Are you still using Thingiverse to find models for your 3D printer? It’s time to upgrade your 3D model search engine with these three sites that are better in just about every way.
MakerWorld is the main 3D printing hub now
Bambu Lab took over the 3D printing world in more ways than one
Before Bambu Lab entered the 3D printing chat, Printables (run by Prusa) was the go-to hub for many when it came to 3D printing models. Thingiverse hasn’t been all that relevant for years, with Printables definitely holding first place for many—but Bambu Lab changed that with MakerWorld.
MakerWorld quickly took the 3D printing world by storm, much like Bambu Lab printers took over the 3D printing space once they were released. These days, MakerWorld is often a 3D printer’s first stop when looking for a model—at least, for all of the 3D printing people I know.
The popularity of MakerWorld is due in part to how many people have Bambu Lab printers these days. The files on MakerWorld offer one-click printing for all Bambu Lab printers, making it a simple solution for those who are already in the ecosystem.
For those who don’t have a Bambu printer, 3MF and STL files can be opened in any mainstream slicing software, like PrusaSlicer or Orca Slicer, and be sliced for just about any machine.
MakerWorld offers a lot of bonuses for posting models there. For instance, I gained enough points for $120 in Bambu Lab gift cards just by posting some simple models I made. MakerWorld also now offers full monetization systems for designers, and it all integrates with the Bambu Handy app to make starting a print easier than ever.
If you’re just wanting to find a 3D print model for your favorite board game or DIY tool, MakerWorld is a fantastic place to start.
Cults3D is the perfect place to fill your niche 3D printing desires
Just don’t expect everything to be free
While MakerWorld offers primarily free downloads and a wide range of models with a library that’s growing daily, Cults3D is a bit more niche in the best ways possible.
Cults3D is a place where the more premium and high-end 3D modeling artists publish their work. This is because Cults3D offers native monetization options where a designer can require payment up front for a model.
Because many models on Cults3D cost money—some as low as $0.99—you can expect the library to be a bit more curated and of a higher quality. Typically speaking, the designers who are posting on Cults3D have a bit more design experience and CAD knowledge than the average person on MakerWorld or other 3D printing sites.
Let’s take this MBV Super Trac 2000 1:14 RC model as an example. It’s a $70 3D model, which seems like a lot—and it is. But, when you consider that this model is a 1:1 replica at a 1/14 scale of a Super Trac 2000 tractor that’s designed to be turned into an RC car, it starts to make a bit more sense.
Or, take this Mazda Miata MX-5 Rocket Bunny model that’s $15 as another example. The model is a 1/24 scale of the Mazda Miata MX-5 car, down to the interior seats, steering wheel, and even radio. Some manual painting will definitely be needed, and it works best with a resin printer, but the model is extremely detailed.
All that to say, if you’re looking for a niche 3D print file that isn’t on MakerWorld, check Cults3D, it might have it so long as you’re willing to pay for it.
If you can’t find a model on Thangs, it probably doesn’t exist
Thangs has a massive selection of free and premium models
Thangs is a site very similar to Cults3D, though it’s definitely built around communities rather than individual designers. For instance, the MultiBuild (formerly MultiBoard) community lives on Thangs. Thangs is where all of the official MultiBuild downloads are located.
Then you have models like this desk organizer that looks sleek and modern, which is free to download. Or this two-handed sword, which requires a monthly subscription or single purchase to download.
In the past, Thangs had a unique feature in that it let you search multiple websites from one place, which was a big draw for many to use it. That changed in early 2026, but Thangs is still a great place to dive deeper into design communities or support designers directly.
Thangs is probably my least-used 3D printing site, but it’s still one that I like to keep in my back pocket. Like Cults3D, the models are often higher-quality than MakerWorld and there’s a larger selection of more eclectic or niche prints available on Thangs than anywhere else.
- Build Volume
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256x256x256mm
- Printing Speed
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600mm/s
The Bambu Labs P2S 3D printer is ready to go out of the box and can have you printing within 15 minutes. It features up to 20-color printing with the AMS unit, has an upgraded built-in camera for remote monitoring and time lapses, and has an enclosed body for printing even high-temperature filament.
There are more ways to download 3D prints than there are movies
At the end of the day, you can get 3D models from just about anywhere. Thingiverse, Printables, MakerWorld, Cults3D, Thangs, even Yeggi—there’s a near infinite number of sites to download from.
However, I typically choose one of these three sites because they’re tried and true when it comes to quality and usability of the 3D print models, and that’s what matters to me.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
