CGTrader vs TurboSquid: Where to Buy and Sell 3D Models

CGTrader is one of the largest online marketplaces for 3D models, where artists sell and give away assets and buyers download them for renders, games, AR, 3D printing and product visualization. Its best-known rival is TurboSquid. If you are deciding where to buy a model, or where to sell your own, the two platforms overlap a lot but differ in licensing details, seller programs and catalog strengths.

This guide explains how each marketplace works, how to judge a model before you pay, and when buying stock makes more sense than commissioning custom work.

What CGTrader offers

CG Trader started in 2011 in Vilnius, Lithuania, and grew into a global marketplace with a very large catalog of models across vehicles, architecture, furniture, characters, electronics and 3D-printable designs. Buyers can find:

• Paid models sold individually by independent artists and studios.
• Free models uploaded by artists, useful for practice and placeholder work.
• Print-ready files (STL and similar) for 3D printing.
• A subscription plan that gives a monthly allowance of downloads from an eligible part of the catalog.
• Custom work: businesses can post a modeling brief and hire designers through the platform.

For sellers, CGTrader positions itself around comparatively high royalty rates. Rates and rules change, so read the current seller terms before uploading.

What TurboSquid offers

TurboSquid, based in New Orleans, has been selling 3D models since the early 2000s. Shutterstock agreed to buy it in January 2021, and TurboSquid 3D models now also surface through Shutterstock's broader content ecosystem.

Its signature feature is CheckMate, a certification program that checks models against technical standards: clean topology, real-world scale, organized naming, proper UVs and correct file formats. CheckMate models generally cost more, but they reduce the risk of downloading something that falls apart when you open it. TurboSquid's seller program ties higher royalty rates and CheckMate eligibility to exclusive content, so read its publishing agreement before you commit.

CGTrader vs TurboSquid at a glance

Factor	CGTrader	TurboSquid
Founded	2011, Vilnius	Early 2000s, New Orleans
Ownership	Independent, venture-backed	Shutterstock (since 2021)
Quality signal	Ratings, reviews, seller history	CheckMate certification, ratings
Free models	Yes	Yes
Subscription	Yes, download allowance plans	Mostly pay per model
Custom modeling	Built-in hiring marketplace	Not a core feature
Seller exclusivity	Non-exclusive selling allowed	Higher tiers tied to exclusivity

How to judge a 3D model before buying

The platform matters less than the individual listing. Before you click buy, check:

1. Native file format: a model built in 3ds Max with V-Ray materials may not convert cleanly to Blender or Unreal. Prefer listings that include your software's native file or a clean FBX/glTF.
2. Polycount and topology: high counts suit close-up stills; game and AR work needs optimized meshes. Look for wireframe previews.
3. Textures and UVs: confirm texture resolution, whether maps are PBR (base color, roughness, normal, metallic), and whether UVs are unwrapped without overlaps.
4. Renderer: listings often state the render engine used. Materials rarely transfer perfectly between engines.
5. Scale and pivot: real-world scale and a sensible pivot point save time in every scene.
6. Reviews and seller history: a seller with many well-reviewed models is a safer bet.

Our introduction to 3D modeling explains topology, UVs and polycount if any of those terms are new.

Licensing: the part most buyers skip

Both marketplaces sell models under royalty-free licenses, which generally let you use the model in your own renders, products and projects without paying per use. Common restrictions include:

• No reselling the raw model or including it in another asset pack.
• Editorial-only models: items depicting real brands, logos, vehicles or people may be limited to editorial use. A branded car or phone model usually cannot appear in your advertising without permission from the brand owner.
• Game and app use: embedding models in a distributed game or app may require that they are protected from extraction; read the specific terms.

If you are using a model in client advertising, read the license text on the product page and keep a copy with the project files. For high-value campaigns, ask a qualified legal adviser about trademark and likeness issues.

Selling your models on CG Trader or TurboSquid

For artists, both marketplaces can produce passive income, but the stores are crowded. What tends to sell:

• Practical, commonly needed objects done extremely well, rather than one-off portfolio pieces.
• Clean files in several formats with organized naming and PBR textures.
• Strong preview renders on neutral backgrounds plus wireframe shots.
• Accurate titles and tags that match how buyers search.

Decide early whether exclusivity is worth it. Exclusive programs can pay more per sale, but non-exclusive selling lets you list on several marketplaces at once.

Stock model or custom model?

Stock models are ideal for props, furniture, background vehicles and generic objects. They are a poor fit for your own product. If the model needs to match your exact dimensions, materials, logo placement and finish, it usually needs to be built from your CAD files, drawings or samples. That is the difference between a generic scene and accurate 3D product rendering.

Many studios mix both: custom hero products surrounded by quality stock assets. A 3D visualization and rendering service can source and adapt stock models for the set while modeling your product from scratch. If you are working with limited funds, our guide to 3D design on a budget covers where stock assets save the most money.

Frequently asked questions