IMVU vs FaceGen

IMVU7.7Visit FaceGen7.0Visit

Higher score IMVU #3 in 3D Avatar Software 7.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit IMVU

vs

FaceGen #6 in 3D Avatar Software 7.0/10 From $300 ✓ 2 of 4 features Visit FaceGen

• IMVU fits best

  Social avatar creation and monetization

• FaceGen fits best

  Specialized photographic 3D head generation

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Side by side

Feature	IMVU 7.7/10 Visit ↗	FaceGen 7.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	7.7	7.0
Ranking	#3 in 3D Avatar Software	#6 in 3D Avatar Software
Best for	Social avatar creation and monetization	Specialized photographic 3D head generation
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	Not published	Not published
Free plan	✓ (best)	Not published
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Desktop
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Windows
Support	Live chat, Tickets, Community, Docs	Email, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features IMVU 0/4 · FaceGen 2/4
Rigged exports	Not published	Not published
Game engine export	Not published	✓ (best)
Face tracking	Not published	Not published
Commercial use	Not published	✓ (best)
Specs
Avatar style	Both	Human
Export formats	FBX	DAE, FBX, 3DS, MA, LWO, OBJ, XSI, WRL, STL, PNG, JPEG, TGA, BMP
Our review
Pros	Customizable avatars with clothing, accessories, skins, and animations Creator tools support models, textures, rooms, furniture, and animations Publish products to the IMVU Shop and earn credits or money from sales	Generates heads from photos, random parameters, or 3D scan data More than 150 facial controls plus expressions and FACS blendshapes Exports meshes and textures for Unity and major 3D tools
Cons	Its focus is social and platform-based rather than export-centered FBX is the listed asset import and export format Shop sales are subject to IMVU creator policies and terms	Desktop Modeller runs on Windows Focuses on human heads rather than full-body avatars Paid licenses start at a $300 one-time price
Our verdict	IMVU is a 3D social virtual world for people who want to create customizable avatars, join 3D chat rooms, explore virtual spaces, shop, play games, and make products for other users. It supports web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android,… Read the review →	FaceGen creates realistic 3D human head models from photographs, random generation, or 3D scan data. It is designed for artists, animators, game and avatar developers, 3D printing workflows, research tools, and software teams that need… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• IMVU — where it wins

  • Customizable avatars with clothing, accessories, skins, and animations
  • Creator tools support models, textures, rooms, furniture, and animations
  • Publish products to the IMVU Shop and earn credits or money from sales

  Where it doesn't

  • Its focus is social and platform-based rather than export-centered
  • FBX is the listed asset import and export format
  • Shop sales are subject to IMVU creator policies and terms

• FaceGen — where it wins

  • Generates heads from photos, random parameters, or 3D scan data
  • More than 150 facial controls plus expressions and FACS blendshapes
  • Exports meshes and textures for Unity and major 3D tools

  Where it doesn't

  • Desktop Modeller runs on Windows
  • Focuses on human heads rather than full-body avatars
  • Paid licenses start at a $300 one-time price

• IMVU7.7/10 · Free plan

  A social avatar platform with creator tools, virtual products, and Shop monetization.

  Visit IMVUFull verdict →
• FaceGen7.0/10 · From $300

  A specialized Windows tool for photographic 3D head generation and production exports.

  Visit FaceGenFull verdict →