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Cheetah3D vs LightWave 3D: catalog facts
Cheetah3D	LightWave 3D
Best for: Mac users making 3D models and animations for games or AR	Best for: Independent 3D artists and small studios on Windows or Mac
Paid Paid licence; a download is available before purchase.	Paid Paid software.
macOS	Windows, macOS
Native Apple Silicon and Metal support Modelling, animation and rendering in one app All 3 strengths for Cheetah3D Native Apple Silicon and Metal support Modelling, animation and rendering in one app USDZ import and export for AR work	Modelling, animation, simulation and rendering in one application Long history in broadcast and visual effects work All 3 strengths for LightWave 3D Modelling, animation, simulation and rendering in one application Long history in broadcast and visual effects work Versioned documentation for each release
Mac only Smaller ecosystem than Blender or Cinema 4D	Paid licence required No Linux version
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Not open source	Not open source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Offline features available	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Cheetah3D cheetah3d.com Catalog checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for LightWave 3D lightwave3d.com Catalog checked September 24, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.