Software Alternatives & Reviews

Houdini VS FreeCAD

Compare Houdini VS FreeCAD and see what are their differences

Houdini logo Houdini

Houdini covers all the major areas of 3D production, including:

FreeCAD logo FreeCAD

An open-source parametric 3D modeler
  • Houdini Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-09
  • FreeCAD Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-23

Houdini videos

What is Houdini Used For?

More videos:

  • Review - Top 5 Reasons To Learn Houdini Today!
  • Review - Ultra Running Vlog: Patagonia Houdini shell review

FreeCAD videos

Is FreeCAD any good?

More videos:

  • Review - FreeCAD vs Fusion360 - What is the Best FREE CAD Program?
  • Review - FREECAD review | the best free cad software to download for free ! | mechanical modeling program

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Houdini and FreeCAD)
3D
14 14%
86% 86
3D Modeling
24 24%
76% 76
Architecture
0 0%
100% 100
Game Development
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Houdini and FreeCAD. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Houdini and FreeCAD

Houdini Reviews

15 Best Maya Alternatives
3D Modeling and Rendering with Houdini isn’t very different from what you get on Maya. However, Houdini follows a node-based workflow. Every action in Houdini is a node and these nodes are linked together to form networks.

FreeCAD Reviews

15 Best Sketchup Alternatives 2022
From the description “FreeCAD” you can decipher that this software is free to use. Hence, you can use it on Windows, Mac, and Linux amongst other operating systems.
9 Free CAD Software to Download
Although it is open source and free, FreeCAD is on par with other popular CAD programs due to its capability in creating real 3D solids, support for meshes, 2D drafting, right hand coordinate system plus many more features.
10 Free AutoCAD Alternatives
Its tools and concepts are quite similar to those of AutoCAD. So those who are already familiar with CAD will feel very comfortable using it. The FreeCAD source code can be downloaded, used and transformed as the user wants, because it is free. One of its most striking features is that by having a free source code, FreeCAD users have constantly changing software available...
Source: solidface.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Houdini should be more popular than FreeCAD. It has been mentiond 4 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Houdini mentions (4)

  • Book or courses recomendations?
    Otherwise, Unity (3D) has tutorials for Unity, Houdini (vfx) has tutorials on their site (sidefx.com). Blender (3D) has a good community on reddit. For 2D animation the book "The Animator’s Survival Kit" is a common book people read in this reddit. Also lots of youtube tutorials. Search for whatever you want to learn ("how to paint grass in photoshop", "how to use animation in Blender", "how to animate... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Coming from Cinema4D + octane
    Houdini is (a little) hard to learn, so the best you can do is focus on one area at the same time: Modeling, Vellum, Fluids, Particles, KineFx ... You can find a lot of free tutorials on sidefx.com. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Newbie question: Which software would I use to create the interactive, animated 3D model project I have in mind?
    It sounds like you would need a lot of procedural geometry, which is done best with Houdini. But it does not do interactive web. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Unable to Start Houdini - License Server Issue?
    I also checked my license status from sidefx.com and it said everything was correct, but of course now I cant even login to the website and it just throws me a 500 Error Code when I login, asking me to login again. Ive emailed support but figured I might check here too while I'm at it. Source: about 3 years ago

FreeCAD mentions (2)

  • SOLIDWORKS for Linux
    Important note[0] from author: > With the help of my script, You get a way to install Solidworks on your Linux system. > Certain packages and programs that are required will be set up for You, but it's important to know, that my script only helps You to get the program to run and nothing more! Personally I may recommend try & use SolveSpace[1,2] and FreeCAD[3] — free & open-source 2D/3D... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • STL to Gcode for CNC Router?
    Also FreeCAD has a gcode workbench for full 3D. I've used it a little and would describe it as "usable once you work out the quirks". Https://freecadweb.org/. Source: about 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Houdini and FreeCAD, you can also consider the following products

Blender - Blender is the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D creation.

SketchUp - 3D for Everyone

Cinema 4D - Cinema 4D is a 3D modeling, animation, motion graphics and rendering application.

LibreCAD - An open source 2D CAD application for Windows, Apple and Linux.

Autodesk 3DS Max - 3ds Max is software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and visualization. Create stunning game enrivonments, design visualizations, and virtual reality experiences.

Autodesk Maya - Maya is 3D computer animation software with powerful modeling, rendering, simulation, texturing, and animation tools for artists, modelers, and animators.