---
title: 'How to Be a VTuber on ANY Budget'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=rusyE5TaEb0'
video_id: 'rusyE5TaEb0'
date: 2026-06-15
duration_sec: 0
---

# How to Be a VTuber on ANY Budget

> Source: [How to Be a VTuber on ANY Budget](https://youtube.com/watch?v=rusyE5TaEb0)

## Summary

This video provides a comprehensive guide to becoming a VTuber across various budgets, from free options to high-end custom models. It covers different model types, software, and tracking technologies, emphasizing that entertainment value matters more than expensive equipment.

### Key Points

- **Budget Range $0-$300** [0:19] — Recommended for beginners to test passion. Options include free 3D models via Void Studio, PNGtubers using VGEN, or customizable models ($100-$300) like Suika's.
- **Mid-Range Budget $300-$5,000** [2:46] — Custom models from artists on VGEN. Prices vary based on complexity. The creator's model cost $10,000 due to high-demand artist and rigger, plus many toggles.
- **High-End Budget $5,000+** [5:24] — Top-tier artists like Camo Chiru and riggers like Koma. High quality comes with high demand and price. The creator's 2D model looks 3D due to advanced rigging.
- **Why VTuber Models Are Expensive** [6:53] — Artists draw and cut up the model, then riggers animate every part. Complex models can take over 2 years to complete.
- **Software Recommendations** [7:47] — 3D: Warudo (Steam). 2D: VTube Studio (Steam). PNGtuber: Discord Reactive or Fugite Tech as browser source in OBS.
- **Tracking Quality Options** [8:10] — Default tracking is basic. Vbridger tracking uses iPhone infrared for precise mouth movements. Requires Vbridger or Vitamins app (free).

### Conclusion

Starting with budget-friendly options is key to discovering your passion for VTubing. The most important factor is entertainment, not the cost of your model.

