fbpxJOIN LOGIN JOIN

Best Third-Party Alternatives to Games Workshop Miniatures in 2024

alternatives games workshop 40k models top best warhammer 40k age of sigmar dark

Here is our updated list of the best alternatives to Games Workshop Warhammer 40k and Age of Sigmar models / miniatures from independent third-party company releases!

Top 50 Best Alternatives to Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar Models and Miniatures

Tabletop wargaming has become a popular hobby, and Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40k miniatures have been at the forefront of this trend for many years. However, with increased competition, independent third-party companies have released unique and innovative alternatives to GW’s designs. Click any of the links below to jump to the info you need the most, or just dig in from the beginning.

Best Companies for Third-Party Alternatives To Games Workshop Warhammer Games

ooh rahs Alternative warhammer 40k models miniatures aos age of sigmar

The following companies offer a massive selection of options for gamers looking to spice up their collections, from bits and upgrade kits to full-blown miniatures and terrain. In this article, we’ll look at some of the best independent company miniatures as third-party alternatives to Games Workshop models and miniatures for games like Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar (AoS), and the tabletop hobby in general. 

Gen Con Marvel Crisis Protocol Previews x-men MCP Alternative warhammer 40k models miniatures aos age of sigmar

With the growing hobby world, some talented artists have brought their big guns to the table with these alternate bits and kits.  Here is our latest list of the best third-party alternatives to Games Workshop designs for Warhammer 40k, The Old World, and Age of Sigmar miniatures! If you want to see some of the best alternative games to Warhammer 40k or Age of Sigmar in general, check our recent list of the games we love to play outside of Games Workshop.

Sci-fi Third-Party Alternative Miniatures and Models To Games Workshop Warhammer 40k

Forge World Alternatives taro model makerImperial Knight Upgrades by Taro Modelmaker

Let’s take a look at our updated list of some of the best independent company miniatures for alternatives to Games Workshop miniatures and the tabletop hobby in general:

  • Wargame Exclusive (Traditional Miniatures & STLS) Alternate models for all factions of your favorite futuristic sci-fi factions
  • Pop Goes the Monkey (3D Prints & STLs) Conversion Bits and kits for Warhammer 40k and more.
  • Hardcore Miniatures (3D Prints & STLs) Fantastic Ork alternate models and more.
  • Battle Bling (3D Prints & STLs) focuses on amazing bits mainly for AT, and AI, but also plenty for 40k as well
  • Liber Daemonica (Traditional Miniatures) Full kits, bits, and painting studio.
  • Hexy Store (Traditional Miniatures) From bits to acrylic game aides for Sci-Fi and Fantasy games.

Iron Brother

Imperial Iron Brother by Wargame Exclusive

  • Zealot Miniatures (Traditional Miniatures & STLS) has an awesome selection of fantasy minis and terrain.
  • Anvil Industry  (Traditional Miniatures & STLS) Futuristic sci-fi soldiers and bit collections
  • Deadly Print Studio (3D Prints & STLs)has some of the best-looking 3D printable accessories for your models.
  • Heresy Lab (3D Prints & STLs)has unique alternative designs for games like Warhammer 40k, Mordhiem, Necromunda, and more.
  • Halo Flashpoint (Traditional Miniatures) Do you love Halo? Well, then you might have to pick up this game and play it on the tabletop!

spacenamSpaceNam Plastics from Wargames Atlantic

  • Wargames Atlantic (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures)Has some of the coolest minis on the market for insanely affordable prices.
  • Modiphius (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures)offers some of the coolest games on the market, with many great minis that are usable in many game systems.
  • Armorcast Terraform Terrain (Traditional Miniatures) They have some amazing laser-cut terrain that will set your tabletop apart.
  • Mantic Firefight (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) This game is not only fun to play, but the miniatures are great alternatives as well.

Primaris Magnum 2Magnum Packs From Liber Daemonica

  • Zinge (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures)futuristic bits, monsters, vehicles & more
  • Creature Caster (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Amazing Daemon alternative models for sci-fi and fantasy
  • Vanguard Miniatures (Traditional Miniatures) Huge selection of scaled-down minis. Tanks & weapons!
  • Star Wars Legion (AMG) (Traditional Miniatures)Great line of Star Wars models
  • Anarchy Models (Traditional Miniatures)Painting tools and conversion bits
  • SciborMiniatures (Traditional Miniatures)Fantasy models and busts 

Fallout hobbiesKits from Fallout Hobbies.

  • Fallout Hobbies (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) They have everything from full alternative kits to upgrade bits to decals and everything in between.
  • Kromlech (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Their Bits of war site features bits and alternate models for just about any setting
  • Maxmini (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Alternate minis and upgrade options for your models
  • HiTech Miniatures (Traditional Miniatures) futuristic sci-fi models
  • Bitspudlo (Traditional Miniatures) Huge selection of conversion bits
  • Reptilian Overlords (3D Prints, STLs)They’ve got a whole line of futuristically dark models to spice up your collections with and other great conversion bits.

