3ds Max
Free trial onlyModeling and rendering for archviz
Free tier & pricing
30-day full-feature free trial including the bundled Arnold renderer; afterward a paid subscription is required.
Last verified Jun 23, 2026. Report a change →
The short answer
Autodesk 3ds Max is a leading modeling, animation, and rendering package for architectural and design visualization, with Arnold integrated.
The facts
- Pricing
- Paid · Free trial only
- Free tier
- No
- Runs in browser
- No
- Platforms
- Windows
- 2D / 3D
- Photorealistic
- Learning curve
- Moderate
- Export formats
- —
The catch
- Desktop install only — no browser version.
Best for
Archviz pipelines on Windows
3ds Max: questions, answered
Is 3ds Max free?
Not really — 3ds Max offers a free trial rather than a lasting free tier. 30-day full-feature free trial including the bundled Arnold renderer; afterward a paid subscription is required. After the trial it costs Paid.
What platforms does 3ds Max run on?
3ds Max is available on Windows. It is a desktop install with no browser version.
Does 3ds Max do 3D and photorealistic renders?
Yes. 3ds Max produces photorealistic 3D renders. Check the free-tier note above, though — several tools watermark or cap free renders.
Is 3ds Max easy to learn?
Moderate to pick up. Archviz pipelines on Windows