Autodesk 3ds Max Alternatives for Mac

Autodesk 3ds Max is not available for Mac but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on macOS with similar functionality. The best Mac alternative is Blender, which is both free and 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 available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac alternatives to Autodesk 3ds Max are SketchUp, Autodesk Maya, Cinema 4D and Houdini.

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

Alternatives list

  1. Blender icon
     1862 likes

    A comprehensive open-source 3D software suite for modeling, UV unwrapping, texturing, rigging, and animating. It supports renderings, simulations including fluid and cloth dynamics, complex compositing, video editing, and Python scripting, running across all major operating systems.

    154 Blender alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Steam
    • Flatpak
    • NL flagNetherlands
    • European Union flagEU
    Splash Artwork for Blender 4.3
    Good alternative?
     
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    10
  2. SketchUp icon
     556 likes

    Comprehensive 3D modeling software ideal for architecture, engineering, film, and gaming. It includes features like easy-to-use interface, sun and shadow analysis, color experimenting, and mock-up creation. Available in freeware and professional versions for diverse needs.

    193 SketchUp alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    Good alternative?
     
  3. Autodesk Maya icon
     150 likes

    Professional-grade 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and visual FX software used in films, TV, and games, featuring advanced tools, Bifrost effects, and a visual programming environment for intricate simulations.

    69 Autodesk Maya alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  4. Cinema 4D icon
     85 likes

    CINEMA 4D is a commercial, cross-platform, high-end 3-D graphics application, produced by MAXON Computer GmbH of Friedrichsdorf, Germany. Noted for its flexible interface and ease of use, it is capable of procedural and polygonal/subd modelling, animating, lighting, texturing...

    50 Cinema 4D alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
  5. Houdini icon
     41 likes

    Houdini covers all the major areas of 3D production, including:

    • Modeling - All standard geometry entities including Polygons, (Hierarchical) NURBs/Bezier Curves/Patches & Trims, Metaballs
    • Animation - Keyframed animation and raw channel manipulation (CHOPs), motion captur.
    50 Houdini alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  6. Rhinoceros icon
     33 likes

    Rhino can create, edit, analyze, document, render, animate, and translate NURBS* curves, surfaces, and solids, point clouds, and polygon meshes. There are no limits on complexity, degree, or size beyond those of your hardware.

    66 Rhinoceros alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
  7. Vectary icon
     13 likes

    Vectary is the most accessible 3D and Augmented Reality design platform. Create an account for free online. No app download needed. Build immersive experiences for the real world. Publish 3D and Augmented Reality content to any website.

    49 Vectary alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Chrome OS
    • Figma
    • madewitharkit
    • WebGL
    • Sketch
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • US flagUnited States
    Create 3D UI in Vectary
    Good alternative?
     
  8. Vue icon
     29 likes

    Create vast expanses of terrains, add trees, select the best point of view and render hyper-realistic images of your landscapes in moody atmospheres... in a few mouse clicks.

    61 Vue alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • US flagUnited States
    vue final
    Good alternative?
     
  9. Twinmotion icon
     6 likes

    Designed by architects for architects, veteran visualization studio KA-RA has announced the release of Twinmotion®2, an award winning real-time studio that lets architects and designers create, edit and share interactive 3D models.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
  10. The Electric Image Animation System (EIAS) is an eminent 3D animation and rendering package. Available for the Mac and PC, with it, you can texture, animate and render your 3D scenes. Extraordinarily, EIAS includes the ability to network render to an unlimited number of...

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
  11. Art of Illusion icon
     30 likes

    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.

    34 Art of Illusion alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
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    1
  12. K-3D icon
     31 likes

    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    Good alternative?
     
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