How Much Does a VTuber Model Cost in 2026? A Complete Price Guide
A VTuber model can cost anywhere from $0 to $15,000+, depending on whether you use a free model, PNGTuber, premade/customizable model, or a fully custom 2D or 3D model.
For a custom 2D or 3D model, you're generally paying for two major parts: the artwork and the rigging. More complex designs, advanced expressions, physics, additional outfits, and higher-end rigging can push the price into the thousands.
But price isn't the only thing you should consider. A $200 model isn't necessarily a better deal than a $500 premade model, and spending $5,000 doesn't automatically make a model the right choice for you.
In this guide, I'll break down the different ways you can get a VTuber model in 2026, how much each option costs, and what I'd recommend depending on where you are in your VTubing journey.
How Much Does a VTuber Model Cost?
Type | Cost |
Free customizable model | $0 |
PNGTuber | $0–$100+ |
Non-exclusive adoptable | Very low cost |
Exclusive adoptable | Low–mid range |
Customizable model | Low–mid range |
Custom 2D Live2D | ~$900–$15,000+ |
Custom 3D | ~$500–$10,000+ |
What affects the price of a VTuber model?
It depends on whether the model is custom-made especially for you or not, or if it's a customizable model.
Customizable models
This type is the most affordable one, but not the most customizable one. Scroll down to find my personal reviews of the current available options to make a customizable model!
Custom-made models
This is a model made especially for you and your design. These models can range in price from $200 to $5000+ for a full-body, rigged model. This is the option for the VTuber who cares a lot about what they look like.
Low prices like $200 are incompatible with the workload of creating a VTuber model from scratch and suggest shady work practices I personally would watch out for. Premium services like $5000 are recommended to Vtubers who have been full-time for a long time and already know what appearance they want to stick with.
Usually, time investment from an expert creator affects the pricing. Remember, the artist working on your model is not selling you their time; they are selling the result.
You can get VTuber models completely for free nowadays, and all you have to invest is your own time. But if you want to look professionally managed from the get-go, you should get a paid model instead.
If you want to stream, what matters is that you stick with the option you have at the moment, even if it's not the best.
If you're interested in commissioning a custom VTuber model, you can see my VTuber model portfolio.
Full body or bust up?
If you want to start feeling like you have a model made especially for you and you don't want to invest too much money, you can order a bust model. Some simple designs work amazingly with just a bust, and you can ask your artist to draw the rest of the body later on.
2D vs. 3D VTuber Models: Which Should You Choose?
2D models are more commonly used because of how charming they are, but if you want to hang out on VRChat or do 3D concerts, you need a 3D model instead. Yes, there’s a difference.
2D models do not have hand tracking. Yes, you can draw the hands for hand tracking, but it’s really hard to find a Live2D rigger that rigs hands like that, so if you want to have total freedom of movement with your Vtuber’s hands, maybe look for a 3D modeler. But if you don’t mind having to work with hand toggles instead, you can ask your artist to make your model holding different things. Usually, they cost an additional, but they are worth it.
If the 3D modeler says you need a reference sheet from a 2D artist, then hire me because I can help you with that. Check out my character sheet prices here!
Should You Spend More on VTuber Art or Rigging?
Good art, without a doubt. Look at the Hololive girls. Some of them are almost like moving PNGs, but the art makes them stand out and look professionally managed from the get-go. I would personally invest extra time and money in character design.
Are $5,000+ VTuber Models Worth It?
It depends on what you are looking for, and what stage of content creation you are at.
In my experience as a model artist, if you are just starting, the feeling of attachment to your VTuber self-image is important. Too many people underestimate that, and by the time they are rigging the model, they want to change it, and it might be too late.
If you choose a $5000 model, you have to be certain that you want to look a certain way.
Before ordering, it is recommended that you invest time in finding a correct representation of what you want to look like, and money to ask an artist to represent it. Finally, you need to have already tested the waters with your Vtuber image for years.
Vtubers who pay for this tier are also paying for the feeling of successful insertion into this medium. Followers might eventually come from the artist who created it, but they are just a residual number and a byproduct of the creation. So don't rely on these numbers too much.
