For Houdini, you listed the price for the version used by major VFX studios.
Houdini Indie (with no feature limitations) is only $269 per year, and you can also learn Houdini for free too with Houdini Apprentice (again: no feature limitations).
Independent VFX artists earn well under the $100K/year revenue ceiling for Houdini Indie, so $269/year is their actual "cost."
Houdini Indie (with no feature limitations) is only $269 per year, and you can also learn Houdini for free too with Houdini Apprentice (again: no feature limitations).
Independent VFX artists earn well under the $100K/year revenue ceiling for Houdini Indie, so $269/year is their actual "cost."