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 50 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.

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Houdini alternatives are mainly 3D Modelers but may also be VFX Software or 3D Animators. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Houdini.

Houdini

3D Modeler
Paid • Proprietary

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...

More about Houdini

Houdini alternatives page was last updated Jun 22, 2023

Blender
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.
152 Blender alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application types
- 3D Modeler
- VFX Software
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
- BSD
- Flathub
- PortableApps.com
- Haiku
- Steam
- Flatpak
+6
Top Blender Features
1. 3D Sculpting
2. 3D Animation
3. Real time rendering
4. Compositor
5. Community-based
6. Keyframe Animation
7. Texturing
8. Animation Rigging
9. Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
10. 3D Renderer
11. Texture painting
12. Grease Pencil
Show all NaN Blender features ▾
Blender VS Houdini
Is Blender a good alternative to Houdini?
Comments about Blender as an Alternative to Houdini

Guest
blender is best opensource 3D software
Positive comment •Oct 11, 2016
2
Guest
It has nearly all features and is Open Source.
Positive comment •Feb 6, 2017
1
- Most users think Blender is a great Houdini alternative.
- Blender is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Houdini.
- Blender is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Houdini.
- Blender is Free and Open SourceHoudini is Paid and Proprietary

Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Maya is a comprehensive software that includes 3D modeling, animation, visual effects, and rendering. It is used by a variety of users, from solo artists to chief technology officers. The software is used in different production stages, including previsualization and...
67 Autodesk Maya alternatives
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application types
- 3D Modeler
- 3D Animator
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
Autodesk Maya Features
3D Sculpting
Keyframe Animation
Texturing
Cross-Platform
Show all NaN Autodesk Maya features ▾
+4
Autodesk Maya VS Houdini
Is Autodesk Maya a good alternative to Houdini?
- Autodesk Maya is the most popular commercial alternative to Houdini.
- Autodesk Maya is Paid and ProprietaryHoudini is also Paid and Proprietary

Autodesk 3ds Max
Autodesk 3ds Max is a professional-grade software designed for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation. It is equipped with a comprehensive set of tools that enable the creation of detailed and expansive 3D worlds, high-quality designs, and intricate animations.
87 Autodesk 3ds Max alternatives
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application type
- 3D Modeler
Platforms
- Windows
Autodesk 3ds Max Features
Splines
Keyframe Animation
Parametric Modeling
Bones
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Autodesk 3ds Max VS Houdini
Is Autodesk 3ds Max a good alternative to Houdini?

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Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Maya is a comprehensive software that includes 3D modeling, animation, visual effects, and rendering. It is used by a variety of users, from solo artists to chief technology officers. The software is used in different pr...

https://www.autodesk.com
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Cinema 4D
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...
51 Cinema 4D alternatives
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application type
- 3D Modeler
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
Cinema 4D Features
Rendering
Keyframe Animation
Support for scripting
Procedural Modeling
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Cinema 4D VS Houdini
Is Cinema 4D a good alternative to Houdini?

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.
78 Bforartists alternatives
License model
- Free • Open Source
Application type
- 3D Modeler
Platforms
- Windows
- Linux
- Haiku
- AmigaOS
- MorphOS
+7
Top Bforartists Features
1. 3D Sculpting
2. Dark Mode
3. Ad-free
4. Keyframe Animation
5. Motion Capture
6. Live Preview
7. Parametric Modeling
8. Lightweight
9. Works Offline
10. Color Picker
11. No registration required
12. Support for Layers
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Bforartists VS Houdini
Is Bforartists a good alternative to Houdini?

Sketchfab
Sketchfab is the first web service to publish interactive 3D content online in real-time without plugins.
83 Sketchfab alternatives
License model
- Freemium • Proprietary
Application type
- 3D Modeler
Platforms
- Online
Sketchfab Features
1. 3D Sculpting
2. Built-in viewer
3. Embeddable
4. Built-in 3D model viewer
5. WebGL
6. API Integration
7. Online Sharing
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Sketchfab VS Houdini
Is Sketchfab a good alternative to Houdini?
- Sketchfab is the most popular Web-based alternative to Houdini.
- Sketchfab is Freemium and ProprietaryHoudini is Paid and Proprietary

MODO
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.
103 MODO alternatives
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application types
- 3D Modeler
- 3D Painting App
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
MODO Features
1. 3D Sculpting
2. Support for scripting
3. Physically-Based Rendering
4. Keyframe Animation
5. Texturing
6. Rendering
Show all NaN MODO features ▾
MODO VS Houdini
Is MODO a good alternative to Houdini?

TouchDesigner
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.
35 TouchDesigner alternatives
License model
- Free Personal • Proprietary
Platforms
- Windows
TouchDesigner Features
Node Based
Interactive Visualization
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TouchDesigner VS Houdini
Is TouchDesigner a good alternative to Houdini?

EmberGen
EmberGen uses the full power of your GPU—so you can simulate and render volumetric phenomena in real-time for faster iterations than ever before. Utilize random seeds to generate new variations on the fly.
6 EmberGen alternatives
License model
- Freemium • Proprietary
Application type
- VFX Software
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
EmberGen Features
Node Based
Keyframe Animation
Sprite sheets
Cross-Platform
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EmberGen VS Houdini
Is EmberGen a good alternative to Houdini?

Lumion
Lumion is a real-time 3D visualization tool for making movies and still shots of architecture, planning and design. It is also possible to give live demonstrations.
44 Lumion alternatives
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application type
- 3D Modeler
Platforms
- Windows
Lumion Features
3D Renderer
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Lumion VS Houdini
Is Lumion a good alternative to Houdini?

Rumba
Because 3d animators are crucial in today’s animation and VFX productions, they deserve a productive and modern software dedicated to their art.
12 Rumba alternatives
License model
- Free Personal • Proprietary
Application types
- 3D Animator
- Animation Maker
Platforms
- Windows
- Linux
Rumba Features
1. Support for Layers
2. Keyframe Animation
3. Onion skinning
4. Ad-free
5. Live Preview
6. Animation Rigging
7. Lightweight
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Rumba VS Houdini
Is Rumba a good alternative to Houdini?

picoCAD
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.
136 picoCAD alternatives
License model
- Paid • Proprietary
Application type
- 3D Modeler
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
- Linux
picoCAD Features
Ad-free
Lightweight
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picoCAD VS Houdini
Is picoCAD a good alternative to Houdini?