Autodesk 3ds Max AlternativesOnly apps categorised as VFX Software

The best VFX alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max 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 six of them are VFX Software so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting VFX Software alternatives to Autodesk 3ds Max are Autodesk Maya, Houdini, Vue and LightWave.

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Most Autodesk 3ds Max alternatives are VFX Software, but you can also narrow the list to 3D Animators or 3D Modelers. 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. 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?
     
  3. 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?
     
  4. 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?
     
  5. LightWave icon
     16 likes

    LightWave 3D combines a state-of-the-art renderer with powerful, intuitive modeling, and animation tools. Tools that may cost extra in other professional 3D applications are part of the product package, including 999 free cross-platform render nodes, support for Windows and Mac...

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
  6. Deep FX Studio is a general purpose 3D computer graphics application that runs on Windows and will be ported to Linux in the future. Tools anyone can use and master. Built from the ground up to be intuitive for artists who only want to focus on their art, and technical artists...

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Good alternative?
     
6 of 6 Autodesk 3ds Max alternatives