Open Source Autodesk 3ds Max Alternatives

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

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.

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Autodesk 3ds Max

117

Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
Windows

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

Learn more about Autodesk 3ds Max

Blender
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
3D Modeler
VFX Software
Video Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
Haiku
Steam
Flathub
Flatpak
149 alternatives to Blender
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.
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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. Node BasedBlender supports node editing, a form of visual programming that gives you full control over the rendering.
8. Motion CaptureYou can capture and modify/animate faces, gestures, movements or objects within the Blender.
9. Parametric ModelingBlender can change the shape of model geometry as soon as the dimension value is modified.
Real time rendering
Compositor
Community-based
Texturing
3D Renderer
Grease Pencil
Texture painting
2D and 3D physics
Rendering
Low memory usage
Blender vs Autodesk 3ds Max opinions
Almost everyone thinks Blender is a great alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
cdcsdces
the most powerful, actively developing
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•
1

Guest
Lower learning curve and high usability.
Positive comment•
0

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

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5 of 9 comments
Bforartists
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Windows
Linux
Haiku
AmigaOS
MorphOS
78 alternatives to Bforartists
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. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Bforartists, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
3. LightweightBforartists consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. 3D SculptingBforartists offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
Rendering
Non linear editor
Customizable
HD-Rendering
Rendering with graphics card
Compositor
Texture painting
Texturing
Bforartists vs Autodesk 3ds Max opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
hamadaspider
i learn blender with this software , many thanx for devolp
Positive comment•
1
GLC_Player
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
3D Modeler
Mac
Windows
Linux
26 alternatives to GLC_Player
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

GLC_Player vs Autodesk 3ds Max opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
It is only a viewer, and not a modeler.
Negative comment•
0
K-3D
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Mac
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
52 alternatives to K-3D
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.
Gmsh
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
CAD Software
Mac
Windows
Linux
31 alternatives to Gmsh
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
DeleD CE
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Windows
54 alternatives to DeleD CE
DeleD is a 3D modeler and level-editor combined into one. It focuses at game development and is specifically designed to create static objects/worlds. Other areas in which you can put DeleD to good use are, for example, educational services, webdesign, prototyping and image...
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DeleD CE Features
Level editor
Level
OpenFX
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Windows
51 alternatives to OpenFX
OpenFX is an open-source, free modeling and animation studio, distributed under the GNU General Public License.
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OpenFX Features
Texturing
Rendering
Art of Illusion
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
3D Modeler
Mac
Windows
Linux
33 alternatives to Art of Illusion
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
Art of Illusion vs Autodesk 3ds Max opinions
Some users think Art of Illusion is a great alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max, some don't.
Guest
I love java and will start to develop a fork of this project.
Positive comment•
1
Dead Deer
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
3D Modeler
3D Animator
Mac
Windows
Linux
120 alternatives to Dead Deer
Dead Deer is a 3D modeler, 3D game maker, and a 3D demo maker designed to create games.
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Dead Deer Features
3D Game Engine
Creating 3D objects
2D Game Engine
CrackArt
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
3D Painting App
Windows
41 alternatives to CrackArt
CrackArt is a free open source 3D paint and texturing application that includes Texture Painting, Texture Baking, Procedural Materials and Textures, and much more.
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CrackArt Features
Texturing
Texture painting
Discontinued
The domain is long dead and the SourceForge project has not been updated since 2013.