Our verdict: Cinema 4D is the 3D app motion designers reach for: MoGraph cloners and effectors make procedural animation fast, and it fits neatly next to After Effects. Redshift is now included, so the subscription covers rendering too. It is expensive, subscription-only, and Blender does most of the same work for free.
About Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D is professional 3D software from Maxon in Germany, used for broadcast graphics, brand animation, product visualization, archviz and lightweight VFX. It combines parametric and polygon modeling, keyframe animation with character rig templates, MoGraph for procedural motion design, and a unified simulation system for cloth, rigid and soft bodies, particles, smoke, fire and liquids. Every subscription includes the GPU-accelerated Redshift renderer and five Team Render nodes, and Cineware links scenes into Adobe After Effects.
Cinema 4D is sold as a subscription. The official store, shown in euros with the highest VAT rate, lists €859.77 per year billed annually or €121.77 billed monthly; Maxon One adds ZBrush, Red Giant and Universe. The free trial lasts 14 days and covers all of Maxon One. You need a Maxon account and the Maxon App to start it; when it ends no charge is made and the apps stop working until you subscribe. Licensing requires an online connection.
What it does well
- MoGraph. Cloners, effectors and fields for procedural motion graphics and abstract animation.
- Modeling. Parametric objects, generators, deformers, polygon modeling and sculpting tools.
- Simulation. Unified system for cloth, rigid and soft bodies, particles, smoke, fire and liquids.
- Redshift rendering. GPU-accelerated Redshift renderer included with every subscription.
- After Effects link. Cineware brings Cinema 4D scenes into After Effects with live updates.
Who it is for
Good fit
Motion designers, broadcast and advertising artists, and designers moving from 2D into 3D.
Look elsewhere
Hobbyists on a budget, anyone who wants a perpetual license, and game artists who mainly need sculpting.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fast procedural animation with MoGraph
- Redshift renderer included
- Approachable interface for a professional 3D app
- Tight integration with After Effects
Cons
- Expensive subscription, no perpetual license
- Trial is only 14 days and needs a Maxon account
- Redshift needs a GPU with at least 8 GB of VRAM
How to install Cinema 4D
Create a Maxon account, download the Maxon App from the official trial page and click Start Trial inside it; the app then installs Cinema 4D and Redshift. Maxon lists 16 GB of RAM as the minimum, and Redshift needs an NVIDIA or AMD GPU with 8 GB of VRAM. Maxon may use your e-mail for marketing when you activate the trial, which you can revoke later.
Questions about Cinema 4D
Is Cinema 4D free?
No. Maxon offers a 14-day free trial of Maxon One, which includes Cinema 4D, started from the Maxon App with a Maxon account. When the trial ends nothing is charged, but Cinema 4D stops working until you subscribe. The official store shows €859.77 per year billed annually, including the highest VAT rate; prices vary by region.
Is Redshift included with Cinema 4D?
Yes. Maxon includes the Redshift renderer with every Cinema 4D subscription at no extra cost.
What is Maxon One?
Maxon One is a subscription bundle with Cinema 4D, Redshift, ZBrush, Red Giant, Universe and Capsules. The Cinema 4D trial gives access to all of it for 14 days.
