Cinema 4D vs Stop Motion Studio
Cinema 4D
maxon.net
Stop Motion Studio
stopmotionstudio.comSide by side
| Figure | Cinema 4D | Stop Motion Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 8 |
| Spec score · Animation Software | 8.3 (#28) | 9.0 (#12) |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Integrations | Cinema 4D supports workflows with Adobe After Effects and Unreal Engine through Cineware. | Projects can move between devices using iCloud, AirDrop, Dropbox, and the Files app, and finished videos can be shared to YouTube, Instagram, and other social networks. |
| Platforms | Cinema 4D runs on Windows, including Windows on Arm, and macOS; the product page says iPad availability is planned for late 2026. | iOS,Android,macOS,Windows |
| System requirements | The system requirements page says Cinema 4D needs an online connection for licensing and online content access. | Current downloads require Windows 10 or newer and macOS 13 or newer; the education page lists iOS 16+, Android 9+, Windows 10/11, and ChromeOS. |
Plans
Stop Motion Studio
- FreeFree
- Pro (iPhone and iPad)Price not published
- Pro 2 (Mac)Price not published
- FreeFree
- Stop Motion Studio (free mobile version)Free
- Pro$5.99, paid once
- Stop Motion Studio Pro (iPhone and iPad)$5.99, paid once
- School site licensePrice not published
In their own words
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D combines 3D modeling, animation, simulation, and rendering in a desktop application. Modeling options include parametric and polygonal workflows, sculpting, generators, deformers, and spline-based tools. MoGraph provides cloners, effectors, fields, and distributions for procedural motion design. Its simulation system supports cloth, rigid and soft bodies, particles, hair, smoke, flames, and liquids. Animation features include keyframes, character rigging templates, motion tracking, and motion capture support. Every subscription includes GPU-accelerated Redshift rendering, and Cineware supports workflows with Adobe After Effects and Unreal Engine. Listed formats include OBJ, FBX, Alembic, USD, glTF, STEP, CATIA, and Solidworks. The application supports 3D print export and runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Cinema 4D was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany. There is no free plan, but a 14-day Maxon One trial includes Cinema 4D and Redshift; only the latest releases are available for trial. A CPU with AVX2 support is required for Cinema 4D 2025 and newer.
Stop Motion Studio
Stop Motion Studio is an app for creating stop-motion animation with frame-by-frame capture and editing. It runs on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Camera capture can be automatic or manual, with controls for focus, exposure, ISO, and white balance; the app can create 4K video. Editing tools include a frame-by-frame editor, zoomable timeline, audio, titles, credits, and filters. Onion skinning, composition guides, a path layer, and reference images or video support planning movement and framing. The product page also describes DSLR control with Live View and in-app shutter speed, ISO, and aperture settings. Finished movies can be saved as video, GIF, sticker, or flipbook; raw images can also be exported, and projects transferred to another device. The free mobile version costs nothing and includes core classroom features such as frame-by-frame capture, onion skinning, and video export. Green screen, rotoscoping, 4K export, and other advanced tools require an upgrade. The Pro app for iPhone and iPad is listed at $5.99, paid once, with no subscription. The maker says there is no trial or free version for Windows or macOS.