Today there are 73 different VFX software. We spent 119 hours comparing the top 50 to find the seven best you can use to create stunning, movie-quality scenes.
What is the Best VFX Software?
- Adobe After Effects — best of the best
- Autodesk Maya — best for animators
- Autodesk 3ds Max — best for businesses and studios
- SideFX Houdini — best for procedural 3D animation
- Blender — best for small to medium-sized projects
- Unreal Engine — best for architectural visualizations
- Unity — best for indie game developers
Our Verdict — Best Of The Best
Price: Starts at $31.49/month
Adobe After Effects is the industry-standard software for creating stunning visual effects and motion graphics. We think it’s the best because of its 2D and 3D support, advanced compositing features, and extensive library of effects.
The Best Part:
Seamless Adobe integration. Adobe After Effects can be seamlessly integrated with other Adobe products such as Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator, making it a breeze to integrate your VFX work with video editing, image manipulation, and vector graphics projects.
The Worst Part:
Steep learning curve. Adobe After Effects can be intimidating for newbies with its many features-packed interface.
Get it if you want to create Hollywood-level visual effects without breaking the bank.
I recommend you start with the 7-day free trial, then get the Yearly subscription for $20.99/month.
(7-day free trial)
Best For
Adobe After Effects is best for creative hobbyists and professionals who want to create captivating motion graphics and visual effects.
Top Features
Become the master of weather. Generate realistic weather effects such as rain, snow, and fog with just a few clicks.
Let the party-cles begin. Create stunning particle effects such as explosions, magic spells, or confetti showers in no time.
Keep it tidy. Keep your projects neat and organized with compositions, for a clutter-free workspace.
It brings your projects to life. Create mind-blowing VFX projects with Adobe After Effects' support for VR/360° video editing, making your viewers feel like they're part of the action.
Let JavaScript do the heavy lifting. Save time and effort by using Adobe After Effects' handy scripting feature to automate and streamline complex animations.
Pricing
Adobe After Effects offers three pricing plans:
- Monthly: $31.49/month for newbies who want a flexible plan to create stunning visual effects on a month-to-month basis.
- Annual, paid monthly: $20.99/month for creatives and artists who are in it for the long haul and want a cost-effective plan to access powerful VFX tools, with the convenience of monthly payments.
- Annual, prepaid: $239.88/year for dedicated professionals who want the best bang for their buck with a one-time payment, securing an entire year of limitless creative projects.
Annual plans provide a 36% discount.
Try Adobe After Effects today with a free 7-day trial.
Our Verdict — Best For Animators
Price: Starts at $255/month
Autodesk Maya is a must-have software for people looking to create jaw-dropping effects in entertainment media. We think it’s the best for animators because of its extensive 3D modeling capabilities, impressive rendering features, and comprehensive suite of effects.
The Best Part:
Exceptional UV mapping capabilities. Autodesk Maya's UV editor provides a comprehensive and intuitive toolset for creating and editing UVs, making precise texture mapping on 3D models a piece of cake.
The Worst Part:
Complex layer management. Working with lots of textures in Maya can be a slow and tough process because of its complicated layering system.
Get it if you want to level up the VFX game of your animations.
I recommend you take advantage of the 30-day free trial, then get the Monthly plan for $255/month.
(30-day free trial)
Best For
Autodesk Maya is best for animators who want to create breathtaking video fx.
Top Features
Set yourself up for success. Customize Maya's interface with handy dockable panels and slick layouts to boost your productivity.
Stunning 3D models. Maya's robust sculpting tools allow you to craft detailed 3D models and organic shapes without breaking a sweat.
Generate breathtakingly fluid simulations. Tap into Maya's top-notch simulation tools to create lifelike, fluid effects that'll leave viewers in awe.
Light it up. Autodesk Maya's advanced lighting tools will make your scenes shine like never before.
Tackle detailed cloth animations. Take advantage of Maya's nCloth system to gain unmatched control over cloth movement, making your animations look perfect.
Pricing
Autodesk Maya offers three pricing plans:
- Monthly: $255/month for visual artists who want to test the waters with pro-grade VFX.
- Annual: $2,010/year for a full year of access at a discounted price.
- Flex: $99 for 33 prepaid tokens, at 6 tokens per day of use, for occasional users and pro visual artists who require Autodesk Maya for one-off projects.
Annual plans provide a 34% discount.
Try Autodesk Maya today with a free 30-day trial.
Our Verdict — Best For Businesses And Studios
Price: Starts at $255/month
Autodesk 3ds Max is a powerful 3D rendering software with robust features for creating high-quality visual effects. We think it’s the best for businesses and studios because of its robust collaboration features, customizable workspaces, and efficient pipeline integration.
The Best Part:
Streamlined collaboration. Autodesk 3ds Max's efficient collaboration tools — such as real-time feedback, built-in version control, and pipeline integration — help businesses and studios keep their teams in sync, turning project management and hitting deadlines a breeze.
The Worst Part:
It’s resource-intensive. Autodesk 3ds Max sure loves to munch on computer resources, so be sure you have a beefy system to keep things running smoothly.
