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3D & CAD · head to head

3D-Coat vs Mixamo

3D-Coat logo

3D-Coat

3D & CAD

Digital sculpting for game artists

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mixamo logo

Mixamo

Game Development

Free 3D character animation and rigging

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Mixamo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Mixamo only supports bipedal humanoid characters, excluding animals, creatures, and non-standard character types
  • They diverge on capability: 3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Mixamo covers Auto-rigging.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3D-Coat and Mixamo actually diverge.

Attributes where 3D-Coat and Mixamo differ
Attribute3D-CoatMixamo
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelone-timefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxWeb
Category3D & CADGame Development
Founded20071982

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Mixamo

  • Auto-rigging
  • Animation library
  • Motion capture data
  • FBX export
  • Character customization
  • Animation blending
  • Retargeting
  • Web-based

Both cover

  • Blender
  • Maya
  • 3ds Max
  • Unity

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 Mixamo
  • Retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshesnot Mixamo
  • UV mapping and PBR texturingnot Mixamo
  • Preparing print-ready models for 3D printingnot Mixamo
  • Node-based material authoring on the GPUnot Mixamo

Mixamo

  • Character animationnot 3D-Coat
  • Rapid prototypingnot 3D-Coat
  • Game developmentnot 3D-Coat
  • Film productionnot 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

Mixamo

  • Only supports bipedal humanoid characters, excluding animals, creatures, and non-standard character types
  • Auto-rigger requires T-pose or A-pose input, limiting flexibility in character modeling
  • Only last used character is stored; no cloud storage for multiple character projects
  • Not available for Enterprise and Federated Adobe IDs or users from China

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

Mixamo

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited characters
    • Unlimited animations
    • Auto-rigging

Which should you pick?

Choose 3D-Coat if

  • You need voxel sculpting.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want surface sculpting.
3D-Coat review

Choose Mixamo if

  • You need auto-rigging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want animation library.
Mixamo review

Questions people ask

Is 3D-Coat or Mixamo better?
Neither clearly leads. 3D-Coat starts at $29/month and Mixamo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3D-Coat or Mixamo?
Mixamo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for 3D-Coat and Free for Mixamo.
Does 3D-Coat or Mixamo run on more platforms?
3D-Coat runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. Mixamo runs on Web.
Can I use Mixamo for free?
Yes. Mixamo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 3D-Coat starts at $29/month.
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 Mixamo is typically brought in for.
What can 3D-Coat do that Mixamo cannot?
3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Surface sculpting, Retopology, UV mapping. Mixamo covers Auto-rigging, Animation library, Motion capture data, FBX export. Both handle Blender, Maya, 3ds Max, Unity.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mixamo: Is Mixamo free to use?

Yes. Mixamo is completely free for anyone with an Adobe ID. The auto-rigger, animation libraries, and all core features are free. Animations and characters can be used royalty-free for personal, commercial, and non-profit projects without requiring a Creative Cloud subscription.

Source
Mixamo: What character types does Mixamo support?

Mixamo's auto-rigger and animation libraries are for bipedal humanoids only. The auto-rigger requires characters in roughly T-pose or A-pose stance with clear head, body, arms, and legs. Animals, quadrupeds, creatures, multi-leg characters, and characters with oversized wings or tails are not supported.

Source
Mixamo: Can I export animations for use in game engines?

Yes. Mixamo exports animations in FBX and DAE formats compatible with Unreal Engine, Unity, and other major game engines. For web games, you can convert FBX exports to GLB format using Blender or other tools.

Source
Mixamo: Do I need to install software to use Mixamo?

No. Mixamo operates entirely in a web browser, eliminating the need for software installation or compatibility checks. Users access the service directly through their web browser with just an Adobe ID.

Source
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