by CGMatter·Modeling
Images © CGMatter. Used for product review; image policy.
Better Primitives earns its place for bringing a non-destructive, Houdini-like approach to Blender's basic building blocks, using geometry nodes and the gizmos introduced in Blender 4.3.
Blender's standard primitives lock their settings the moment you add them. Better Primitives replaces them with fully non-destructive versions built using geometry nodes, so the parameters stay editable at any time. The set includes Better Torus, Cylinder, Sphere, Icosphere, Cube, Plane, Circle, and Line, with later updates adding a helix, gear, quadsphere, and capsule.
You add a primitive from Blender's Shift + A menu and edit it with gizmos, a feature introduced in Blender 4.3, without needing to open the settings panel. The primitives are compatible with other modifiers, so you can stack more on top and still go back to edit the base shape. Apply the modifier whenever you want to bake it down. CGMatter describes the result as a completely non-destructive workflow, similar to Houdini.
Recent updates added procedural UVs and material selection, chosen in the modifier properties, along with primitives that spawn at the 3D cursor location. A documentation page is available for further help.
Better Primitives is best for blender artists who want editable, non-destructive primitives they can adjust with gizmos instead of fixed shapes.
Better Primitives is completely free to download and use.
Better Primitives is listed for Blender 4.3 and 4.4. The setup notes describe it as compatible with Blender 4.3, and the version listing also includes 4.4. Its gizmos rely on a feature introduced in Blender 4.3, which is used to edit primitive parameters directly rather than opening the settings. If you're on one of these versions, the add-on installs as a standard Blender add-on and its primitives appear in the Shift + A add menu. It is also marked as Blender Extension compatible.
Better Primitives installs as a Blender add-on, after which you add a primitive from the Shift + A menu. From there you use the gizmos to edit the parameters directly, without needing to open the settings, though you can still dig into them if you want. If you ever need to bake the shape down, apply the modifier. CGMatter also provides a documentation page with further help, and a demo video is available if you'd like to see more.
Better Primitives is listed as free in this catalog, so check the developer's page for current licensing before you download. It's distributed as a Blender add-on under the GPL license and is marked as Blender Extension compatible. The listing also notes the developer, CGMatter, is a Blender Dev Fund contributor. For the most accurate and up-to-date terms, the developer's own page is the best place to confirm the details.
Better Primitives is compatible with other modifiers, so you can add more to the stack and still go back to edit the primitive afterwards. The developer describes this as a completely non-destructive workflow, similar to Houdini, since the primitive's settings stay editable rather than locking once added. When you want to bake the result down, applying the modifier commits the shape. This lets you keep adjusting the base primitive while building up a modifier stack on top.
Also in Modeling for Blender.
by JLBöhm
Surface Diagnostics is a Blender addon for technical surfacing, putting a curvature graph and analytic shaders a single click away. It targets surfaces with complex curvature across automotive, product design and game asset work.
by Anton-Florey
Make Planar Faces Plus is a Blender add-on for making mesh faces planar. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, works with Blender 5.1 and newer, and is distributed free under the GPL v3.
by GAKU
Deep Paint is a Blender add-on for modeling and painting in 3D with Grease Pencil to create stylized 3D illustrations. It bundles mesh generation, custom brushes, stylized materials, and utility generators for Eevee.
by NicolasPriniotakis
SRTM Terrain Importer is a Blender add-on that imports SRTM elevation HGT files as accurate 3D terrain meshes, with real-world scaling based on latitude, preserved elevation values, and elevation-based color materials.
by 3d illusions
Ai Depth Modeller generates 3D models inside Blender from an image or as you paint in the 2D image editor. The AI runs locally on your machine to produce depth maps, then sliders and paint tools shape the result.
by Community
LoopTools is a mesh modelling toolkit for Blender that gathers several tools to aid modelling. It was previously part of Blender 4.1's bundled add-ons and is now offered as an extension, provided as it is with limited support.
by Community
Extra Mesh Objects is a Blender add-on that expands the Add > Mesh menu with additional mesh object types. Previously bundled with Blender 4.1, it now ships as a standalone extension for Blender 4.2 LTS and newer.
by nickberckley
Bool Tool brings quick boolean operators to Blender for hard-surface modeling, covering brush booleans, destructive auto boolean cuts, and workspace tools that carve objects with custom shapes in both object and edit modes.
by Community
Extra Curve Objects is a community add-on for Blender that adds extra curve object types. It lives under View3D → Add → Curve → Extra Objects and was previously part of Blender 4.1's bundled add-ons.
by MACHIN3
MESHmachine is a mesh modeling addon for Blender focused on hard surface work without subdivision surfaces. It fuses and unfuses surfaces, creates variable fillets and washouts, edits bevels, and details meshes with plugs.
by Community
A.N.T.Landscape is a Blender add mesh add-on for generating landscapes and displacement. Originally a bundled add-on in Blender 4.1, it's now offered as-is with limited support, accessed from the View3D sidebar's Create tab.
