Glossary

Blender

Blender is a free, open-source 3D creation suite for modeling, texturing, animation and rendering. Maintained by the Blender Foundation, it has become a default tool for preparing 3D assets for the web because it exports glTF and GLB natively, with full PBR materials. For most Web AR projects, Blender is where the model is cleaned up and exported before it ever reaches a website.

Quick Facts

Type
free, open-source 3D suite
Maintained by
the Blender Foundation
License
GPL, free for commercial use
Web export
glTF and GLB native, with PBR
Common for
cleaning and exporting AR-ready models

Blender covers the entire 3D pipeline in one free package, which is why so much web 3D starts there. Its native glTF and GLB export means a model can go from Blender straight to the browser with its PBR materials (base colour, roughness, metallic, normal) intact.

The web-relevant workflow is usually: import or model the object, assign PBR materials, then export a GLB with Draco compression for the web and Android, plus a USDZ for iOS AR. Legacy FBX files are commonly brought into Blender first and re-exported as GLB.

Once the files exist, PausAR Viewer takes over on the WordPress side. Drop the Elementor widget in, upload your Blender exports, and the plugin renders the model and handles Web AR, no coding.

Comparison

PropertyBlenderCommercial 3D suites
CostFreeOften subscription
Web exportglTF and GLB nativeVaries, sometimes via plugins
AdoptionVery wide, large communityStrong in specific industries

FAQ

Is Blender really free?

Yes. Blender is open source under the GPL and free for commercial work, with no per-seat license.

How do I export an AR-ready model from Blender?

Export a GLB with Draco compression for web and Android, and create a USDZ for iOS AR. To turn a GLB into USDZ quickly you can use our free online USDZ Converter.

How do I get my Blender model onto a WordPress site?

Upload the GLB and USDZ to the PausAR Viewer Elementor widget. The plugin renders the model and handles AR, no coding required.

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