Autodesk 3ds Max vs. Autodesk Civil 3D

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Autodesk 3ds Max
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
Autodesk offers 3ds Max, 3D modeling and rendering software for design visualization, games, and animation. The vendor states that users can produce professional-quality 3D animations, renders, and models with an efficient and flexible toolset to help create better 3D content in less time.
$235
per month per user
Civil 3D
Score 9.3 out of 10
N/A
Autodesk's Civil 3D is a computer aided design (CAD) application designed to support a variety of civil infrastructure projects including rail, roads and highways, land development, airports, drainage, storm and sanitary, and civil structures.
$335
per month
Pricing
Autodesk 3ds MaxAutodesk Civil 3D
Editions & Modules
Monthly Subscription
$235
per month per user
Yearly Subscription
$1875
per year per user
3-Year Subscription
$5625
3 years per user
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Autodesk 3ds MaxCivil 3D
Free Trial
YesYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoYes
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsFlex pricing available for limited usage. Minimum plan $300 for 100 tokens. 3ds Max costs 6 tokens per day.Can be licensed monthly ($305), Annually ($2,430), or every 3 years ($6,560).Available free for one year on a student license.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Autodesk 3ds MaxAutodesk Civil 3D
Considered Both Products
Autodesk 3ds Max
Chose Autodesk 3ds Max
Complex models are very easy to make in 3ds Max compared to other software, as Autodesk provides safety and security for your data and there are always there to serve you better. My experience with Autodesk was remarkable and Upmarket integration with other plugins makes 3ds …
Civil 3D
Chose Autodesk Civil 3D
There is nothing like Civil 3D stacks up against them, I personally use all this software but we this software because of our client demands. But I personally found no problem with each other’s software and obviously Autodesk team of research and development works really great …
Top Pros
Top Cons
Best Alternatives
Autodesk 3ds MaxAutodesk Civil 3D
Small Businesses
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.6 out of 10
Revit
Revit
Score 9.1 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Onshape
Onshape
Score 9.6 out of 10
Revit
Revit
Score 9.1 out of 10
Enterprises
Navisworks
Navisworks
Score 9.3 out of 10
Revit
Revit
Score 9.1 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Autodesk 3ds MaxAutodesk Civil 3D
Likelihood to Recommend
9.0
(11 ratings)
9.7
(7 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
7.8
(2 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
10.0
(1 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Autodesk 3ds MaxAutodesk Civil 3D
Likelihood to Recommend
Autodesk
For print media for marketing and for 3d animations for web spots and TV ads/movies/programs. It is less suited for quick 3d graphics or images that you get from AI image programs, but it is much more powerful than most AI image programs.
Read full review
Autodesk
Well suited:
  1. Simple and self-explanatory user interface.
  2. Inter usability between other software such as MicroDrainage and Bentley CivilStorm.
  3. Autodesk customer service.
  4. Easily customizable.
Not suitable: The software is still very resource intensive on the machines and often crashes when too much data is being shown. Though significant improvements have been made in other Autodesk software like Revit, older applications like AutoCAD and C3D seem to be stuck on old, inefficient source codes.
Read full review
Pros
Autodesk
  • 3ds Max includes some of the inbuild modifiers which can be very good in the case of beginners.
  • 3rd party Rendering support makes 3ds Max a powerful software for rendering out realistic images.
  • Autodesk 3ds max in comparison to its rivals is lightweight and fast, also the animation case also.
Read full review
Autodesk
  • Ease of functionality
  • Templates make design and drawings easier to complete
  • The ability to design and setup drawings simultaneously, where the drawings will be updated as the design is updated should there be changes
Read full review
Cons
Autodesk
  • working in 2d is very frustrating and unreliable. It just lacks the precision
  • How scaling affects units (or doesn't) There needs to be a way for modifiers to address a change of scale in the object.
  • Booleans are not intuitive. Especially for architecture, creating an opening and putting a door or a window is an incredibly cumbersome process.
Read full review
Autodesk
  • The processing of huge sized files in such in big projects, the delay of opening a sheet in Civil3D would burn time
  • Sometimes, it crashes while opening or processing
  • The vast number of tools and functions which make it difficult to use at times hence decent amount of training may be required
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Autodesk
It satisfies 95% of my 3d visualization need. The left over 5% is handled by a few other programs. If Max just can't perform a specific task I can do that elsewhere and then bring it back to Max to finish up. But, it's rare that this occurs in my work
Read full review
Autodesk
No answers on this topic
Usability
Autodesk
It is a very difficult program to learn to use and even harder to use well. But once you get to using it it is a great software package to know how to use. Getting to be good at using it takes lots of use.
Read full review
Autodesk
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
Autodesk
I have contacted support many times and have had a good experience. They have always been helpful
Read full review
Autodesk
They have a vast open community, which has helped us understand Autodesk Civil 3D from the beginning. They have provided many templates and tutorials videos to our team due to that we can learn every new feature from them. Autodesk Civil 3D has also helped us to interconnect all its software in an internal bridge, which helps us switch between software as we need.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
Autodesk
In Autodesk 3ds Max you can do camera animation with ease, its complex in Cinema 4D. Even I think same with light setup. Setting up light is quite easy in Autodesk 3ds Max as compare to Cinema 4D. Overall Autodesk 3ds Max is less complex in compare to other 3D softwares.
Read full review
Autodesk
Nothing compares to the ease of learning for Autodesk Civil 3D. It is very intuitive and easy to pick up. However, most DOTs require the use of MicroStation for roadway and transportation modeling. Autodesk Civil 3D does NOT integrate well with GIS or Bentley products. However, most aviation jobs and land development firms use the software and most students learn to model on a student trial of the software.
Read full review
Return on Investment
Autodesk
  • 3ds Max has one of the best control tools that can help someone to sculpt almost anything. With the vertex tool and polyline edit function we can create almost any complex geometry.
  • Default rendering is equipped with almost everything that is needed for process, V-Ray for 3ds Max is the best 3rd party plugin for getting crisp renders.
  • The four view port tools for viewing the model helps from each and every angle. The moment and selection tools in the 3ds Max are quit easy to operate.
Read full review
Autodesk
  • Possibility to analyze different scenarios of underground infrastructure design
  • Fast material volumes and quantities reports
  • Easiest way to achieve BIM mandate's objectives
Read full review
ScreenShots

Civil 3D Screenshots

Screenshot of Civil 3D - Infrastructure Software from AutodeskScreenshot of Civil 3D - Rail Alignments