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Software · head to head

Mudbox vs Shapr3D

Mudbox logo

Mudbox

Software

Digital painting and sculpting software

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shapr3D logo

Shapr3D

Software

CAD software for iPad and Mac

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Shapr3D 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); Shapr3D the free Basic plan is limited to 2 projects
  • They diverge on capability: Mudbox covers Digital sculpting, Shapr3D covers Direct modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mudbox and Shapr3D actually diverge.

Attributes where Mudbox and Shapr3D differ
AttributeMudboxShapr3D
Starting price$29/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxIPadOS, MacOS, Windows
Founded19822015

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Mudbox

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

Only in Shapr3D

  • Direct modeling
  • Parametric history
  • Visualization
  • 2D drawings
  • Apple Pencil support
  • Import/export
  • Annotations
  • Fusion 360

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • MacOS support

What people use each for

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

Mudbox

  • Character sculptingnot Shapr3D
  • Texture creationnot Shapr3D
  • Asset detailingnot Shapr3D

Shapr3D

  • Direct modelling CAD on iPad with Apple Pencilnot Mudbox
  • Producing manufacturable solid models and technical drawingsnot Mudbox
  • Sharing CAD projects with collaborators on desktop and tabletnot 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)

Shapr3D

  • The free Basic plan is limited to 2 projects
  • Free plan exports only basic resolution 3MF and STL, so no STEP or IGES output
  • Free plan caps generative renders at 3 per day; Pro raises this to 50 per day and only Enterprise is unlimited
  • Importing SLDPRT and SLDASM SolidWorks files requires Pro
  • Importing NX, JT, CREO, Solid Edge and Rhino files requires Enterprise
  • Exporting ACIS, FBX, Parasolid and PRC requires Enterprise
  • On premises and single tenant data storage is Enterprise only
  • Enterprise pricing is by quote with no published rate

Pricing, plan by plan

Mudbox

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

Shapr3D

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 2 active designs
    • Basic features
  • Pro$25/month
    • Unlimited designs
    • All export formats
  • Business$199/month
    • Team features
    • Visualization

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 Shapr3D if

  • You need direct modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on IPadOS, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want parametric history.
Shapr3D review

Questions people ask

Is Mudbox or Shapr3D better?
Neither clearly leads. Mudbox starts at $29/month and Shapr3D at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mudbox or Shapr3D?
Shapr3D has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Mudbox and Free for Shapr3D.
Does Mudbox or Shapr3D run on more platforms?
Mudbox runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. Shapr3D runs on IPadOS, MacOS, Windows.
Can I use Shapr3D for free?
Yes. Shapr3D 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 Shapr3D is typically brought in for.
What can Mudbox do that Shapr3D cannot?
Mudbox covers Digital sculpting, Texture painting, Retopology, PTEX support. Shapr3D covers Direct modeling, Parametric history, Visualization, 2D drawings. Both handle Windows support, MacOS support.
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