Best 3d Design And Animation Software

Best 3D Animation Software Free and Paid

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Nov 16, 2021• Proven solutions

Are you in search of some of the best 3D animation software? There are several uses of the 3D animation software creator like creating movies, creating characters, adding voiceovers to the characters, etc.

The 3D animation maker has a great deal to explore, which is fun indeed. If you are familiar with 2D animation editor or someone who loves animation just for fun, you can try out the free 3D animation software.

Although you can find a great number of animation software in the market, only a few can be trusted completely. In this article, you can explore both free and paid the best 3D animation software that is trending the popularity charts.

Part1: Best Free 3D Animation Software
Part2: Best Paid 3D Animation Software

Recommended 3D Animation Software - FilmoraPro

If you want to have more controls on 3D animation videos, here we recommend using FilmoraPro.

You just need to build a white plane to easily start making 3D animation with keyframes. FilmoraPro offers six different keyframe types to let your animation become smooth and natural.

Besides, auto color correction and audio mixer will raise up your 3D animation video to a new level. You can also apply light flares effects to make 3D animation amazing. Now, free download it to have a try!

Below is a comparison table that you can find the best free 3D animation makers. Some 3D animation makers are easy to use. Take a look!

	Price	OS	Pros	Features
Blender	Free	Windows, Linux, OSX, and Steam	Best 3d animation software; Active community globally	Powerful rendering support
Wings 3D	Free	Windows, Linux, and Mac	Easy 3d animation software; Open source and completely free	Its interface is customizable
K3-D	Free	GNU/Linux, MacOS X, FreeBSD, Windows	Intuitive 3d animation maker; Node-based visualization pipeline	Endless redo feature
Source Filmmaker	Free	Windows	Any games can be used in this animation maker	Game lovers will like it
Maya	$1,050/year	Windows, Mac	Time Editor to edit animation faster; You can collect motion capture data	Easy to use Motion graphics
Cinema 4D	$1,647	Windows, Mac	Intuitive interface to make 3d animation	Fluid workflow to start editing for beginners
Mixamo	$1,500/year	Windows, Mac	Vivid and high-quality animated 3D characters	Belong to adobe family
Houdini	$1,995/year	Windows, Mac	Powerful VEX to make excellent 3D animations	Quick guide for learners

Part 1: Best Free 3D Animation Software

1. Blender

Pros:

Both manual and auto-tracking
Camera restoration is powerful
Curve editor and dope sheets
Customize layout and interface

An open-source professional free 3D animation software, Blender is used in hosting a range of applications like visual effects, animated feature films, video games, and more. The Blender supports the entire 3D tree which includes features like, rigging, modeling, animating, simulating, compositing, rendering, and tracking motion. The features of Blender are:

Features:

CPU, GPU, VR rendering support
Masking and textured brushes for 3D painting
Add-ons and customized tools with Python scripting
Bridge fill, edge slide, grid, inset

blender

2. Wings 3D

Pros:

Various modeling tools to make 3D effects
Completely free for use for commercial usage
Include a forum to communicate for users

An easy-to-use, unconventional sector modeler, Wings 3D is a powerful 3D animation software. Whether you are a commercial 3D animation creator or a personal one, the Wings 3D is a free and open-source 3D animation software. The features of Winds 3D include:

Features:

Customized interface
Support for materials and lights
Built-in AutoUV mapping facility

Wings 3d

3. K3-D

Pros:

Intuitive interface to make 3D effects
Can always go back to undo operations
Totally free-to-use

One of the best 3D animation software, K-3D features a procedural engine plugin for its content. It is a free 3D animation software that supports polygonal modeling. A visual pipeline architecture is combined with the flexible plugins that make the K3-D software a powerful and versatile tool. The features include:

Features:

Consistent and intuitive
Consist of basic tools for animation, patches, curves, and NURVS
Parametric workflow
Can be run on Windows, OS X, Linux, and FreeBSD

k 3d

4. Source Filmmaker

Features:

The virtual movie set with lights, actors, props, and cameras
Create your own movies and add features as per your requirement
Manages entire workflow needed to make a movie into one single system

This 3D animation software lets you make a movie inside the game engine Source. Wondering how? It is because whatever assets are present in the game, the Source Filmmaker uses it. So, the assets of the game are used by SFM in the film and vice versa. The features of this movie-making tool include:

Features:

Renders power of a modern gaming PC
Whatever you see in the game is what you get in the movie
Completely free to download

source Filmmaker

Part 2: Best Paid 3D Animation Software

5. Maya

Pros:

Perfect accuracy and control
Create flying logos, titles sequences, branding, etc.
Higher performance in a high fidelity environment

If you wish to create or develop games, 3D scenes, movies, or people, Maya is definitely one of the best 3D animation software tools available. Although a paid software, Maya 3D animation creator does complete justice to its various features of coloring, animating, and modeling.

Maya LT - Create 3D characters and environments for your indie game with a more cost-effective tool based on production-proven 3D products. Buy now! The features are:

Features:

30 days of a free trial
Uncomplicated software
Create complex technical effects
High-level animation edits

maya

6. Cinema 4D

Pros:

Dissect complete scenes
Customized with a huge range of assets

A faster 3D animation software tool than Maya, Cinema 4D offers a gentle curve for learning but, does not cover all like Maya. The high-speed feature makes the Cinema 4D software desirable in the television, advertisements, and various motion graphics. The features are:

Features:

Extensive library of preset scenes, material, and objects
Develop concepts without time modeling

Cinema 4d

7. Mixamo

Pros:

Download multiple animations at one go
Fast character and animation browsing

With a straightforward and faster workflow, the Mixamo 3D software's newest user experience and the interface makes it too easy to find, create, organize, and share assets and animation instantly. The features of this 3D animation software include:

Features:

User experience is streamlined
Fully customizable animation packs
The faster and accurate search function

Mixamo

8. Houdini

Pros:

Time-space motion path handles
Support import and export to a range of formats
Robust built-in rendering solution

Developed by the Toronto based Side Effects Software, Houdini covers every major part that a 3D animation software should do. This 3D animation maker was adapted by the PRISMS group of procedural generation software tools. The keen focus on the procedural generation by Houdini differentiates it from other 3D animation creators. The features of this 3D animation software are:

Features:

Powerful and accessible 3D animation experience
Rigging animate characters
Add Character FX like fur, hair, etc.

Houdini

Conclusion

This is the list of the free and paid the best 3D animation software. So, whenever you are confused and need any assistance regarding 3D animation software, go through this content and you will find the right solution. Undoubtedly, FilmoraPro is one of the best tools for 3D animation. With a range of features like ease of interface access, preset animation effects, multiple tracks to add various videos, and more makes a complete package to ensure a great 3D animation software usage tool. Just a little trial and error can make you perfect.

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Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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