Tool profile
Redshift: cost, fit and limits
Redshift is a GPU renderer made by Maxon that is included with every Cinema 4D subscription and with the Maxon One bundle, offering adaptive sampling, an Interactive Preview Renderer and Redshift Live. It ships as part of the Maxon product line.
What to know first
Redshift has no standalone price on the Maxon page. It comes with every Cinema 4D subscription and with Maxon One, and a 14-day trial through the Maxon App covers Redshift, Cinema 4D and Maxon One. The listed features include adaptive sampling, Interactive Preview Renderer, Redshift Live, all integration plugins and multiple instances on up to 8 GPUs on a single computer. The page describes no AI feature.
Redshift at a glance
| Maker | Maxon Computer GmbH (as named in the Redshift page footer), Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Free trial only |
| Entry price | Quote only |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI 3D Rendering Software in 2026, rank 7 of 11 |
| Website | maxon.net/en/redshift |
Who Redshift is best for
Existing Cinema 4D subscribers
Redshift is included with every Cinema 4D subscription, so a Maxon customer already holds the renderer without a separate purchase.
Multi-GPU workstation owners
The page lists multiple instances on up to 8 GPUs and more on a single computer, which suits machines built around several graphics cards.
Artists using several host apps
All integration plugins are listed as part of the plan, though the page does not name which host applications they cover.
Redshift plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Included with Cinema 4D | Not listed on the page | Redshift is included with every Cinema 4D subscription, with no separate price shown for the renderer. |
| Maxon One | Not listed on the page | A subscription bundle that includes Redshift, with a Compare plans and licensing link on the page. |
| 14-day free trial | Free trial | Started through the Maxon App for 14 days and includes Redshift, Cinema 4D and Maxon One, with no feature limits described on the page. |
Checked November 2026.
What Redshift does
- Adaptive sampling
- Adaptive sampling is listed as a feature on the Redshift page, with no figures on speed gain or noise reduction compared with fixed sampling. That is the only sampling detail given.
- Interactive Preview Renderer
- An Interactive Preview Renderer is named, which is meant for checking lighting and material changes while a scene is open, before a full render is queued.
- Redshift Live
- Redshift Live is listed among the features on the page, and the page gives no further description of how it works or which host applications it runs in.
- Integration plugins
- All integration plugins are listed as part of the plan, and the page refers to them without naming each host application, so coverage has to be confirmed separately.
- Multi-GPU instances
- Multiple instances on up to 8 GPUs and more on a single computer are named, but the page does not state the GPU models or the system requirements needed.
How Redshift handles your data
Maxon's privacy page says personal data is kept while needed for the online offering and then deleted unless legal duties apply, and it sets no fixed retention period for analytics or AI-generated meeting notes. It references GDPR alignment but names no certification, and says Teams data may be processed outside Switzerland or the EEA. The page names Swiss entities and a Hungarian representative. It does not say whether customer scenes are used to train models, and Redshift renders locally, so this mostly concerns account data.
Where Redshift falls short in practice
- Tied to Maxon. Because Redshift arrives with Cinema 4D or Maxon One, a buyer who does not use Maxon has no standalone price to evaluate on the page opened.
- No AI feature named. The page does not describe any feature as AI-based, so the AI angle for this tool is weak compared with the denoiser and assistant features Chaos and OTOY name.
- Requirements missing. Multi-GPU instances are listed, but the GPU and host system requirements are not on the page, so hardware planning needs the Maxon documentation. The page links to licensing details.
Works with
Alternatives to Redshift
Redshift: common questions
Is Redshift free with Cinema 4D?
It is included. The Maxon page states that Redshift comes with every Cinema 4D subscription and is part of the Maxon One bundle. No standalone Redshift price was shown, so a separate purchase is not described on the page opened.
Does Redshift have a free trial?
Yes. A 14-day free trial runs through the Maxon App and includes Redshift, Cinema 4D and Maxon One. The page does not describe feature limits during the trial, so check the Maxon App terms when you start. The page also says this trial includes Maxon One.
Does Redshift use AI?
The page describes no feature as AI-based. Its listed features include adaptive sampling, an Interactive Preview Renderer, Redshift Live and multi-GPU instances. A buyer who wants a named AI denoiser or assistant should compare OctaneRender or V-Ray. The page does not mention an AI denoiser.
How many GPUs can Redshift use?
The page lists multiple instances on up to 8 GPUs and more on a single computer. It does not state GPU models or minimum system requirements, so verify hardware compatibility with Maxon before buying a multi-GPU machine. The page names neither GPU models nor memory sizes.
What does Maxon do with my data?
Per its privacy page, data is kept as long as needed for the online offering and then deleted unless legal duties apply. It references GDPR alignment, names no certification, and notes that Teams data may be processed outside Switzerland or the EEA.