Blender is free, open-source 3D creation software covering modeling, sculpting, animation, rendering, VFX, and even video editing in one application.
It's the only major 3D suite with no cost at any tier: full access to Cycles and EEVEE rendering, character rigging, and a Python-scriptable add-on ecosystem that professional studios also rely on. Against paid tools like Cinema 4D, the tradeoff is a steeper interface and a genuinely different keyboard-driven workflow, not fewer capabilities.
Students and freelancers who want professional 3D skills without a subscription, and anyone willing to spend real time on the learning curve; less suited to someone who wants to be productive in their first afternoon.
Completely free forever, including commercial use. There's no paid tier to upgrade to, and support comes from the community (forums, Discord, YouTube) rather than a vendor helpdesk.
