BlenRig
BlenRig is a free Blender add-on for automatically rigging and skinning biped characters.
What BlenRig is
BlenRig is a free Blender add-on for automatically rigging and skinning biped characters. It is designed to produce a feature-film-quality rig with an advanced facial system. Creating a rig uses a BlenRig armature, mesh deform cage, lattices, and pre-rigged weight-transfer meshes for automatic character weighting. In Blender, users add it from the Object Add panel and find its controls and tools in the View3D sidebar; the Rigging Assistant includes automated guides. The current version supports biped characters, while the maker says additional presets may come later. BlenRig 6 v5.0.0 is described as compatible with Blender 5+, although the README calls BlenRig 6 beta. That release added mocap compatibility properties to limbs and disables simultaneous IK/FK by default. The project is GPL-3.0 licensed. Its README links to a Discord community and the creator’s YouTube channel for resources and contact. The maker says sales of the separately sold Fredegund skeleton help support BlenRig 6 development.
Good
- Free add-on for Blender
- Includes an advanced facial system
- Automates character weighting with transfer meshes
- Rigging Assistant provides automated guides
- GPL-3.0 licensed
Watch out
- Current version supports biped characters only
- BlenRig 6 is identified as beta
- Requires Blender as the host app
Who it suits
BlenRig suits Blender users rigging and skinning biped characters, including those who want automated weighting and guides in the rigging workflow. It is not currently described as supporting non-biped characters.
Verdict
BlenRig combines automated rig creation, skinning, and weighting tools for biped characters in Blender. The biped-only scope and beta status are worth weighing before adopting it for a project.
Plans and prices
From BlenRig's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| BlenRig | Free | Biped characters only |
The facts
Each one read from BlenRig's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Blender compatibility
- The latest release is BlenRig 6 v5.0.0, described as working with Blender 5+, and the README identifies BlenRig 6 as beta.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Character support
- The current version supports biped characters; the maker says more presets may be supported in the future.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Game engine workflow
- The maker describes Fredegund as rigged with techniques compatible with game engines.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Integration
- The maker says the separately sold Fredegund skeleton supports automatic integration with Mixamo animations through the Mixamo Addon.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The GitHub repository identifies the project as GPL-3.0 licensed.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Mocap
- Version 5.0.0 added mocap compatibility properties to limbs and disables simultaneous IK/FK by default.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- BlenRig is an auto-rigging and skinning system for Blender that provides a feature-film-quality rig with an advanced facial system.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Related product
- The maker describes BlenRig as a free and open-source Blender rigging add-on and says sales of the Fredegund skeleton support BlenRig 6 development.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Rig creation
- Rig creation includes a BlenRig armature, a mesh deform cage and lattices, and pre-rigged weight-transfer meshes for automatic character weighting.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The README lists a Discord community and the creator’s YouTube channel as contact and resource links.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Workflow
- Users add the rig from Blender’s Object Add panel and access controls and tools in the View3D sidebar, including automated guides in the Rigging Assistant.checked 8 Oct 2026
Alternatives to BlenRig
- 1
Houdini
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Mixos Mold
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Contour Rig Tools
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Rigify
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Reallusion Character Creator
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Autodesk Maya
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