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3D-Coat vs Quixel Mixer

3D-Coat logo

3D-Coat

Software

Digital sculpting for game artists

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Quixel Mixer logo

Quixel Mixer

Software

Free 3D texturing and material creation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Quixel Mixer 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; Quixel Mixer discontinued as of February 19, 2026 with no future updates or support
  • They diverge on capability: 3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Quixel Mixer covers Material blending.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where 3D-Coat and Quixel Mixer differ
Attribute3D-CoatQuixel Mixer
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelone-timefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxWindows, macOS
Founded20072011

Identical on both: 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
  • Baking
  • Unreal

Only in Quixel Mixer

  • Material blending
  • Megascans integration
  • Procedural tools
  • 3D painting
  • UDIM support
  • Real-time preview
  • Export presets
  • Unreal Engine

Both cover

  • Smart materials
  • Blender
  • Maya
  • 3ds Max
  • Unity
  • 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 Quixel Mixer
  • Retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshesnot Quixel Mixer
  • UV mapping and PBR texturingnot Quixel Mixer
  • Preparing print-ready models for 3D printingnot Quixel Mixer
  • Node-based material authoring on the GPUnot Quixel Mixer

Quixel Mixer

  • Game texturesnot 3D-Coat
  • Environment artnot 3D-Coat
  • Photorealistic materialsnot 3D-Coat
  • Film VFXnot 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

Quixel Mixer

  • Discontinued as of February 19, 2026 with no future updates or support
  • No built-in baker functionality unlike Substance 3D Painter
  • Limited customization compared to industry-standard Substance Painter
  • Megascans asset library now requires paid subscription instead of free access

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

Quixel Mixer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full feature set
    • Megascans integration
    • Commercial use

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 Quixel Mixer if

  • You need material blending.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want megascans integration.
Quixel Mixer review

Questions people ask

Is 3D-Coat or Quixel Mixer better?
Neither clearly leads. 3D-Coat starts at $29/month and Quixel Mixer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3D-Coat or Quixel Mixer?
Quixel Mixer has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for 3D-Coat and Free for Quixel Mixer.
Does 3D-Coat or Quixel Mixer run on more platforms?
3D-Coat runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. Quixel Mixer runs on Windows, macOS.
Can I use Quixel Mixer for free?
Yes. Quixel Mixer 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 Quixel Mixer is typically brought in for.
What can 3D-Coat do that Quixel Mixer cannot?
3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Surface sculpting, Retopology, UV mapping. Quixel Mixer covers Material blending, Megascans integration, Procedural tools, 3D painting. Both handle Smart materials, Blender, Maya, 3ds Max.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Quixel Mixer: Is Quixel Mixer still available?

Quixel Mixer was discontinued on February 19, 2026. The final version 2023.1 is available for free download from the Epic Games launcher. It runs offline indefinitely but will receive no future updates or support.

Source
Quixel Mixer: Can Quixel Mixer work offline?

Yes, version 2023.1 enables Quixel Mixer to run completely offline. Users can download and use the software offline indefinitely, though without future updates.

Source
Quixel Mixer: What is the current status of Megascans free access?

Quixel Megascans is no longer free for Unreal Engine users. Starting in 2025, Megascans assets are sold individually or included in Fab subscription tiers. The free-for-Unreal era ended at the close of 2024.

Source
Quixel Mixer: How does Quixel Mixer compare to Substance Painter?

Quixel Mixer excels for simplicity, photorealism, and Unreal Engine integration, but lacks a built-in baker unlike Substance 3D Painter. Substance Painter offers more customization and is an industry standard, while Mixer focused on streamlined PBR material creation.

Source
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