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3D & CAD · head to head

Mudbox vs DragonBones

Mudbox logo

Mudbox

3D & CAD

Digital painting and sculpting software

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
D

DragonBones

Game Development

Free 2D skeletal animation solution

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only DragonBones 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); DragonBones javaScript/TypeScript runtime limited to specific game engines (Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator)
  • They diverge on capability: Mudbox covers Digital sculpting, DragonBones covers Skeletal animation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mudbox and DragonBones actually diverge.

Attributes where Mudbox and DragonBones differ
AttributeMudboxDragonBones
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxEgret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator
Category3D & CADGame Development
Founded19822014

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 Mudbox

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

Only in DragonBones

  • Skeletal animation
  • Mesh deformation
  • IK system
  • Texture atlas
  • Animation blending
  • Bone constraints
  • FFD
  • Multi-resolution

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Mudbox

  • Character sculptingnot DragonBones
  • Texture creationnot DragonBones
  • Asset detailingnot DragonBones

DragonBones

  • 2D skeletal animation for JavaScript and TypeScript game enginesnot Mudbox
  • Cross-engine animation library for indie game developmentnot Mudbox
  • Animation creation with LoongBones editornot 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)

DragonBones

  • JavaScript/TypeScript runtime limited to specific game engines (Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator)

Pricing, plan by plan

Mudbox

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

DragonBones

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the DragonBones 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 DragonBones if

  • You need skeletal animation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator.
  • You also want mesh deformation.
DragonBones review

Questions people ask

Is Mudbox or DragonBones better?
Neither clearly leads. Mudbox starts at $29/month and DragonBones at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mudbox or DragonBones?
DragonBones has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Mudbox and Free for DragonBones.
Does Mudbox or DragonBones run on more platforms?
Mudbox runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. DragonBones runs on Egret, PixiJS, Phaser, Hilo, Cocos Creator.
Can I use DragonBones for free?
Yes. DragonBones 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 DragonBones is typically brought in for.
What can Mudbox do that DragonBones cannot?
Mudbox covers Digital sculpting, Texture painting, Retopology, PTEX support. DragonBones covers Skeletal animation, Mesh deformation, IK system, Texture atlas. Both handle Windows support.
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