Spline vs Three.js: the decision, not the ideology
Spline and Three.js are not competitors in the way a comparison table implies. Spline is a design tool with a login screen and a subscription; Three.js is a library you install and write code against. The useful question is therefore not which is better but who will build and maintain the scene, and how much control the project needs. This page answers that in the first section, then goes further than most comparisons do: both routes still need a model, and where that model comes from decides more of the cost and the frame rate than the tool choice does. Prices and export terms carry the date they were checked; where a plan detail is unconfirmed it says so.
The short answer
Choose Spline for a visual design workflow; choose Three.js when custom scene logic and rendering control justify engineering ownership.
What actually differs: a design tool and a rendering library
Spline is a design tool. Three.js is a rendering library used in code. The maintenance owner matters as much as the first scene.
Side by side
Compare the person building the scene, custom logic, maintenance and asset pipeline before choosing.
| Dimension | Spline | Three.js |
|---|---|---|
| Who builds it | Visual designer | Developer |
| Custom logic | Design-tool workflow | Application code |
| Maintenance | Scene and integration | Scene code and rendering |
| Asset pipeline | Library and imported assets | Load externally authored assets |
Where Spline stops
A Spline 3D website still needs to fit its export and integration workflow. Confirm the current terms for the delivery you need.
Where Three.js costs you more
Three.js gives the developer responsibility for scene code, loading, resource disposal and performance tuning. That work continues after launch.
The step both routes share: where the model comes from
Both routes need assets. Use authoring tools, commissioned work, a marketplace or AI generation; Mint can supply a GLB for a compatible workflow.
Mobile performance: what each one lets you control
Test the real payload on a phone. Three.js gives direct control over rendering choices; either route still needs attention to textures and scene complexity.
Cost, lock-in and export terms, dated
Plan details remain unconfirmed here as of 31 October 2026. This page does not quote a Spline price or promise a particular export entitlement. Confirm current pricing and export terms before buying.
Which to choose, by job
Use a visual design tool for a design-led scene, a custom library for application logic, and a single-model embed for a rotatable product. Consider Spline alternatives by the job and maintenance owner.
FAQ
Three.js vs Spline: which should I choose?
Choose by who maintains the scene and whether the project needs custom rendering and application logic.