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Head-to-head · Game Texture Software

Material Maker vs Adobe Substance 3D Sampler

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Material Maker #5 in Game Texture Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Material Maker
Adobe Substance 3D Sampler #8 in Game Texture Software 8.1/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 2 of 4 features Visit site

Material Maker 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 scoreMaterial Maker · 8.5/10
  • Free planonly Material Maker
  • Free trialonly Adobe Substance 3D Sampler
  • Most featuresAdobe Substance 3D Sampler · 2 of 4

Material Maker scores higher on our rubric for game texture software: 8.5 against 8.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #8.

Material Maker offers free plan; Adobe Substance 3D Sampler doesn't.

Material Maker is the better fit for free procedural material creation. Adobe Substance 3D Sampler is the better fit for photogrammetry and image-based materials.

  • Material Maker fits best

    Free procedural material creation

  • Adobe Substance 3D Sampler fits best

    Photogrammetry and image-based materials

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Side by side

Feature Material Maker 8.5/10 Visit ↗ Adobe Substance 3D Sampler 8.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.5 8.1
Ranking #5 in Game Texture Software #8 in Game Texture Software
Best for Free procedural material creation Photogrammetry and image-based materials
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free —
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs Docs, Community
Integrations 3 integrations 7 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Material Maker 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, macos, linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Our review
Pros
  • Open-source node workflow for procedural PBR materials
  • Supports Godot, Unity, and Unreal export workflows
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • 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
Cons
  • 3D model painting is labeled experimental
  • Focused on materials rather than a wider asset pipeline
  • No paid tier for organizations seeking tiered plans
  • No permanent free plan is available
  • The 30-day trial is time-limited
  • Its material-authoring depth may exceed simpler texture needs
Our verdict

Material Maker is a free, open-source desktop tool from Rodz Labs for creating procedural materials through node graphs. It is aimed at artists, technical artists, game developers, and other users who need customizable PBR materials on…

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 →
  1. Material MakerGame Texture Software 8.5Free plan
  2. Adobe Substance 3D SamplerGame Texture Software 8.130-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Material Maker — where it wins

    • Open-source node workflow for procedural PBR materials
    • Supports Godot, Unity, and Unreal export workflows
    • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux

    Where it doesn't

    • 3D model painting is labeled experimental
    • Focused on materials rather than a wider asset pipeline
    • No paid tier for organizations seeking tiered plans

  • 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
  • Material Maker8.5/10 · Free plan

    A free node-based material tool with broad engine exports and experimental 3D painting.

    Visit Material MakerFull verdict →
  • Adobe Substance 3D Sampler8.1/10 · 30-day trial

    A deep material-authoring toolkit for photogrammetry and image-based workflows.

    Visit siteFull verdict →

More comparisons

All game texture software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update