Is Sketchfab Still Worth It? Review, Fab Migration & FAQs

First Impressions: How Sketchfab Pulls You In

When I first discovered Sketchfab, it wasn’t through a tutorial or a marketplace search—it was through a random Google result. I needed a 3D chair for a small design project, and suddenly I was navigating through a universe of models ranging from game-ready weapons to detailed cultural artifacts.

What struck me was not the purchase process but the act of browsing itself. Sketchfab feels less like a shop and more like a gallery-meets-social feed, pulling you in to explore rather than to buy.

But once the excitement of discovery settles, questions arise: is it a sustainable tool for creators, or just a showcase?

The Sketchfab Viewer: Still Its Strongest Hook

The viewer remains Sketchfab’s crown jewel. Unlike platforms that show static screenshots, Sketchfab invites you to interact—spin a character around, zoom into textures, even preview the object in AR. This feature keeps it relevant in a crowded market.

For casual users, it’s fun and frictionless. For professionals, it’s a quick way to judge geometry quality and texture fidelity before committing. Many reviewers on G2 call it “the best way to present 3D models on the web,” even if the backend marketplace has shortcomings.

The viewer sets high expectations—but that’s where inconsistencies begin to show.

Free vs Paid Assets: The Two Worlds of Sketchfab

Browsing Sketchfab reveals two very different experiences. On one side, the free models tagged under Creative Commons offer endless exploration. On the other, the paid store promises higher fidelity, commercial rights, and curated content.

The gap between the two can feel jarring. Free assets range from professional-grade scans to half-finished drafts. Paid assets solve this with quality assurance—but prices can feel steep, especially for students and indie creators.

This duality makes Sketchfab exciting as a playground but tricky as a dependable source for professional pipelines.

And this tension only deepens with Epic’s new Fab marketplace rollout.

The Fab Transition: Opportunity or Downgrade?

In 2024, Epic Games began migrating Sketchfab’s store into Fab Marketplace, a unified asset hub for Unreal Engine, Quixel, and ArtStation. The Verge framed it as consolidation, but creators on Reddit see it differently.

Complaints include:

• Loss of features like open reviews and asset stats.
• Confusion around which licenses (like Editorial) migrate.
• Worries that Fab prioritizes buyers over creators.

For some, Fab represents growth; for others, it feels like Sketchfab’s community-driven spirit is fading into a corporate storefront.

And that shift changes how creators view Sketchfab’s long-term value.

What Creators Praise—and What They Criticize

Looking at Trustpilot, G2, and forums, the split is clear:

Praise:

• Intuitive model viewer, easy to share.
• Massive library across categories.
• Great for showcasing portfolios.

Criticism:

• Inconsistent quality of free models.
• Subscription plans feel expensive relative to sales.
• Customer support and billing issues.
• Visibility drops after Fab rollout.

This divide shows Sketchfab as beloved for display, questioned as a marketplace.

Which leads to a bigger question: if not Sketchfab, then where?

Alternatives Gaining Attention

Discontent has fueled interest in competitors.

• CGTrader: Professional focus, strong buyer base, reliable licensing.
• Turbosquid: Legacy marketplace, curated but less social.
• Unity Asset Store: Directly tied to a game engine, ideal for developers.
• ArtStation Marketplace: Better known for 2D, but gaining traction for 3D too.

Many creators hedge their bets—using Sketchfab as a portfolio viewer while selling on other platforms for revenue.

Diversification seems to be the survival strategy.

The Pricing Puzzle: Why Plans Frustrate Creators

Sketchfab’s plans range from free to enterprise, but recurring frustrations appear in reviews. The Pro plan unlocks bigger uploads and private models, yet creators say features that used to be accessible have shifted behind paywalls.

For professionals, Premium offers branding and larger uploads, but its cost feels high compared to actual income from the store. As one Redditor put it, “you pay more, but visibility still depends on algorithms you can’t control.”

Pricing wouldn’t sting so much if revenue predictability were better.

Sketchfab as a Portfolio vs Marketplace

The central conflict is this: Sketchfab excels as a showcase, but struggles as a store.

Portfolios thrive—artists use Sketchfab embeds on personal sites, resumes, and LinkedIn.

Marketplaces struggle—sales lag, licensing confuses buyers, and migration uncertainty clouds trust.

For some, that’s enough—Sketchfab is their “Instagram of 3D.” For others, it’s a risk to rely on it as a core business channel.

And that makes its future more about positioning than features.

Final Verdict: Playground or Transition Phase?

After exploring reviews, using the viewer, and tracking the Fab migration, my takeaway is this: Sketchfab remains a magnetic place to explore and showcase, but it’s not as reliable as a professional marketplace.

For students, hobbyists, and explorers, it’s still a playground worth getting lost in. For professionals, it’s a portfolio enhancer—but not a guaranteed revenue stream.

In 2025, Sketchfab feels less like a finished destination and more like a platform in transition, balancing between its community roots and Epic’s marketplace ambitions.

FAQs About Sketchfab 

1. Is Sketchfab shutting down?
No, Sketchfab itself is not shutting down. What’s changing is the Sketchfab Store, which is being migrated into Fab Marketplace. The core viewer, community uploads, and free 3D models remain available on Sketchfab.

2. Can I still sell 3D models on Sketchfab?
Not directly. As of 2025, all sales are handled through Fab, Epic Games’ new asset hub. Creators need to migrate their content to Fab to continue monetizing. Non-commercial or Creative Commons models can still be shared freely on Sketchfab.

3. Are Sketchfab’s free 3D models still available?
Yes. The free 3D models library remains part of Sketchfab. Assets are licensed under CC0, CC-BY, or Editorial licenses. Always check the specific license before using them in commercial projects.

4. Is Sketchfab still good for portfolios?
Yes—many artists still use Sketchfab as a 3D portfolio showcase. Its interactive viewer and embeddable models make it a great way to present work on resumes, LinkedIn, and personal sites. Even if sales move to Fab, Sketchfab remains valuable as a presentation tool.

5. Does Sketchfab still support VR and AR?
Yes. The Sketchfab viewer still includes VR and AR previews, allowing users to inspect assets interactively in browsers and compatible devices.