12 Best Hero Forge Alternatives to Make Custom Miniatures in 2024
3D miniatures are gaining popularity worldwide, and they are used in game design and for creating detailed replicas. With technological advancements, creating these miniatures has become more accessible. Many companies now offer services to design 3D structures, with some allowing customers to craft their designs using specialized software. One leading example is Hero Forge, a renowned platform that lets users create personalized figurines.
What is a Hero Forge?
Hero Forge is a user-friendly software that allows the creation of online characters and miniature structures at no initial cost. It supports customers in designing and purchasing custom 3D miniatures, featuring a clean interface with various impressive options. Users can choose from over 800 styles and thousands of poses influenced by various animations. The tool includes many body shapes, hairstyles, colors, and other customizable features. Registered users can also have their 3D-printed tabletop miniatures shipped to them at a reasonable price, with free shipping available under certain conditions.
How are Hero Forge Miniatures Made?
Hero Forge miniatures are crafted using Stereolithography (SLA), a 3D printing technique that involves hardening liquid resin with UV light layer by layer. This method ensures high-definition detailing, adhering to traditional miniature painting techniques where colors are mixed by hand. The process is well-established, reducing the likelihood of errors and producing high-quality miniatures.
Why Look for Hero Forge Alternatives?
While Hero Forge offers unique features and allows for the quick creation of creative and aesthetically pleasing miniatures, some users may seek alternatives for various reasons—whether they desire different styles and functionalities or want to explore other options that might better meet their needs.
What are the Best Hero Forge Alternatives Sites that users can get?
So, if users are unsatisfied with Hero Forge, they can look for other alternatives. There are many heroes that forge competitors in the market, which are available to consumers. One needs to look at various options and choose the best. Few are free software, while some charge a few bucks. Depending upon their requirements, the consumers can choose. So here you go…. a few of the best alternatives you can find.
1. Anvil.co
Anvil.co provides a comprehensive suite for designing personalized 3D miniatures and tabletops. This platform stands out for its user-friendly design interface and affordability, making it an excellent Hero Forge alternative. It offers extensive customization options, including various body shapes, weapons, and base designs. Anvil.co is particularly appreciated for its responsive customer service and guaranteed satisfaction, making it a top choice for custom miniature enthusiasts
2. Hero Mini Maker
Hero Mini Maker is free software that works the same as Hero Forge. It creates 3D models and figurines using Windows PCs. Users can choose from a huge library of different custom miniature models. A total of 800+ styles and 1000 pre-customized poses and bases are available here. You can choose anyone and give it a look you want. You can choose many outfits, such as a helmet, dress, vest, dress, etc., and customize it accordingly. After completing the design, you must download the STL file for 3D printing.
3. Desktop Hero
Desktop Hero is another great Hero Forge Alternative. This app allows you to create miniatures like 3D dolls and gaming tabletops. The users must choose from the vast library or design their poses and standing positions. It is an easy figure-out app that allows customization and choosing from the models available in the app itself. If you want to get the custom-made miniature figurines delivered to you at your doorstep, you must pay a minimal price. However, the app has limitations, like its limited features, unlike sites like Hero Forge, which are complete in themselves.
4. Eldritch Foundry
Eldritch Foundry allows users to create miniatures within no time. It gives additional features to make your creative designs look much better. The app has a collection of presets and styles for you to choose from and redesign accordingly.
Touted to have the best quality printing amongst all the other apps, you have to pay the price if you want to have the best printing experience; otherwise, it’s a free tool. The app acts as a creative tool for the customers. One can experiment and see for themselves what can be done.
5. PCGen
PCGen software is free and has no bugs. It is one of the best heroes for alternative sites. It is amazing and allows you to design 3D models without trouble. PCGen features enriched JavaScript software, allowing users to dwell in their creativity.
It also offers multiple designs to choose from and use, and you can customize a model or design it yourself. The app allows quick loading of the images with few hurdles in the way.
6. MyMiniFactory
MyMiniFactory is a great online platform for creating 3D models. It is free to create models, while 3D printing requires a price. However, the advanced-level editor of MyMiniFactory lets users create the best 3D tabletops. It competes with Hero Forge Mini, which is equally efficient in terms of delivering appropriate results. Very similar to Hero Forge Mini, this app doesn’t let you feel. Otherwise, it gives you an experience just like Hero Forge Mini.
7. Gambody
Gambody is an online marketplace for downloading comic books and manga characters’ 3D model STL files. One special thing about the Gambody app is that it allows customers to design and sell the miniatures on the app itself. This helps people not good with technology go to this app and create, sell, and earn money.
Gambody is a sophisticated alternative version of Hero Forge. The site’s fully optimized 3D designing tool helps create and design models easily. 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 have as a hero forge character creator, allowing users to create their characters on their own. The only limitation is that the price tags vary accordingly. But the best part is that the STL files are complete, and you can directly use them on the machine.
8. Cults 3D
Professionals and experts create the models here. It is an interface where users can design and purchase 3D miniatures reasonably priced. The software has many styles, genres, and other fields. Users will have the best 3D STL files here to download. The user interface might not be good, but the quality of custom 3D-printed miniatures in this app is actually of premium quality; hence, no complaints are ever received from users.
9. Creature Caster
Creature Caster is another excellent app that can get 3D-modelled structures at a very cheap rate. Known to be one of the best sites worldwide, producing premium quality 3D models. You can get a tabletop or figurines home-delivered, and the quality is the best. However, compared to the Hero Forge miniature, this software delivers less cheap products.
10. Thingiverse
Thingiverse is an app that allows users to get intricate designs that fit their preferences. With many models, designs, and products, this app is heaven for creative ones. Comic books, anime characters, other creative showpieces, and useful 3D gadgets are available on the site for you to use and make the necessary changes. Although it is a little time-consuming, it gives satisfying results. The designs are free, although the printing and shipping charge a buck.
11. SketchUp
SketchUp is a customized miniature website that offers unrestricted services to its users. The prices are quite high, though. The users can pick any design and change the part they want to edit. It is one of the best apps to use and has no such limitations. This app allows the customers to create specific designs, including the base models, and develop a new product. Like Hero Forge, this app serves complete customer satisfaction.
12. Autodesk TINKERCAD
Autodesk Tinkercad is free to use the software. This app doesn’t need the help of any other software to use the free service. Very easy to use, simple, and efficient while giving the customers a satisfying experience. Tinkercad offers free classes for interested users who want to learn about 3D creative model making. Who are new to the 3D printing field. However, the resources are limited to use. When you want to deliver the product to your doorstep, you need to pay a certain amount and get it delivered. Other apps are available, like Netumo, 25inch, patsies, Portrait Professional, Smiley, Fantasy Grounds, Winds Portrait, etc. Still, the above 12 are the best out of all listed.
Conclusion
There are various options available for 3D custom miniatures in the market. However, it is up to the customers to decide and choose from the lot depending on their needs and affordability. One needs to be wise and practical when choosing the apps to invest time, energy, and sometimes money. The above was the total list of the alternatives chosen to be the best for the customers. The passing statement is about creating, designing, printing, and enjoying the 3D model miniatures. The more you explore, the more you get to know your creative side.
