Alternatives to Autodesk 3ds Max
Professional 3D modelling, animation and rendering software for Windows from Autodesk. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Autodesk 3ds Max
Professional 3D modelling, animation and rendering software for Windows from Autodesk.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Autodesk 3ds Max.
Blender
The free 3D creation suite: modelling, sculpting, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and video editing.
Blender is free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux, with Cycles and Eevee renderers and Python scripting, though its interface conventions differ from commercial suites.
Maya
Industry-standard 3D modeling and animation suite for film, TV and games.
Maya is also an Autodesk product, widely adopted in film, TV and game studios, runs on Linux and macOS too, and uses expensive subscription pricing.
Cinema 4D
Motion-graphics-friendly 3D animation and modeling application.
Cinema 4D is geared toward motion graphics and integrates with Adobe tools, runs on Windows and macOS, and is paid, subscription-based software.
LightWave 3D
Commercial 3D modelling, animation, visual effects and rendering suite for Windows and Mac.
LightWave 3D is a paid modelling, animation, simulation and rendering suite for Windows and Mac, with a long history in broadcast and visual effects work.
Houdini Apprentice
Free non-commercial version of Houdini for procedural VFX and simulation.
Houdini Apprentice is free and focuses on procedural VFX and simulation, but its licence is non-commercial and its files are not directly compatible with commercial Houdini.
Bforartists
A fork of Blender with a reworked, more discoverable graphical interface.
Bforartists is a free, open-source Blender fork with a reworked, more discoverable interface, compatible with Blender files and add-ons but with a smaller community.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Autodesk 3ds Max as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Cascadeur
A 3D character animation program with physics tools and AI-assisted posing, inbetweening and motion generation.
Autodesk 3ds Max covers modelling, animation and rendering in one package but runs on Windows only and is expensive for individuals.
iClone
Real-time 3D character animation software for body, facial and motion capture animation.
Autodesk 3ds Max is a Windows package combining modelling, animation and rendering, but it is expensive for individuals and lacks iClone's built-in lip sync and motion capture editing.
Wings 3D
Subdivision surface modeller with a context-sensitive interface.
Autodesk 3ds Max is paid, closed-source Windows software that adds animation and rendering to modelling, and is expensive for individuals.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
V-Ray
A photorealistic rendering plugin for 3ds Max, SketchUp, Rhino, Revit, Blender and others.
ZBrush
Sculpt detailed digital models using brush-based tools.
Adobe Substance 3D Painter
A commercial 3D painting application for applying textures, materials and masks to 3D models in real time.
Marmoset Toolbag
All-in-one 3D application for texture baking, texturing, painting and real-time rendering.
Lumion
Real-time 3D rendering software that turns architectural CAD and BIM models into visuals.
Twinmotion
A real-time 3D visualization tool from Epic Games for architecture, products and design presentations.
