Blockbench: a free 3D model editor for Minecraft
Blockbench is a low-poly model editor with pixel art style textures. Use it to make your own block or item model for a Java resource pack, a new mob for a Bedrock add-on, a skin, or an animation. The program is free, open source, and also runs in a browser. The latest version, 5.2.2, came out on October 8, 2026.
What Blockbench is
Blockbench is developed by a programmer who goes by JannisX11, and the code lives on GitHub in the JannisX11/blockbench repository under the GPL-3.0 license. On blockbench.net the author says the program is free for any project, forever and with no catch. Among the companies that use it, he lists Mojang Studios.
You build models from cuboids, which gives the classic Minecraft look, or from meshes for more complex shapes. You paint textures directly on the model in 3D or in a 2D editor, and the program generates the UV map for you. The built-in animation editor supports keyframes for position, rotation and scale, and it also has a graph editor for curves.
Minecraft model formats
When you start a project, you pick a format, which decides the available tools and how the model is exported. The formats built into Blockbench:
| Format | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Java Block/Item | block and item models for Java Edition resource packs |
| Bedrock Entity | mob and entity models for Bedrock add-ons (.geo.json geometry and animations) |
| Bedrock Block | custom blocks for Bedrock add-ons |
| Bedrock Legacy Model | the older Bedrock geometry format |
| Modded Entity | mob models for Java mods, exported as a Java class |
| OptiFine Entity / OptiFine Part | mob model replacements in resource packs for OptiFine |
| Minecraft Skin | player skins painted on a model |
| Generic Model | any low-poly model, including ones from outside Minecraft |
Besides the Minecraft formats, Blockbench exports models to OBJ, glTF, FBX, Collada (.dae) and STL, so you can move them to Blender, a game engine or a 3D printer. You can use Bedrock models in the add-ons we cover in our guide on how to make a Bedrock add-on.
Download and web version
The fastest way to start is in the browser: the web version runs at web.blockbench.net. You can download the desktop app from the project site or from the Releases section on GitHub. Release 5.2.2 has files for:
- Windows - x64 and ARM64 installers and a portable version,
- macOS - builds for Intel (x64) and Apple Silicon (ARM64) processors,
- Linux - AppImage, deb and rpm.
Download the program only from these two sources. Copies from random file sites can contain malware.
What's new in version 5.2
Version 5.2.0, called The Screen-Space Update, came out on September 18, 2026. The main changes according to the release notes:
- a Screen-Space brush that paints on the view like on a flat image and makes it easier to join edges between the faces of a model,
- texture layer groups,
- reference images placed in the 3D space of a project, and a new crafting table reference model,
- a new color wheel and improved inverse kinematics (IK) for animations.
The 5.2.1 (September 21) and 5.2.2 (October 8) releases fix bugs. Version 5.2.2 also added support for texture references in object form and the force_translucent field in the Java Block/Item format, and fixed FBX and glTF export.
Plugins
Blockbench has a built-in plugin store with plugins written in JavaScript. Plugins add new tools, export formats and model generators. The GPL-3.0 license does not cover plugins and themes, so their authors can offer them for free or sell them.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blockbench free?
Yes. Blockbench is free for any use, including commercial, and its source code is open under the GPL-3.0 license. Only some plugins and themes from other authors may cost money.
Does Blockbench work in a browser?
Yes. The web version runs at web.blockbench.net and needs no installation. The desktop app is available for Windows, macOS and Linux, and it is more comfortable for longer work.
Can I make a Minecraft skin in Blockbench?
Yes. The Minecraft Skin format lets you paint a skin directly on a character model and export it as an image file. You can then load the finished file into the game as described in our guide on how to change your skin in Minecraft.