Mayavs
Blender
Blender: Free and open-source 3D modeling and animation software with complete feature set for character animation and visual effects.
Maya
3D animation, modeling, simulation, and rendering software
As of 30 August 2026, Maya has a free plan and paid plans start at $245/month. Autodesk Maya is a 3D computer graphics application that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Softwr lists it under Entertainment. Maya is made by Autodesk Inc, launched in 1982, available on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Overview
What Maya does
Autodesk Maya is a 3D computer graphics application that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. It's used to create assets for interactive 3D applications including video games, animated film, TV series, and visual effects. Maya provides comprehensive 3D modeling, animation, simulation, and rendering tools.
What people use it for
- Film production
- Game development
- TV animation
- VFX creation
- Architectural visualization
Related searches
The honest half
Where it falls short
Concrete and checkable, so you can decide whether any of them matter to you. This is the half of a review a vendor will not write about Maya.
- Complex interface that requires significant training and experience
- Software crashes and stability issues reported by users
- Heavy system requirements and resource-intensive processing
Cross-shopped
What people choose instead of Maya
Each pairing was judged by two reviewers asking whether a buyer would genuinely weigh the two against each other. The ones that failed were deleted rather than published.
- MayavsCinema 4D
Cinema 4D: Industry-standard motion graphics and animation tool with native Adobe After Effects integration via Cineware, particularly strong for broadcast design.
- MayavsHoudini
Houdini: Procedural-focused animation software with industry-leading simulation tools for destruction, fire, water, and particle effects in VFX production.
Pricing
What Maya costs
Taken from the vendor's own pricing page. Prices move, so check before you buy.
Monthly Subscription
$245 /mo
- Full features
Annual Subscription
$1,945 /yr
- Full features
Indie License
$305 /yr
- Full features for revenue under $100k
Student License
Free
- Free for 3 years (watermarked)
Autodesk Flex
$3 /per token
- Pay-as-you-go option
Capabilities
Features
3D modeling
Character animation
Visual effects
Simulation
Rendering
Arnold renderer
Integration with Arnold renderer
Mental Ray
Integration with Mental Ray
V-Ray
Integration with V-Ray
RenderMan
Integration with RenderMan
Game engines
Integration with Game engines
License management
License management security feature
Network rendering
Network rendering security feature
Answered, with sources
Questions people ask
Each answer names the page it came from, so you can check it rather than take our word for it.
What is the cost of an annual Maya subscription?
A standard annual Maya subscription costs $1,945 per year, with a monthly option at $245 per month. Indie users with revenue under $100k USD qualify for $305 per year. Educational licenses are free for 3 years but watermark output.
SourceDoes Maya include rendering capabilities?
Yes. Maya includes Arnold, a high-quality rendering engine built into the software for producing photorealistic renders directly within Maya.
SourceWhat platforms does Maya run on?
Maya runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Maya 2027 supports Windows 11, macOS versions 26.x through 14.x, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux with Rocky Linux.
SourceCan students use Maya for free?
Yes. Maya is free for students at registered educational institutions. The license lasts 3 years but is non-commercial only and watermarks exported files.
SourceDoes Maya integrate with other software?
Maya supports many plugins including ZooTools Pro for rigging, RealFlow for simulation, ngSkinTools for character skinning, and MASH for motion graphics, extending its capabilities for production workflows.
SourceBehind it
Who makes Maya
- Company
- Autodesk Inc
- Based in
- San Rafael, CA
- Founders
- Alias Systems Corporation
Keep looking
Where to go from Maya
- Maya alternativesEvery product people weigh against it
- Maya pricingPlans, floors and what the tiers exclude
- Maya badgesWhich rules it meets, and the figure behind each
- All Entertainment softwareThe full category
- Best Entertainment softwareThe shortlist, and how it was cut
Best Entertainment software for
Compare Maya with
- Adobe After Effects
- DaVinci Resolve
- Final Cut Pro
- Unreal Engine
- IINA
- mpv
- MUBI
- BritBox
- Discovery+
- Shudder
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- Paramount+
- Peacock
- Plex
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Shudder
- Pluto TV
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Softwr does not host reviews and shows no star rating for Maya, because a rating we did not collect is not ours to publish. What is here is the pricing and platform detail from the vendor’s own pages, limitations we could state concretely, and alternatives a reviewer confirmed people weigh against it. Tell us if any of it is wrong.
More on Maya
Maya alternatives
What people switch to, and what they give up
Maya pricing
Every tier, and where the cost actually lands
Compare Maya
Put it head to head with anything we hold
Maya badge
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