VoxelShop review
A capable Linux voxel editor with layers and format workflows, but no animation tools.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
VoxelShop is an open-source desktop editor for creating, editing, optimizing, and generating voxel models. It is aimed at Linux users who want core voxel authoring tools without a proprietary license. The workspace combines 2D axis views with a 3D model view, while drawing, erasing, selection, copy, paste, move, clone, and delete operations cover everyday model editing. Layers support creation, visibility, ordering, and merging, giving projects a structured way to separate model components.
Its format and workflow coverage is a practical strength. VoxelShop can import multiple voxel and image formats and export to multiple file formats, with documented Collada and MagicaVoxel workflows for moving models into other parts of a production pipeline. Color handling includes palettes, RGB, CMYK, and HSB controls, along with color adjustment. The published documentation also covers model editing, colors, importing, and exporting, while the project is distributed through GitHub. That makes VoxelShop a reasonable fit for creators whose pipeline centers on Linux and interoperable voxel assets rather than a broader multi-platform suite.
The main trade-off is scope. The category specifications identify scene editing, texture painting, and game-engine export capabilities, but the documentation describes animation support as still in development. VoxelShop therefore suits static voxel modeling, palette work, layered editing, and format conversion more than animation-led production. Choose it if Linux support and open-source access are central requirements; choose an alternative if you need established animation tools or access beyond Linux. Its focused feature set is useful for foundational voxel work, but it is less suitable as a complete animated asset-production environment.
VoxelShop pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Layer creation, visibility, ordering, and merging
- Imports and exports multiple voxel and image formats
- Collada and MagicaVoxel export workflows
- Where it doesn't
- Linux-only availability
- Animation support is still in development
- No documented maximum grid dimension
VoxelShop fact sheet, pricing and score →
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