Autodesk Maya Download: Free 30-Day Trial for Animators

Maya is widely used in film, television and game studios for character animation, rigging and visual effects. Unlike many 3D programs, it is available on Linux as well as Windows and macOS, which suits studio pipelines.

What Maya is known for

• Character animation: Advanced rigging, keyframe and graph editors for detailed performances.
• Modelling: Polygon and NURBS modelling for characters, props and environments.
• Simulation: Cloth, hair, fluids and particle effects.
• Rendering: Arnold for Maya is included for high-quality renders.
• Scripting: MEL and Python for custom tools and pipeline automation.

Getting the trial

1. The Download button opens Autodesk’s Maya free-trial page.
2. Sign in with an Autodesk account and complete the form.
3. Download the installer for your operating system.

Autodesk describes the 30-day trial as a chance to explore all capabilities of the latest version. If it expires, it cannot be extended. Supported Linux distributions are listed in Autodesk’s Maya system requirements (Rocky Linux is among them); on Mac, check the requirements for Apple silicon support.

Licences

Maya requires a subscription after the trial. Autodesk also sells Maya Creative, a lower-cost edition for smaller studios. Students and educators can get free one-year access through the Autodesk Education Plan.

For a free alternative to learn animation, try Blender. For motion graphics, Cinema 4D is another common choice.