Mari vs Wafer

Mari9.1Visit Wafer8.4Visit

Higher score Mari #3 in 3D Texturing Software 9.1/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Foundry

vs

Wafer #6 in 3D Texturing Software 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Wafer

• Mari fits best

  VFX studios needing advanced UDIM workflows

• Wafer fits best

  Artists prioritizing high-resolution painting

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	Mari 9.1/10 Visit ↗	Wafer 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.4
Ranking	#3 in 3D Texturing Software	#6 in 3D Texturing Software
Best for	VFX studios needing advanced UDIM workflows	Artists prioritizing high-resolution painting
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$689/user/yr	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	30 days	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Windows, Linux	Windows, macOS, iOS
Support	Email, Community, Docs	Email, Community
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features Mari 5/5 · Wafer 3/5
3D texture painting	✓	✓
Procedural materials	✓	✓
Texture baking	✓ (best)	—
PBR workflow	✓	✓
Node-based authoring	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Maximum texture resolution	32768 px (best)	24 px
Supported platforms	windows, linux	windows, macos, ios
Our review
Pros	Supports thousands of UDIM textures per model Combines projection painting, procedural layers, and node graphs Handles up to eight painting streams and 32K textures	Direct 3D and 2D painting with layered channel control Supports color, roughness, and metallic painting together Configurable export supports texture sets and channel packing
Cons	macOS is not currently supported Monthly pricing starts at $86 per license Advanced workflows may exceed individual-artist needs	No texture baking workflow No verified integrations Desktop licenses do not work with the Apple App Store
Our verdict	Mari is desktop 3D painting and texturing software from Foundry for artists working in visual effects, animation, games, and other digital content. Its focus is detailed digital-asset work, with projection painting on models and UVs, PBR… Read the review →	Wafer is a 3D texture-painting application for artists creating stylized, hand-painted, and non-photorealistic assets. It supports direct painting on 3D meshes and 2D UV views, with layers, masks, blend modes, opacity controls, and… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Mari — where it wins

  • Supports thousands of UDIM textures per model
  • Combines projection painting, procedural layers, and node graphs
  • Handles up to eight painting streams and 32K textures

  Where it doesn't

  • macOS is not currently supported
  • Monthly pricing starts at $86 per license
  • Advanced workflows may exceed individual-artist needs

• Wafer — where it wins

  • Direct 3D and 2D painting with layered channel control
  • Supports color, roughness, and metallic painting together
  • Configurable export supports texture sets and channel packing

  Where it doesn't

  • No texture baking workflow
  • No verified integrations
  • Desktop licenses do not work with the Apple App Store

• Mari9.1/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A deep texturing tool for VFX teams that need UDIM scale and procedural control.

  Visit FoundryFull verdict →
• Wafer8.4/10 · Free plan

  A focused texture-painting tool with broad channel control and 24K export.

  Visit WaferFull verdict →