Sketchfab vs Poly Haven vs Kenney: Free 3D Assets Compared (2026)
Last updated: September 2026.
Three names come up constantly when you're after free 3D assets: Sketchfab, Poly Haven, and Kenney. They're not really competitors, they're good at different things. Sketchfab is a millions-strong mixed-license library you filter per model, Poly Haven is 2,300-plus photorealistic models, textures, and HDRIs that are all CC0, and Kenney is more than 60,000 stylized, game-ready assets that are all CC0 too. Here's how they compare in 2026, including Sketchfab's August 2026 change of owner, and when to reach for each.
At a glance
| Sketchfab | Poly Haven | Kenney | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Variety, complex/detailed models | Photorealistic models, textures, HDRIs | Game-ready, stylized, consistent style |
| License | Mixed (check each) | CC0 (all) | CC0 (all) |
| Attribution | Depends on model | None | None |
| Catalog | Millions | 2,300+ (520+ models, 850+ textures, 990+ HDRIs) | 60,000+ across 200+ packs |
| Style | Everything | Realistic | Cohesive low-poly / clean |
| Formats | glTF, FBX, OBJ | glTF, Blend, FBX | GLB, PNG, WAV, more |
| Direct download / API | Login required | Yes, no-key API | Yes (packs) |
Kenney: cohesive and game-ready
Kenney is the fastest way to a coherent-looking game. More than 60,000 assets (Kenney's own count on the All-in-1 bundle), all CC0 (no attribution, commercial OK, per the Kenney support page), in consistent styles you can mix and match across packs, all optimized for games. The trade-off is range: it's stylized and clean rather than photorealistic, and you won't find one specific hyper-detailed prop. Use Kenney when you want your whole game to look like it belongs together, fast, with zero licensing thought.
Poly Haven: photorealistic and CC0
Poly Haven is the realism specialist: PBR-textured 3D models, high-resolution textures, and HDRIs for lighting, all CC0, with multiple resolutions and a no-key API for direct downloads. Over 2,300 assets and growing as of September 2026: the public API lists 521 models, 856 texture sets, and 993 HDRIs. The catalog is smaller and more focused (props, environment pieces, materials, lighting) rather than a sprawling marketplace. Use Poly Haven when you want realistic materials, environment dressing, and proper HDRI lighting without any attribution, and start with our free HDRI skies page if lighting is what you're after.
Sketchfab: variety, with a license to check
Sketchfab is the giant: millions of models, a 3D preview before download, and an enormous range of styles and subjects. The catch is that licenses vary per model, so you must filter for downloadable plus CC0 or CC-BY and verify each one. Two 2026 caveats. Sketchfab's store moved to Epic's Fab, and only CC-BY and Fab Standard content could migrate, so CC0 and the other Creative Commons models stayed on Sketchfab. Then on August 10, 2026 Epic sold Sketchfab and ArtStation to KitBash, the KitBash3D and Greyscalegorilla company, which says there are no immediate changes to how creators access or use either site. As of September 2026 the free downloads and the download API still work (we checked the API this month), and Epic's earlier plan to remove free licensing from Sketchfab hasn't happened. Treat it as a source whose future is being decided by a new owner, and grab what you need. Use Sketchfab when you need a specific or unusual model the others don't have, and you're willing to check the license.
Which should you use?
- Whole-game cohesion, fast, no attribution: Kenney.
- Realistic props, materials, and lighting, CC0: Poly Haven.
- A specific or unusual model, widest selection: Sketchfab (check the license).
In practice, many developers use all three: Kenney for the base set and UI, Poly Haven for realistic textures and HDRIs, and Sketchfab for the one-off hero asset. Mixing realistic Poly Haven materials onto stylized Kenney models can clash, so decide your art direction first, then pick sources that match it.
Beyond the big three
These aren't your only options. Quaternius is another superb CC0 source for stylized low-poly, AmbientCG specializes in CC0 textures, and Poly Pizza hosts the archived Google Poly catalog. Whichever source you pull from, it's worth opening the file in a browser model inspector first to see the real triangle count, materials, and texture sizes you're committing to. You can also skip searching entirely and generate what you need: our best AI 3D model generators guide covers the text-to-3D and image-to-3D tools and what each one lets you ship commercially, and Cinevva's own 3D Model Generator turns a prompt into a GLB in about a minute. For the full picture, see our free 3D model sites and free game assets guides.
Common Questions
Is Sketchfab, Poly Haven, or Kenney best for free 3D models?
They're best at different things. Kenney is best for cohesive, game-ready stylized assets, all CC0. Poly Haven is best for photorealistic models, textures, and HDRIs, all CC0. Sketchfab is best for variety and specific or detailed models, but its licenses vary so you must check each one. Many developers use all three together.
Are Poly Haven and Kenney really free for commercial games?
Yes. Both are entirely CC0, meaning every asset is public domain: free for commercial use, modifiable, with no attribution required. That makes them the two lowest-risk sources of the three. Sketchfab, by contrast, has mixed per-model licenses you must verify before commercial use.
Do I have to credit assets from these sites?
Not for Kenney or Poly Haven, since everything is CC0. For Sketchfab it depends on the individual model's license: CC0 needs no credit, CC-BY requires attribution, and some models can't be used commercially at all. Always check the license on each Sketchfab model before shipping.
Can I mix assets from all three in one game?
Technically yes, and the licenses allow it, but watch your art direction. Kenney's stylized look and Poly Haven's photorealistic materials can clash if combined carelessly. Decide on a visual style first, then pull matching assets, using Sketchfab for specific pieces the CC0 sources lack.
Who owns Sketchfab now, and do free downloads still work?
KitBash, the company behind KitBash3D and Greyscalegorilla, bought Sketchfab and ArtStation from Epic Games on August 10, 2026. KitBash has said there are no immediate changes to how creators access or use the sites, and as of September 2026 Sketchfab's free Creative Commons downloads and its download API both still work. Epic's 2024 plan to phase free licensing off Sketchfab hasn't been carried out, but nobody has promised the free library stays forever either, so download what you need.
How many assets do Poly Haven and Kenney have?
As of September 2026 Poly Haven's public API lists 2,370 assets: 521 models, 856 PBR texture sets, and 993 HDRIs, every one CC0. Kenney's All-in-1 bundle listing counts more than 60,000 individual assets across 200-plus packs, spanning 3D models, sprites, UI, and audio, also all CC0. Sketchfab doesn't publish a live total, but the library runs to millions of models, of which only the downloadable CC0 and CC-BY subset matters for a game.
Cinevva bakes thousands of Kenney and Quaternius CC0 props right into its editor.
Related
- Best Free 3D Model Sites for Games: the wider field
- Where to Find Free Game Assets: 20+ sources, all types
- Best AI Asset Generators for Games: generate instead
- Game Asset Licenses Explained: CC0, CC-BY, and the rest
- Free Sound Effects and Music for Games: the audio side
- Free HDRI skies and free 3D character models: the Poly Haven and Kenney picks, one category at a time