Houdini

No phone app

8.3No. 8 of 148
in 3D modeling software

Recognised40% of the score99
Phone app26% of the score0
Documented20% of the score100
Free plan14% of the score100

Free plan: Yes
Paid plans from: $7.92/mo
Runs on: Windows, Mac, Linux

Summary

Houdini is SideFX’s procedural 3D creation software for film, television, game development, motion graphics, virtual reality, and synthetic data work. Its node-based system records actions as connected networks, allowing users to share workflows and custom digital assets with colleagues. The toolset covers modeling, sculpting, animation, parametric modeling, character rigging, rendering, and 3D-print export. Houdini FX adds simulation tools for fluids, destruction, pyro effects, grains, and cloth. KineFX supports character rigging and animation, alongside tools for hair, fur, feathers, muscles, and cloth. Karma is used for rendering in Houdini’s Solaris look-development workflow, while PDG distributes tasks, manages dependencies, and can create datasets for machine-learning and AI applications. Houdini runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The free Houdini Apprentice tier is for non-commercial learning and personal projects; renders are limited to 1920x1080 and carry a watermark. Licensing choices include perpetual licenses, annual upgrades, rentals, subscriptions, and education licenses. Listed pricing notes paid plans from $299/yr.

Who it is for

Houdini suits 3D artists and production teams working in areas such as film, games, motion graphics, or virtual reality. Apprentice is an option for non-commercial learning and personal projects.

What is good

Procedural workflows are stored in connected node networks.
Simulation tools cover fluids, destruction, pyro, grains, and cloth.
KineFX supports character rigging and animation.
Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Apprentice is free for non-commercial learning and personal projects.

What to know first

Apprentice renders include a watermark.
Apprentice render resolution is limited to 1920x1080.
Paid plans are listed from $299/yr.

Verdict

Houdini offers procedural workflows alongside modeling, animation, simulation, and rendering tools. Apprentice provides a non-commercial way to learn, with render limits and a watermark; paid licensing has several forms.

Houdini plans and pricing

All plans

Houdini Core — Workstation perpetual $1,995/mo Workstation [Node Locked] 5 workstation licenses per facility sidefx.com · 21 Sept 2026

Houdini Core — Annual Upgrade Plan, workstation $1,095/yr Annual Upgrade Plan 5 workstation licenses per facility sidefx.com · 21 Sept 2026

Houdini Core — Local Access perpetual $2,995/mo Local Access [Floating] sidefx.com · 21 Sept 2026

Houdini Core — Annual Upgrade Plan, local access $1,639/yr Annual Upgrade Plan; Local Access [Floating] sidefx.com · 21 Sept 2026

Houdini Core — Annual rental, workstation $1,475/yr Annual | Workstation 5 workstation licenses per facility sidefx.com · 21 Sept 2026

Houdini Core — Annual rental, local access $2,195/yr Annual | Local Access sidefx.com · 21 Sept 2026

Compared on 3D modeling software

Free plan: Yessidefx.com

Facts

Platform access: desktopsidefx.com · 21 Sept 2026
Sculpting tools: Yessidefx.com · 21 Sept 2026
Animation tools: Yessidefx.com · 21 Sept 2026
Parametric modeling: Yessidefx.com · 21 Sept 2026
Render engine: bothsidefx.com · 21 Sept 2026
3D print export: Yessidefx.com · 21 Sept 2026
Multiple License Types: Houdini is offered through perpetual licenses, annual upgrades, rentals, subscriptions, and education licenses.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026
Free Apprentice Tier: Houdini Apprentice is a non-commercial version available for learning and personal projects.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026
Apprentice Render Limit: Apprentice render resolution is limited to 1920x1080 and includes a render watermark.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026
Apprentice Watermark: Houdini Apprentice includes a render watermark.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026
Workflow Sharing: The procedural system supports rapidly sharing workflows with colleagues and sharing custom digital assets.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026
Support Resources: SideFX provides customer support, a help desk, FAQ, documentation, and bug/RFE reporting.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026
Learning Resources: Houdini offers thousands of hours of tutorials, learning paths, and a progress-tracking My Learning page.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026
Company Name: Houdini is developed by SideFX.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026
Target Industries: Houdini targets film, TV, game development, motion graphics, virtual reality, and synthetic data work.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026
Procedural Workflow: Houdini is built as a procedural system where actions are stored in nodes and connected into networks.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026
Dynamic Simulation: Houdini FX includes tools for fluids, destruction, pyro effects, grains, and cloth.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026
Karma Rendering: Karma is used to render photorealistic images within Houdini's Solaris lookdev workflow.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026
Character Creation: KineFX supports character rigging and animation, with additional tools for hair, fur, feathers, muscles, and cloth.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026
Pipeline And AI: PDG distributes tasks, manages dependencies, and creates datasets for machine learning and AI applications.sidefx.com · 27 Sept 2026