Autodesk MotionBuilder vs NANSENSE Studio
Autodesk MotionBuilder
autodesk.comNANSENSE Studio
nansense.comSide by side
| Figure | Autodesk MotionBuilder | NANSENSE Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 8 | 3 |
| Spec score · Game Motion Capture Software | 9.2 (#2) | 8.0 (#12) |
| Integrations | MotionBuilder is designed to complement Maya and 3ds Max and exchanges data through Autodesk FBX with applications that support FBX. | It streams motion capture data to Unreal, Unity, Maya, MotionBuilder, and Blender, and supports custom integrations through its streaming protocol. |
| Purpose | MotionBuilder is 3D character animation software for capturing, editing, and playing back complex animations. | Studio processes inertial motion capture data in real time and includes tools to edit recordings, post-process them, and apply animation to character assets. |
| Support | Autodesk lists 24x7 online support options and resources. | Online support is included with Studio, and NANSENSE offers live demos and quotes by contacting [email protected]. |
| 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 minimum listed operating system is 64-bit Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11; recommended systems use Windows 10 or 11. |
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
NANSENSE Studio
- Character EngineFree
- Plugin LibraryFree
- Studio$1,799, paid once
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.
NANSENSE Studio
NANSENSE Studio processes inertial motion-capture data in real time and provides tools to edit recordings, post-process them, and animate character assets. Its locomotion solver handles foot placement, floor collisions, foot sliding, jumps, and height tracking. Recording tags for events such as foot, hand, hip, jump, and floor can guide automated post-processing. The Character Engine imports, poses, retargets, and animates humanoid assets, including mapping body, finger, and face data. Studio streams capture data to Unreal, Unity, Maya, MotionBuilder, and Blender, with custom integrations supported through its streaming protocol. It uses timecode for synchronization and UDP triggers to control recordings. Export formats include FBX, BVH, C3D, ASF, AMC, and CSV; recordings are also saved in a proprietary raw format. Studio is listed for iOS and Windows, though its stated system requirements specify 64-bit Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11, with Windows 10 or 11 recommended. The Studio license costs $1,799 as a one-time purchase, per customer rather than per seat, and has no monthly fees.