What a 3D model costs on Makerful: credits explained
Exactly what each step costs in credits on Makerful, what 80 free credits buy, and how to spend less per print. Plans from $7.99 a month.
By Geehwan, Founder, Makerful · November 10, 2026 · 3 min read
Makerful is pay-per-generation. Instead of a flat fee per provider, you keep one balance of credits and each step in the Studio spends some. This page is the full price list, with the reasoning behind it.
The price list
| Step | Credits |
|---|---|
| Uploading a photo or a file | 0 |
| A concept picture (GPT Image, Nano Banana, Flux) | 1–4 |
| Editing a picture (change the pose, remove a stand) | about 3 |
| 3D model, Tripo H3.1 (default) | 30 textured, 60 high |
| 3D model, HunYuan 3D v3.1 | 23 draft, 38 textured |
| 3D model, Rodin Gen-2.5 | 40 |
| 3D model, Meshy 7.1 (premium) | 120, 160 at 4k |
| 3D model, Hi3D v3.0 (premium) | 200 |
| CAD design (first design in a session) | 30 |
| SVG vectorisation of a graphic | 10 |
A credit is pegged to about one US cent of provider cost, and you buy credits at two cents each; the difference pays for the agent, storage and the print-prep tools. Mesh repair, scaling, filament painting and downloads are free, and the Studio quotes the exact credits before each build.
What the free credits buy
New accounts get 80 credits, once, with no card. That is enough for:
- two full photo-to-3D runs on Tripo (concepts plus the model), or
- three HunYuan drafts, or
- a CAD part with a couple of revisions, or
- around 20 stickers or logos.
Free credits do not expire; they stay until you use them.
Plans
- Starter, $7.99 a month, 350 credits. About ten Tripo models a month. Unused credits roll over for an extra month.
- Pro, $19.99 a month, 950 credits. Includes a commercial license, so you can sell prints and use models in client work. Rolls over for two extra months.
- Studio, $49.99 a month, 2,500 credits. Three months of rollover, commercial license, and the priority queue.
Credit packs bought on top never expire. You can cancel or change tier at any time and keep access to the end of the period.
How to spend less per print
- Pick the concept before the model. A 2-credit picture that is wrong costs you 2 credits; a 30-credit model built from it costs 30. The Studio shows concepts first for this reason.
- Start with a draft for anything you are unsure about. If the shape reads well on HunYuan's 23-credit draft, rebuild on Tripo only if you need the cleaner mesh.
- Use recipes. Pop figures, miniatures and boxes have their settings tuned, so you are less likely to pay for a second attempt.
- Use CAD for parts. A bracket or a box from the CAD agent is 30 credits for a design you can resize for free; a mesh model of the same thing costs the same and cannot be edited by dimension.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay to download my models?
No. Downloads in STL, 3MF, GLB, OBJ, STEP and SVG are free once the model exists.
Do credits expire?
Free sign-up credits and credit packs never expire. Monthly plan credits roll over for one, two or three additional months on Starter, Pro and Studio.
What happens if a generation fails?
Failed generations are not charged. You only pay for a result that lands in your project.
Is there a commercial license?
Pro and Studio include one. Free and Starter are for personal use.