--- description: Review of 3ds Max Software: system overview, features, price and cost information. Get free demos and compare to similar programs on Software Advice New Zealand. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/software_advice/og_logo-55146305bbe7b450bea05c18e9be9c9a.png title: 3ds Max | Reviews, Pricing & Demos - SoftwareAdvice NZ --- Breadcrumb: [Home](/) > [Game Development Software](/directory/4209/game-development/software) > [3ds Max](/software/411159/3ds-max) # 3ds Max Canonical: https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/411159/3ds-max Page: 1 / 6\ Next: [Next page](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/411159/3ds-max?page=2) > 3ds Max is a cloud-based animation software that provides businesses with tools to create, model and render 3D design visualizations. Professionals can create procedural open shading language (OSL) maps and utilize spline tools to animate geometrical designs. 3ds Max allows organizations to rebuild adjacent faces of 3D objects, automatically optimize the geometry of high-resolution models and apply various textures, colors or material finishes across designs. Editors can build animated characters, edit animation trajectories and include particle matters in models. Additionally, users can create and add realistic liquid behaviors or effects, including water, oil, lava and more. 3ds Max enables businesses to import data and simulate realistic camera settings or artificial light sources across models. Pricing is available on monthly or annual subscriptions and support is extended via FAQs, phone, email and other online measures. > > Verdict: Rated **4.6/5** by 113 users. Top-rated for **Likelihood to recommend**. ----- ## Quick Stats & Ratings | Metric | Rating | Detail | | **Overall** | **4.6/5** | 113 Reviews | | Ease of Use | 3.7/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Customer Support | 4.1/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Value for Money | 4.0/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Features | 4.6/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Recommendation percentage | 80% | (8/10 Likelihood to recommend) | ## About the vendor - **Company**: Autodesk - **Location**: San Rafael, US - **Founded**: 1982 ## Commercial Context - **Starting Price**: US$205.00 - **Pricing Details**: 3ds max includes offers a free trial. Paid plans include monthly and annual subscriptions, details of which are outlined below: Monthly - $205 1 Year - $1,620 3 Year - $4,375 - **Target Audience**: Self Employed, 2–10, 11–50, 51–200, 201–500, 501–1,000, 1,001–5,000, 5,001–10,000, 10,000+ - **Deployment & Platforms**: Cloud, SaaS, Web-based, Windows (Desktop) - **Supported Languages**: English - **Available Countries**: United States ## Features - 2D Drawing - 3D Design & Modeling - 3D Games - 3D Modeling - 3D Objects - API - Animation - Animations & Transitions - Annotations - Building Information Model - Configurable Workflow - Content Library - Design Management - Drag & Drop - Media Import - Multiple Projects - No-Code - Physics Simulation - Project Management - Rendering ## Support Options - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support ## Category - [Game Development Software](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/directory/4209/game-development/software) ## Related Categories - [Game Development Software](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/directory/4209/game-development/software) - [3D CAD Software](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/directory/4384/3d-cad/software) - [3D Architecture Software](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/directory/4314/3d-architecture/software) - [Animation Software](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/directory/4424/animation/software) - [3D Rendering Software](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/directory/4612/3d-rendering/software) ## Alternatives 1. [AutoCAD](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/390127/autocad) — 4.7/5 (3205 reviews) 2. [SolidWorks Premium](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/206302/solidworks-premium) — 4.6/5 (756 reviews) 3. [Alibre Design](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/309859/alibre-design) — 4.7/5 (182 reviews) 4. [SketchUp](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/371821/sketchup) — 4.5/5 (1046 reviews) 5. [Autodesk Fusion](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/420072/fusion-360) — 4.5/5 (268 reviews) ## Reviews ### "3DS Has it all for professionals. But one thing..." — 5.0/5 > **Roldan** | *13 November 2022* | Information Technology & Services | Recommendation rating: 8.0/10 > > **Pros**: - This is a more than 20-year old software and pretty much mature and almost have all that you need. I've used this software since 2007 and I'm amazed at how this renders objects on it's own.- Best used from simple projects to a more complex and gaming characterizations and 3D movies.- The level of customizability can be done up to the DNA level. - The rendering quality is just amazingly stunning, even on it's own rendering engine, couple it with third-party rendering software, it makes object render output even more elaborate. > > **Cons**: - One major issue I have with 3DS Max is the learning curve. It's harder to learn than, say, Cinema 4D. It is kind of verbose and complex to learn. I need a bit of persistence to learn it.- It has a very heavy native payload. It has like 8 to 9GB of payload on it's own. So, now if you add more libraries and other third-parties the load will even be more heavy. > > It was a good experience. 3DS Max was the very first software I have used. During that time there is not much tutorial found in YouTube, so I have to figure out things on my own. But, yes, it was very much doable. Persistence is key to learning. You cannot be lazy in reading documentations. But with todays copious amount of learning videos and institutions, it shouldn't be easy to learn 3DS Max. Persistence and time are keys to learning. It takes time and persistence as 3DS Max is not an easy software to learn. ----- ### "Amazing software for 3D Modelling but quite expensive" — 4.0/5 > **Verified Reviewer** | *23 February 2025* | Information Technology & Services | Recommendation rating: 8.0/10 > > **Pros**: Pretty easy to use for architectural modelling and stuff, has simple ui. Great for animation and stuff. Integration with AutoCad is also present, rendering time is also fast and efficient > > **Cons**: Quite costly, compared to softwares like Blender, Needs heavy computing power. Object Mapping seems a bit hard to learn. ----- ### "Not for gaming and animation Modelling" — 3.0/5 > **Yogesh** | *9 January 2025* | Computer Games | Recommendation rating: 1.0/10 > > **Pros**: It's a useful tool for creating plans and precise interior and exterior designs. > > **Cons**: It's a difficult software to learn plus the material creation and render part is not great. It's not a very powerful and intuitive tool. ----- ### "My favourite tools" — 5.0/5 > **Verified Reviewer** | *21 September 2023* | Arts & Crafts | Recommendation rating: 8.0/10 > > **Pros**: It's still a major tool for 3D creation and still very useful in Vfx, with its new Boolean modifier that allows more complex assets to be modelled, for example. > > **Cons**: this tool has a very attractive interface with lots of buttons and very flexible windows, its character rigging system is very detailed to set up > > it's a tool that has enabled me to create very realistic architectural models ----- ### "Best software for material mapping but has fallen behind in rendering" — 5.0/5 > **Mike** | *12 January 2024* | Construction | Recommendation rating: 8.0/10 > > **Pros**: 3ds Max is very easy to create animations and map materials. Very good for high end renders. Its also good at processing very large file sizes > > **Cons**: There isn't preset lighting and the render times are much longer than other software when wanting quick renders ----- Page: 1 / 6\ Next: [Next page](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/411159/3ds-max?page=2) ## Links - [View on SoftwareAdvice](https://www.softwareadvice.co.nz/software/411159/3ds-max) ## This page is available in the following languages | Locale | URL | | de | | | en | | | en-AU | | | en-GB | | | en-IE | | | en-NZ | | | fr | | ----- ## Structured Data