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Pick 2–5 published tools. Values come from our evidence-checked profiles — an em-dash means unknown, never “no”. Ranking rows reflect the current published methodology for the comparison context.
SideFX Houdini vs LightWave 3D
Context: 3D Animation Software · methodology v1.0.0 · 18 rows
| Attribute | SideFX HoudiniSideFX | LightWave 3DLightWave Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Identity · Taxonomy | ||
| Documentation | https://www.sidefx.com/docs/ | — |
| Tags | 3d animation, vfx, simulation, procedural, proprietary | 3d animation, modeling, rendering, vfx, proprietary |
| Platform · Deployment | ||
| Delivery model | desktop | desktop |
| Desktop apps | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Pricing · Licensing | ||
| Free plan | true | — |
| License model | proprietary | proprietary |
| Pricing model | free, subscription, perpetual | — |
| Features · Product · Fit | ||
| Core capabilities | Procedural modeling, VFX simulation (fluids, pyro, cloth, grains, destruction), KineFX character rigging and crowds, Solaris look development with USD, Karma rendering, PDG pipeline automation | 3D modeling, Animation, Visual effects, Simulation, Rendering, Single-application pipeline |
| Api · Integrations · Ecosystem | ||
| API available | true | — |
| Audience · Use · Case | ||
| Best for | Houdini is a procedural 3D animation and effects package aimed at simulation-heavy VFX work; a free Apprentice edition and a revenue-capped Indie license serve non-commercial users and small studios. | LightWave 3D combines modeling, animation, visual effects, simulation, and rendering in a single application for Windows and macOS. |
| Company-size fit | individual, SMB, mid-market | — |
| Primary use cases | Visual effects, Procedural world building, Character rigging and crowd animation, Game engine content pipelines | Visual effects and cinematic scenes, Motion graphics and broadcast graphics, Product and architectural visualization |
| Skill level | specialist | intermediate |
| Lifecycle · Versioning | ||
| Current version | 22.0 | 2026 |
| Maintenance status | active | active |
| Vendor · Maintainer | ||
| Founded year | — | 1990 |
| Headquarters country | Canada | United Kingdom |
| Vendor type | — | commercial |
“—” means unknown (we never treat missing evidence as a negative). Cells reflect each value's current evidence state; superseded or stale values are excluded. Ranking rows are editorial assessments under the cited methodology version — see the 3D Animation Software category for definitions.