So, you’re hoping to get started in 3D designing. Maybe it’s for video games, animation, special effects, or architecture. But software is required no matter where you’re headed on your design journey. Unreal Engine and Blender are two of the biggest names in digital content creation (DCC) software that both professionals and hobbyists use. But what’s the difference between Unreal Engine vs Blender?
Here’s what you need to know.
- Unreal Engine and Blender are both popular DCC software
- Unreal Engine is a user-friendly platform focused on game design
- Blender is an open-sourced platform and adaptable to different 3D design practices
Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine is a 3D game engine and creation software developed by Epic Games. It features a range of tools for creating immersive 3D environments, including advanced graphics and rendering capabilities, and physics simulations.
Unreal Engine is known for:
- Its user-friendly interface
- Creating iconic video games like Fortnite
- Virtual reality and augmented reality development
- Its extensive marketplace of assets, plugins, models, and effects
Yes, but Unreal Engine does require a royalty fee after your project breaks $1 million gross revenue.
Unreal Engine system requirements
Windows: Windows 10 64-bit, quad-core Intel or AMD, 2.5 GHz or faster, 8 GB RAM, DirectX 11 or 12 compatible graphics card
Linux: Linux Ubuntu 18.04, quad-core Intel or AMD, 2.5 GHz or faster, 32 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 or Higher
Mac: Latest macOS 13.x, quad-core Intel, 2.5 GHz or faster, 8 GB RAM, Metal 1.2 Compatible Graphics Card
Unreal Engine cost
Education Discount: Free for educators and schools (no revenue limits)
Royalty-based: Free for game developers, individuals, and small businesses until the sales threshold
Seat based: $1,850 per license
Blender
Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation software that allows users to model, rig, animate, simulate, and render 3D graphics. It features a comprehensive set of tools and a user-friendly interface, making it accessible to beginners and professionals alike.
Blender is known for:
- It’s open-source software
- A vast community of users and customizable plugins and features
- It’s versatility, from sculpting and rigging to animation and video
Yes, but Blender’s open-source nature makes it harder for 3D software beginners to use, which requires more research and patience.
Blender system requirements
Windows: Recommended Windows 10 or 11. 8 cores CPU, 32 GB of RAM, and GPU 8 GB VRAM
Linux: Distribution with glibc 2.28 or newer (64-bit). 8 cores CPU, 32 GB of RAM, and GPU 8 GB VRAM
Mac: Compatible with Apple M1, M2, and M3 processors. Requires macOS 11.2 (Big Sur) or newer
Blender cost
Blender is free to use for any purpose, including commercial and educational purposes. However, additional third-party add-ons and plugins may require additional costs.
What our team says
We reached out to our Kits Team, a group of passionate 3D designers, about the software and what they think it is best used for.
Here’s what they said about Unreal Engine:
“As many have mentioned, [Unreal Engine] is the go-to DCC for both game development and media creation. Its UI (user interface) is intuitive, and systems like Blueprints, Niagara, Lumen, and Nanite are real time-savers when working with assets and scenes of various scales. My only downside is that it can feel a bit bloated at times and requires extra attention when it comes to optimization, especially for games.” - Tom Berczeller, Material Artist at KitBash3D
“Unreal Engine is the best for game design and VFX (visual effects). It has incredible visuals by default, and not much knowledge is needed in coding to actually design things. Plus, it has a built-in node base for shaders and VFX. However, you’ll need a very strong knowledge of the software, and some other engines do the job faster and are way easier to use for simple tasks.” - Alex Luna Garvin, Material Artist at KitBash3D
Here’s what they said about Blender:
“By definition, game design pretty much doesn't fit here unless you use the visual style conceptualization features. Everything else might work in theory, but it's definitely not the best solution [for game design].” - Alexey Druzhkov, Material Artist at KitBash3D
“I think it would be fair to describe Blender as the ‘tinkerers DCC.’ It's a good base of tools and such, but needs work to make it work really well for you.” - Brandon Acree, 3D Modeler at KitBash3D
Unreal Engine vs Blender Consensus
If your sole goal is to create a sellable video game or AR/VR experience, then Unreal Engine is the perfect platform for user-friendliness and quality control.
However, Blender is cost-effective and flexible if you want more freedom and the ability to hone your skills across a wide range of 3D practices.
At KitBash3D, we’re software agnostic, and our Kits are suited to any platform you choose. Explore Cargo and find out how to enhance your next Unreal Engine or Blender project.
