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Compare 3ds Max Design and Cinema 4D

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At a Glance
3ds Max Design
3ds Max Design
Star Rating
(280)4.3 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (63.1% of reviews)
Information
Entry-Level Pricing
$460 per quarter
Browse all 3 pricing plans
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D
Star Rating
(134)4.6 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (72.2% of reviews)
Information
Entry-Level Pricing
No pricing available
Learn more about Cinema 4D
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
  • Users report that Cinema 4D excels in ease of use with a score of 8.5, making it a preferred choice for beginners, while 3ds Max Design struggles with a lower score of 6.7, indicating a steeper learning curve.
  • Reviewers mention that Cinema 4D's rendering capabilities, particularly in exterior rendering, shine with a score of 9.3, whereas 3ds Max Design, while still strong, scores slightly lower at 8.7, suggesting that Cinema 4D may provide more visually appealing results in outdoor scenes.
  • G2 users highlight Cinema 4D's superior effects capabilities, scoring 9.0 compared to 3ds Max Design's 8.2, indicating that users may find more creative options and flexibility in Cinema 4D for adding visual effects to their projects.
  • Users on G2 report that Cinema 4D's library of materials is particularly robust, scoring 9.0, which allows for greater customization and creativity, while 3ds Max Design's material library, although decent, does not match this level of variety.
  • Reviewers mention that both products have similar control scores of 8.2, but Cinema 4D's overall pipeline management is rated higher at 8.4, suggesting a more streamlined workflow for users managing complex projects.
  • Users say that while both products offer solid animation features, Cinema 4D's animation capabilities score significantly higher at 9.3, indicating a more user-friendly and powerful toolset for animators compared to 3ds Max Design's score of 8.2.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
3ds Max Design
Quarterly
$460
per quarter
Browse all 3 pricing plans
Cinema 4D
No pricing available
Free Trial
3ds Max Design
Free Trial is available
Cinema 4D
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
8.5
260
9.0
124
Ease of Use
6.7
260
8.5
124
Ease of Setup
6.5
33
8.8
16
Ease of Admin
7.0
28
8.2
13
Quality of Support
7.6
228
8.4
104
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
8.3
30
8.8
12
Product Direction (% positive)
7.5
257
8.5
124
Features by Category
Design
8.1
60
7.9
28
7.9
61
7.7
30
7.6
62
7.2
26
6.8
54
6.5
19
8.2
63
9.0
32
Move
8.2
62
9.3
32
8.7
67
8.9
34
9.1
65
9.2
33
Store & Manage
7.9
56
8.4
31
8.2
58
8.2
34
7.6
59
7.8
30
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Architectural RenderingHide 11 FeaturesShow 11 Features
Not enough data
8.6
5
Library
Not enough data
8.7
5
Not enough data
9.0
5
Rendering
Not enough data
9.0
5
Not enough data
8.3
5
Not enough data
9.0
5
Not enough data
9.3
5
Not enough data
8.7
5
Not enough data
8.7
5
Integrations
Not enough data
6.7
5
Not enough data
9.0
5
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Animation
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
3ds Max Design
3ds Max Design
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D
3ds Max Design and Cinema 4D are categorized as Animation, 3D Modeling, and 3D Rendering
Unique Categories
3ds Max Design
3ds Max Design is categorized as VR Visualization and VR Game Engine
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D is categorized as Architectural Rendering
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
3ds Max Design
3ds Max Design
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
63.1%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
24.8%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
12.0%
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
72.2%
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
15.0%
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
12.8%
Reviewers' Industry
3ds Max Design
3ds Max Design
Architecture & Planning
26.9%
Design
16.4%
Animation
6.5%
Computer Games
5.1%
Graphic Design
3.6%
Other
41.5%
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D
Design
20.9%
Animation
11.9%
Graphic Design
10.4%
Marketing and Advertising
8.2%
Media Production
7.5%
Other
41.0%
Most Helpful Reviews
3ds Max Design
3ds Max Design
Most Helpful Favorable Review
Matthew M.
MM
Matthew M.
Verified User in Architecture & Planning

The fact that you can bring in models from many different software platforms makes 3ds a very nice tool to work with. The rendering abilities are amazing, and I have been able to impress many clients with its abilities. I have also been able to use this...

Most Helpful Critical Review
Verified User
G
Verified User in Design

every option is like secret and modelling is really hard i am beginner so it is hard for me.

Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D
Most Helpful Favorable Review
Isaac C.
IC
Isaac C.
Verified User in Graphic Design

Cinema 4d is the best 3D software for graphic designers. It is the program for excellence. Nowadays more and more people in the sector are using. Is the best program to create animations in 3d. Has many new characteristics, and gives you a lot of ways to...

Most Helpful Critical Review
Verified User in Events Services
GE
Verified User in Events Services

This program's snap tool is a joke. If I draw 2 objects and need their edges to be touching, the snap tool goes to random points and is never helpful or accurate. I have to zoom in as far as I can and try to manually move the objects to align. Of course...

Alternatives
3ds Max Design
3ds Max Design Alternatives
Unity
Unity
Add Unity
Blender
Blender
Add Blender
Modo
Modo
Add Modo
LightWave 3D
LightWave 3D
Add LightWave 3D
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D Alternatives
Blender
Blender
Add Blender
Modo
Modo
Add Modo
Unity
Unity
Add Unity
Maya
Maya
Add Maya
Discussions
3ds Max Design
3ds Max Design Discussions
I need a 3d max exterior design
2 comments
MG
This tutorial succinctly summarizes the most effective way to convert an image to a 3d object in 3ds Max: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtkvRFMVsdsRead more
Is 3ds max free?
2 comments
Ofonime  W.
OW
Not really, its for commercial use. However, there are licenses tailored for educational use too (students and academicians)Read more
When will you implement TyFLow definitively?
1 comment
Richard T.
RT
It is still in beta. Unless Autodesk is able to buy out Tyson Ibele and TyFlow then it will always be a plugin you have to purchase (unless he makes it open...Read more
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D Discussions
how i use this app?
2 comments
AM
Hey there, you could start by learning what it's used for. You can start by learning the interface. There are lots of resources on youtube that will...Read more
LIGHT OF THE LORD
1 comment
Revival E.
RE
Monty the Mongoose crying
Cinema 4D has no more discussions with answers