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CAD · head to head

Mudbox vs CATIA

Mudbox logo

Mudbox

CAD

Digital painting and sculpting software

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CATIA logo

CATIA

CAD

World's leading solution for product design

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Mudbox mudbox subscriptions ending August 7, 2026 - end of sale for 3-year subscriptions, November 7, 2026 for monthly/yearly subscriptions; CATIA no public pricing available on vendor website
  • They diverge on capability: Mudbox covers Digital sculpting, CATIA covers Surface modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mudbox and CATIA actually diverge.

Attributes where Mudbox and CATIA differ
AttributeMudboxCATIA
Starting price$29/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxWindows, Linux (some)
Founded19821981

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (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 Mudbox

  • Digital sculpting
  • Texture painting
  • Retopology
  • PTEX support
  • Layer system
  • Stencils
  • Stamps
  • GPU tessellation

Only in CATIA

  • Surface modeling
  • Class A surfacing
  • Systems engineering
  • Simulation
  • Composites design
  • Electrical design
  • Knowledge-based engineering
  • ENOVIA PLM

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Mudbox

  • Character sculptingnot CATIA
  • Texture creationnot CATIA
  • Asset detailingnot CATIA

CATIA

  • 3D product designnot Mudbox
  • Simulation and analysisnot Mudbox
  • System design and developmentnot Mudbox
  • Manufacturing engineeringnot Mudbox
  • Advanced modelingnot Mudbox

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Mudbox

  • Mudbox subscriptions ending August 7, 2026 - end of sale for 3-year subscriptions, November 7, 2026 for monthly/yearly subscriptions
  • Product is being discontinued, making it unavailable for new purchases after specified dates

CATIA

  • No public pricing available on vendor website
  • Requires direct contact with sales for quotes
  • Enterprise-grade CAD software likely requires substantial investment

Pricing, plan by plan

Mudbox

$29/month
  • Mudbox$85/month
    • Full sculpting
    • Texture painting
  • M&E Collection$2390/month
    • Mudbox + Maya + 3ds Max + more

CATIA

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the CATIA review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Mudbox if

  • You need digital sculpting.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want texture painting.
Mudbox review

Choose CATIA if

  • You need surface modeling.
  • You work on Windows, Linux (some).
  • You also want class a surfacing.
CATIA review

Questions people ask

Is Mudbox or CATIA better?
Neither clearly leads. Mudbox starts at $29/month and CATIA at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mudbox or CATIA?
Mudbox starts at $29/month and CATIA at On request.
Does Mudbox or CATIA run on more platforms?
Mudbox runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. CATIA runs on Windows, Linux (some).
What is Mudbox best used for?
Mudbox is most often used for character sculpting, texture creation, asset detailing. Of those, character sculpting and texture creation are not what CATIA is typically brought in for.
What can Mudbox do that CATIA cannot?
Mudbox covers Digital sculpting, Texture painting, Retopology, PTEX support. CATIA covers Surface modeling, Class A surfacing, Systems engineering, Simulation. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mudbox: How much does Autodesk Mudbox cost?

Autodesk Mudbox pricing is not shown on the product page. Annual and monthly subscription options are available, but the product is being discontinued with end of sale on November 7, 2026 for monthly subscriptions.

Source
CATIA: How much does CATIA cost?

Pricing is not publicly displayed on CATIA's product page. Customers must contact Dassault Systèmes directly or visit user communities to obtain pricing information for CATIA licenses and subscriptions.

Source
Mudbox: Is Autodesk Mudbox being discontinued?

Yes, starting August 7, 2026, Autodesk is discontinuing the sale of new and renewal Mudbox subscriptions. The 3-year subscription offering discontinues August 7, 2026, followed by end of sale for 1-year and monthly subscriptions on November 7, 2026.

Source
CATIA: Is there a free version of CATIA?

No free version or trial is mentioned on CATIA's product page. CATIA is described as a comprehensive commercial solution for product innovation, and no freemium option is referenced.

Source
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