TRELLIS.2 Free: Open-Source Weights vs Hosted Credits

What "free" means for TRELLIS.2

TRELLIS.2 is not one product with one price. Microsoft publishes the model, code, and weights as an open-source project. trellis-2.com is a separate hosted service that runs a managed GPU, tracks the job, and returns a GLB asset. Those are two different ways to use the same model.

The open-source route is free to obtain. The compute is not free: you provide the Linux machine, NVIDIA GPU, downloads, setup time, and maintenance. The hosted route gives you a browser workflow, but hosted generations consume credits. Neither route promises unlimited generation.

The two free paths

• Open-source weights: free to download from Microsoft's official repository or Hugging Face. You are responsible for the model licence, hardware, security review, and output pipeline.
• Browser tools on trellis-2.com: the 3D viewer and format converter run locally and spend no credits.
• Hosted generation: sign in, run an image-to-3D job, and download the GLB. The credit cost of the selected resolution is shown before you submit.

There is no automatic new-account grant for a hosted run. If you want to test the hosted workflow, start with the lowest resolution and inspect the result before spending more.

What a hosted run actually produces

The hosted generator returns a textured GLB starting asset with PBR materials. It does not return a rig, an animation, a CAD solid, or a print-ready file. A single image also cannot reveal the back, underside, or true dimensions of an object, so those areas are estimates that need review.

For the full workflow, see image to 3D. For the direct generator, open the image-to-3D generator.

How to compare the two paths fairly

1. Run one representative image through the official model or a hosted 512 job.
2. Record the output resolution, runtime, GPU memory, and file size.
3. Check the GLB from every side in the browser viewer.
4. Decide whether the draft saves enough downstream work to justify the next run.

If you need sustained volume or internal data control, compare the local setup against the hosted cost. If you need one evaluation without managing CUDA drivers, the hosted route is the smaller operational test.

Common mistakes

• Treating "open source" as "free compute".
• Treating a hosted credit balance as a subscription to unlimited jobs.
• Downloading weights from an unverified mirror.
• Publishing a first GLB draft without checking topology, scale, and rights.

FAQ

Are TRELLIS.2 weights free to download?

Yes. Microsoft publishes the model under the licence stated in its official repository. Read the current licence and model card before commercial use.

Is hosted TRELLIS.2 free?

No. The site offers free browser tools, but hosted generation requires credits. The exact cost is shown in the generator before submission.

Can I run the model locally for free?

You can obtain the weights without a licence fee, but you still pay for the GPU, electricity, storage, setup, and maintenance. See the local setup checklist.

Where do I download the official weights?

Use the links on the official download page and verify the repository owner before installing anything.

Run a hosted image-to-3D test

Compare official weights and safe download steps