Price & licensing snapshot (typical signals as of Mar 3, 2026)
- Blender — free open-source application (GPL). Optional Blender Cloud membership for assets/training ≈ $11.50/month. (Blender Studio)
- Autodesk Maya — subscription licensing (monthly / annual). Autodesk lists regional prices (example: monthly/annual subscription tiers shown on Autodesk product pages). Autodesk also offers Indie terms for small creators below revenue thresholds. (Autodesk)
- Autodesk 3ds Max — subscription licensing similar to Maya (studio and individual tiers; often bundled in Media & Entertainment collections). (YouTube)
- ZBrush (Pixologic / Maxon) — commercial license with free trials; ZBrush editions (full desktop, ZBrush for iPad, etc.) — watch Pixologic pages for current trial/upgrade terms. (YouTube)
- Cinema 4D (Maxon) — subscription and perpetual (depending on the plan/region historically), with packages aimed at motion designers and studios. (Maxon)
- Houdini (SideFX) — commercial licensing, with Houdini Apprentice free (non-commercial), and FX/pro versions for studios; SideFX lists demo reels and feature notes on their site. (SideFX)
(Licenses and promos change frequently; for studio procurement always check the vendor page or sales rep.)