--- title: Cinema 4D canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/cinema-4d/ category: 3D Modeling Software points: 48 rank: 5 of 9 facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # Cinema 4D 3D modeling, animation and simulation software for motion design, sold as a subscription that includes the Redshift renderer. 48 points out of 100. #5 of 9 3D modeling programs. Vendor: Maxon. Website: https://www.maxon.net/en/cinema-4d - Maxon offers a 14-day free trial of Maxon One, which includes Cinema 4D [3][13]. - Every Cinema 4D subscription includes the Redshift renderer at no extra cost [4]. - Cinema 4D runs on Windows and macOS; an iPad version is listed as coming in late 2026 [1]. - It exports OBJ, FBX, glTF, STL and USD, and reads STEP files [8]. - Maxon's plan page shows monthly and annual billing, says annual billing saves 30% or more, and lists no prices [2]. Verdict: Cinema 4D suits motion designers who want modeling, sculpting, rigging, simulation and rendering in one subscription [1][4][6][7][14]. It has a Python and C++ SDK for add-ons [9]. The catch: Maxon's plan page shows no prices, and the only free option described is a 14-day trial [2][3]. Best for: Motion designers who want modeling, animation and rendering in one subscription. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Other systems | macOS | 2/8 | Runs on Windows and macOS. The iPad version is listed as coming in late 2026, so it does not count [1]. | | Licence | Free version without a time limit | Not published | 0/10 | Not published on the vendor's trial page [3]; only a 14-day trial is described. | | Licence | Free version allowed for paid work | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's trial page [3]. | | Licence | One-off licence you keep | Not published | 0/8 | The plan page describes monthly and annual billing; it does not say whether a one-off licence is sold [2]. | | Licence | Open source | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the vendor's Cinema 4D page [1]. | | Licence | Free licence for students | Not published | 0/4 | Student plan has a pricing page; the educational licensing page does not say it is free [11]. | | Modelling tools | Precise curve and solid modeling | Yes | 5/5 | Features list names Parametric Modeling: splines drive generators such as Lathe. NURBS and B-rep are not named [10][12]. | | Modelling tools | Digital sculpting | Yes | 5/5 | Built-in Sculpt system with Pull, Grab, Smooth and Erase brushes; you subdivide a mesh to add detail [14]. | | Modelling tools | Node-based procedural modeling | Yes | 5/5 | Features list names Scene Nodes; no beta label is shown [10]. | | Modelling tools | Rigging and animation | Yes | 5/5 | Skeletal rigging with IK/FK solvers, plus keyframe tools [7][1]. | | Modelling tools | Physics simulation | Yes | 4/4 | A unified system covers cloth, rigid and soft bodies, particles, smoke, flames and liquids [1]. | | Modelling tools | UV unwrapping | Yes | 4/4 | The revamped UV Editor has seam editing, automatic unwrapping, zero-overlap packing and UDIM support [5]. | | Modelling tools | Built-in ray-traced renderer | Yes | 5/5 | Redshift is included with every subscription at no extra cost [4]; Maxon says it uses ray-tracing hardware where present [15]. | | Modelling tools | Scripting and add-ons | Yes | 5/5 | Maxon documents a Python SDK and a C++ SDK for plug-ins and scripts [9]. | | Formats | Built-in export formats | FBX, OBJ, glTF, STL, USD | 5/6 | Supported-formats page marks each as read and write. STEP is read only [8]. | | Price | Cheapest way to use it for paid work | Not published | 0/12 | Not published on the vendor's pages [2]. The plan page shows billing options but no amounts. | | Price | Full-feature trial | Yes | 3/3 | 14-day free trial of Maxon One, which includes Cinema 4D [3][13]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Cinema 4D subscription | Price not shown [2][4] | - | Maxon's plan page says annual billing saves 30% or more, and shows no amounts [2]. ## Strengths - Redshift rendering is included in every subscription [4]. - Includes sculpting, polygon and parametric modeling tools [6][14]. - Rigging covers IK/FK solvers, Pose Morph and weight painting [7]. - Reads and writes OBJ, FBX, glTF, STL and USD files [8]. - Python and C++ SDKs are documented for plug-ins and scripts [9]. ## Limits - Plan prices are not shown on Maxon's plan page [2]. - No free version is described; the trial lasts 14 days [3]. - The student licence has its own plan and pricing page; the page does not call it free [11]. - STEP files can be read but not exported [8]. - The iPad version is not out yet [1]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - Maxon says its unified simulation system handles cloth, rigid and soft bodies, particles, smoke, flames and liquids [1]. ## Sources 1. [Cinema 4D](https://www.maxon.net/en/cinema-4d), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Plans and pricing](https://www.maxon.net/en/buy), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Try Maxon software](https://www.maxon.net/en/try), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Redshift](https://www.maxon.net/en/redshift), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [What's new in Cinema 4D](https://www.maxon.net/en/cinema-4d/new), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [3D modeling software](https://www.maxon.net/en/solutions/3d-modeling), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [3D animation software](https://www.maxon.net/en/solutions/3d-animation), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Supported file formats](https://www.maxon.net/en/cinema-4d/features/supported-file-formats), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Maxon developers](https://developers.maxon.net/), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Cinema 4D features](https://www.maxon.net/en/product-detail/cinema-4d/features), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [Educational licenses](https://www.maxon.net/en/educational-licenses), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [Parametric modeling](https://www.maxon.net/en/cinema-4d/features/parametric-modeling), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 13. [Maxon One](https://www.maxon.net/en/maxon-one), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 14. [Sculpting](https://www.maxon.net/en/cinema-4d/features/sculpting), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-08 15. [3D rendering software](https://www.maxon.net/en/solutions/3d-rendering), Maxon, accessed 2026-10-09