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 are free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to Autodesk 3ds Max are Spline, Akse, Bforartists and Vectary.

filter to find the best alternatives

Most Autodesk 3ds Max alternatives are 3D Modelers, but you can also narrow the list to 3D Animators or 3D Painting Apps. Other popular filters are Android, Open Source, Mac, Free and iPad. You can also filter for EU-based alternatives if you prefer software from the European Union.
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Alternatives
Autodesk 3ds Max alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Zmodeler icon
     7 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2010

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
  2. CrackArt icon
     10 likes

    CrackArt is a free open source 3D paint and texturing application that includes Texture Painting, Texture Baking, Procedural Materials and Textures, and much more.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2010

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
  3. Nirvana 3D icon
     1 like

    A game engine written in Python, extending support across multiple GPU devices with 3D rendering, PBR Renderer and much more.

    Cost / License

    Since

    • Since 2024

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Python
    Good alternative?
     
  4. Working with 3D files using MeshMagic free 3D modelling software is intuitive. Quickly draw a 2D design and expand it to a 3D mesh. Import an existing STL file or other 3D file and modify it.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2019

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
  5. XYZmaker icon
     2 likes

    XYZmaker is a 3D modeling software designed for beginners in 3D printing; it provides a model library and several tools to generate different shapes and objects easily.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2016

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
  6. Awakening icon
     4 likes

    Awakening is a powerful professional real-time 3D solution. With it, you can easily create eye-catching interactive 3D presentations, brief films, games...

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Since

    • Since 2011

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
  7. Pointshop3D icon
     2 likes

    Pointshop3D is a system for interactive shape and appearance editing of 3D point-sampled geometry. By generalizing conventional 2D pixel editors, it supports a great variety of different interaction techniques to alter shape and appearance of 3D point models, including cleaning...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2010

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  8. Gmsh icon
     15 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2010

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  9. Dead Deer icon
     3 likes

    Dead Deer is a 3D modeler, 3D game maker, and a 3D demo maker designed to create games.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2018

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  10.  5 likes

    3D texturing tool. It supports, .3DS, .X, .OBJ, .LWO and .B3D.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2010

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
  11. Archisketch is a scale-aware sketching program ideal for Architects, interior and landscape designers, product designers, design students, or anyone working with design on an iPad.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2025

    Platforms

    • iPad
    Good alternative?
     
  12. BenchUp icon
     Like

    A free, open-source 3D modeling app for woodworking and furniture design, written in Rust. Plan individual boards, wood joints, and complete assemblies with exact measurements before heading to the workshop.

    50 BenchUp alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Since

    • New

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Rust
    • AppImage
    Good alternative?
     
You are at page 3 of Autodesk 3ds Max alternatives