Autodesk MotionBuilder vs Source Filmmaker
Autodesk MotionBuilder
autodesk.comSource Filmmaker
sourcefilmmaker.comSide by side
| Figure | Autodesk MotionBuilder | Source Filmmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 8 | 2 |
| Spec score · 3D Animation Software | 9.1 (#2) | 7.3 (#29) |
| Spec score · Animation Software | 9.1 (#9) | 7.2 (#97) |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Purpose | MotionBuilder is 3D character animation software for capturing, editing, and playing back complex animations. | Source Filmmaker is Valve’s movie-making tool for creating films inside the Source game engine. |
| Support | Autodesk lists 24x7 online support options and resources. | The official site provides a FAQ, video tutorials, community discussions, a wiki, a team contact email, and a bug-report email. |
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
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.
Source Filmmaker
Source Filmmaker has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.