Understanding Free 3D Models On Renderhub Platform Features And User Experiences

Dec. 3, 2025, 7:05 a.m.

Tags: renderhub

RenderHub is a platform that offers free 3D models alongside paid content. The platform has gained attention as an alternative to the now-closed ShareCG, particularly for users seeking free 3D assets. However, users and creators have noted various challenges and experiences related to accessing and sharing free content on the platform. This article examines the landscape of free 3D models on RenderHub, including how users can locate free content, creator motivations for sharing freebies, promotional campaigns, and the platform's role in the 3D content ecosystem.

RenderHub as a Free 3D Model Resource

RenderHub hosts a section dedicated to free 3D models, accessible through https://www.renderhub.com/free-3d-models. The platform features free content from various creators, including vendors who also offer paid products. Some creators, like Silent Winter, have found RenderHub easy to use for uploading freebies, noting that it allows multiple promotional images (unlike some alternatives). The platform supports various types of 3D content, with examples including block village models and other assets.

Users have reported that while RenderHub offers free content, the platform primarily functions as a marketplace where both free and paid items are available. This dual nature has led to some confusion among users seeking exclusively free content. The platform has been operational for several years, with some vendors reporting that they have made "decent income" selling animation products for Daz Genesis 8-9 on the platform.

Challenges in Locating Free Content

Despite offering free models, users have reported difficulties in locating free content among the paid items on RenderHub. One user noted that searching for freebies among paid items is "cumbersome and not intuitive." The platform's search and filtering tools present challenges when trying to identify free content. While there is a dedicated free models section, users may need to employ specific techniques to find all available free content within the platform's broader catalog.

The search functionality on RenderHub appears to have limitations when filtering specifically for free content. Users have discovered that setting a maximum price filter to $0 doesn't work properly, but setting it to $1 successfully displays free items. This workaround has been noted as helpful but not entirely intuitive. The platform's interface may require some familiarity to navigate effectively when seeking free content among a larger catalog of paid items.

Creator Perspectives on Freebies

Creators who share free content on RenderHub have expressed mixed experiences regarding user engagement. One creator reported having 8 freebies that received 1850 total downloads but only 125 likes (a 6.8% like rate). This low engagement has led some creators to reconsider sharing additional free content, with one stating they "will not put freebies on anymore" unless the like rate improves. The creator emphasized that likes motivate them to continue sharing free content, encouraging users to engage with freebies through the platform's like button.

The creator frustration stems from the significant disparity between downloads and engagement, noting that "1725 downloaded things that they don't like." This perception of unappreciated free content has led some creators to limit their free offerings. The psychological aspect of user engagement appears significant, with creators explicitly stating that higher like rates would motivate them to continue and expand their free content offerings.

Promotional Campaigns and Free Offers

RenderHub has hosted promotional campaigns where users can earn freebies by participating in creative challenges. For example, Kaos3D/KSLS3D offered free products to users who submitted original artwork featuring their products. These campaigns typically had specific requirements, including:

Artwork must mention the specific brands or products (Kaos3D and/or sithlordsims)
Dimension requirements (such as 1400 X 1800 or 1800 X 1800)
Unique submissions (not part of a series)
Content guidelines (tasteful, nudity-free)
High-quality presentation with post-work effects encouraged

Accepted submissions would result in the user receiving a free product from the creator's store, excluding bundles. These campaigns appear to be time-limited, as indicated by "(CLOSED)" in some thread titles. Participants were required to submit their artwork through the RenderHub Galleries and send a site message with a link to their submission for consideration.

User Tips for Finding Freebies

Experienced RenderHub users have developed strategies to locate free content more effectively:

Using the dedicated free models section at https://www.renderhub.com/free-3d-models
Performing store searches and sorting by price low-to-high
Filtering results with a maximum price of $1 (as filtering by $0 doesn't work)
Checking specific creator stores for free offerings
Exploring alternative platforms like 3D Shards, where downloads are DIM ready (particularly for DAZ products)

Some users have noted that while RenderHub is accessible, the search functionality could be improved for better freebie discovery. The community has shared workarounds and tips to navigate these limitations, indicating a helpful user base that assists others in finding free content. The discovery process, while not always straightforward, has been made more accessible through shared knowledge among users.

RenderHub as a ShareCG Alternative

Following the closure of ShareCG, a significant resource for 3D content including freebies, RenderHub has emerged as an alternative platform. Users have noted that while RenderHub is a good alternative, it may not host all the older content that was available on ShareCG, such as assets for older characters like Victoria 4 and Aiko 3. The closure of ShareCG has raised concerns about the preservation of freebies created by creators who are no longer active in the community.

Some creators are actively migrating their ShareCG content to RenderHub and other platforms. For example, creator Jibicoco was noted to be moving ShareCG freebies to RenderHub's Poser section. The preservation of historical 3D content and tools remains a concern for the community following ShareCG's closure. Users have expressed particular concern about the loss of freebies created by creators who are no longer active, as these items represented their continued presence in the 3D world.

The transition from ShareCG to alternative platforms has not been seamless, with users noting differences in content focus and organization. While RenderHub may focus more on newer content, alternatives like Renderosity's freestuff section have also been mentioned as options. Community initiatives, such as the ShareCG Download Project at https://poserdazfreebies.miraheze.org/wiki/ShareCGDownloadProject, have emerged to preserve and redistribute content from the closed platform.

Conclusion

RenderHub serves as a platform for free 3D models, though users face challenges in locating free content among paid items. The platform has emerged as an alternative to the now-closed ShareCG, hosting free content from various creators. However, creator motivation to share freebies is influenced by user engagement, with some creators discontinuing free offerings due to low like rates. Promotional campaigns offer opportunities for users to earn free products, while user-developed strategies help navigate the platform's search limitations. As the 3D content ecosystem evolves, platforms like RenderHub play a crucial role in the distribution and preservation of free 3D assets.

The relationship between creators and consumers in the 3D content space appears to be delicately balanced, with creator incentives heavily dependent on user recognition and engagement. The community's response to platform changes, such as the closure of ShareCG, demonstrates both resilience and concern about content preservation. Moving forward, improvements in search functionality and clearer organization of free content may enhance the user experience on RenderHub and similar platforms.