Autodesk 3ds Max vs REAPER

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and integrations.

Quick Verdict

Autodesk 3ds Max offers fewer features (32 vs 71) and more integrations (12 vs 11). Starting price: Autodesk 3ds Max at Free vs REAPER at Contact Sales. Autodesk 3ds Max has 32 unique features while REAPER has 71 unique features, with 0 features in common.

Autodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
CategoryDesign & PrototypingDesign & Prototyping
Total Features3271
AI-Powered Features00
Starting PriceFreeContact Sales
Pricing Tiers61
Integrations1211
Shared Features0
Shared Integrations0
Data Quality85%95%

Feature Comparison by Category

3D Modeling (5 vs 0)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Mesh and Surface Modeling
Modifier Stack Workflow
Retopology Tools
Smart Extrude
Spline Workflows

Animation and Effects (5 vs 0)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Animation Controllers
Character Animation Tools
Motion Paths
Particle Flow Effects
Realistic Fluids

Automation (0 vs 1)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Macros

Control (0 vs 1)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
OSC Support

Customization (0 vs 2)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Configuration Import/Export
Keyboard/Mouse Overrides

Editing (0 vs 2)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Razor Edits
Swipe Comping

Effects (0 vs 10)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Built-in Effects
FX Auto-Bypass
FX Containers
JSFX Compile-Time Macros
JSFX LUFS Loudness Meter
JSFX Multichannel Mapper-Downmixer
JSFX Programming
Per-FX Oversampling
ReaLimit Plugin
ReaSurroundPan Plugin

File Handling (0 vs 3)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Metadata Support
Multi-Format Import/Export
Raw PCM File Format Support

Hardware (0 vs 1)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Control Surface Support

Installation (0 vs 1)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Portable Installation

Integration (0 vs 1)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
ARA Edit Pooling

Licensing (0 vs 4)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
60-Day Evaluation
DRM-Free License
No Artificial Limitations
Unlimited Free Updates

MIDI (0 vs 5)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Extended MIDI I/O
MIDI Editor CC Lane Vertical Zoom/Scroll
MIDI Editor Coloring
MIDI Recording and Editing
Retroactive MIDI Recording

Metering (0 vs 4)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Per-FX Delta Solo
Per-Track LUFS Metering
Plug-in Gain Reduction Metering
Render Statistics and Loudness Measurement

Mixing (0 vs 4)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Automation
Modulation
Surround Sound
VCA Support

OpenUSD Workflows (5 vs 0)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Light Linking
Lights in Viewport
OpenUSD Plugin - Open Source
OpenUSD Workflows - Seamless Import and Export
USD Layer Editor

Organization (0 vs 6)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Item Locking
Media Explorer
Region/Marker Manager
Ruler Lanes
Track Grouping
Track Lanes

Performance (0 vs 1)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Fast Load Time

Plugin Support (0 vs 3)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
CLAP Plugin Support
LV2 Plugin Support
Multi-Plugin Support

Processing (0 vs 8)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
64-bit Internal Audio Processing
Multi-Core Batch Conversion
Multi-Core Peaks Calculation
Multi-Mono Processing
Multi-Stereo Processing
Pitch Shift Modes
Resampling Support
Time Stretch Modes

Recording (0 vs 1)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Multitrack Audio Recording

Rendering (6 vs 1)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Color Management
Integrated Arnold Renderer
Interactive Viewports
Lighting
Physical Camera
Scene Converter
Second-Pass Rendering

Routing (0 vs 3)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Audio and MIDI Routing
High Channel Count Tracks
Parallel Routing

Scripting (0 vs 1)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
ReaScript Scripting

Texturing and Shading (5 vs 0)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Bake to Texture
High-Quality Materials
Material Editor
Material Switcher
Open Shading Language (OSL) Support

UI/UX (0 vs 5)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Animated Toolbar Buttons
Arrange View Zoom/Scroll
Custom Skins and Layouts
Customizable Floating Toolbars
Customizable Track Spacers

Video (0 vs 3)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Native Video Support
Video Colorspace Support
Video Support in Background Projects

Workflow and Pipeline (6 vs 0)

FeatureAutodesk 3ds MaxREAPER
Extensive Plug-in Library
Modern UI and Workspaces
Multiple File Format Support
Python 3 Support
Software Security
glTF Support

Unique Features

Only in Autodesk 3ds Max (32)

Mesh and Surface Modeling
Modifier Stack Workflow
Retopology Tools
Smart Extrude
Spline Workflows
Animation Controllers
Character Animation Tools
Motion Paths
Particle Flow Effects
Realistic Fluids
Light Linking
Lights in Viewport
OpenUSD Plugin - Open Source
OpenUSD Workflows - Seamless Import and Export
USD Layer Editor
Color Management
Integrated Arnold Renderer
Interactive Viewports
Lighting
Physical Camera

+ 12 more unique features

Only in REAPER (71)

Macros
OSC Support
Configuration Import/Export
Keyboard/Mouse Overrides
Razor Edits
Swipe Comping
Built-in Effects
FX Auto-Bypass
FX Containers
JSFX Compile-Time Macros
JSFX LUFS Loudness Meter
JSFX Multichannel Mapper-Downmixer
JSFX Programming
Per-FX Oversampling
ReaLimit Plugin
ReaSurroundPan Plugin
Metadata Support
Multi-Format Import/Export
Raw PCM File Format Support
Control Surface Support

+ 51 more unique features

Want to build your own alternative to Autodesk 3ds Max or REAPER?

Analyze it with Reap