Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Thingiverse

Manyfold is a self-hosted web application for building a searchable library of 3D models (especially for 3D printing). It focuses on organizing files and metadata so you can quickly find, preview, and manage models across collections and storage locations.

Key Features

• Library/catalog for 3D model files with rich metadata (title, description, tags)
• Upload and manage common 3D formats (project-dependent) with model pages
• 3D preview in the browser for supported formats
• Full-text search and filtering across your collection
• Import/scan workflows to bring existing folders of models into the catalog
• Multi-user support with authentication and permissions (project-dependent)
• Docker-based deployment options and configuration via environment variables

Use Cases

• Maintain a private “Thingiverse/Printables-like” index of your personal STL/3MF archive
• Team/shared makerspace catalog to track models, versions, and printable assets
• Curate themed collections (miniatures, functional parts, upgrades) with tags and search

Limitations and Considerations

• Exact supported file formats and integrations depend on the current release; verify against the project docs before migrating a large library.

Manyfold is best suited for makers who already have many model files spread across disks or NAS storage and want a fast, web-based way to browse and retrieve them. It provides a structured catalog layer on top of your existing files to reduce duplication and improve discoverability.