Shap-e

Shap-E is a fully open-source tool released under the MIT license, which means it can be used, modified, and even deployed commercially without paying any fees. It is therefore 100% free and does not require a subscription, API access, or even an OpenAI account. The tool runs locally on the user’s device after downloading the code and weights, without requiring an internet connection. However, it does require a robust technical environment, particularly a graphics card (GPU) that supports CUDA—most often from NVIDIA—since video memory (VRAM) is the most critical factor for efficient operation. The tool relies on the PyTorch library, which means it requires setting up a development environment using Python; consequently, it is not user-friendly for beginners. In terms of performance, Shap-E stands out for its speed in generating 3D models compared to previous tools, but it produces models with relatively low resolution and often requires additional processing, such as retopology, for use in professional projects. It can also be run via Google Colab as an alternative solution without the need for a powerful machine; however, this option remains limited in terms of performance and runtime, making it suitable only for experimentation and not for continuous use.