How Do I Get a VTuber Model?
Four ways to get an avatar, from free to fully commissioned, and how to choose.
A VTuber model is your avatar's artwork plus, for rigged setups, the rig that lets it move. There are four main ways to get one. They range from free to several hundred dollars, so start with your budget and how fast you want to be live.
1. Use a free or bundled character
The fastest option is a ready-made character that ships with your software. StreamSprite, for example, includes three starter characters, so you can be on stream the moment it opens and swap in your own art later. Cost: nothing. Time: minutes.
2. Make your own from PNGs
If you can draw, or know someone who can, you can build a PNG avatar from a handful of frames: a closed mouth, an open mouth, a blink, and any expressions you want. Load them into a PNG avatar app and you have a reactive model without any rigging. Cost: low. Time: an afternoon.
Bring your own art to life.
Drop your PNGs into StreamSprite and it animates them to your voice. $20 once, macOS.
3. Buy a premade rigged model
Marketplaces sell ready-to-use 2D and 3D models you can load straight into tracking software. This gets you a fully rigged look without commissioning from scratch, though customisation is limited. Cost: moderate. Time: a day.
4. Commission an artist and rigger
For a completely unique, fully rigged model, you commission an artist for the art and a rigger to make it move. This gives the most polished result and the most expression, but it is the slowest and priciest path, often running from one hundred to well over a thousand dollars. Cost: high. Time: weeks.
Skip the rigging. Be live in 5 minutes.
StreamSprite turns a few PNGs into a mic-reactive avatar for OBS. One-time $20, Mac & Windows.
Keep reading: How to Make a VTuber Avatar, How to Rig a VTuber Model
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to get a VTuber model?+
Use a bundled character or make a PNG avatar from a few frames. Both avoid the cost of commissioning and rigging. StreamSprite ships with three characters for its one-time $20.
Where do people buy VTuber models?+
Premade 2D and 3D models are sold on creator marketplaces. For a PNG avatar you usually make your own, which is far cheaper.
Do I need a rigged model to start?+
No. Many creators start with a PNG avatar that needs no rigging, then upgrade to a rigged model later.
Ready to bring a character to life?
StreamSprite turns a few PNGs into a mic-reactive avatar you can drop into OBS in minutes. No rigging, no subscription.