# software
Every CG software, reviewed for UK learners.
Pick your software and we show the free path first, then the paid courses that are worth the money, then the UK studios that hire for it. Prices in GBP, verified quarterly. Version pinned on every review so you know what era of the tool we tested.
# which first
Which software should I learn first?
Learn Blender first if you are new to CG, on a budget, or unsure which discipline to commit to. It is free, actively developed, and every major UK studio now has at least a small Blender pipeline. It teaches every core concept (modelling, UV, shading, lighting, animation, sim) inside one program. Career switchers should start here.
Learn Maya first if you already know your target is character animation or big-studio pipelines (Framestore, DNEG, MPC). Maya remains the studio-standard for animation and rigging. Autodesk indie licence is £335/yr (as of 2026), full commercial £1,700/yr.
Learn Cinema 4D first if the target is motion graphics for brands and TV. C4D is entrenched at motion houses (ManvsMachine, Buck, Passion). Maxon One subscription £115/mo (2026).
Learn Houdini first if you know you want to be an FX TD. Not recommended as a general first tool because the interface is procedural and unforgiving for total beginners, but the payoff at senior level is the highest ceiling in CG. Apprentice is free forever for learning.
# cost stack
The software cost stack, honestly.
The three most common UK learner stacks, one-year total in GBP:
- Free stack (£0/yr): Blender + Houdini Apprentice + Krita + DaVinci Resolve. Publishable to portfolio, sellable to some studios. Watermark on Apprentice renders.
- Indie stack (£450–£700/yr): Blender + Substance 3D indie (£190/yr) + Marmoset Toolbag (£249 perpetual) + Houdini Indie (£220/yr). Enough for a UK freelance modeller/lighter starting out.
- Studio-shadow stack (£2,200–£2,800/yr): Maya indie (£335/yr) + Substance 3D indie (£190/yr) + ZBrush (£360/yr) + Nuke Indie (£440/yr) + Houdini Indie (£220/yr) + a Wacom (£350–£1,000). What you spend to shadow a studio pipeline solo.
See the full cost-stack breakdown for tax treatment and student pricing.
# software cost ladder
What the software actually costs.
All prices in GBP, rounded, last verified 2026-01. Student and indie tiers apply where the licence terms allow.
| Software | Free tier | Student | Indie | Commercial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blender | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Maya | – | Free (edu) | – | £1,918 / yr |
| Houdini | Apprentice free | £215 / yr | £215 / yr | £3,830 / yr |
| Unreal Engine | Free under $1M | Free | Free under $1M | 5% royalty above $1M |
| Cinema 4D | – | £99 / yr | – | £719 / yr |
| ZBrush | – | £165 / yr | – | £328 / yr |
| After Effects | – | £16.24 / mo | – | £25.28 / mo |
| Nuke | Non-commercial free | £398 / yr Indie | £398 / yr | £4,290 / yr |
| Substance Painter | – | £15 / yr | £173 / yr | £433 / yr |
Verified prices in Mint. Amber = subscription. Last checked 2026-01-15. See the full cost-stack guide for VAT, currency, and licence-tier rules.