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Head-to-head · Visual Effects Software

Silhouette vs Houdini

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 1 check side by side
Higher score Silhouette #5 in Visual Effects Software 8.7/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Boris FX
Houdini #6 in Visual Effects Software 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit SideFX

Silhouette leads on 0 checks, Houdini on 1, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 1 yes/no, price and count check where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreSilhouette · 8.7/10
  • Free planonly Houdini
  • Free trialonly Silhouette

Silhouette scores higher on our rubric for visual effects software: 8.7 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #5 and #6.

Houdini offers free plan; Silhouette doesn't.

Silhouette is the better fit for advanced roto and compositing cleanup. Houdini is the better fit for procedural VFX and simulation teams.

  • Silhouette fits best

    Advanced roto and compositing cleanup

  • Houdini fits best

    Procedural VFX and simulation teams

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Side by side

Feature Silhouette 8.7/10 Visit ↗ Houdini 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.7 8.6
Ranking #5 in Visual Effects Software #6 in Visual Effects Software
Best for Advanced roto and compositing cleanup Procedural VFX and simulation teams
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $545/yr $1,475/device/yr
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial 14 days —
Deployment Desktop, Self-hosted Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Tickets, Community, Docs Phone, Docs, Community
Integrations 9 integrations 4 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Silhouette 0/5 · Houdini 0/5
Node-based compositing Not checked yet Not checked yet
Keying tools Not checked yet Not checked yet
Rotoscoping tools Not checked yet Not checked yet
3D camera tracking Not checked yet Not checked yet
Simulation tools Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms Not checked yet Not checked yet
Render engine Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Advanced roto, matte creation, keying, tracking, and cleanup tools
  • 400+ compositing nodes with HDR paint and machine-learning masking
  • Runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux with major VFX integrations
  • Broad tools for modeling, animation, simulation, rendering, and compositing
  • Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop workflows
  • Integrates with major DCC, game-engine, USD, and renderer pipelines
Cons
  • Annual subscription starts at $545
  • Monthly pricing is $103 per month
  • No free plan for ongoing access
  • Commercial Houdini FX costs $910 per local-access license monthly
  • Houdini Core is limited to commercial workflows without advanced effects tools
  • The free Apprentice edition is non-commercial and adds watermarks to renders
Our verdict

Silhouette is a GPU-accelerated desktop application and plugin for professional visual-effects artists and studios. Boris FX combines advanced rotoscoping, matte creation, keying, tracking, paint, warping, morphing, and node-based…

Read the review →

Houdini is a procedural 3D content-creation application for artists and technical directors in film, television, advertising, games, and related fields. Its node-based approach supports editable construction history alongside polygon,…

Read the review →
  1. SilhouetteVisual Effects Software 8.714-day trial
  2. HoudiniVisual Effects Software 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Silhouette — where it wins

    • Advanced roto, matte creation, keying, tracking, and cleanup tools
    • 400+ compositing nodes with HDR paint and machine-learning masking
    • Runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux with major VFX integrations

    Where it doesn't

    • Annual subscription starts at $545
    • Monthly pricing is $103 per month
    • No free plan for ongoing access

  • Houdini — where it wins

    • Broad tools for modeling, animation, simulation, rendering, and compositing
    • Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop workflows
    • Integrates with major DCC, game-engine, USD, and renderer pipelines

    Where it doesn't

    • Commercial Houdini FX costs $910 per local-access license monthly
    • Houdini Core is limited to commercial workflows without advanced effects tools
    • The free Apprentice edition is non-commercial and adds watermarks to renders

More comparisons

All visual effects software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update