How much does it cost to turn a photo into a 3D model with AI?
Updated August 30, 2026 · Published August 30, 2026
On PolyMedium, turning a photo into a 3D model costs a flat $0.25 for an object or a drawing, and $0.75 to $3.00 for a character depending on quality. There is no subscription: you pay per model from a prepaid wallet, new accounts start with $3.00 free (no card), and every export (GLB, USDZ, STL, turntable GIF) is free. Most of the rest of the market prices differently: monthly subscriptions from roughly $10 to $100 that grant credit allowances, where the per-model cost depends on how much of the allowance you actually use. The table below shows both, with sources.
What you pay on PolyMedium, exactly
- 1
Objects and drawings: $0.25, or $0.75 at best quality
A photo of an object or a kid's drawing is $0.25 for the standard draft. If a finished model earns it, $0.75 re-runs the same subject on the heaviest engine. You only ever pay the upgrade after seeing the $0.25 result.
- 2
Characters: $0.75, $1.00, or $3.00
Characters (people, creatures, figures) carry three quality rungs: $0.75 budget, $1.00 standard (the default), and $3.00 for a figurine-grade hero model. The default is the tier that held character identity best across our benchmarks, not the most expensive one.
- 3
Everything else: free or refunded
Exports cost nothing: GLB in three presets, USDZ for AR, STL for 3D printing, and a turntable GIF. Failed jobs are refunded to your wallet automatically. The "Make it real" option on a drawing is $0.25. Wallet top-ups start at $10, and the $3.00 starter balance means the first dozen models cost nothing at all.
Why per-model pricing usually wins at low volume
- • A $20 monthly subscription equals 80 PolyMedium objects, every month, whether you generate them or not
- • Subscription credits typically reset monthly; a prepaid wallet balance does not expire with the calendar
- • You can stop for three months and come back without having paid a cent in between
- • At high steady volume the math can flip: if you generate hundreds of models every month, compare against a subscription's effective per-model rate
What AI 3D generators charge in 2026
Published prices from each vendor's own pricing page. Subscription products meter usage in credits, so the true cost of one model depends on plan, settings, and how much of the monthly allowance you use.
| Tool | Pricing model | Published prices | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| PolyMedium | Per model, prepaid wallet, no subscription | $0.25 objects and drawings ($0.75 best); characters $0.75 / $1.00 / $3.00; $3.00 free starter balance; free exports | polymedium.app/pricing |
| Meshy | Subscription with monthly credits | Free: 100 credits/mo. Pro $20/mo, Premium $40/mo, Ultra $100/mo; Studio $70/mo | meshy.ai/pricing, checked 2026-08-30 |
| Tripo | Subscription with monthly credits | Free tier with monthly credits; paid plans from about $20/mo | tripo3d.ai/pricing, checked 2026-08-30 |
| Rodin (Hyper3D) | Pay per result, or subscription | Free tier with pay-per-result at $1.50 per credit; Creator $30/mo (about 60 models); Business $120/mo | hyper3d.ai/pricing, checked 2026-08-30 |
| 3D AI Studio | Subscription with monthly credits | Free: 1,000 credits/mo. Studio $10/mo, Pro $29/mo; one-time credit packs from $34 | 3daistudio.com/pricing, checked 2026-08-30 |
| Luma (Genie) | Credit subscription across Luma's products | Plus $30/mo, Pro $90/mo, Ultra $300/mo; 3D generation is not listed on Luma's pricing page | lumalabs.ai/pricing, checked 2026-08-30 |
| Hunyuan3D | Open-source, self-hosted | Model weights are free; you supply the GPU and setup time | github.com/Tencent-Hunyuan |
Prices checked on 2026-08-30 on each vendor's public pricing page and rounded to published figures. Vendors change plans; treat the sources as authoritative.
Try it free
$3.00 starter balance: twelve $0.25 models, no card required.
FAQ
How much does it cost to turn a photo into a 3D model with AI?
On PolyMedium, $0.25 flat for an object or a drawing, and $0.75 to $3.00 for a character depending on quality, with no subscription. On subscription tools it depends on the plan: Meshy runs $20 to $100 a month and Rodin's pay-per-result rate is $1.50 per credit (both checked on their pricing pages, 2026-08-30).
Is there a free way to try AI 3D generation?
Yes, several. PolyMedium gives new accounts $3.00 with no card, which covers twelve $0.25 models. Meshy, Tripo, and 3D AI Studio each offer free tiers with monthly credit allowances (checked 2026-08-30). Hunyuan3D is fully free as open-source software if you have a capable GPU and the patience to set it up.
Do I need a subscription for AI 3D models?
Not on PolyMedium: it is pay-per-model from a prepaid wallet, with a $10 minimum top-up when the free $3.00 runs out. Most competitors sell monthly subscriptions with credit allowances instead. Which is cheaper depends on volume: below a steady 80 objects a month, per-model pricing beats a $20 subscription.
Are there hidden costs like export fees?
On PolyMedium, no. GLB, USDZ, STL, and turntable GIF exports are all free and unlimited, and failed jobs are refunded automatically. When comparing tools, check whether downloads, formats, or commercial use are gated behind higher tiers; licensing terms on free tiers vary by vendor.