Space Marine alternatives effectsMuzzle Effects & Smoke Effects by Deadly Print Studio

October PuppetswarPuppets War – Ork Walker (printed or STL)

  • Mastercrafted (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Bits & Upgrades
  • VictoriaMiniatures (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) IG Male & Female Soldier models and bits
  • Warlord Games (Traditional Miniatures) Games, WWII, historical, and fantasy models
  • Crooked-Dice  (Traditional Miniatures) historical/ futuristic sci-fi models and games
  • Mad Robot Miniatures (Traditional Miniatures) Bits and accessories for all kinds of minis
  • Legio Models (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Alternate kits for Knights
  • Iron Wolf Minis (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Keeping the focus on Knights a bit more, Iron Wolf Minis offers some very unique upgrades, especially for the helmet and weapons.

legio models nunsLegio Models Nuns of Battle Kit

  • Heresy Miniatures (Traditional Miniatures) Great fantasy minis!
  • Copplestone Castings (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Soldier minis & more
  • Hf minis (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Character alternatives!
  • The Assault Group (Traditional Miniatures) More character alternatives
  • Firefight (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) By Mantic Games alternate army options. Great centerpiece models
  • Infinity the Game (Traditional Miniatures) Incredible futuristic sculpts perfect for characters/elites
  • Taro Modelmaker (Traditional Miniatures) has amazing-quality resin alternate bits for futuristic/sci-fi mechanical walkers like Knights.
  • Mortian (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Incredible futuristic tank options fit the bill for all kinds of battlefield roles in your games.
  • Imperial Terrain (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Imperial Terrain has a huge variety of terrain options matching futuristic battlezones/town buildings as well as overgrown temples/ ancient ruins.

Seraphim Knights bitsKromlech Seraphim Knights Primary Conversion Bits 

  • Meridian Miniatures (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Historic Soldier options
  • Blitzkrieg Miniatures (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) WWII theme army options
  • Tinker Turf (Traditional Miniatures)Tinker Turf has some great options for tabletop terrain and even has some great options for some display board spice!
  • Artel “W” Miniatures (Traditional Miniatures) Has some of the best alternative 40k minis out there

Artel W Chapter MasterArtel “W” Miniatures Wolves Chapter Master

Fantasy Third-Party Alternative Models and Miniatures To Games Workshop Warhammer Age of Sigmar

  • Tabletop Art (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Fantasy Figures
  • Dark Sword Miniatures (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Fantastic options for D&D/fantasy characters
  • Avatars-of-War (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) has some of the coolest classic styles of sculpts out there!
  • Reaper Mini (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures)
  • Spellcrow (Traditional Miniatures)One pic doesn’t do Spellcrow justice. They’ve got alternate bits for fantasy and futuristic sci-fi games as well as their own line of models.

October Avatars of War 7 Alternative warhammer 40k models miniatures aos age of sigmarClassic Orcs by Avatars of War

  • Game Zone Miniatures (Traditional Miniatures) Orcs, Goblins, Vampires, and more great fantasy options
  • Raging Heroes (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures)
  • Fireforge-games (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures)
  • Other World Miniatures (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures)
  • Black Site Terrain (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) These guys have the tech to fit all your terrain needs. From Sci-fi to nature, all the way to historicasl.
  • Privateer Press (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) Warmachine, Hordes figures, and everything Iron Kingdoms.
  • Lost Kingdom Miniatures (Fantasy Kickstarters & Direct Sales) (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures)
  • Megalith-Games (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) More Kickstarter fantasy factions
  • Wyrd-Games (Traditional Miniatures)

High Elves 2 Alternative warhammer 40k models miniatures aos age of sigmarHigh Elves by Raging Heroes 

  • Mierce-Miniatures (Traditional Miniatures) Fantastic alternate minis for fantasy games/ D&D groups
  • Claymore Castings (Traditional Miniatures) Medieval-themed Knight minis & more
  • Victrix Limited (Traditional Miniatures) Empire gunners in Napoleonic style, other historical models like Romans
  • Kings of War (3D Prints, STLs & Traditional Miniatures) By Mantic Games alternate army options. Great centerpiece models

Mjagnir, Jötunn Alternative warhammer 40k models miniatures aos age of sigmarMierce Miniatures’ Mjagnir

So, there you have it – a plethora of fantastic Third-party alternatives to Games Workshop miniatures for systems like Warhammer 40k or Age of Sigmar! Whether you’re into futuristic sci-fi or fantasy gaming, there’s definitely something on this list that will catch your eye and elevate your tabletop experience. With so many to choose from, take your time and explore what they offer to ensure you get exactly what you want from the Best Alternatives to Games Workshop designs and Warhammer 40k, The Old World, and Age of Sigmar models / miniatures this year!

Don’t miss out on these posts for even more awesome games and money-saving tips for your hobby purchases!

What do you think about these models and miniatures that are a great alternative to Games Workshop and Warhammer systems, like 40k or Age of Sigmar? Do you have a “go-to”?

Editor’s Note:  Since we published the first article of this series over six years ago, we have received a lot of messages asking us why “XYZ” company wasn’t on this list, either by hobbyists who had used their products OR by the folks who owned those companies.  To be clear, this is a list of folks I have personally worked with in the past or used their products, so, for the most part, I can say they “don’t suck.” 

That said, feel free to email us (support AT Spikeybits.com) if you think we should look at a particular company or want to get your product into our hands for a promo or review. 

About the Author: Travis Pasch

Travis Pasch

travis pasch writer headshot profile bioJob Title: Head Writer & Editor

Socials: @paschbass 

About Travis Pasch: Travis has been a Warhammer 40k hobbyist since the 1990s, playing the game since Third Edition. Through extensive traveling, he’s seen a lot of the miniatures hobby from across the world, giving him a unique perspective on the latest gaming topics and trends.

Travis’s brother even owns a commission painting studio, where he’s picked up a lot of good advice and techniques for painting Warhammer and tabletop miniatures over the years, as well. Travis joined the Spikey Bits team in 2019 and has been the lead writer since 2020.

Currently, he’s working on converting all his 40k Adeptus Mechanicus models and becoming a true tech enjoyer, complete with both sad and happy robot noises!