Autodesk Mudbox vs Forger
Autodesk Mudbox
autodesk.comForger
maxon.netSide by side
| Figure | Autodesk Mudbox | Forger |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 9 | 2 |
| Spec score · Game 3D Modeling Software | 9.2 (#1) | 7.8 (#20) |
| Spec score · 3D modeling software | 9.2 (#7) | 7.8 (#96) |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Intended users | Autodesk says Mudbox is used by professional VFX and game studios to create high-resolution meshes and textures. | Maxon describes its software as serving artists and people working in areas including 2D/3D design, modeling, animation, filmmaking, digital sculpting, and visualization. |
| 3D print export | Yes | Yes |
| Sculpting tools | Yes | Its sculpting tools include Standard, Clay, Smooth, Move, Pull, Flatten, Polish, Scrape, Planar, Inflate, Crease, Stamp, and Mask brushes. |
| Support | Autodesk advertises 24x7 online support resources and access to three previous versions for subscribers. | Maxon said technical support would be available until September 10, 2025, or through the end of an existing subscription term if later. |
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.
Forger
Forger is an iOS application for digital 3D sculpting and texture painting. Its mesh workflow includes multiresolution sculpting, volume-based quad-dominant remeshing, auto-retopology, sculpt layers, masks, and vertex colors. Apple Pencil input supports pressure sensitivity and configurable styles. Forger imports OBJ, Alembic, and C4D files, and exports OBJ, STL, USD, and C4D files; exporting a scene to Cinema 4D requires a subscription. The free version has no time limit, but saves only three scenes and requires a subscription for scene export. Free users must register with Maxon after a 14-day grace period. Forger entered limited maintenance mode on September 10, 2025, after which Maxon said there would be no further updates, bug fixes, or changes. Support was available until that date, or through an existing subscription term if later. Subscription users could re-download it by contacting support.