saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

3D modeling program · Maxon

Cinema 4D

3D modeling, animation and simulation software for motion design, sold as a subscription that includes the Redshift renderer.

48/100

#5 of 9 3D modeling programs
Facts checked 9 Oct 2026

In short

Cinema 4D suits motion designers who want modeling, sculpting, rigging, simulation and rendering in one subscription1,4,6,7,14. It has a Python and C++ SDK for add-ons9. The catch: Maxon's plan page shows no prices, and the only free option described is a 14-day trial2,3.

Best for: Motion designers who want modeling, animation and rendering in one subscription.

Where the points come from

Systems2 of 8
Licence0 of 33
Modelling tools38 of 38
Formats5 of 6
Price3 of 15

Systems 2 of 8 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Other systemsmacOSRuns on Windows and macOS. The iPad version is listed as coming in late 2026, so it does not count1.2 / 8

Licence 0 of 33 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Free version without a time limitNot publishedNot published on the vendor's trial page3; only a 14-day trial is described.0 / 10
Free version allowed for paid workNot publishedNot published on the vendor's trial page3.0 / 6
One-off licence you keepNot publishedThe plan page describes monthly and annual billing; it does not say whether a one-off licence is sold2.0 / 8
Open sourceNot publishedNot published on the vendor's Cinema 4D page1.0 / 5
Free licence for studentsNot publishedStudent plan has a pricing page; the educational licensing page does not say it is free11.0 / 4

Modelling tools 38 of 38 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Precise curve and solid modelingYesFeatures list names Parametric Modeling: splines drive generators such as Lathe. NURBS and B-rep are not named10,12.5 / 5
Digital sculptingYesBuilt-in Sculpt system with Pull, Grab, Smooth and Erase brushes; you subdivide a mesh to add detail14.5 / 5
Node-based procedural modelingYesFeatures list names Scene Nodes; no beta label is shown10.5 / 5
Rigging and animationYesSkeletal rigging with IK/FK solvers, plus keyframe tools7,1.5 / 5
Physics simulationYesA unified system covers cloth, rigid and soft bodies, particles, smoke, flames and liquids1.4 / 4
UV unwrappingYesThe revamped UV Editor has seam editing, automatic unwrapping, zero-overlap packing and UDIM support5.4 / 4
Built-in ray-traced rendererYesRedshift is included with every subscription at no extra cost4; Maxon says it uses ray-tracing hardware where present15.5 / 5
Scripting and add-onsYesMaxon documents a Python SDK and a C++ SDK for plug-ins and scripts9.5 / 5

Formats 5 of 6 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Built-in export formatsFBX, OBJ, glTF, STL, USDSupported-formats page marks each as read and write. STEP is read only8.5 / 6

Price 3 of 15 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Cheapest way to use it for paid workNot publishedNot published on the vendor's pages2. The plan page shows billing options but no amounts.0 / 12
Full-feature trialYes14-day free trial of Maxon One, which includes Cinema 4D3,13.3 / 3

The rule behind each line: how we score 3D modeling programs.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

PlanPrice as listedPer monthNotes
Cinema 4D subscription1 personPrice not shown2,4QuoteMonthly or annual billing; includes Redshift

Maxon's plan page says annual billing saves 30% or more, and shows no amounts2.

Strengths

  • Redshift rendering is included in every subscription4.
  • Includes sculpting, polygon and parametric modeling tools6,14.
  • Rigging covers IK/FK solvers, Pose Morph and weight painting7.
  • Reads and writes OBJ, FBX, glTF, STL and USD files8.
  • Python and C++ SDKs are documented for plug-ins and scripts9.

Limits

  • Plan prices are not shown on Maxon's plan page2.
  • No free version is described; the trial lasts 14 days3.
  • The student licence has its own plan and pricing page; the page does not call it free11.
  • STEP files can be read but not exported8.
  • The iPad version is not out yet1.

What Maxon says

Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.

  • Maxon says its unified simulation system handles cloth, rigid and soft bodies, particles, smoke, flames and liquids1.

Other 3D modeling programs

  1. 1
    BlenderAnyone who wants full 3D tools for paid work at no cost
    80/100
    $0cheapest way to use it for paid work
  2. 2
    HoudiniArtists who want procedural, node-driven modeling and simulation
    72/100
    $24.92/mocheapest way to use it for paid work
  3. 3
    FreeCADPeople who want free, scriptable solid modeling for designed parts
    50/100
    $0cheapest way to use it for paid work
  4. 4
    Rhino 3DDesigners who want precise curve and surface modeling and prefer to buy once
    48/100
    $30.92/mocheapest way to use it for paid work

All 9 3D modeling programs

Sources

  1. Cinema 4D, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  2. Plans and pricing, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  3. Try Maxon software, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  4. Redshift, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  5. What's new in Cinema 4D, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  6. 3D modeling software, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  7. 3D animation software, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  8. Supported file formats, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  9. Maxon developers, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  10. Cinema 4D features, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  11. Educational licenses, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  12. Parametric modeling, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  13. Maxon One, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  14. Sculpting, Maxon. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  15. 3D rendering software, Maxon. Accessed 9 Oct 2026.

Website: www.maxon.net/en/cinema-4d · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Maxon.