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.

Autodesk 3ds Max alternatives are mainly 3D Modelers but may also be 3D Painting Apps 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

142

Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler

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

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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
152 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. Node BasedBlender supports node editing, a form of visual programming that gives you full control over the rendering.
8. LightweightBlender consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
9. Motion CaptureYou can capture and modify/animate faces, gestures, movements or objects within the Blender.
Real time rendering
Community-based
Compositor
Texturing
3D Renderer
Texture painting
Grease Pencil
2D and 3D physics
Rendering
Rendering with graphics card
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
zakirshikhli
it is free, very powerful. lots of tutorials, lots of render engines, active development.
Top positive comment •
0

cdcsdces
the most powerful, actively developing
Top positive comment •
0

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

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
SketchUp
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
3D Modeler
Interior Design App
Mac
Windows
Online
169 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.
Autodesk Maya
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
3D Animator
VFX Software
Mac
Windows
Linux
71 Autodesk Maya alternatives
Autodesk Maya software is a powerful, integrated 3D modeling, animation, visual effects, and rendering solution.
- - Autodesk Maya is the most popular commercial alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max.
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Autodesk Maya Features
1. 3D SculptingAutodesk Maya offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
2. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Autodesk Maya, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
Texturing
Cross-Platform
Opinions about Autodesk Maya as a Alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max
Most users think Autodesk Maya is a great Autodesk 3ds Max alternative.
Cinema 4D
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
Mac
Windows
52 Cinema 4D alternatives
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...
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Cinema 4D Features
1. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Cinema 4D, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
2. Support for scriptingCinema 4D supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
3. Procedural ModelingCinema 4D can create or modify 3D models and textures based on a sequence of rules.
Rendering
Opinions about Cinema 4D as a Alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max
Most users think Cinema 4D is a great Autodesk 3ds Max alternative.
Houdini
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
VFX Software
Mac
Windows
Linux
49 Houdini alternatives
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.
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Houdini Features
1. Procedural ModelingHoudini can create or modify 3D models and textures based on a sequence of rules.
2. Node BasedHoudini supports node editing, a form of visual programming that gives you full control over the rendering.
3. Motion CaptureYou can capture and modify/animate faces, gestures, movements or objects within the Houdini.
4. 3D SculptingHoudini offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
3D Renderer
Opinions about Houdini as a Alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max
Most users think Houdini is a great Autodesk 3ds Max alternative.
MODO
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
3D Painting App
Mac
Windows
Linux
106 MODO alternatives
MODO is a fully featured 3D content creation application, famous primarily for it's modelling capabilities, MODO also offers a fast renderer, sculpting, painting, dynamics and animation tools.
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MODO Features
1. 3D SculptingMODO offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
2. Support for scriptingMODO supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
3. Physically-Based RenderingPrecise rendering method for MODO to represent of how light interacts with material properties.
4. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in MODO, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
Texturing
Rendering
Rhinoceros
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
CAD Software
Mac
Windows
62 Rhinoceros alternatives
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.
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Rhinoceros Features
1. Parametric ModelingRhinoceros can change the shape of model geometry as soon as the dimension value is modified.
2. Procedural ModelingRhinoceros can create or modify 3D models and textures based on a sequence of rules.
Nurb Surfacing
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
Opinions about Rhinoceros as a Alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max
Most users think Rhinoceros is a great Autodesk 3ds Max alternative.
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.
picoCAD
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
Mac
Windows
Linux
138 picoCAD alternatives
picoCAD is a program to build and texture lowpoly 3D models. Programs for modelling are overly complicated, picoCAD aims to make it fun, easy, and accessible by focusing on the bare essentials. This program was made using pico 8.
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picoCAD Features
1. Ad-freepicoCAD doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. LightweightpicoCAD consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.