Free Autodesk 3ds Max Alternatives

The best free alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max is Blender, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Autodesk 3ds Max and many of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to Autodesk 3ds Max are SketchUp, Bforartists, GLC_Player and K-3D.

Autodesk 3ds Max alternatives are mainly 3D Modelers but may also be VFX Software or 3D Animators. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Autodesk 3ds Max.

Autodesk 3ds Max alternatives page was last updated

Autodesk 3ds Max

142

Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler

3D modeling and rendering software for design visualization, games, and animations.

More about Autodesk 3ds Max

Blender
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
3D Modeler
VFX Software
3D Animator
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Flathub
PortableApps.com
Haiku
Steam
Flatpak
151 Blender alternatives
Blender is the free and open-source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, video editing, and motion tracking.
- - Blender is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max.
- - Blender is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max.
Suggest and vote on features
Blender Features
1. 3D SculptingBlender offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
2. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Blender, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsBlender can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Animation RiggingBlender supports bone structures to manipulate a 3D model like a puppet for animation.
5. Physically-Based RenderingPrecise rendering method for Blender to represent of how light interacts with material properties.
6. Ad-freeBlender doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
7. Motion CaptureYou can capture and modify/animate faces, gestures, movements or objects within the Blender.
8. Node BasedBlender supports node editing, a form of visual programming that gives you full control over the rendering.
9. LightweightBlender consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Real time rendering
Compositor
Community-based
Texturing
3D Renderer
Grease Pencil
Texture painting
2D and 3D physics
Rendering
Low memory usage
Comments about Blender as a Alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max
Almost everyone thinks Blender is a great Autodesk 3ds Max alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Guest
Lower learning curve and high usability.
Top positive comment•
0

Guest
It is really powerfull. It is only a 100 MB file (3ds Max is 1+ GB file). It really really requires low resources from a modest PC. Its is free!
Top positive comment•
8

Guest
Blender is free but is hard to use
Top negative comment•
0

mediaholdings
It's free and there is a lot of information available on the internet to learn it.
Positive comment•
0

cdcsdces
the most powerful, actively developing
Positive comment•
0

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5 of 9 comments
SketchUp
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
3D Modeler
Interior Design App
Mac
Windows
Online
167 SketchUp alternatives
SketchUp (formerly Google Sketchup) is a 3D modeling computer program for a wide range of drawing applications such as architectural, interior design, civil and mechanical engineering, film, and video game design—and available in a freeware version, SketchUp Make, and a paid...
- - SketchUp is the most popular Web-based alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max.
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SketchUp Features
3d sketching
Built-in 3D model viewer
Pencil
3d Drawing
Cabinet design
Image to 3D
Mechanical Design
Browser-based
Opinions about SketchUp as a Alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max
Some users think SketchUp is a great Autodesk 3ds Max alternative, some don't.
Bforartists
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Windows
Linux
Haiku
AmigaOS
MorphOS
79 Bforartists alternatives
Bforartists is a complete 3D suite to create 3D content. It offers you the full 3D art pipeline to create game graphics, prerendered movies and stills.
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Bforartists Features
1. Motion CaptureYou can capture and modify/animate faces, gestures, movements or objects within the Bforartists.
2. 3D SculptingBforartists offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
3. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Bforartists, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
4. Ad-freeBforartists doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Dark ModeBforartists supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
6. LightweightBforartists consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Rendering
Texturing
Non linear editor
Customizable
HD-Rendering
Rendering with graphics card
Compositor
Texture painting
Comments about Bforartists as a Alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max
pros, cons and recent comments
hamadaspider
i learn blender with this software , many thanx for devolp
Positive comment•
1
GLC_Player
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
3D Modeler
Mac
Windows
Linux
26 GLC_Player alternatives
GLC_Player is a software used to view 3D models (COLLADA 3DXML OBJ 3DS STL OFF and COFF format are supported) and to navigate easily in these models. With the album management, capture and multi-capture capabilities, HTML export and navigation possibilities, GLC_Player is the...
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GLC_Player Features
Built-in 3D model viewer
Add a screenshot

Comments about GLC_Player as a Alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
It is only a viewer, and not a modeler.
Negative comment•
0
K-3D
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
52 K-3D alternatives
K-3D is free-as-in-freedom 3D modeling and animation software. It features a plugin-oriented procedural engine for all of its content, making K-3D a very versatile and powerful package.
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K-3D Features
1. PortableK-3D can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Discontinued
According to the official website k-3d.org :The latest "source code" release is from November 2015. And the latest binary executable release is even older. According to its Sourceforge page ( https://sourceforge.net/projects/k3d/files/K-3D Win32 Binaries/ ), latest release is from june 2010.
TouchDesigner
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Proprietary
Windows
29 TouchDesigner alternatives
TouchDesigner is a complete authoring tool for building interactive 3D art, visualizations, prototypes and UIs. Derivative makes and supports TouchDesigner and offers their services to do custom production using TouchDesigner.
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TouchDesigner Features
1. Node BasedTouchDesigner supports node editing, a form of visual programming that gives you full control over the rendering.
Spline
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
3D Modeler
3D Animator
Graphic Design Tool
Software as a Service (SaaS)
14 Spline alternatives
Create 3D web experiences without coding. Build and iterate fast with production-ready results.
- - Spline is the most popular SaaS alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max.
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Spline Features
1. No Coding RequiredSpline can be used without an coding or programming skills.
Web-Based
3D design
Gmsh
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
CAD Software
Mac
Windows
Linux
31 Gmsh alternatives
Gmsh is a 3D finite element grid generator with a build-in CAD engine and post-processor. Its design goal is to provide a fast, light and user-friendly meshing tool with parametric input and advanced visualization capabilities.
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Gmsh Features
FEM
Art of Illusion
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
3D Modeler
Mac
Windows
Linux
33 Art of Illusion alternatives
Art of Illusion is a free, open source 3D modelling and rendering studio. It is written entirely in Java, and should be usable on any Java Virtual Machine which is compatible with Java 5 or later.
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Art of Illusion Features
1. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Art of Illusion, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
Rendering
Comments about Art of Illusion as a Alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max
Some users think Art of Illusion is a great Autodesk 3ds Max alternative, some don't.
Guest
I love java and will start to develop a fork of this project.
Positive comment•
1
Zmodeler
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
3D Modeler
Windows
67 Zmodeler alternatives
ZModeler (or Zanoza Modeler) is a 3D modeling application. It is aimed at modelers who model for computer games such as 18 Wheels of Steel, Grand Theft Auto, Need for Speed, Midtown Madness or similar video games.
Zmodeler has no features, suggest some!