Head-to-head · Game Texture Software
Mari vs Adobe Substance 3D Sampler
Mari leads on 1 check, Adobe Substance 3D Sampler on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreMari · 8.7/10
- Free planonly Mari
- Free trialboth
- Most featuresAdobe Substance 3D Sampler · 2 of 4
Mari scores higher on our rubric for game texture software: 8.7 against 8.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #8.
Mari offers free plan; Adobe Substance 3D Sampler doesn't.
Mari is the better fit for large-scale film and game texture production. Adobe Substance 3D Sampler is the better fit for photogrammetry and image-based materials.
- Mari fits best
Large-scale film and game texture production
- Adobe Substance 3D Sampler fits best
Photogrammetry and image-based materials
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Side by side
| Feature | Mari 8.7/10 Visit ↗ | Adobe Substance 3D Sampler 8.1/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 8.7 | 8.1 |
| Ranking | #4 in Game Texture Software | #8 in Game Texture Software |
| Best for | Large-scale film and game texture production | Photogrammetry and image-based materials |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Starting price | $689/user/yr | — |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | — |
| Free trial | 30 days | 30 days |
| Free trial length | 30 days | 30 days |
| Deployment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs | Docs, Community |
| Integrations | 8 integrations | 7 integrations |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features Mari 1/4 · Adobe Substance 3D Sampler 2/4 | ||
| Texture baking | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Procedural materials | ✓ | ✓ |
| UDIM support | Not checked yet | Not checked yet |
| Game-engine export | Not checked yet | ✓ (best) |
| Specs | ||
| Primary workflow | Not checked yet | Material_authoring |
| Supported platforms | windows, linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Our review | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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| Our verdict | Mari is desktop 3D painting and texturing software for artists creating visual effects, animation, games, and other digital content. Its focus is high-resolution asset work, combining projection painting on 3D models and UVs with UDIM… Read the review → |
Adobe Substance 3D Sampler is desktop software for turning photographs and physical samples into digital materials, 3D meshes, and HDR environment lights. It is aimed at artists creating realistic assets for games, visualization, product… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Mari — where it wins
- Supports UDIM workflows with thousands of textures per model
- Combines procedural nodes, PBR ingestion, and integrated baking
- Offers projection, eight-channel, 2D, and Python-based texturing workflows
Where it doesn't
- Paid plans start at $86 per license per month
- Current support is limited to Windows and Linux
- The free version is restricted to non-commercial use
Adobe Substance 3D Sampler — where it wins
- Converts images into albedo, roughness, normal, and displacement maps
- Supports photogrammetry, material mixing, tiling, weathering, and HDR creation
- Exports to Substance formats, bitmaps, Unity, and Unreal Engine
Where it doesn't
- No permanent free plan is available
- The 30-day trial is time-limited
- Its material-authoring depth may exceed simpler texture needs
- Mari8.7/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial
A mature texture-production tool with deep UDIM, procedural, baking, and scripting workflows.
Visit FoundryFull verdict → - Adobe Substance 3D Sampler8.1/10 · 30-day trial
A deep material-authoring toolkit for photogrammetry and image-based workflows.
Visit siteFull verdict →
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All game texture software comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update






