Free Cinema-4D-Alternative: Blender
Blender is a free all-round weapon when it comes to 3D Animation, still picture modelling, or even game development.
- Interface: The user interface of Blender is at first glance chaotic. Also, when you get to Know the program, you will stumble across a strangely-assorted menu.
- Ease of use: Necessarily required for the operation of Blender, an Overview of the keyboard shortcuts. Without this, the reasonable use of the cost-free 3D all-rounder is hardly possible. In the area of 3D Animation for the video workflow in Blender is represented, however, less frequently.
- Scope of function: Blender provides as an Open Source solution to a wide range of functions, which are not able to provide the competitors themselves for money. Extensions via Plugins and Scripts in Python are possible at any time.
- Price: Blender is Freeware. You get the program in full functionality on the manufacturer's website or in our download area.

Blender: a free Alternative
Expensive, but free for students: Autodesk 3ds Max
With 3ds Max you get to the large counterpart to Cinema 4D. While Cinema is more focused on Spline Modeling, and in addition some functions for Poly Modelling is 3ds Max designed rather for Poly-Modelling.
- Interface: much easier than Blender and 3ds Max, but you also need a certain eingewöhung time. The nesting of different effects and processing steps should be carefully considered in order to place the later work no obstacles in the way.
- Ease of use: basic functions such as view control, Move, and Rotate objects, and the change in the size at a glance. When it comes to editing different objects, you should know behind which name which is the effect hidden.
- Functionality: 3ds Max offers next to the extensive Modeling features a large Rendering area with a "mental ray". Also, 3ds Max can be extended by Scripts, and by many Plugins. With "Vray", and one (or more) powerful graphics cards you can even in real-time, GPU-based rendering.
- Price: Autodesk offers for the product 3ds Max only a subscription System. The prices vary, depending on the billing period, between 200€ per month to€ 1,600 a year. For students, the program is free of charge and there is a free 30-day trial version with full functionality on the manufacturer's website.

3ds Max, Cinema 4D, Alternative
High-End Video Anmation: NewTek LightWave
LightWave is a decent all-rounder that can be used for video animation used.
- Surface: Divided into several tabs LightWave is still the easiest way to get the 3D program, sorted however, the functions of sense. So you quickly in a pleasant Workflow.
- Ease of use: the tidy surface can LightWave comparatively fast and easy to use. Of course, you also need to here is your time to learn all the Tricks of the trade and using them effectively.
- Scope of function: LighWave comes with a basic equipment, which you can see. Rigging, Animation, and Rendering is on Hollywood level possible, because that is where the Software is used mainly.
- Price: LightWave you can buy, in contrast to Autodesk in a full version with a permanent license. Currently LightWave 2015 695 US dollars and is thus considerably cheaper than the nearly 3,000 euros worth of Cinema 4D. The students version is available for around 200 dollars. If you once possessed LightWave, you can update your Version against a significantly lower price. A free trial version for 30 days with full functionality you can go to the manufacturer website to download.

LightWave: High-End Alternative
In Blender, a 3D Animation, we show you in this practical tip.