What Does Commercial Use Include?
Definitely take a look at your choice to see what type of commercial use is covered. Some options don't automatically give you the rights to reproduce your character as merch, and just because you are getting a custom-made character from an artist, that doesn't mean you have the rights over it unless you have written consent.
What Does Rigging Mean?
VTuber models are like paper dolls. They have separate parts that don't make sense on their own. Rigging is the process that makes sense out of these parts, connects them, and animates them, making them ready to use with facial tracking.
If a model has an animated GIF version, head angles, or a video where it's functioning, it can either mean it is rigged or it is in the process of being rigged.
Some models are already rigged from the beginning. You'll find the summary of that below.
How to Choose a VTuber Artist
Here's a YouTube video I made on this subject!
What to Avoid When Buying a VTuber Model
I would definitely avoid Etsy and Fiverr for this kind of service. Etsy is full of AI-generated slop and scams.
There are some scams in this medium you have to watch out for. Some brokers exploit children in the Philippines to make VGen accounts with their parents’ personal information. They are subject to inhuman working conditions, like impracticable deadlines, are motivated to leave school or discouraged from joining university, and they’re told that they’re nothing without the company. In this scam, you do get your model, but know that they force an artist to work 50 hours for less than 10’s worth. They have to finish as soon as possible, so they rush their commission, and there’s no way you’re receiving the dedication and attention you deserve.
Besides, the money goes almost entirely to the brokers; the kids only take crumbs for their hard work. You’ll never be able to communicate directly with the artist. Worst-case scenario, you might end up with an unusable piece of work because they won’t mind the details. So please be really careful with who you choose to be your artist.
Here's a YouTube video I made on how you can find a reliable artist for your model!
How to Avoid Looking Cheap on a Budget
If you're on the fence about getting a cheap custom-made model for $200 or a customizable model, get a customizable model instead. These are professionally made, probably not made with child labor, and look much better than a custom model with doubtful provenance. You can buy it and use it immediately, re-texture it if you like, and you are free from risk.
Every Way to Get a VTuber Model in 2026
Customizable options
I gave 5 scores to each option. Customizability (How much you can change the model after it's done, and how many options you actually have), visual appeal (according to me, a veteran artist in the industry), affordability, rigging, and needed artistic skills. Don't forget to consider that cheap options can become expensive later.
In this post, we'll dive into the options and how much each one costs, from cheapest to most expensive. Some have an art skill threshold, so you might need to hire someone to make art for you using these options.
Option | Price | Customizability | Visual appeal | Skill required | Rigged? |
MASCOZ | Free | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | None | Yes |
VRoid Studio | Free | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | Some | Yes |
PNGTuber | <$100+ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | none if outsourced | usually yes |
Adoptable | Varies | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ | None | Varies |
Customizable | Low–mid | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | low | Yes |
Custom | $900–$15k+ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | None if outsourced | No, but you can rig it. |
MASCOZ
For this blog post, I downloaded MASCOZ and tried to create my model. I wasn't successful AT ALL. The customization options were very limited. The app kept crashing, and my antivirus gave me not-so-good signs about the login website.
There are very few customization options you have to stick with. The clothes and hair can barely change except for colors. Some hair options give you freedom to change the color of some strands, and that's it.
The problem is: the body, facial proportions, and volumes look awful in this 3D model. It looks like a beginner 3D modeler made it, and it immediately looks cheap at first glance. If you have very low standards, you can use this option. I personally wouldn't use it myself.
I personally wouldn't use this option myself.
Customizability: ★☆☆☆☆
Visual appeal: ★★☆☆☆
Affordability: ★★★★☆
Rigged? Yes
Needed artistic skills: None.
VROID Studio
It's a free Vtuber model software that offers rigged models. Just the fact that you don't have to rig the model, and the controls are intuitive for anyone to use, is already a great start.
This might not be a great option if you have no character design to start from. Hire an artist after you've come up with a character idea, or maybe install the software yourself to play with it a bit and find out.
Customizability: ★★★☆☆
Visual appeal: ★★★★☆
Affordability: ★★★★★
Rigged? Yes
Needed artistic skills: some are needed, either to judge the artist's job properly or to make the textures yourself.
