Autodesk Mudbox vs Curvy 3D
Autodesk Mudbox
autodesk.comCurvy 3D
curvy3d.comSide by side
| Figure | Autodesk Mudbox | Curvy 3D |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 9 | 2 |
| Spec score · 3D modeling software | 9.2 (#7) | 7.1 (#137) |
| Spec score · 3D Sculpting Software | 9.3 (#1) | 7.6 (#13) |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Sculpting | Its sculpting workflow manipulates polygon meshes, with subdivision levels increasing the available detail. | Warp brushes include Inflate, Deflate, Pinch, Smooth, and Flatten tools. |
| Security and compliance | Autodesk says its Trust Center covers secure development, vulnerability assessment, incident response, audits and certifications including ISO 27001, 27017, 27018 and 27701 for applicable products. | The download page links to an End User Agreement, but the opened maker pages do not state security or compliance certifications. |
| Support | Autodesk advertises 24x7 online support resources and access to three previous versions for subscribers. | The maker directs users with questions or suggestions to the Curvy 3D forum. |
Plans
Autodesk Mudbox
- SubscriptionPriced on request
- SubscriptionPrice not published
- SubscriptionPriced on request
- Autodesk Education accessFree
- Mudbox free trialFree
- Mudbox 2-year$160 a year
- Mudbox 3-year$240 a year
- Annual subscriptionPrice not published
- Monthly subscriptionPrice not published
In their own words
Autodesk Mudbox
Autodesk Mudbox is desktop software for 3D sculpting and painting, used to create detailed characters and environments with textures. Artists can build production-quality meshes from scanned, imported, or sculpted data, paint across multiple channels on 3D models, and add mesh resolution where needed. Retopology tools help create clean production meshes, and the layer-based workflow supports work on high-resolution models and textures. Mudbox also supports 3D print export. Autodesk identifies professional VFX and game studios among its users. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The 2026 requirements specify Windows 10 version 1809 or later and Windows 11, macOS 13.x through 15.x, Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 8.10, 9.3, and 9.5, and Rocky Linux 8.10, 9.3, and 9.5. Hardware requirements include a 64-bit Intel or AMD multi-core processor, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB free disk space, and a three-button mouse; 8 GB or more RAM is recommended. There is no free plan, but a 30-day trial is available.
Curvy 3D
Curvy 3D is a Windows sketch-based sculpting program aimed at first-time 3D artists. Users draw profiles and curves to make rounded or organic forms, then refine surfaces with Inflate, Deflate, Pinch, Smooth and Flatten warp brushes. Adaptive subdivision adds mesh detail where needed while controlling triangle counts. The program supports manual retopology, multiresolution sculpting and voxel sculpting. Texture tools paint color, specular and bump maps in 3D views or on 2D textures. Image Inflate converts silhouettes or greyscale images into 3D models using heightmap, bubble, bevel or extrude styles. Models export as OBJ for rendering or animation in software such as Blender. The maker also describes use with Blender or Bryce and importing characters from Poser or Daz. Curvy 3D 5 is listed for Microsoft Windows and requires a DirectX 8.0-compatible 3D graphics card. Aartform offers a free 30-day demo; the Curvy 3D 5 plan is a one-time purchase with price varying by location. Aartform describes itself as an independent London game development studio founded in 2003, and directs questions to its forum.