Spline

What is Spline?

Spline is a collaborative 3D design tool that runs in the browser, no install required. You build scenes from shapes and objects, add materials, lights and cameras, then animate or add interactions, all in a visual editor that feels more like a design app than a traditional 3D suite.

It was created by a Polish startup founded by Aleksander Czeszkiewicz, and it fills a niche between full 3D software and web development. Designers use it to create the 3D scenes you see on modern landing pages, product sites and portfolios, and developers can export the results as React components or embed them on any website.

Key Features

• Real-time collaborative editing in the browser
• AI text-to-3D generation built into the editor
• Animation timeline with keyframes and easing
• Interactive events: clicks, hovers, scroll triggers
• Physics engine for playful dynamic scenes
• Export to React, Three.js, images, video and glTF
• Large library of templates, objects and materials
• Runs on any device with a modern browser

How to get started

Create a free account and you land straight in the editor with a starter scene. Drag in shapes, type a prompt into the AI panel to generate objects, or import a 3D file, then start playing with materials and lights.

When you want your scene on the web, export it as a React component, embed it with an iframe, or render it to video or GIF for social media. The academy section on the site has tutorials that walk through everything from the interface to advanced interactions.

• Sign up for a free account
• Start from a template or a blank scene
• Generate or import 3D objects
• Add materials, lights, animation and interactions
• Export or embed your scene on the web

Use cases

• Interactive 3D landing pages and product showcases
• Portfolio websites with 3D hero scenes
• Product configurators for ecommerce
• Animated social media and marketing content
• UI mockups and game interface prototypes
• Teaching 3D basics in classrooms and workshops

Pricing and licensing

Spline is freemium. The free plan is genuinely usable for personal projects and experimentation, while paid plans unlock more export options, higher quality rendering, team collaboration features and priority support.

Pricing is per month with discounts for yearly billing, and the exact tiers are listed on the official website. Most hobbyists start free and upgrade when they need commercial use or team workflows.

Pros and cons

Spline's magic is accessibility. If you can use a design tool, you can make interactive 3D in an afternoon, and the collaboration and web export story is unmatched by traditional 3D software. The AI generation is a nice shortcut for filling a scene with objects.

The limits show up at the high end: scenes with heavy geometry can get sluggish, and it is not a replacement for sculpting, hard-surface modelling or rendering-heavy workflows. Serious 3D artists still reach for Blender or Maya for final assets.

Alternatives

• Blender: free, full-featured 3D suite for when you need total control
• Three.js: code your own 3D for the web
• Figma: 2D design, but with 3D plugins and integrations
• Unity: real-time engine for interactive 3D experiences
• Cinema 4D: motion design and broadcast 3D classic