Houdini Alternatives3D Modelers and other similar apps like Houdini

Houdini is described as 'Covers all the major areas of 3D production, including:' and is a 3D Modeler in the photos & graphics category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Houdini for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Web-based and PortableApps.com apps. The best Houdini alternative is Blender, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Houdini are Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max, Cinema 4D and Bforartists.

Houdini 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 Houdini.

Houdini

Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler

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

Modeling - All standard geometry entities including...

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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 Houdini.
- - Blender is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Houdini.
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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. 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 Houdini
Most users think Blender is a great Houdini alternative.
Guest
blender is best opensource 3D software
Positive comment •
2

Guest
It has nearly all features and is Open Source.
Positive comment •
1
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 Houdini.
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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
Autodesk 3ds Max
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
Windows
90 Autodesk 3ds Max alternatives
3D modeling and rendering software for design visualization, games, and animations.
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Autodesk 3ds Max Features
1. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Autodesk 3ds Max, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
2. Parametric ModelingAutodesk 3ds Max can change the shape of model geometry as soon as the dimension value is modified.
Splines
Bones
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 Houdini
Most users think Cinema 4D is a great Houdini alternative.
Bforartists
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Windows
Linux
Haiku
AmigaOS
MorphOS
78 Bforartists alternatives
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. 3D SculptingBforartists offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
3. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Bforartists, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
4. Ad-freeBforartists doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
5. Dark ModeBforartists supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
6. LightweightBforartists consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
Rendering
Texturing
Non linear editor
Customizable
HD-Rendering
Rendering with graphics card
Compositor
Texture painting
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
Sketchfab
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
3D Modeler
Online
84 Sketchfab alternatives
Sketchfab is the first web service to publish interactive 3D content online in real-time without plugins.
- - Sketchfab is the most popular Web-based alternative to Houdini.
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Sketchfab Features
1. 3D SculptingSketchfab offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
2. Built-in viewerSketchfab shows you a quick preview of an image, page or file in supported formats.
Embeddable
WebGL
API Integration
Online Sharing
Built-in 3D model viewer
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.
TouchDesigner
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free Personal • Proprietary
Windows
30 TouchDesigner alternatives
TouchDesigner is a complete authoring tool for building interactive 3D art, visualizations, prototypes and UIs. Derivative makes and supports TouchDesigner and offers their services to do custom production using TouchDesigner.
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TouchDesigner Features
1. Node BasedTouchDesigner supports node editing, a form of visual programming that gives you full control over the rendering.
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.
LightWave
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
VFX Software
Mac
Windows
49 LightWave alternatives
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...
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LightWave Features
Bullet implementation
Vue
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
VFX Software
Mac
Windows
63 Vue alternatives
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.
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Vue Features
Procedurally generated
Comments about Vue as a Alternative to Houdini
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
vue only works with procedural terrain generation while houdini is more of a simulations software which has 3d modelling capabilities to some extent.
Negative comment •
0