online marketplace for downloading comic books and manga characters’ 3D model STL files. You can also custom design a miniature and sell it on Gambody. Gambody is the best place for people who are not good with machines as they can choose any model and deliver them to their home.
Gambody is a sophisticated alternative version of Hero Forge. The site’s fully optimized 3D designing tool helps create and design models efficiently. All the model and miniature STL files on Gambody are categorized, and every category has filters to narrow down your search. You can use Gambody to find the dream figurine you always wanted.
Pros
- They offer the best service you can ask for.
- You can not only buy models but also sell your designs too.
- The STL files are complete, and you can directly use them on the machine.
Cons
- There is no fixed price range, so the product’s price varies greatly.
8. Hero Forge alternatives: Cults 3D
Cults 3D is one of the leading marketplaces for 3D printed materials and designs created by professionals and experts. Like Gambody, it is a place to design and purchase 3D miniatures reasonably priced. The platform hosts a massive library of styles, genres, and fields. You can find the best 3D STL files here to download and use in your projects.
The quality of the products from Cults 3D is premium, and there is no scope for complaints about their service. Cults 3D contains all 3D STL files, models, and design files. It is an open-source platform, so you can guess there is some pretty incredible design available for you to grab.
Pros
- The variety of 3D work samples will amaze you.
- Using the site to design your 3D miniatures is easy.
- You can choose from hundreds of collections on the website.
Cons
- The user interface is not very good compared to other sites.
9. Creature Caster
Creature Caster is another excellent place to grab 3D figurines at a cheap rate. This is one of our list’s best hero mini-maker free alternatives. The site is known worldwide for producing premium quality 3D models and delivering them to customers.
Customer satisfaction with Creature Caster is one hundred percent. They are based in the UK, Europe, Canada, and the USA. So you can get your favorite tabletop delivered to your doorstep. You can be assured of the product quality as they provide the best materials. You can either choose from their massive collection or design one by yourself. But you wouldn’t need to customize anything as they already made the best design possible.
Pros
- Different options are available to choose from.
- They provide worldwide shipping of your designed model.
- Using the website to create a model is easy and efficient.
Cons
- The price of 3D models is higher than other Hero Forge competitors.
10. Thingiverse
If you want a service that provides physical 3D models with creative and intricate designs, Thingiverse is the best place for you. On Makerbot Thingiverse, you can access an ocean of creative 3D models, figures, and products. Comic books, anime characters, other creative showpieces, and valuable 3D gadgets are available on the site to grab.
Thingiverse provides all kinds of designs for you to use for free. But you have to pay for 3D printing and shipping. Almost all the D model designs of Thingiverse are creative, intricate, and impressive. The designs are done mainly by experts in the field, and freelancers offer some work. It is truly a great alternative to Hero Forge.
Pros
- They offer free designing of 3D models.
- The resource library is enormous.
- One can get the best quality product on Thingiverse.
Cons
- The processing takes little time to complete.
11. Hero Forge alternatives: SketchUp
SketchUp is another custom miniatures designing site that offers unrestricted services to its users. It is an alternative site that you can consider for designing your 3D projects. On SketchUp, you can customize characters from games and comic books and design any 3D object. They offer less expensive options for you to choose from than other AAnvil—Co alternatives to try in 2023.
You can pick any design on SketchUp and tweak any part you wish to change on the online editor. The editor for SketchUp is efficient in creating 3D models and projects. You should check it.
Pros
- The online editor of SketchUp is very helpful in designing 3D objects.
- They offer free services for designing a 3D model.
- The price of printing a figure from SketchUp is lower than other sites.
Cons
- There is not any to mention.
12. Autodesk TINKERCAD
Tinkercad is a free-to-use 3D modeling and design program from Autodesk that works on any web browser. You don’t have to download any software to use the free service. They are well known for simplicity and ensuring 100% user satisfaction. Since 2011, after its release, it has helped millions to create, design, customize, and print creative 3D models and tabletops for free.
Tinkercad is designed to help you bring any design you make in your mind to reality. The designer’s imagination is the limit for Tinkercad. Not only that, Tinkercad offers free classes for those who are new in the 3D printing field. A child can take classes and design beautiful 3D models independently using Tinkercad.
Pros
- They are a free online 3D modeling site.
- You can use any web browser to use Tinkercad.
- They offer free 3D learning classes too.
Cons
- There are limited resources for customizing a design.
Best 3D Printing Service for Tabletop Miniatures
Until August 2023, multiple reputable 3D printing services were recognized for crafting top-notch tabletop miniatures. Remember, the 3D printing industry may have evolved since. Thus, I advise consulting recent reviews. Nevertheless, in 2023, notable options included Shapeways, Sculpteo, and i.materialise. Here are some recommended 3D printing services for tabletop miniatures.
| 3D Printing Service | Description | Notable Features |
| Shapeways | Shapeways is a renowned 3D printing service offering various materials for tabletop miniatures, such as resin and plastics. They are known for their high-quality prints and various material options. | – Diverse material selection
– Strong reputation for print quality |
| Sculpteo | Sculpteo provides an easy-to-use platform for uploading and printing 3D models. They offer materials like resin and plastic for miniatures. Their service is recognized for quality prints and good customer support. | – User-friendly interface
– Customization options for finishes |
| i.materialise | i.materialise is a popular choice for 3D printing miniatures. They offer various materials and finishes, allowing customization of miniature appearance. | – Wide range of materials and finishes
– Established reputation in 3D printing |
Where to Buy Custom RPG Miniatures
You can purchase custom RPG miniatures from various sources specializing in tabletop gaming accessories. Some options are included in the table:
| Source | Description | Highlights |
| Etsy | Many artists on Etsy offer customizable RPG miniatures, providing a wide range of unique options. | – Unique and customizable designs |
| Hero Forge | Hero Forge lets you design and customize your RPG miniatures online, offering various race, class, and equipment options. | – Extensive customization features |
| Reaper Miniatures | Reaper Miniatures provides a diverse collection of miniatures, including some that can be customized. Their “Bones USA” line is known for detail. | – Wide range of miniatures available |
| Artisan Guild | Artisan Guild offers high-quality 3D printable files for RPG miniatures, allowing customization and personal printing. | – 3D printable custom designs |
| Local Game Stores | Local tabletop gaming stores might offer custom painting services or personalized miniatures. | – Personalized services and support |
| Online Marketplaces | Websites like eBay and Amazon may have listings for custom RPG miniatures, but research sellers carefully. | – Convenient online shopping options |
Final Thoughts
That is all from our side. Now, choosing the best Hero Forge alternative suitable for your needs is up to you. We hope to assist you in your search for an excellent 3D model-making and designing app/ site. Let us know which one of the software you found most helpful. Share the list if you enjoyed it. Subscribe to our website to get the latest updates on the tech world.