What is Spline 3D? A Guide to What You Can Create with the Interactive 3D Design Tool
- Apr 22
- 7 min read
Modeling, animation, and interaction—all in one place.
Spline 3D is a design tool that allows you to create real-time interactive 3D experiences.
As described as an all-in-one platform for 3D and design, you can handle everything within Spline, including 3D modeling, animation, physics, and interaction.
When people think of 3D modeling, tools like Blender or Cinema 4D usually come to mind.
However, these traditional 3D tools are typically used to export still images or videos.
Furthermore, if you want to make a 3D model created in Blender interactive on the web, it usually requires advanced programming using libraries such as Three.js.
What makes Spline unique is its ability to create interactive 3D designs.
You can easily set up interactions that respond to user actions, such as clicks or mouse hover, directly within the tool for use on websites or apps.
With responsive support, Spline 3D allows you to create interactive 3D designs that work seamlessly across smartphones, desktops, and tablets.
What You Can Do with Spline 3D?
With Spline, you can handle everything in one place, including 3D modeling, materials, lighting, animation, and interaction setup, all within a single interface.
Compared to tools like Blender, Spline has a much simpler and more intuitive UI.
This makes it a great option for designers from other fields who are not familiar with 3D, as well as for those who want to start exploring 3D design.
In this article, we will walk through what you can create with Spline 3D, breaking it down step by step based on the process of building an interactive 3D design.
3D Modeling
In Spline, you can create 3D objects by combining basic shapes such as spheres and cubes.
You can also convert paths created with the pen tool into 3D forms and edit meshes, allowing you to build a wide range of 3D models directly within Spline.
Another key feature is real-time collaboration.
Multiple users can work together at the same time, making it easy to create 3D models and set up animations as a team.
The example below was fully modeled using Spline. 👇
Remix link is here 👇 Happy Ghost_remix
One unique feature is a modeling method called Shape Blend.
This allows you to create 3D models by combining soft, organic shapes that behave almost like gummy material, resulting in smooth and fluid forms.
Materials
For modeled objects, you can apply colors such as gradients, and even create line-art style 3D designs by using outline layers.
By combining material layers, you can achieve various textures, from toon shading styles to glass-like materials.
The workflow is similar to Photoshop, so it should feel intuitive for designers with a graphic design background.
3D Animation
In Spline 3D, you can create animations by transforming objects through movement, rotation, and scaling.
The core concept is based on states, which represent different conditions of an object.
Animation is created by switching between these states.
For example, you can set the initial state of a cube as white and use it as the base state.
Next, you can add a new state where the cube changes to yellow.
You can then create another state where the cube changes to light blue and becomes slightly larger.
Once you have created three states, you can add transition actions to define how the object moves between them.
For example, you can set each transition to animate over one second.
As a result, the cube transitions from white to light blue, and finally becomes slightly larger and changes to yellow.
In addition to state-based animation, Spline has recently introduced timeline-based animation, allowing you to create animations by setting keyframes.
If you have experience with tools like After Effects, the timeline animation approach may feel more intuitive.
I personally use state-based animation most of the time, but I have also created tutorial videos on timeline animation on YouTube, so feel free to check them out as well.👇
Interaction
One of the biggest features of Spline is its ability to create real-time interactive experiences.
User actions such as mouse clicks, taps on mobile devices, mouse hover, and drag-and-drop can be used as triggers to move 3D objects or play animations within a scene.
You can define events such as mouse down, scroll, and key down, and specify which objects they apply to and what actions should be triggered.
Another major advantage is that all of this can be set up without writing any code.
Designers can test and fine-tune interactions in real time, making the workflow both intuitive and efficient.
An interactive 3D scene created with Spline 3D
As an example, I created a simple 3D scene in Spline, incorporating basic animation and interaction.
I modeled and created the LITTLE FUJI logo in Spline. When you hover over the logo, it scales up, and when you click it, it rotates once.
Physics effects have also been applied, allowing you to drag and move the surrounding elements.
