Free Voxel Editors Compared: MagicaVoxel, Goxel and Blockbench

At a glance

MagicaVoxel

MagicaVoxel, by the developer known as ephtracy, is the editor most voxel art you see online was made in. It's small, quick to open and free. Its biggest strength is the built-in path-traced renderer: you model in one view, switch to the render view, and get soft shadows, glowing materials and depth of field without leaving the program. That's why it's so popular for isometric dioramas and portfolio pieces.

Models use a 256-colour palette and the .vox file format, which has become a de facto standard that many other tools and game engines can import. You can also export to common mesh formats when you need to take a model into a game engine or 3D package.

Things to know before you commit:

• It runs on Windows and macOS only.
• It's freeware, not open source, and development happens on the author's schedule.
• A single model has a size limit (256 voxels per side), so bigger scenes are built from several models arranged together.

The same author also makes MagicaCSG, a separate tool for smooth shapes, and Aerialod, a renderer for height maps.

Goxel

Goxel is the open-source option. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, and the desktop version is free. Internally it uses sparse storage, so scene size is effectively unlimited, which matters if you're building a whole town rather than a single prop.

It has layers for keeping parts of a scene separate, 24-bit colour rather than a fixed palette, unlimited undo, and its own ray-traced rendering. Export formats are generous: MagicaVoxel .vox, Qubicle, glTF 2, OBJ, PLY and the Build engine format. That makes Goxel a good bridge. You can block out a scene in Goxel and send it on to MagicaVoxel for final renders, or export glTF straight into Godot or another engine.

Because it's licensed under GPL-3.0, you can read and build the source yourself. A commercial licence is available from the author for anyone who needs different terms for the software itself.

Blockbench

Blockbench isn't a voxel editor in the strict sense. Instead of painting cells on a grid, you build models from boxes (cuboids) and low-poly meshes, then paint pixel-art textures onto them. That's exactly how Minecraft-style models work, which is why Blockbench is the tool many Minecraft creators use for mobs, items and blocks.

What sets it apart is everything that happens after the shape:

• Texturing: it creates UV maps for you, and you can paint straight onto the 3D model or in a 2D editor.
• Animation: rig a model, animate it with keyframes for position, rotation and scale, and fine-tune the motion in a graph editor.
• Plugins: a built-in plugin store adds tools, generators and export formats for other games and engines.

Blockbench is free for any kind of project and open source under the GPL. There are desktop builds for Windows, macOS and Linux, and a full web app at web.blockbench.net, which is handy on a school or work computer where you can't install software.

Which one should you pick?

You want to make voxel art to share

Start with MagicaVoxel if you're on Windows or macOS. The renderer does a lot of the work of making a scene look finished. On Linux, use Goxel and accept a simpler rendering setup.

You're making props for your own game

Goxel's glTF export and big scenes make it a practical choice, especially with an engine like Godot that imports glTF well. MagicaVoxel works too if your engine or a plugin reads .vox files directly.

You need characters that move

Use Blockbench. Neither voxel editor rigs or animates models, and doing that in a general 3D package is a much steeper climb.

You're modding a block game

Check what the game expects. Minecraft and many Minecraft-style games read Blockbench formats or have Blockbench plugins. Luanti supports glTF models, so any of the three can work with the right export.

A simple workflow that uses all three

1. Block out shapes and colours in Goxel or MagicaVoxel, where placing cubes is fastest.
2. Export to OBJ or glTF.
3. Import into Blockbench if the model needs clean textures or animation.
4. Render a preview in MagicaVoxel for screenshots and promotion.

You don't need all three to start, though. Pick the one that matches your main goal, learn its shortcuts, and add another tool only when you hit a wall. If you're new to the idea of voxels in general, our explainer covers how grids, blocks and meshes relate.

Frequently asked questions

Is MagicaVoxel free for commercial use?

MagicaVoxel is free to download and use. It is closed-source freeware, so check the terms on the official site if you plan to sell work made with it.

Can I use Blockbench in a browser?

Yes. Blockbench has a web app at web.blockbench.net as well as desktop builds for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Which voxel editor works on Linux?

Goxel and Blockbench both have Linux builds. MagicaVoxel is released for Windows and macOS.

Facts in this article were checked against developer and store sources on 9 October 2026. Prices, versions and dates change, so confirm on the official page before you buy.