How to Install Blender 4.3.2 on Ubuntu 24.10, Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 22.04 And Derivatives (via Snap And Flatpak )

As you may know, Blender is a free and open-source 3D creation software, providing a suite of modeling, animation, rendering and post-production utilities. It is very used by artists, designers and animators everywhere and can be extended a lot via plugins and extensions.

Blender is highly supported by the community and because of its intuitive interface, it is very used.

For more information about Blender, read this page from the official documentation.

The latest version available is Blender 4.3.2, which comes with new features. Check this page to discover what’s new.

How to Install Blender Using Snap

What is Snap?

Snap is a package management system developed by Canonical, the creators of Ubuntu. It allows applications to be packaged with all their dependencies, making installations easier and reducing compatibility issues across different Linux distributions.

One of the key advantages of Snap packages is that they run in a sandboxed environment, which enhances security and stability. Additionally, Snap packages are updated automatically in the background, ensuring that users always have the latest version of an application without manual intervention.

However, some users may find that Snap applications take up more disk space due to bundling dependencies, and they may have slightly slower startup times compared to traditional DEB packages.

Prepare Snap, if needed

On Ubuntu, Snap is pre-installed, but if you are using a Linux distribution where Snap is not integrated by default, you can install it using the following command:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd

After installing Snap, you may need to enable and start the Snap service:

sudo systemctl enable --now snapd

Install Blender via Snap

Since Blender is officially available as a Snap package, installing it on Ubuntu is straightforward. Open a terminal and run the following command:

sudo snap install blender --classic

This will download and install the latest version of Blender from the Snap Store.

Optional: Uninstall Blender Using Snap

If you ever need to remove Blender, you can do so with the following command:

sudo snap remove blender

How to Install Blender Using Flatpak

What is Flatpak?

Flatpak is another popular package management system, designed to provide a consistent and secure way of distributing applications across various Linux distributions. Unlike Snap, which is developed and maintained by Canonical, Flatpak is an open-source project supported by the Freedesktop community.

Flatpak applications run in their own sandboxed environment, which prevents them from interfering with system files. This ensures better security and isolation while allowing applications to run on any Linux distribution that supports Flatpak.

One of Flatpak’s main advantages is its decentralized nature. Users can download applications from Flathub, the main Flatpak repository, rather than relying on distribution-specific repositories. However, just like Snap, Flatpak applications can take up more space due to their bundled dependencies.

Setup Flatpak and Install Blender

If you prefer to install Blender using Flatpak, first ensure that you have Flatpak installed on your system. If Flatpak is not installed, you can set it up with the following command:

sudo apt install flatpak

Next, add the Flathub repository, which hosts the Blender Flatpak package:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Once Flatpak is installed and Flathub is added, install Blender with:

flatpak install flathub org.blender.Blender

Optional: Uninstall Blender Using Flatpak

To remove Blender if installed via Flatpak, use the command:

flatpak uninstall org.blender.Blender

Conclusion

Blender can be installed on Ubuntu using either Snap or Flatpak, both of which provide easy-to-use and sandboxed environments for applications.

The Snap version is the default and integrates well with Ubuntu, while the Flatpak version offers an alternative for users who prefer a decentralized package management approach. Depending on your system preferences, you can choose the method that best suits your needs.

How Blender Differs from Wings 3D

Blender and Wings 3D are both powerful tools for 3D modeling, but Blender is a comprehensive 3D creation suite, while Wings 3D is a specialized polygonal modeler. Blender offers a vast range of features, including sculpting, animation, physics simulations, rendering, and even video editing. This makes it a go-to tool for artists working on full 3D projects, from concept to final production. In contrast, Wings 3D is focused exclusively on modeling, providing a more streamlined and less complex experience for users who only need to create and refine 3D models.

Another major difference is Blender’s node-based and layered workflow, which allows for procedural modeling, advanced texturing, and shader creation. In comparison, Wings 3D uses a menu-driven modeling approach that simplifies polygon manipulation but lacks features like sculpting or procedural generation. Blender’s interface, while more complex, is highly customizable, enabling power users to optimize their workflow for animation, game development, and visual effects.

In terms of integration and industry usage, Blender is widely used in animation, game development, and VFX, thanks to its built-in rendering engines like Eevee and Cycles. It also supports scripting with Python, making it ideal for automation and custom tools. Meanwhile, Wings 3D is often used for asset creation that is later imported into other software for further processing. While Blender offers an all-in-one pipeline, Wings 3D is best suited for those who prefer a dedicated, lightweight modeler without extra distractions.