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CAD · head to head

Modo vs OGRE

Modo logo

Modo

CAD

Creative 3D modeling and rendering

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OGRE logo

OGRE

Game Development

Object-Oriented Graphics Rendering Engine

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OGRE has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Modo foundry announced on November 7, 2024 that it is winding down development of Modo after the Modo 17.1 release, with no further feature or maintenance releases anticipated; OGRE no commercial support tiers; open source community support only
  • They diverge on capability: Modo covers Polygon modeling, OGRE covers 3D graphics rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Modo and OGRE actually diverge.

Attributes where Modo and OGRE differ
AttributeModoOGRE
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxWindows, Macos, Linux, Android, Ios
CategoryCADGame Development
Founded19962000

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 Modo

  • Polygon modeling
  • Subdivision surfaces
  • Sculpting
  • UV tools
  • Procedural modeling
  • Rendering
  • Animation
  • MeshFusion

Only in OGRE

  • 3D graphics rendering
  • Shader system
  • Material system
  • Lighting and shadows
  • Particle effects
  • Scene graph
  • Skeletal animation
  • Terrain rendering

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Modo

  • Polygon and subdivision surface modelling for media and entertainment assetsnot OGRE
  • Look development and rendering of product and character modelsnot OGRE

OGRE

  • 3D game developmentnot Modo
  • Graphics applicationsnot Modo
  • Visualization projectsnot Modo

Where each one falls short

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

Modo

  • Foundry announced on November 7, 2024 that it is winding down development of Modo after the Modo 17.1 release, with no further feature or maintenance releases anticipated
  • Support continues only until each customer's current contract term expires
  • Foundry does not guarantee that Modo will keep working on future operating system updates because no patches will be issued, and recommends customers migrate to alternative 3D workflows
  • Perpetual licences keep working but receive no further updates, bug fixes or support
  • The Modo forums closed in December 2024 and downloads, docs and the support knowledgebase were committed only until November 2025

OGRE

  • No commercial support tiers; open source community support only

Pricing, plan by plan

Modo

$29/month
  • Indie$599/month
    • Full Modo
    • Revenue limit $100K
  • Modo$1898/month
    • Full commercial license

OGRE

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full rendering engine
    • C++ support
    • Graphics pipeline

Which should you pick?

Choose Modo if

  • You need polygon modeling.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want subdivision surfaces.
Modo review

Choose OGRE if

  • You need 3d graphics rendering.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, Ios.
  • You also want shader system.
OGRE review

Questions people ask

Is Modo or OGRE better?
Neither clearly leads. Modo starts at $29/month and OGRE at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Modo or OGRE?
OGRE has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Modo and Free for OGRE.
Does Modo or OGRE run on more platforms?
Modo runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. OGRE runs on Windows, Macos, Linux, Android, Ios.
Can I use OGRE for free?
Yes. OGRE has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Modo starts at $29/month.
What is Modo best used for?
Modo is most often used for polygon and subdivision surface modelling for media and entertainment assets, look development and rendering of product and character models. Of those, polygon and subdivision surface modelling for media and entertainment assets and look development and rendering of product and character models are not what OGRE is typically brought in for.
What can Modo do that OGRE cannot?
Modo covers Polygon modeling, Subdivision surfaces, Sculpting, UV tools. OGRE covers 3D graphics rendering, Shader system, Material system, Lighting and shadows. Both handle Windows support, Linux support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OGRE: Is OGRE 3D free to use?

Yes, OGRE is completely free. The 3D graphics engine is released under the MIT License, a permissive open source license with no licensing costs.

Source
OGRE: What are the licensing requirements for using OGRE?

OGRE requires only that you distribute the license text included in the distribution with any software using OGRE. There are no costs or restrictions beyond this attribution requirement.

Source
OGRE: Can small teams use OGRE without paying licensing fees?

Yes, OGRE's open source MIT License allows small teams to use cutting edge 3D technology without licensing fees, making it valuable for teams on tight budgets.

Source
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