Published May 8, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT

As a Full Sail University alumnus, I was taught to adhere to professional-grade standards in computer animation. So I know how it feels to use these amazing tools, which have many features and are designed with ease of use in mind. However, there are many things I stopped paying for when I realized that free alternatives aren't very different. You should stop paying the growing, high price tag and learn to use open-source apps that can do the same thing or more.

Making 3D art with Blender

Blender is your all-in-one resource

Maya may be the industry standard, but Blender proves you don't need a very expensive subscription. Since it's free, people assume it lacks the polish of the bigger apps, but it can be better if you take the time to learn all the quirks, shortcuts, and layout.…