Autodesk MotionBuilder vs Cascadeur
Autodesk MotionBuilder
autodesk.com
Cascadeur
cascadeur.comSide by side
| Figure | Autodesk MotionBuilder | Cascadeur |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | $8/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 8 | 8 |
| Spec score · 3D Animation Software | 9.1 (#2) | 9.2 (#1) |
| Spec score · Animation Software | 9.1 (#9) | 9.4 (#2) |
| Spec score · Game Motion Capture Software | 9.2 (#2) | 9.3 (#1) |
| Spec score · 3D Character Animation Software | 9.1 (#3) | 9.2 (#2) |
| Company | Autodesk was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. | Cascadeur's about page says Eugene Dyabin started it in 2006 as an internal animation tool for Nekki. |
| Company headquarters | LinkedIn lists Autodesk headquarters in San Francisco, California. | LinkedIn lists Cascadeur headquarters in Limassol, Cyprus. |
| Company size | LinkedIn lists Autodesk as having more than 10,000 employees worldwide. | LinkedIn lists Cascadeur as privately held with 11-50 employees. |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Purpose | MotionBuilder is 3D character animation software for capturing, editing, and playing back complex animations. | Cascadeur is physics-based 3D animation software for creating character animation without motion capture. |
| Rating on G2 | 4.1 out of 5 from 17 reviews | 0 out of 5 from 0 reviews |
| Support | Autodesk lists 24x7 online support options and resources. | Support is offered through Discord, email, documentation and plan-specific priority or dedicated chat channels. |
| System requirements | MotionBuilder 2026 supports Windows 10 version 1809 or higher, Windows 11, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.10/9.3/9.5 WS, and Rocky Linux 8.10/9.3/9.5. | The published Windows minimum is Windows 10 64-bit, Core i5 or Ryzen 5 at 3.5 GHz or better, 16 GB RAM and an NVIDIA GTX 950 or newer. |
| What it does | MotionBuilder is Autodesk software for real-time 3D character animation used in games, feature films and television. | Cascadeur is software for making character animation without motion capture, using physics-based methods and machine-learning assistance. |
Plans
Autodesk MotionBuilder
- Annual subscriptionPriced on request
- Annual subscriptionPrice not published
- 3-year subscriptionPriced on request
- 3-year subscriptionPrice not published
- MotionBuilder free trialFree
- MotionBuilder 2025$2,145 a year
- Media & Entertainment Collection$2,790 a year
- MotionBuilder subscriptionPrice not published
Cascadeur
- FreeFree
- Indie$19 a month
- Pro$49 a month
- Teams$49 a month
- Educational$49, paid once
- Indie$96 a year
- Pro$396 a year
- Teams$396 a year
In their own words
Autodesk MotionBuilder
Autodesk MotionBuilder is 3D character animation software for capturing, editing, and playing back complex animations. Its real-time character engine automatically creates movements for biped or human skeletons, while manipulation tools let users alter a character’s position and orientation. The listed capabilities include motion capture, motion retargeting, facial animation, animation retargeting, and character retargeting. Autodesk says professional animation and game studios use MotionBuilder to produce animations. It is designed to complement Maya and 3ds Max and exchanges data through Autodesk FBX with applications that support FBX. MotionBuilder is available for Linux and Windows. The stated minimum hardware includes a 64-bit Intel or AMD multi-core processor, 8 GB RAM, 4 GB of free disk space, and a three-button mouse. Autodesk offers a free 30-day trial, but no free plan. A subscription covers installation on up to three devices for one named user, with use limited to one computer at a time, and includes the current version plus three previous versions.
Cascadeur
Cascadeur is physics-based 3D animation software for creating character animation without motion capture. Its Free plan includes animation, rigging, physics-based tools, inbetweening, and animation unbaking, but exports only to CASC. Paid plan comparisons list FBX, DAE, USD, and GLTF/GLB exports. The software is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and iOS, and its documentation covers workflows with Blender, Unity, Unreal Engine, and Daz Studio. Unreal Engine Live Link streams animation from Cascadeur in real time; its plugin requires a separate manual download and installation. Cascadeur 2026.1 introduced an AI-powered Root Motion Tool that transfers motion style using signatures from reference animation. Minimum requirements include 4 GB memory and OpenGL 4.1, plus a 64-bit multi-core Intel or AMD processor on Windows or Linux, or an M-series processor on macOS. Users must sign in after installation with Google or a Cascadeur account. Plans include a free option and paid tiers, with the listed annual starting rate at $8 per month; Pro and Teams include a 14-day trial.