Best 3D Modeling Software: Blender, Maya, ZBrush & More

You've probably heard these statements before: Blender is the best free all-rounder, Maya is the industry standard for animation, and ZBrush is known for its powerful sculpting tools. Whether you're taking your first steps into 3D or an advanced user looking to expand your toolkit, this guide can help you find the right fit. We've compared some of the biggest 3D tools on the market, highlighting what each one does best, who it's best suited for, and the questions you're most likely to have before getting started.

Check out the most commonly used software for 3D modeling:

Blender

• What it is: Blender is 3D modeling, animation, and visual effects software. You can use it to create 3D characters, objects, environments, game assets, and stylized and realistic renders. It also has tools for sculpting and basic video editing.
• Best for: Beginners, indie artists, all-round work on a budget.
• Price: Free.
• Used by: Indies and major productions lately, including the Oscar-winning animated film Flow, Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, and SpongeBob SquarePants.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Pros: Free, open-source, with a large online community and many tutorials and resources.
• Cons: It can be difficult to learn because it has many tools and features, and the interface may feel complicated at first.

Autodesk Maya

• What it is: Maya is 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software, the industry standard for character animation, and widely used in film, video games, and television.
• Best for: Character animation, film, and AAA games.
• Price: Starting at $168/month.
• Free license: Student and Educator license.
• Used by: Pixar, Wētā FX, Industrial Light & Magic, DreamWorks, and more.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Pros: It provides powerful 3D modeling and animation tools, is ideal for character rigging, and offers advanced features for experienced users.
• Cons: Expensive subscription, can be challenging for beginners to learn.

Autodesk 3ds Max

• What it is: 3ds Max is a 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software, the industry standard in archviz.
• Best for: Architectural and interior visualization, environment modeling, props;
• Price: Starting at $168/month.
• Free license: Student and Educator license.
• Used by: Industrial Light & Magic, Blur, and more.
• Platforms: Windows.
• Pros: It has many features for experienced users, with a huge library of plug-ins and ready-made assets.
• Cons: Windows only, expensive subscription, weaker for character-focused 3D work.

ZBrush

• What it is: ZBrush is an industry-standard 3D sculpting and modeling software used widely in video games, animation, film, and character design.
• Best for: Sculpting complex characters and creatures.
• Price: Included in the Maxon One subscription for $1,265/year, or available as a standalone subscription for $399/year.
• Free license: iPad (basic version).
• Used by: Dune, Star Wars, Avatar, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, the God of War franchise, the Uncharted franchise, the Assassin's Creed franchise, and more.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, and iPadOS.
• Pros: It offers powerful sculpting tools that let artists create highly detailed 3D models.
• Cons: Expensive subscription, not the best choice for general 3D modeling or animation.

Cinema 4D

• What it is: Cinema 4D is 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software widely used for motion graphics, advertisements, title sequences, and more.
• Best for: Motion graphics, product visualization, abstract renders.
• Price: Included in the Maxon One subscription for $1,265/year, or available as a standalone subscription for $839/year.
• Free license: No.
• Used by: Apple, Adidas, NBA campaigns, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and more.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, and iPadOS (beta).
• Pros: It has a gentle learning curve, a clean interface, the strongest motion-graphics toolset, and a large tutorial community.
• Cons: Subscription cost, less common in game pipelines.

Additional Tools for 3D Pipeline

Substance 3D Painter

• What it is: Substance 3D Painter is the industry-standard Adobe software for painting textures and materials directly onto 3D models, widely used in video games, animation, movies, and 3D art.
• Best for: Texturing game assets, characters, props, and environments.
• Price: It's available through Adobe's Substance 3D subscription for $24.99/month, or as a perpetual license on Steam for $199.99.
• Free license: Student and Educator license.
• Used by: From Baldur's Gate 3 to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, your favorite games likely use it.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Pros: Fast, non-destructive workflow, high-quality PBR textures.
• Cons: Subscription cost, limited to texturing only, you need another tool to model and render.

Houdini

• What it is: Houdini is an industry-standard 3D software for VFX, simulations, and procedural assets, widely used in video games, film, and advertisements.
• Best for: VFX and simulations such as fire, smoke, water, destruction, and cloth.
• Price: Ranges from $1,475 to $3,505/year, depending on the product.
• Free license: Yes.
• Used by: Wētā FX, Industrial Light & Magic, DNEG, Framestore, and more.
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Pros: Unmatched for simulations, non-destructive workflow, generous free tier.
• Cons: Can be difficult for beginners, and it's overkill for simple modeling or animation.

We highly recommend exploring our interview section to learn from indie and professional artists and game developers as they share their workflows, techniques, and favorite tools for creating characters, environments, props, and VFX throughout the 3D pipeline.

Don't forget to subscribe to our Newsletter, join our 80 Level Talent platform, Discord, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, and Instagram, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.

Are you a fan of what we do here at 80 Level? Then make sure to set us as a Preferred Source on Google to see more of our content in your feed.