Get it if you want an industry-leading VFX software that can handle the demands of both small and large-scale projects while delivering showstopping results.
I recommend you get started with the 30-day free trial, then get the monthly plan for $255/month.
(30-day free trial)
Best For
Autodesk 3ds Max is best for animation and VFX studios that want a reliable, feature-rich solution to create high-quality visual effects.
Top Features
Make it move. Bring your creations to life with Autodesk 3ds Max's comprehensive animation features, from character rigging to physics-based simulations.
Render like a pro. Crank out mind-blowing visuals with 3ds Max’s cutting-edge rendering engine and fine-tune your output with all the detailed settings you need.
Capture the perfect shot. Set up impressive camera angles and animations by using 3ds Max's camera controls and depth of field options.
Work smarter, not harder. Speed up your workflow with the software's customizable interface, hotkeys, and automation capabilities.
Keep it organized. Manage your assets like a champ with the software's built-in asset tracking and scene management tools.
Pricing
Autodesk 3ds Max offers three pricing plans:
- Monthly: $255/month for visual artists who require access to powerful VFX tools for tackling high-scale projects.
- Annual: $2,010/year for a full year of access at a discounted price.
- Flex: $99 for 33 prepaid tokens, the most cost-effective choice for one-off projects and casual use.
Annual plans provide a 34% discount.
Try Autodesk 3ds Max today with a free 30-day trial.
Our Top Three Picks
Here’s a quick summary of our top three picks:
- Adobe After Effects — best of the best
- Autodesk Maya — best for animators
- Autodesk 3ds Max — best for businesses and studios
Here’s a quick comparison of our top seven picks:
Tool | Entry Offer | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
Adobe After Effects | 14-day free trial | Starts at $31.49/mo |
Autodesk Maya | 30-day free trial | Starts at $255/mo |
Autodesk 3ds Max | 30-day free trial | Starts at $255/mo |
SideFX Houdini | Free plan | Starts at $269/yr |
Blender | None | Free forever |
Unreal Engine | Free plan | Custom |
Unity | 30-day free trial | Starts at $185/mo |
Here are the top 50 VFX software we considered in this review:
- Adobe After Effects
- Autodesk Maya
- Autodesk 3ds Max
- SideFX Houdini
- Blender
- Unreal Engine
- Unity
- Blackmagic Design Fusion
- SynthEyes
- PFTrack
- Mocha Pro
- Silhouette FX
- ZBrush
- Substance Painter
- V-Ray
- KeyShot
- OctaneRender
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Adobe Photoshop
- DaVinci Resolve
- Lightwave 3D
- Softimage
- Rhino
- RenderMan
- Modo
- Katana
- Natron
- HitFilm Pro
- Clarisse iFX
- Vue
- SpeedTree
- RealFlow
- FumeFX
- Krakatoa
- Golaem
- Avid Media Composer
- Boris FX
- Substance Designer
- World Machine
- Terragen
- Adobe Animate
- Reallusion iClone
- Mari
- Phoenix FD
- X-Particles
- Massive
- Toon Boom Harmony
- Nuke
- Cinema 4D
- Redshift Render
Frequently Asked Questions About VFX Software
What is the best VFX software overall?
Adobe After Effects is our top pick and the industry standard for motion graphics. Reach for it whether you are a creative hobbyist or a professional who wants to build captivating motion work.
Is there any free VFX software?
Yes. Blender is free forever and our pick for small to medium projects.
Which VFX software is best for my needs?
Match the tool to your work. Go with Adobe After Effects overall, Blender for small to medium projects, Autodesk Maya for animation, Unity for indie game development, Unreal Engine for architectural visualization, and 3ds Max for studios. Choose based on your project type and experience.
Which VFX software is best for animators?
Autodesk Maya is the one to reach for if you animate. It is a staple across the visual effects and animation industries when you want to create breathtaking effects.
Do you need coding to do VFX?
No, you do not need to code to do VFX, though some programming knowledge extends what you can pull off. Adobe After Effects even includes JavaScript scripting if you want to push further.
What is the best VFX software for game developers?
Unity is our pick for indie game developers. If you are doing architectural visualization instead, reach for Unreal Engine.
Maya vs 3ds Max: which should I choose?
Choose Autodesk Maya if you animate, since it is built for animators. Go with 3ds Max if you run a business or studio and want a reliable, feature-rich tool.
Is there a free trial for Adobe After Effects?
Yes. Start with the free trial before you commit, then move to After Effects as your industry-standard pick once you are ready to go beyond it.
How many VFX software options are there?
You have many VFX tools to choose from. We put in hours across the leading options to land on these picks.
The Bottom Line
To recap, here are the best VFX software to try this year:
- Adobe After Effects — best of the best
- Autodesk Maya — best for animators
- Autodesk 3ds Max — best for businesses and studios
- SideFX Houdini — best for procedural 3D animation
- Blender — best for small to medium-sized projects
- Unreal Engine — best for architectural visualizations
- Unity — best for indie game developers