Maya vs Onshape: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Maya and Onshape side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Maya leads on lower entry price; Onshape leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Maya
3D animation and modeling by Autodesk
Best for you if:
- • You want industry standard 3D
Onshape
The only cloud-native product development platform for CAD, PDM, and real-time collaboration.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | Maya | Onshape |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $305/year Maya Indie plan | Free plan, paid from $125/user/mo, billed yearly Standard Plan plan |
Category | 3D Design Animation | 3D Design Developer Tools |
Rating | 4.3/5 G2 4.3 267 reviews | 4.6/5 G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.5 1,081 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | No perpetual license: Autodesk eliminated perpetual licenses in 2016. Stop paying and you lose access to everything, including your own .ma/.mb files (limited third-party support). You are renting, not owning. | n/a |
Choose Maya or Onshape?
Choose Maya if
- You want industry standard 3D
- You want animation tools
- Budget matters ($305/year vs $125/user/mo, billed yearly)
Choose Onshape if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want no installations, upgrades, or hardware requirements
- You want eliminates crashes and data loss
In-Depth Analysis
Maya
3D animation and modeling by Autodesk
It remains the industry standard for character animation, rigging, and VFX pipelines in film and games, but the value proposition has eroded significantly.
Watch out
No perpetual license: Autodesk eliminated perpetual licenses in 2016. Stop paying and you lose access to everything, including your own .ma/.mb files (limited third-party support). You are renting, not owning.
Strengths
- Pro: Industry standard 3D
- Pro: Animation tools
- Pro: VFX capabilities
- Pro: Good for film
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Very expensive
- Con: Steep learning curve
- Con: Resource intensive
- Con: Complex interface
- Con: Subscription only
Key features
Onshape
The only cloud-native product development platform for CAD, PDM, and real-time collaboration.
Onshape's pricing is generally fair, offering a generous Free Plan for non-commercial use.
Strengths
- Pro: No installations, upgrades, or hardware requirements
- Pro: Eliminates crashes and data loss
- Pro: Streamlines collaboration for distributed teams
- Pro: Integrated PDM simplifies version control
- Pro: Always on an updated version with continuous updates
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires an internet connection for full functionality
- Con: May have a learning curve for users accustomed to traditional desktop CAD
Key features
Plans and prices: Maya vs Onshape
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maya |
| autodesk.com/maya read Oct 7, 2026 |
| Onshape |
| onshape.com/pricing read Oct 31, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Maya pricing and Onshape pricing.
Key Takeaways
Maya
- Lower entry price: $305/year vs $125/user/mo, billed yearly
Onshape
- Higher user rating: 4.6/5 vs 4.3/5
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, Maya leads on lower entry price; Onshape leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Onshape has the higher user rating (4.3/5 from 267 reviews for Maya, 4.6/5 from 1,081 reviews for Onshape).
- Maya has the lower entry price: $305/year (Maya Indie) against $125/user/mo, billed yearly (Standard Plan) for Onshape.
- Only Onshape has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Maya and Onshape compare in 2026?
On the data below, Maya leads on lower entry price; Onshape leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Onshape has the higher user rating (4.3/5 from 267 reviews for Maya, 4.6/5 from 1,081 reviews for Onshape). Maya has the lower entry price: $305/year (Maya Indie) against $125/user/mo, billed yearly (Standard Plan) for Onshape. Only Onshape has a free plan.
What are Maya and Onshape used for?
Maya: 3D animation and modeling by Autodesk. Onshape: The only cloud-native product development platform for CAD, PDM, and real-time collaboration.
What does Maya cost vs Onshape?
Maya's cheapest paid plan is Maya Indie at $305/year. Onshape's cheapest paid plan is Standard Plan at $125/user/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 31, 2026.
What's the main difference between Maya and Onshape?
Maya's main strength: industry standard 3D. Onshape's main strength: no installations, upgrades, or hardware requirements.