Autodesk 3ds Max vs Rhino 3D

Autodesk 3ds Max is Windows desktop software for 3D modeling and animation. It is aimed at 3D generalists, modelers, animators, and look development artists working on game development, film and television production, and design visualization. Modeling tools include Smart Extrude, high-quality Booleans, and ReForm retopology. CAT and Biped provide rigging and character-animation setups. A built-in renderer and Arnold integration support rendering, while 3D print export handles output for physical production. Integrated OpenUSD support is intended to improve collaboration. Scripting and plugins such as tyFlow, thinkingParticles, and ForestPack extend the application. Flow Retopology moves mesh operations to the cloud, and Flow Studio can launch inside 3ds Max to send footage-derived elements through USD. It runs on Microsoft Windows 10 and 11. A free 30-day trial is available; paid subscriptions are $255 a month, $2,010 a year, or $6,025 a year billed every three years.

Rhino 3D is desktop software for Windows and macOS with listed capabilities for parametric modeling, animation, rendering, and 3D print export. The commercial Rhino 8 single concurrent-user license is listed at $995 a month, billed as a permanent license that does not expire. Licenses for 10 and 50 concurrent users are listed at $9,950 a month and $49,750 a month, respectively, also as permanent licenses. Student or faculty and school options are listed, with educational-status or school-licensing requirements. Commercial and student or faculty upgrade options are available, though evaluation versions cannot be upgraded. A free evaluation license costs nothing and lasts 90 days; saving and plugins stop working after that period. The listing describes Rhino 3D as paid while also indicating a free plan and free trial. Its maker is listed as founded in 1980 and based in Seattle, Washington, USA.