Once released, the objects float gently as if they are in a zero-gravity space.
The scene is interactive on both desktop and mobile devices.
If you would like to explore it on a larger screen, you can experience it in full screen here.
Getting Started with Spline 3D | Browser vs Desktop
Spline 3D is available through its official website and can be used directly in your browser.
You’ll need to create an account, but there’s a free plan available, so feel free to give it a try.
There is also a desktop version that can be installed on your computer.
They're available for both Windows and macOS.
There are no major differences in functionality between the browser and desktop versions, but I personally mainly use the browser version.
You can also switch between light mode and dark mode, so you can choose the environment that feels most comfortable for you.
How Much Does Spline 3D Cost?
As of 2026, Spline offers three paid plans.
These include the Starter plan, the Pro plan, and the Enterprise plan for businesses.
🚀Starter Plan
The Starter plan costs $12 per month, making it the most affordable paid option.
With a free account, you are limited to creating up to three Spline files.
The Starter plan removes this limitation, allowing you to create an unlimited number of files.
Another major benefit is the ability to remove the Spline logo from web exports, such as when publishing your 3D scenes via a URL.
While you can import video assets, exporting files for video, Android, Apple, or app development is not supported in this plan.
For this reason, the Starter plan is recommended for those who:
Need to create more than three files regularly
Primarily plan to publish their work as images or via web exports (URLs)
🌟Pro Plan
The Pro plan costs $20 per month.
Like the Starter plan, it allows you to create an unlimited number of files.
In addition, you can create multiple scenes within a single file.
For example, you can build a loading screen as the first scene and automatically transition to the main 3D scene after a few seconds.
The Pro plan also supports a wide range of export options, including app development formats such as iOS, APK, App Bundle, and visionOS, as well as code exports like JavaScript, React, Three.js, and Next.js.
Video export is also available, and you can use unlimited variables.
By adding $5 per month, you can access Spline AI, which provides 2,000 credits each month.
These AI credits can be used for generating 3D models, creating textures, and more.
The Pro plan is recommended for those who:
Want to use Spline professionally for work
Plan to integrate interactive 3D scenes into apps or locally developed websites
I personally use the Pro plan for my work.
●Enterprise Plan
The Enterprise plan removes all limitations and allows for custom AI credit allocation.
This plan is designed for organizations, making it suitable for companies considering adopting Spline across their entire team.
It is best suited for those looking to implement Spline at an organizational level.
It’s also worth noting that while there are some limitations in features and the number of files you can create, Spline is available on a free plan as well.
For detailed information on Spline’s monthly and annual pricing, as well as a full breakdown of each plan, please refer to the Spline Pricing page.
Recommended for Beginners in 3D Design. Get Started with Spline
That concludes this brief introduction to Spline.
Spline is an all-in-one interactive 3D design tool that offers:
A complete workflow from modeling and animation to interaction setup
Responsive design support
Real-time collaboration
It is especially recommended for those who:
Are new to 3D design
Want to create interactive experiences, not just static images or videos
I will continue to share more about Spline, including its features, tips, and practical use cases, in future blog posts.
If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.
Spline Expert Designer Ayaka Fuji | Profile
Ayaka Fuji / Spline expert
Spline Expert Designer and founder of LITTLE FUJI Design Studio, based in New Zealand.
Ayaka creates playful, interactive designs using Spline 3D and Rive, bringing experiences to life through touch and motion.
Her work focuses on capturing the essence of a product through 3D modeling, combined with rich material expressions unique to 3D.
By integrating multiple animations and interactions, she designs engaging 3D experiences that invite users to interact.
She also prioritizes optimization for various devices, including desktops and smartphones, ensuring smooth performance across platforms.
Her workflow is centered on completing everything from modeling to animation within Spline.
Spline Profile (Remix Scenes)
Contra Portfolio
Experience & Media
Guest speaker at a webinar co-hosted by Contra and Spline
"Spline Universe" - Sharing beginner-friendly Spline tutorials on the YouTube channel
Spline expert at Contra