# Appleseed (open-source CAD and 3D modelling app)

> Appleseed is a free, open-source CAD and 3D modelling app for Windows, macOS and Linux. A modern open source rendering engine for animation and visual effects. It has 2,328 GitHub stars and is released under the MIT license. Its source code is on GitHub at appleseedhq/appleseed.

Using OSL v1.13.12.0 as the newest minor version of OSL -- v1.14 -- has raised the Python minimum to 3.7 (from 2.7). appleseed is an open source, physically-based global illumination rendering engine primarily designed for animation and visual effects.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | https://github.com/appleseedhq/appleseed |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Interface | desktop GUI |
| GitHub stars | 2,328 |
| License | MIT (open source) |
| Replaces | n/a |
| Language | C++ |
| Website | https://appleseedhq.net/ |
| Official | no |
| Category | CAD & 3D modelling |
| Latest release | 2.1.0-beta (Sep 3, 2019) |
| Last commit | Jun 11, 2026 |

## Install

Download a build for your system from the project's releases (https://github.com/appleseedhq/appleseed/releases) or website, or build it from source by following the README.

## Similar desktop apps

- [FreeCAD](https://appsgit.com/desktop-apps/freecad): Official source code of FreeCAD, a free and opensource multiplatform 3D parametric modeler. (34,016 stars, LGPL-2.1, official)
- [Blender](https://appsgit.com/desktop-apps/blender): Blender is the free and open source 3D creation suite. (20,749 stars, GPL-2.0-or-later, official)
- [OrcaSlicer](https://appsgit.com/desktop-apps/orcaslicer): G-code generator for 3D printers (Bambu, Prusa, Voron, VzBot, RatRig, Creality, etc.). (15,885 stars, AGPL-3.0)
- [OpenSCAD](https://appsgit.com/desktop-apps/openscad): OpenSCAD - The Programmers Solid 3D CAD Modeller. (10,385 stars, GPL-2.0, official)
- [PrusaSlicer](https://appsgit.com/desktop-apps/prusaslicer): G-code generator for 3D printers (RepRap, Makerbot, Ultimaker etc.). (9,389 stars, AGPL-3.0, official)
- [UltiMaker Cura](https://appsgit.com/desktop-apps/ultimaker-cura): 3D printer / slicing GUI built on top of the Uranium framework. (7,049 stars, LGPL-3.0, official)

---

Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/desktop-apps/appleseed
Source: appsgit (https://appsgit.com), the app store for github. Data from the GitHub API, refreshed nightly.
Machine access: JSON API https://appsgit.com/api/v1/apps (OpenAPI: https://appsgit.com/openapi.json), MCP server https://mcp.appsgit.com/mcp, full index https://appsgit.com/llms-full.txt.