## Transcript

So, you want to become a YouTuber? Well,
you came to the right place. In this
video, I'm going to be showing you how
to be a YouTuber at every budget and
exactly what you'll need to do and what
websites to use. Hopefully, it helps.
There will also be timestamps below if
you want to skip to certain budgets if
you have a specific want in mind. Let's
get into it. First, let's go over the 0
to, let's say, $300 range. This is for
people who are just starting out. I
would really recommend that you start
out in this range when becoming a
VTuber. mostly because first of all, you
want to figure out whether or not you
have a passion for it and if you even
actually like streaming at all. Period.
When starting out V tubing, you have a
couple of choices, especially on a
budget. You can be a free 3D model, you
can be a PNG tuber, or you can even get
pre-made or customizable models online.
The first one we'll be going over is a
completely free option. This is called
Void Studio. It's a software that allows
you to make a completely free 3D model
by customizing and choosing pre-made
assets that are free on the software.
It's pretty great for starting out. I
personally have never used it, but I've
only heard good things and I've seen
many cool models come out of it. Another
good option is becoming a PNG tuber
where rather than a full model, you have
a 2D piece of art where you get a
version that's talking and not talking.
There's a website called VGEN which is
actually a great website to get many of
your assets from. Uh, and if you just
look up PNG Tuber, you can see all the
options here. You have a lot to choose
from, so you can get pretty creative
with it and get your OC made. The third
option, which is a bit higher in the
budget, around the $100 to $300 mark,
and this is actually the one that I
recommend, is you can get a customizable
VTuber. Now, Suika, who is mutual of
mine, has made an amazing one, which you
probably have heard of because so many
YouTubers are using this, but there are
so many customizations to choose from.
all sorts of hair types, eyes, outfits.
It's amazing. This is probably the most
popular customizable model at the
moment. However, there are so many
others to choose from by amazing
artists. This one comes fully created
and rigged. It's just plug-andplay. You
put it into V Studio and you're good to
go. Here's another one I wanted to
showcase. This appears to be a
androgynous or maybe male model. I'm not
100% sure because I just found this, but
there are also male versions out there
for those of you who want to become a
male VTuber. Pretty cool customizations
overall. Very, very cool. A third option
is there's this website called Booth
where people will actually create and
release pre-made models of their own.
These ones are not usually customizable,
however some of them might be. Oh,
there's model. Yeah, you can just come
on here, search for male VTuber, female
VTuber, and there are many pre-made
models that are just completely ready to
go, plugandplay. It's pretty awesome,
actually. I would really recommend this
if you don't have a specific design in
mind, really. Next, let's get into the
mid-range. We'll say this is around 300
to 5,000. I know that seems like a big
budget, but it really just depends on
what you as the creator want because
when it comes to VTuber models, you can
be as creative as you want, but the more
creative that you get, usually the price
will increase to reflect that. Now,
here's where we come back to VGEN, the
site that I recommended earlier. Here
you can see there's a bunch of things
where you can get Vtuber models, Vtuber
art, and Vtuber rigging. When a model is
made, it needs to be drawn and then
rigged. or if it's 3D, it needs to be
created in mesh and then drawn on and
then rigged or well it needs to be
textured rather. Now again, VGEN is a
really great site for starters. Models
can range anywhere from I would say $200
to $5,000 for the art. Again, I know
that sounds crazy, but it depends on
what you as a creator want. [music] For
example, my model cost around $10,000.
But before you freak out, the reason why
my model costs so much is because I see
out a very specific artist who is in
high demand and also a very specific
rigger who is in high demand. And on top
of that, I didn't ask for just one
toggle. I have many, many toggles,
[music] different outfits, different
hairstyles, different like everything
faces, and like all this crazy stuff
that my model can do. most models don't
need. And also, you can see my tracking
is very very like it. It almost looks
like I'm 3D. Uh,
you see what I mean? This is like what
the top of the top gets you, but most
people honestly don't [music] need it.
The reality with Vtubing is you don't
need the best stuff to perform well. You
just need to be entertaining. I got this
because my amazing community helped me
and supported me, and this was my way to
thank them. I also wanted to show you
guys some nice, pretty high quality 3D
models. Uh, I have a couple artists.
This is Janomu, Jay Jenomu. They
actually made my first ever 3D model
back when I started out Vubing in around
2020, 2021. I can't remember exactly
when, but they've made a a bunch of
very, very amazing uh 3D models. Here's
another one, Mari. Uh, they have worked
with actually many, many big creators.
And again, this is not exactly a budget
friendly model. They're probably going
to cost a lot more, but usually 3D
models tend to cost a bit [music] less
than 2D models. Not because they're
easier, per se, but there's usually less
layering because it's 3D mesh, but
again, it depends on who. And of course,
you can search on VGEN for 3D models.
There are also many 3D models to choose
from on Booth as well. And yeah, there's
lots of options if you just know where
to look and put in the time and
research. Lastly, I will cover the let's
say 5,000 plus. Now, this is for the
oilers out there, the the people who
just want to get the best of the best,
crazy high quality. Now, this is just
one example that I'm showing you, but
there are artists who are in high
demand, obviously, because their work is
amazing. Here's one artist, Camo Chiru.
They are an amazing VTuber model artist.
They have worked with many, many people.
They have a crazy art style and they are
amazing. However, this is not a budget
friendly model. If you work with them, I
I won't say their prices because it
depends on the complexity, but their
base prices themselves are pretty high
compared to others, but that's because
you're getting something that's in high
demand, and their art style is very
unique and amazing, and many people want
it. With price comes demand type thing.
Now, with the rigger, this is just one
example. This is actually my rigger, the
person who rigged my current model that
I'm using, Koma. [music]
As you can see, their rigging is
insanely insanely good. This is a 2D
model we're looking at right now. But
look, it looks so 3D. That's because he
puts countless hours [music] and works
so hard and actually has gotten awards
from Live 2D for his work. But of
course, this is going to cost you more
than the average rig. And that's because
you're getting a higher quality product.
It's like any other job. You get what
you pay for. You know what I mean? And
that isn't to take away from other
people. There are many upandcoming
riggers that you can choose from, and
there are many artists that you can
choose from. I'm just showing you two
examples just to show you what you can
get if you really want and have the
budget for it. You might be wondering
how come some Vtuber models are so
expensive. Well, this is actually very
simple. Getting a VTuber model is not as
simple as just drawing a thing and it
moves. When creating a VTuber model, an
artist [music] has to draw your entire
model, right? They have to also draw all
of the assets for it, the toggles that
you want and the outfits. And then they
[music] have to cut up the to the model
because it's not just a flat like PNG.
They have to cut it up to prepare it for
the rigger who rigs it and makes it move
[music] like this. And then the rigger
has to rig every little part of your
body, every little layer. And [music]
that takes many, many, many, many, many
months depending on how complex your
model is. My model, for example, took
over 2 years to make between the art and
then the rig and then testing it and
fixing bugs. It's a long process and
that's why it can get so expensive. But
that does not mean that there are not
budget friendly options [music] out
there. You just have to look. As for
what software that you'll need, it
depends on if you want to be 3D, 2D, or
a PNG tuber. If you want to be 3D, I
would recommend Warudo, which is on
Steam. If you want to be 2D, I would
recommend VTube Studio, which is
actually on Steam as well. And then if
you want to be a PNG tuber, I would
recommend Discord Reactive or Fugite
Tech, whichever you would prefer, cuz
that's just a browser source that you
put on your OBS. Something to mention
for 2D models on V Studio specifically
is there's actually different qualities
of tracking that you can get for your
face and mouth. For example, I'll show
you a regular version of tracking. This
is the default tracking that you can get
for a mouth on V Studio. Normal
tracking. This is actually my old model.
Uh, as you can see, it's not very
precise with [music] how it follows my
mouth, but you know, it it's it was good
for the time, and it's totally fine if
you want to do this starting out. But
there is this new tracking [music]
called Vbridger tracking. What it does
is it uses the infrared sensors and the
front camera on iPhones 10 and above
iPhone X and it enables you to do very
specific mouth movements like see I it's
very precise as you can see if you like
like wow hello
you know what I mean it's very precise
this is called vbrger rigging rigging it
usually cost a bit more and [music] you
Well, understandably so because it's
better, but it's totally optional. You
don't need it, especially if you're just
starting out. [music] In the future,
though, if you upgrade your model or get
a new one, I really recommend looking
into it. The two ways that you can get
this rigging is with two apps on Steam.
One is called Vridger, which is the, you
know, Verger rigging. Works with
Vridger. There's another app called
Vitamins, which is a Japanese version
that's also free. That's the one that I
use. just personal preference, but
whatever your rigger is more comfortable
rigging for is probably your best bet.
Hopefully, this helps you get started on
your VTuber journey. If you have any
questions, please feel free to come to
my streams at twitch.tv/sens
or leave a comment below and I'll try to
get to it as soon as possible. Good luck
being a VTuber. Welcome to hell.