Software · head to head
3D-Coat vs Alibre Design
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 3D-Coat split into separate products, so 3DCoatTextura covers texturing only and the full sculpting toolset needs the complete 3DCoat licence; Alibre Design perpetual licences do not include updates; maintenance is a separate yearly plan starting at $50 per year for CAD support and updates
- They diverge on capability: 3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Alibre Design covers Parametric modeling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which 3D-Coat and Alibre Design actually diverge.
| Attribute | 3D-Coat | Alibre Design |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux | Windows |
| Founded | 2007 | 1997 |
Identical on both: starting price ($29/month), pricing model (one-time), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in 3D-Coat
- Voxel sculpting
- Surface sculpting
- Retopology
- UV mapping
- Texture painting
- PBR materials
- Smart materials
- Baking
Only in Alibre Design
- Parametric modeling
- Assemblies
- Sheet metal
- 2D drawings
- BOM
- Rendering
- CAM software
- PDM
Both cover
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
3D-Coat
- Voxel sculpting from a digital clay blocknot Alibre Design
- Retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshesnot Alibre Design
- UV mapping and PBR texturingnot Alibre Design
- Preparing print-ready models for 3D printingnot Alibre Design
- Node-based material authoring on the GPUnot Alibre Design
Alibre Design
- Parametric 3D solid modelling for mechanical partsnot 3D-Coat
- Producing 2D manufacturing drawings from 3D modelsnot 3D-Coat
- Designing parts for 3D printing and small shop machiningnot 3D-Coat
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
3D-Coat
- Split into separate products, so 3DCoatTextura covers texturing only and the full sculpting toolset needs the complete 3DCoat licence
- Pricing is not published on the product pages
- Licences are sold node-locked or floating, so moving a seat between machines depends on which was bought
Alibre Design
- Perpetual licences do not include updates; maintenance is a separate yearly plan starting at $50 per year for CAD support and updates
- Sheet metal, PDM data management and rendering are Design Expert only at $1,999
- Scripting is excluded from the $199 Atom3D edition
- CAM capability is sold as separate EZ-Mill, EZ-Turn and EZ-EDM products costing up to $2,999
- A dedicated account manager is excluded from Atom3D
Pricing, plan by plan
3D-Coat
$29/month- Amateur$99/month
- Non-commercial use
- Professional$379/month
- Full commercial license
- Floating$568/month
- Network licensing
Alibre Design
$29/month- Atom3D$199/month
- Basic modeling
- Design$999/month
- Professional CAD
- Expert$1999/month
- Full features
Which should you pick?
Choose 3D-Coat if
- You need voxel sculpting.
- You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- You also want surface sculpting.
Choose Alibre Design if
- You need parametric modeling.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want assemblies.
Questions people ask
- Is 3D-Coat or Alibre Design better?
- Neither clearly leads. 3D-Coat starts at $29/month and Alibre Design at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, 3D-Coat or Alibre Design?
- 3D-Coat starts at $29/month and Alibre Design at $29/month.
- Does 3D-Coat or Alibre Design run on more platforms?
- 3D-Coat runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. Alibre Design runs on Windows.
- What is 3D-Coat best used for?
- 3D-Coat is most often used for voxel sculpting from a digital clay block, retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshes, uv mapping and pbr texturing, preparing print-ready models for 3d printing. Of those, voxel sculpting from a digital clay block and retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshes are not what Alibre Design is typically brought in for.
- What can 3D-Coat do that Alibre Design cannot?
- 3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Surface sculpting, Retopology, UV mapping. Alibre Design covers Parametric modeling, Assemblies, Sheet metal, 2D drawings. Both handle Windows support.
Related pages
More on Alibre Design
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