PNGtubing
Some artists make 2D PNGtubers that look like they're Vtuber models. A software called PNGtuber Plus allows the artist to rig models similarly to Vtuber models. It's free, but if you can't make the art yourself, you'll need an artist. You'll also need an idea for a character.
How much do they usually cost? Usually under $100, depending on the complexity.
Customizability: ★☆☆☆☆
Visual appeal: ★★★★★
Affordability: ★★★★★
Rigged? if you hire an artist, the model is usually rigged and ready to use.
Needed artistic skills: none if you hire an artist.
Adoptable models - exclusive and non-exclusive
People tend to forget about this category. Sometimes, artists will make Vtuber models just for practice and sell them. There are two types of adoptable models: exclusive and non-exclusive. Exclusive models are a one-time purchase: once you buy them, they are only yours, and no one else can have them. Non-exclusive models are considerably cheaper, but anyone can have them.
Don't forget: when looking for these, use VGen and BOOTH. Never Etsy, as it's full of AI slop.
I understand the worry behind the thought of someone else having the same model as you, but initially, I personally wouldn't worry too much if someone else has my model. You can change that if it becomes a problem later on.
Customizability: ★☆☆☆☆
Visual appeal: ★★★★★
Affordability: ★★★★★
Rigged? It depends
Needed artistic skills: none
Customizable models
You can find these on VGen. They are relatively cheap and have a lot of customization options, but the full-body ones take a lot of your processor, graphics card, and RAM. This happens because while you only have a few parts visible, all the parts that are not currently being used are still running in the background.
There are 2D and 3D versions of these models. If you want to do 3D concerts and hand tracking, use a 3D model. 2D models are usually more widely used because they are lighter and more charming.
Remember that finding your character to stream with is a process. You don't want to spend thousands on a character you're not attached enough to. Maybe start with a chibi 2D customizable model instead, so you can test the waters with your character and feel attached to it little by little. It's usually not an expensive option, and it won't demand too much from your PC either.
Will you need an artist for this one? If your character design is set in stone and contains unique features, you can either re-texture the model yourself or ask an artist to make you a texture accordingly. But remember, you might not be able to make the textures move according to what you need.
Customizability: ★★★★☆
Visual appeal: ★★★★☆
Affordability: ★★★☆☆
Needed artistic skills: low
Custom models
The most expensive option for a reason. It can cost anything from $900 to $15k+. This can vary according to the demand of the artist, how established they are, and complexity.
Models in this category are not cheap. A fully rigged custom model should never cost less than $500. That makes it extremely sus, because Vtuber models usually take up more than 50 hours to be drawn and cut alone, and an extra 50 hours to be rigged. So definitely check out your client's schedule before ordering, so you can plan effectively.
Customizability: ★☆☆☆☆
Visual appeal: ★★★★★
Affordability: ★☆☆☆☆
Needed artistic skills: low if you hire an artist.
Frequently asked questions
Is $500 enough for a VTuber model?
It depends on what kind of model you want. Some customizable models can range from $0 to $500. They are fully rigged and ready to use, but some models can be heavy and require a high-end PC, depending on how many applications are left open at the same time.
Do I need both a VTuber artist and a rigger?
It depends on what kind of model you're getting. Customizable models in general are already rigged and ready to use, but custom models (models made especially for you) need rigging.
Vroid and MASCOZ models are already rigged and ready to use.
Is a premade VTuber model cheaper than a custom model?
Generally, yes. In fact, if you have a low budget, you should get a customizable one instead of a custom one. Just watch your system requirements, as these models can be heavy and require a high-end PC, depending on how many applications you're going to open at the same time.
Is it possible to get a VTuber model for free?
Yes, but the copyright and customization options are usually very limited.
If you're looking for a custom model made by an experienced artist who's willing to take care of your VTuber vision, take all your references, and guide you through these steps, please consider having me on board your project! Whether it is just your model, a wave of models for an agency, or just a PNGtuber. I offer transparent project tracking and guaranteed deadlines, so you can manage what matters to you instead of managing the artist. Check out my samples and prices here!
