About Autodesk 3ds Max Autodesk 3ds Max, 3ds Max, annual subscription per user $2,010 USD a year
≈$2,865.66 CAD (converted from USD)
Every pick below has a free version.
Key file formats .max .fbx .obj .3ds Filter alternatives 2 alternatives
Windows2 macOS2 Linux2 Web1 iOS1 Android1
Tool License Platforms Status
Top pick 1 tool The editor’s first choice for most people switching.
1 Bl
Best for a free all-purpose 3D suite
License: Open source
Status: Unknown
MOV MOV: opens and saves, full fidelity. Video through FFmpeg MP4 MP4: opens and saves, full fidelity. Video through FFmpeg FBX FBX: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Meshes, rigs and animation carry over; materials are simplified OBJ OBJ: opens and saves, full fidelity PNG PNG: opens and saves, full fidelity +2 more , 0 people switched from Autodesk 3ds Max to Blender Blender for changes Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. 3ds Max scenes (.max) do not open in Blender, so move work through FBX or OBJ.
Situational 1 tool Right for specific needs, or not yet mature enough to recommend widely.
2 SH
Best for simple home and interior layouts
License: Open source
Windows macOS Linux Web iOS Android Status: Unknown
OBJ OBJ: opens and saves, partial fidelity. Imports furniture models and exports the 3D view; no animation or rigging 3DS 3DS: opens only, partial fidelity. Imports models as furniture; no export DAE DAE: opens only, partial fidelity. Imports models as furniture; no export , 0 people switched from Autodesk 3ds Max to Sweet Home 3D Sweet Home 3D for changes An interior design tool, not a general 3D modeler. It imports OBJ, 3DS and DAE furniture models and exports OBJ. No release since 7.5.2 in August 2024. Free version: Free desktop download from SourceForge with a small furniture library. Store builds and mobile apps are paid and bundle more items.
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Feature parity How each alternative covers what people use Autodesk 3ds Max for. Numbers link to editor notes.
Feature parity with Autodesk 3ds Max Feature Blender Sweet Home 3D Modeling Polygon and spline modeling Note 1Places walls, rooms and imported furniture; it does not edit meshes Non-destructive modifier stack Note 2Modifier stack with non-destructive operations; Geometry Nodes adds procedural control Visualization CAD and DWG import for visualization Note 3DXF and other CAD data come in through add-ons Note 4Plans are drawn in the app; a background image can be traced Rendering Built-in production renderer (Arnold) Note 5Cycles and EEVEE; Arnold is not included Note 6Built-in photo and video rendering with fewer controls Animation Rigging and character animation Note 7Armatures and constraints; the Biped and CAT rigs have no direct equivalent Note 8Camera-path videos only; no rigging or character animation Pipeline MAXScript and plug-in scripting Note 9Full Python API, but MAXScript and 3ds Max plug-ins do not carry over Note 10Java plug-ins only Parity score 83% 17%
Sweet Home 3D, Polygon and spline modeling: Places walls, rooms and imported furniture; it does not edit meshes Blender, Non-destructive modifier stack: Modifier stack with non-destructive operations; Geometry Nodes adds procedural control Blender, CAD and DWG import for visualization: DXF and other CAD data come in through add-ons Sweet Home 3D, CAD and DWG import for visualization: Plans are drawn in the app; a background image can be traced Blender, Built-in production renderer (Arnold): Cycles and EEVEE; Arnold is not included Sweet Home 3D, Built-in production renderer (Arnold): Built-in photo and video rendering with fewer controls Blender, Rigging and character animation: Armatures and constraints; the Biped and CAT rigs have no direct equivalent Sweet Home 3D, Rigging and character animation: Camera-path videos only; no rigging or character animation Blender, MAXScript and plug-in scripting: Full Python API, but MAXScript and 3ds Max plug-ins do not carry over Sweet Home 3D, MAXScript and plug-in scripting: Java plug-ins only Not covered by any free alternative yet: CAD and DWG import for visualization, MAXScript and plug-in scripting. See all feature gaps
File formats Can each alternative open and save Autodesk 3ds Max files?
Opening and saving Autodesk 3ds Max files Format Blender Sweet Home 3D .max Note 1Export FBX or OBJ from 3ds Max first Note 23ds Max scenes do not open; export OBJ or 3DS from 3ds Max .fbx Note 3Meshes, rigs and animation carry over; materials are simplified Note 4FBX is not supported; use OBJ .obj Note 5Imports furniture models and exports the 3D view; no animation or rigging .3ds Note 6No built-in 3DS support; use FBX or OBJ Note 7Imports models as furniture; no export
Blender, .max: Export FBX or OBJ from 3ds Max first Sweet Home 3D, .max: 3ds Max scenes do not open; export OBJ or 3DS from 3ds Max Blender, .fbx: Meshes, rigs and animation carry over; materials are simplified Sweet Home 3D, .fbx: FBX is not supported; use OBJ Sweet Home 3D, .obj: Imports furniture models and exports the 3D view; no animation or rigging Blender, .3ds: No built-in 3DS support; use FBX or OBJ Sweet Home 3D, .3ds: Imports models as furniture; no export Switching saves about $2,010 USD / ≈$2,866 CAD (estimated from the USD price) a year. Prices checked Oct 7, 2026 ; ≈ means converted from USD.
Based on 3ds Max, annual subscription per user. Price source . USD to CAD at 1.4257 as of Oct 7, 2026.
Autodesk 3ds Max is a product of Autodesk, named here for comparison only. Platforms listed for Autodesk 3ds Max: Windows.