LightWave Alternatives

LightWave is described as '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' and is an app in the photos & graphics category. There are more than 25 alternatives to LightWave for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Web-based and PortableApps.com apps. The best LightWave alternative is Blender, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like LightWave are SketchUp, Wings 3D, Autodesk Maya and Autodesk 3ds Max.

LightWave iconLightWave
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  • ...

LightWave 3D combines a state-of-the-art renderer with powerful, intuitive modeling, and animation tools. Tools that may...

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LightWave alternatives page was last updated May 21, 2021
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  1. Blender icon

    Blender

     1692 likes
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    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.

    139 Blender alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • NL flagNetherlands
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Steam
    • Flatpak
    • Snapcraft
    Splash Artwork for Blender 4.3

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  3D Animation
    2.  3D Sculpting
    3.  Real time rendering
    4.  Community-based
    5.  Compositor
    6.  Keyframe Animation
    7.  Texturing
    8.  Animation Rigging
    9.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    10.  3D Renderer
    11.  Texture painting
    12.  Ad-free

    Blender VS LightWave

     
    Comments about Blender as an Alternative to LightWave
    David P.
    Positive Mar 5, 2019
    0

    Blender shows up as a very good alternative to Lightwave 3D, not mention they share some UI paradigm. A definitive choice for independent artists.

    LightWave Icon
    Blender icon

    • Most users think Blender is a great LightWave alternative.

    • Blender is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to LightWave.

    • Blender is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to LightWave.

    • Blender is Free and Open SourceLightWave is Paid and Proprietary
  2. SketchUp icon

    SketchUp

     553 likes
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    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.

    164 SketchUp alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    Main UI

    SketchUp Features

    1.  3D Animation
    2.  3d sketching
    3.  Built-in 3D model viewer
    4.  Pencil
    5.  3d Drawing
    6.  Cabinet design
    7.  Image to 3D
    8.  Mechanical Design
    9.  Browser-based

    SketchUp VS LightWave

     

    • SketchUp is the most popular Web-based alternative to LightWave.

    • SketchUp is the most popular commercial alternative to LightWave.

    • SketchUp is Paid and ProprietaryLightWave is also Paid and Proprietary
  4. Wings 3D icon

    Wings 3D

     115 likes
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    Wings 3D is a subdivision modeler inspired by Nendo and Mirai from Izware.

    It is possible to assign materials, vertex color, UV coordinates and textures, but there will be improvements in those features before Wings goes 1.0.

    There is no support in Wings for doing animations.

    52 Wings 3D alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • SE flagSweden
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Modeling by Jove Chiere

    Wings 3D Features

    1.  Uv mapping

    Wings 3D VS LightWave

     
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    Autodesk Maya icon
    Autodesk Maya

    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.

    https://www.autodesk.com
    Learn More
  6. Autodesk Maya icon

    Autodesk Maya

     147 likes
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    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.

    61 Autodesk Maya alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Autodesk Maya screenshot 1

    Autodesk Maya Features

    1.  3D Sculpting
    2.  Keyframe Animation
    3.  Texturing
    4.  Cross-Platform

    Autodesk Maya VS LightWave

     
  7. Autodesk 3ds Max icon

    Autodesk 3ds Max

     147 likes
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    Professional-grade software designed for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation, equipped with comprehensive tools for creating detailed worlds. Widely used across film, TV, games, and design projects, it includes the powerful Arnold renderer, offering artistic control over scenes and characters.

    84 Autodesk 3ds Max alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Autodesk 3ds Max screenshot 1

    Autodesk 3ds Max Features

    1.  Splines
    2.  Keyframe Animation
    3.  Parametric Modeling
    4.  Bones

    Autodesk 3ds Max VS LightWave

     
  8. Bforartists icon

    Bforartists

     33 likes
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    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.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    • MorphOS
    Splash

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Rendering
    2.  3D Sculpting
    3.  Texturing
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Keyframe Animation
    7.  Motion Capture
    8.  Live Preview
    9.  Parametric Modeling
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  No registration required
    12.  Support for Layers

    Bforartists VS LightWave

     
  10. Cinema 4D icon

    Cinema 4D

     83 likes
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    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...

    46 Cinema 4D alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Cinema 4D screenshot 1

    Cinema 4D Features

    1.  Rendering
    2.  Keyframe Animation
    3.  Support for scripting
    4.  Procedural Modeling

    Cinema 4D VS LightWave

     
  11. Houdini icon

    Houdini

     39 likes
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    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

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Houdini screenshot 1

    Houdini Features

    1.  Procedural Modeling
    2.  Node Based
    3.  Motion Capture
    4.  3D Sculpting
    5.  3D Renderer

    Houdini VS LightWave

     
  12. Vue icon

    Vue

     29 likes
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    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.

    62 Vue alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    vue final
    Discontinued

    No longer under active development, but you can still download it and use it for free.

    Vue Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Keyframe Animation
    5.  Procedurally generated

    Vue VS LightWave

     
  13. MagicaCSG icon

    MagicaCSG

     4 likes
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    A lightweight signed distance field editor and renderer.

    131 MagicaCSG alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    MagicaCSG screenshot 1

    MagicaCSG Features

    1.  Rendering

    MagicaCSG VS LightWave

     
  14. TouchDesigner icon

    TouchDesigner

     9 likes
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    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.

    33 TouchDesigner alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Sample project screen

    TouchDesigner Features

    1.  Node Based
    2.  Interactive Visualization

    TouchDesigner VS LightWave

     
  15. Lumion icon

    Lumion

     11 likes
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    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

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • NL flagNetherlands
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Lumion screenshot 1

    Lumion Features

    1.  3D Renderer

    Lumion VS LightWave

     
12 of 46 LightWave alternatives