3D & CAD · head to head
3D-Coat vs Mudbox
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; Mudbox a Mudbox subscription license may be installed on up to 3 computers (Internet Archive capture, 12 November 2023)
- They diverge on capability: 3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Mudbox covers Digital sculpting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which 3D-Coat and Mudbox actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price ($29/month), free tier (No), platforms (Windows, MacOS, Linux), user rating (Not yet rated), category (3D & CAD).
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
- UV mapping
- PBR materials
- Smart materials
- Baking
- Blender
- Unity
Only in Mudbox
- Digital sculpting
- PTEX support
- Layer system
- Stencils
- Stamps
- GPU tessellation
- Autodesk ecosystem
- Autodesk Account
Both cover
- Retopology
- Texture painting
- Maya
- 3ds Max
- Windows support
- MacOS support
- Linux 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 Mudbox
- Retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshesnot Mudbox
- UV mapping and PBR texturingnot Mudbox
- Preparing print-ready models for 3D printingnot Mudbox
- Node-based material authoring on the GPUnot Mudbox
Mudbox
- Character sculptingnot 3D-Coat
- Texture creationnot 3D-Coat
- Asset detailingnot 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
Mudbox
- A Mudbox subscription license may be installed on up to 3 computers (Internet Archive capture, 12 November 2023)
- Sold as monthly, annual or 3-year subscription terms with no perpetual license option offered on the pricing page (Internet Archive capture, 12 November 2023)
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
Mudbox
$29/month- Mudbox$85/month
- Full sculpting
- Texture painting
- M&E Collection$2390/month
- Mudbox + Maya + 3ds Max + more
Which should you pick?
Choose 3D-Coat if
- You need voxel sculpting.
- You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- You also want surface sculpting.
Choose Mudbox if
- You need digital sculpting.
- You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- You also want ptex support.
Questions people ask
- Is 3D-Coat or Mudbox better?
- Neither clearly leads. 3D-Coat starts at $29/month and Mudbox at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, 3D-Coat or Mudbox?
- 3D-Coat starts at $29/month and Mudbox at $29/month.
- Does 3D-Coat or Mudbox run on more platforms?
- Both run on Windows, MacOS, Linux, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- 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 Mudbox is typically brought in for.
- What can 3D-Coat do that Mudbox cannot?
- 3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Surface sculpting, UV mapping, PBR materials. Mudbox covers Digital sculpting, PTEX support, Layer system, Stencils. Both handle Retopology, Texture painting, Maya, 3ds Max.