Cascadeur
8.9#1 in animation softwareFrom $96 a yearFree planAndroidiOSAPILinux
VisitCascadeur vs LightWave 3D
LightWave 3D
7.6#25 in animation softwareAPImacOSWindows
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Cascadeur | LightWave 3D |
|---|---|---|
| Documentation | Official help includes installation, getting started, interface, tools, animation, rigging, tutorials, videos, FAQ and release notes. | Documentation includes online 2025 and 2020 manuals plus a downloadable 3,600-plus-page 2020 manual PDF. |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Purpose | Cascadeur is physics-based 3D animation software for creating character animation without motion capture. | LightWave 3D is software for creating 3D models, animations, and visual effects. |
| Rating on Capterra | 5.0 out of 5 from 1 review | 3.8 out of 5 from 4 reviews |
| Rating on G2 | 0 out of 5 from 0 reviews | 3.9 out of 5 from 29 reviews |
Cascadeur plans
- FreeFree
- Indie$19 a month
- Pro$49 a month
- Teams$49 a month
- Educational$49, paid once
- Indie$96 a year
LightWave 3D plans
- New LightWave 2025 Licence£795 a month
- LightWave 2025 Upgrade - LightWave 2024 users£450 a month
- LightWave 2025 Upgrade - LightWave 2023 or earlier users£550 a month
- 30-day trialFree
- LightWave 2025 Upgrade — LightWave 2024 users£450, paid once
- LightWave 2026 upgrade from 2025£450, paid once
Pick Cascadeur if…
Cascadeur suits character animators who want physics-based tools without motion capture, including people working with supported 3D applications. The free plan is limited to non-commercial use and CASC exports.
Pick LightWave 3D if…
LightWave 3D is aimed at professionals in television, film effects, games, print graphics, and visualization. It may also suit users who need its modeling, animation, rendering, or Unreal Engine Bridge workflows.