Short answer: Modly is a good choice if you already own a capable NVIDIA GPU and want unlimited, offline image-to-3D for free. If you don't have that hardware, are on a laptop or Mac, or just need a few models now, a hosted generator such as TRELLIS 2 on trellis2.com gets you a textured GLB in minutes for about $0.68–$1.72 per model, with nothing to install.
Modly vs TRELLIS 2 on trellis2.com at a glance
| Decision area | Modly | TRELLIS 2 on trellis2.com |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Free, MIT-licensed desktop app | Hosted image-to-3D generator in the browser |
| Where it runs | Locally on your own NVIDIA GPU, fully offline | Cloud GPUs; any device with a browser |
| Models | Hunyuan3D 2, TripoSG and Trellis, plus community extensions | TRELLIS 2 (512³ / 1024³ / 1536³), plus Hunyuan3D, Meshy, Tripo and Hyper3D Rodin |
| Cost | $0 software; you pay for the GPU, power and setup time | From $4.9 for 120 credits; a TRELLIS 2 model costs 30–42 credits |
| Install | Windows .exe, Linux AppImage/.deb, macOS .dmg, or from source | None |
| Exports | GLB, OBJ, STL, PLY | GLB with PBR materials (base color, roughness, metallic, opacity); free GLB→STL |
| Privacy | Images never leave your machine | Images are processed on our servers and deleted after generation |
| Best for | Unlimited experiments on hardware you already own | Fast results without a GPU, higher-resolution TRELLIS 2, and side-by-side models |
Sources: Modly (read 2026-10-26), Microsoft TRELLIS.2, and trellis2.com pricing.
When Modly is the better choice
Modly's own site describes it as "100% free and open source" with "no credits, no subscriptions." Inference happens on your NVIDIA GPU and the app works offline, so your images stay on your machine. That is a strong fit when:
- you already have a desktop NVIDIA GPU with plenty of VRAM;
- you want to generate hundreds of variations without counting credits;
- your images are confidential and cannot be uploaded anywhere;
- you like to tinker: the stack is MIT-licensed and extensible.
When a hosted generator is the better choice
Running open image-to-3D models locally is not free in practice. Microsoft's reference setup for TRELLIS.2 targets Linux and an NVIDIA GPU with at least 24 GB of memory, and the largest models are the ones that need the most VRAM. A hosted generator makes more sense when:
- You don't have the GPU. Laptops, Macs and most office PCs can't run these models well. On trellis2.com the GPU is ours.
- You need a handful of models, not thousands. $4.9 buys 120 credits, enough for four 512³ TRELLIS 2 models, with no hardware or setup time.
- You want the full TRELLIS 2 resolution range. The hosted generator runs 512³, 1024³ and 1536³ with texture size, remesh and sampling controls.
- You want to compare models on the same image. Switch between TRELLIS 2, Hunyuan3D, Meshy, Tripo and Hyper3D Rodin without installing each one.
Cost per model
| Setting on trellis2.com | Credits | Cost with the $4.9 Mini pack | Cost with the $15.9/month Basic plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRELLIS 2, 512³ | 30 | ≈ $1.23 | ≈ $0.68 |
| TRELLIS 2, 1024³ | 35 | ≈ $1.43 | ≈ $0.80 |
| TRELLIS 2, 1536³ | 42 | ≈ $1.72 | ≈ $0.95 |
One-time credits never expire, and unused credits are refundable within 7 days. With Modly the marginal cost is electricity, but only after you own the hardware.
How to choose in two minutes
- No NVIDIA GPU with lots of VRAM? Use a hosted generator.
- Need offline or fully private processing? Use Modly.
- Need 1536³ TRELLIS 2 output or several models to compare? Use the hosted generator.
- Generating at very high volume on your own hardware? Modly will be cheaper over time.
Either way, test with the same source image: one object, plain background, front or three-quarter view.
FAQ
Is Modly free? Yes. Modly says it is free and open source under the MIT license, with no credits or subscriptions.
Does Modly need a GPU? Its site says inference runs locally on your NVIDIA GPU. Check its FAQ for current hardware requirements.
Can I use TRELLIS 2 without a GPU? Yes. The TRELLIS 2 generator runs in the cloud and works in any modern browser.
Can I get STL for 3D printing? Modly exports STL directly. On trellis2.com, download the GLB and convert it with the free GLB to STL converter.