Moves by Maxon review
A free iOS capture app for bringing facial and body motion into Cinema 4D.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Moves by Maxon is a free iPhone and iPad app for capturing facial expressions, full-body movement and real-world objects. It is aimed at Cinema 4D users who want to bring phone-recorded motion into a 3D character workflow, rather than at teams looking for a standalone desktop capture system. Face Capture uses the device’s TrueDepth camera, while Body Capture uses ARKit and a rear camera to record markerless movement. A live animated skeleton gives a preview during body recordings, and face capture can include synchronized voice recording.
The workflow is centered on Cinema 4D: captures transfer over a local network, and body motion can be retargeted onto rigged characters there. The app also captures face textures and 3D face meshes, and it can create 3D objects from photographs using photogrammetry. That range makes it more than a body-and-face recorder for users already in Maxon’s ecosystem, though the direct transfer and retargeting value depends on having Cinema 4D in the workflow. Moves by Maxon is free; Cinema 4D is required to use captured movement in a 3D scene, so the app’s free price does not make the complete workflow free.
The platform requirement is specific: the app supports iOS 15 or later on iPhone and iPad, with facial capture depending on TrueDepth hardware and body capture on ARKit and the rear camera. That makes it a natural fit for Cinema 4D artists who can capture on compatible Apple devices and want a direct route from recording to character animation. It is less suitable for users who need a Windows or Android capture app, or who need to use motion in a 3D scene without Cinema 4D. Buyers evaluating the overall cost should consider Cinema 4D separately from the free app.
Moves by Maxon pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Captures facial expressions with an iPhone or iPad TrueDepth camera
- Records markerless full-body motion with an animated skeleton preview
- Transfers captures to Cinema 4D and supports character retargeting
- Where it doesn't
- Requires Cinema 4D to use captured movement in a 3D scene
- Available on iOS only, requiring iOS 15 or later
- Body capture depends on ARKit and the device's rear camera
Moves by Maxon fact sheet, pricing and score →
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