What I recommend
TinkerCad - Simple 3D modeling on an online platform, shapes only, no textures. Good for in class activity use, multiple users can collaborate in same online space live at the same time. Good for 3D printing. https://www.tinkercad.com
Blender - Advanced 3D modeling software that is open source and a free download. Mesh and texture editing and creation, lighting control, animation. https://www.blender.org
Sketchfab - "The YouTube of 3D models" - can filter for "Cultural Heritage" models, some are user generated and others are posted by museums themselves. Creative Commons licensing for some models, can be downloaded for free and remixed for personal/educational use. Be sure to include correct CC attribution credit for any models you reuse. Some 3D model creation software (like Metashape) can export directly to your Sketchfab account when linked: https://sketchfab.com
Metashape - 3D model building using structure-from-motion / photogrammetry. Proprietary software with educational discount. Standard license creates 3D models from aligned photographs. Professional license includes georeferencing, orthomosaic creation, and other additional functionality. https://agisoft.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/31000152092
Unity - see game building
Other options
Artec Studio - Proprietary software for aligning and exporting structured light scans from the Artec product line, necessary for initial processing before export to other 3D modeling software: https://www.artec3d.com
Meshlab - Open source 3D model editing software, especially good for aligning and editing laser scan data. Good for ease of use in model editing and rendering, so animation like in Blender. https://www.meshlab.net
Maya - Early CG industry standard for 3D animation, still used for major cinematic production, full license is very expensive, but educators and students can apply yearly for a free educational license! https://www.autodesk.com/education/edu-software
Regard3D - Open source 3D model building using structure-from-motion / photogrammetry, does not have georeferencing capability like Metashape, does show visualization of the keypoint matches for all aligned image pairs: https://www.regard3d.org/
Adobe Aero - User friendly interface and rapidly increasing iOS support for AR viewing for users without the app installed, free during beta-testing period: https://www.adobe.com/products/aero.html
Reality Composer - Apple Developer AR creation tools, more complex design functionality, needs some coding experience in implementation: https://developer.apple.com/augmented-reality/tools/
Vuphoria - Major commercial AR platform that is used within other programs (ex. Unity, Aris), can build target images and other features through their Developer site: https://developer.vuforia.com
Unity - World building and physics/interactive rules for 3D gaming. Complex software as you can build 3D assets, NPCs, game play / movement / interactions / world physics. Free software can be downloaded here: Unity Download. Finished Unity games can be hosted through https://itch.io/.
FieldDay - Now defunct :( :( :( Was a robust location-based game builder with impressive AR capabilities: https://fielddaylab.org/make/aris/
Actionbound - Location-based game builder, free: https://en.actionbound.com
Bitsy - 8-bit style game builder, can be simple, or can have many features/styles added through code (JavaScript and HTML5), games can be hosted on https://itch.io/.
Twine - Robust text based game builder, uses html code to incorporate media, access the online builder or download the application here: http://twinery.org/. Extensive help documentation here: https://twinery.org/wiki/twine2:what_can_you_build_with_twine. Advanced Twinery, using Twine to build a location-based game: https://github.com/shawngraham/ar-archaeology/blob/master/workshop%20materials/Hacking%20Twine%20to%20make%20a%20location-based%20game.md
StoryMaps - Website builder with GIS visualization, links directly to other ArcGIS online mapping platforms. Can build map tours with pop-up or scrolling info panels. Includes robust embedding of other web-based assets, especially 3D models (by hosting them on Sketchfab). Ease of use and ability to extend and customize has led to this platform being popular for many types of online visual storytelling projects.
Twine - see above in Games section
Siftr - Crowdsource location-based data with a simple to use editor and data collection interface: siftr.org
ArcGIS Survey123 - Simple user interface for mobile mapping, application that interfaces directly with ArcGIS (online and desktop): https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-survey123/overview
ArcGIS FieldMaps - More complex features, mobile mapping application that interfaces directly with ArcGIS (online and desktop): https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-field-maps/overview
QField - QGIS field data collection app, interfaces with main QGIS software through additional programs QFieldCloud and QFieldSynch https://docs.qfield.org/
FileMaker GO (Claris)- Tablet and phone based application for born-digital field data collection, must be synced to central FileMaker Pro database: https://www.claris.com/filemaker/
Notion - Online database builder, can also publish / host through notion: https://www.notion.so
OpenContext - Major online hub for publishing digital archaeology data: https://opencontext.org/
Voyant Tools - Web-based text analysis: https://voyant-tools.org/
Gephi - Open source graphical data visualization software, especially good for social network analysis: https://gephi.org/
AirTable - Track and assign tasks for project management, free for small scale projects: https://www.airtable.com/
GitHub - Platform for collaborative code development, often used by DH practitioners to collaborate and share repositories of project documentation, free for small scale use: https://github.com/
How to screenshot videos for project demos: https://support.apple.com/guide/quicktime-player/record-your-screen-qtp97b08e666/mac