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Software · head to head

Modo vs Houdini

Modo logo

Modo

Software

Creative 3D modeling and rendering

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Houdini logo

Houdini

Software

Procedural 3D animation and VFX

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Houdini 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; Houdini houdini Indie at $299 per year requires annual gross revenue under $100K USD
  • They diverge on capability: Modo covers Polygon modeling, Houdini covers VFX.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Modo and Houdini actually diverge.

Attributes where Modo and Houdini differ
AttributeModoHoudini
Starting price$29/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
Founded19961987

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Windows, MacOS, Linux), 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 Modo

  • Polygon modeling
  • Subdivision surfaces
  • Sculpting
  • UV tools
  • Animation
  • MeshFusion
  • Unreal
  • V-Ray

Only in Houdini

  • VFX
  • Simulations
  • Particle systems
  • Pyro FX
  • Ocean tools
  • Rigging
  • Maya
  • Unreal Engine

Both cover

  • Procedural modeling
  • Rendering
  • Unity
  • Floating licenses
  • Windows support
  • MacOS 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 Houdini
  • Look development and rendering of product and character modelsnot Houdini

Houdini

  • Procedural 3D modelling and environment generationnot Modo
  • Visual effects simulation for pyro, fluids, cloth and rigid bodiesnot Modo
  • Building reusable procedural assets for a studio pipelinenot 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

Houdini

  • Houdini Indie at $299 per year requires annual gross revenue under $100K USD
  • Houdini Indie cannot be used in the same pipeline as commercial versions of Houdini
  • Houdini Indie and Apprentice save to their own .hipnc file format, which commercial Houdini pipelines do not share
  • The free Apprentice edition is non commercial, caps render resolution at 1920x1080 and watermarks output images
  • Houdini Indie ships with only 2 render tokens
  • Full DOP level simulation node access requires Houdini FX at $4,495 per workstation; Core at $1,995 exposes only SOP level pre built simulation assets
  • Extra render tokens cost $195

Pricing, plan by plan

Modo

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

Houdini

Free
  • ApprenticeFree
    • Learning version
    • Non-commercial
  • Indie$269/month
    • Revenue limit $100K
  • Core$1995/month
    • Full commercial
  • FX$4495/month
    • Full + simulations

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 Houdini if

  • You need vfx.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want simulations.
Houdini review

Questions people ask

Is Modo or Houdini better?
Neither clearly leads. Modo starts at $29/month and Houdini at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Modo or Houdini?
Houdini has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Modo and Free for Houdini.
Does Modo or Houdini run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, MacOS, Linux, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Houdini for free?
Yes. Houdini 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 Houdini is typically brought in for.
What can Modo do that Houdini cannot?
Modo covers Polygon modeling, Subdivision surfaces, Sculpting, UV tools. Houdini covers VFX, Simulations, Particle systems, Pyro FX. Both handle Procedural modeling, Rendering, Unity, Floating licenses.
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