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CAD · head to head

Arnold vs CMiC

Arnold logo

Arnold

CAD

Advanced Monte Carlo ray tracing renderer

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CMiC logo

CMiC

Construction

Cloud-based construction management software

From
$300/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Arnold the Internet Archive's capture of Autodesk's Arnold overview page on 30 December 2022 stated a subscription can be installed on up to 3 computers or devices, though only the named user may run it on one machine at a time, and includes access to the 3 previous major versions.; CMiC no specific pricing disclosed on website
  • They diverge on capability: Arnold covers Ray tracing, CMiC covers Project management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arnold and CMiC actually diverge.

Attributes where Arnold and CMiC differ
AttributeArnoldCMiC
Starting price$29/month$300/month
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryCADConstruction
Founded19981985

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Arnold

  • Ray tracing
  • GPU rendering
  • Production shading
  • OSL
  • Denoising
  • Maya
  • 3ds Max
  • Cinema 4D

Only in CMiC

  • Project management
  • Accounting
  • Document management
  • Job costing
  • Field operations
  • QuickBooks
  • Sage
  • Microsoft 365

What people use each for

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

Arnold

  • Film productionnot CMiC
  • Animationnot CMiC
  • VFXnot CMiC

CMiC

  • Insurance and risk managementnot Arnold
  • Professional liability coveragenot Arnold
  • Construction industry insurancenot Arnold

Where each one falls short

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

Arnold

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Autodesk's Arnold overview page on 30 December 2022 stated a subscription can be installed on up to 3 computers or devices, though only the named user may run it on one machine at a time, and includes access to the 3 previous major versions.

CMiC

  • No specific pricing disclosed on website
  • Website directs users to /pricing page for quotes only
  • Custom quoting model used for all customers
  • No tiered plans or standard pricing published

Pricing, plan by plan

Arnold

$29/month
  • Arnold$360/month
    • Standalone renderer

CMiC

$300/month
  • Core$300/month
    • Project management
    • Accounting
    • Document management
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Mobile field app
    • Advanced analytics
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Arnold if

  • You need ray tracing.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want gpu rendering.
Arnold review

Choose CMiC if

  • You need project management.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want accounting.
CMiC review

Questions people ask

Is Arnold or CMiC better?
Neither clearly leads. Arnold starts at $29/month and CMiC at $300/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arnold or CMiC?
Arnold starts at $29/month and CMiC at $300/month.
Does Arnold or CMiC run on more platforms?
Arnold runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. CMiC runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is Arnold best used for?
Arnold is most often used for film production, animation, vfx. Of those, film production and animation are not what CMiC is typically brought in for.
What can Arnold do that CMiC cannot?
Arnold covers Ray tracing, GPU rendering, Production shading, OSL. CMiC covers Project management, Accounting, Document management, Job costing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Arnold: How much does Autodesk Arnold cost?

Autodesk Arnold pricing is not published on the vendor website. Arnold is available through Autodesk subscription plans or standalone licensing. Customers should contact Autodesk directly for pricing quotes.

Source
CMiC: How much does CMiC cost?

CMiC does not publish fixed pricing on its website. The company uses a custom quote model. Interested parties must visit the /pricing page or contact CMiC directly to request a quote for their specific needs.

Source
Arnold: Is Arnold free for educational use?

Yes, Autodesk provides free educational licenses for Arnold to students and educators. Educational access allows learning of professional rendering capabilities at no cost.

Source
CMiC: What is CMiC's pricing model?

CMiC uses a custom enterprise pricing model rather than published tiered plans. All pricing is determined on a case-by-case basis through their sales team.

Source
Arnold: What does Arnold render?

Autodesk Arnold is an industry-standard photorealistic rendering engine used for visual effects, animation, and design visualization. It supports GPU and CPU rendering with advanced features for film, television, and product design.

Source
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