Softwr

Software · head to head

3D-Coat vs Rhino 3D

3D-Coat logo

3D-Coat

Software

Digital sculpting for game artists

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rhino 3D logo

Rhino 3D

Software

3D computer graphics and CAD application

From
€195/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 3D-Coat split into separate products, so 3DCoatTextura covers texturing only and the full sculpting toolset needs the complete 3DCoat licence; Rhino 3D windows-only for certain features including 3D digitizing hardware support
  • They diverge on capability: 3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Rhino 3D covers NURBS modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3D-Coat and Rhino 3D actually diverge.

Attributes where 3D-Coat and Rhino 3D differ
Attribute3D-CoatRhino 3D
Starting price$29/month€195/one-time
Pricing modelone-timeUnknown
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxWindows, Mac, iOS
Founded20071980

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 3D-Coat

  • Voxel sculpting
  • Surface sculpting
  • Retopology
  • UV mapping
  • Texture painting
  • PBR materials
  • Smart materials
  • Baking

Only in Rhino 3D

  • NURBS modeling
  • Surface modeling
  • 3D visualization
  • Grasshopper
  • Rendering
  • Grasshopper
  • KeyShot
  • V-Ray

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

3D-Coat

  • Voxel sculpting from a digital clay blocknot Rhino 3D
  • Retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshesnot Rhino 3D
  • UV mapping and PBR texturingnot Rhino 3D
  • Preparing print-ready models for 3D printingnot Rhino 3D
  • Node-based material authoring on the GPUnot Rhino 3D

Rhino 3D

  • NURBS-based 3D modelling for product design and engineeringnot 3D-Coat
  • Precision engineering and prototyping (aerospace, automotive, jewellery)not 3D-Coat
  • Generative design with Grasshopper visual programmingnot 3D-Coat
  • Mesh editing and point cloud processingnot 3D-Coat

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

3D-Coat

  • Split into separate products, so 3DCoatTextura covers texturing only and the full sculpting toolset needs the complete 3DCoat licence
  • Pricing is not published on the product pages
  • Licences are sold node-locked or floating, so moving a seat between machines depends on which was bought

Rhino 3D

  • Windows-only for certain features including 3D digitizing hardware support
  • Performance depends on hardware capabilities; complex projects require better equipment
  • Pre-release/Work-in-Progress builds may contain bugs and are not production ready

Pricing, plan by plan

3D-Coat

$29/month
  • Amateur$99/month
    • Non-commercial use
  • Professional$379/month
    • Full commercial license
  • Floating$568/month
    • Network licensing

Rhino 3D

€195/one-time

No published plan breakdown. See the Rhino 3D review.

Which should you pick?

Choose 3D-Coat if

  • You need voxel sculpting.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want surface sculpting.
3D-Coat review

Choose Rhino 3D if

  • You need nurbs modeling.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, iOS.
  • You also want surface modeling.
Rhino 3D review

Questions people ask

Is 3D-Coat or Rhino 3D better?
Neither clearly leads. 3D-Coat starts at $29/month and Rhino 3D at €195/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3D-Coat or Rhino 3D?
3D-Coat starts at $29/month and Rhino 3D at €195/one-time.
Does 3D-Coat or Rhino 3D run on more platforms?
3D-Coat runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. Rhino 3D runs on Windows, Mac, iOS.
What is 3D-Coat best used for?
3D-Coat is most often used for voxel sculpting from a digital clay block, retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshes, uv mapping and pbr texturing, preparing print-ready models for 3d printing. Of those, voxel sculpting from a digital clay block and retopology of high-density sculpts into production meshes are not what Rhino 3D is typically brought in for.
What can 3D-Coat do that Rhino 3D cannot?
3D-Coat covers Voxel sculpting, Surface sculpting, Retopology, UV mapping. Rhino 3D covers NURBS modeling, Surface modeling, 3D visualization, Grasshopper. Both handle Windows support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on 3D-Coat

More on Rhino 3D

Keep looking

Other head to heads