Softwr

3D & CAD · head to head

Mudbox vs DaVinci Resolve

Mudbox logo

Mudbox

3D & CAD

Digital painting and sculpting software

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DaVinci Resolve logo

DaVinci Resolve

Film & TV

Professional video editing, color correction, visual effects and audio post production

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DaVinci Resolve has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Mudbox a Mudbox subscription license may be installed on up to 3 computers (Internet Archive capture, 12 November 2023); DaVinci Resolve free version limits noise reduction to CPU-only processing, significantly slower than Studio's GPU acceleration
  • They diverge on capability: Mudbox covers Digital sculpting, DaVinci Resolve covers Multi-user collaboration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mudbox and DaVinci Resolve actually diverge.

Attributes where Mudbox and DaVinci Resolve differ
AttributeMudboxDaVinci Resolve
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
Category3D & CADFilm & TV
Founded19822008

Identical on both: platforms (Windows, MacOS, Linux), 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 Mudbox

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

Only in DaVinci Resolve

  • Multi-user collaboration
  • 8K editing
  • Color correction
  • Visual effects
  • Motion graphics
  • Audio post production
  • Fairlight audio
  • Fusion VFX

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Mudbox

  • Character sculptingnot DaVinci Resolve
  • Texture creationnot DaVinci Resolve
  • Asset detailingnot DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve

  • Professional video editingnot Mudbox
  • Color gradingnot Mudbox
  • Visual effectsnot Mudbox
  • Audio post productionnot Mudbox
  • Film productionnot Mudbox

Where each one falls short

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

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)

DaVinci Resolve

  • Free version limits noise reduction to CPU-only processing, significantly slower than Studio's GPU acceleration
  • Free version caps export resolution at 4K without 8K support
  • No multi-GPU support in free version, limiting rendering speed on powerful workstations
  • AI tools and features like Super Scale AI only available in $295 Studio version
  • Users report random issues requiring restart suggesting architectural stability concerns

Pricing, plan by plan

Mudbox

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

DaVinci Resolve

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Professional editing tools
    • Color correction
    • Visual effects
  • Studio$295/one-time
    • All free features
    • AI tools and Super Scale AI
    • 8K editing support

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 DaVinci Resolve if

  • You need multi-user collaboration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want 8k editing.
DaVinci Resolve review

Questions people ask

Is Mudbox or DaVinci Resolve better?
Neither clearly leads. Mudbox starts at $29/month and DaVinci Resolve at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mudbox or DaVinci Resolve?
DaVinci Resolve has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Mudbox and Free for DaVinci Resolve.
Does Mudbox or DaVinci Resolve run on more platforms?
Mudbox runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. DaVinci Resolve runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use DaVinci Resolve for free?
Yes. DaVinci Resolve has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mudbox starts at $29/month.
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 DaVinci Resolve is typically brought in for.
What can Mudbox do that DaVinci Resolve cannot?
Mudbox covers Digital sculpting, Texture painting, Retopology, PTEX support. DaVinci Resolve covers Multi-user collaboration, 8K editing, Color correction, Visual effects. Both handle Windows support, Linux support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DaVinci Resolve: What is the pricing for DaVinci Resolve?

DaVinci Resolve has a completely free version with professional editing tools and no watermark. DaVinci Resolve Studio adds AI-powered features, 8K support, and multi-user collaboration as a one-time $295 purchase.

Source
DaVinci Resolve: What features are only in DaVinci Resolve Studio?

Studio version adds AI tools like Super Scale AI, noise reduction with GPU acceleration, 8K editing support, HDR color grading, multi-user collaboration, and advanced codec support.

Source
DaVinci Resolve: What are the hardware requirements for DaVinci Resolve?

For optimal performance with modern RAW footage, an NVMe SSD is required for cache and scratch files. Multi-GPU configurations benefit only specific effects workloads, while most users achieve better performance with a single high-VRAM GPU.

Source
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