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CAD · head to head

Arnold vs Fieldwire

Arnold logo

Arnold

CAD

Advanced Monte Carlo ray tracing renderer

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fieldwire logo

Fieldwire

Construction

Field management software for construction teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Fieldwire has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; Fieldwire free tier limited to 5 team members and 3 projects maximum
  • They diverge on capability: Arnold covers Ray tracing, Fieldwire covers Task management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arnold and Fieldwire actually diverge.

Attributes where Arnold and Fieldwire differ
AttributeArnoldFieldwire
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxiOS, Android
CategoryCADConstruction
Founded19982013

Identical on both: 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 Fieldwire

  • Task management
  • Digital blueprints
  • Punch lists
  • Inspections
  • Photo documentation
  • Procore
  • Autodesk BIM 360
  • Box

What people use each for

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

Arnold

  • Film productionnot Fieldwire
  • Animationnot Fieldwire
  • VFXnot Fieldwire

Fieldwire

  • Construction task tracking and field coordinationnot Arnold
  • Punch list management on mobile devicesnot Arnold
  • Project documentation organisationnot Arnold
  • Field team communicationnot 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.

Fieldwire

  • Free tier limited to 5 team members and 3 projects maximum
  • Basic plan limited to 100 sheets
  • Advanced features (RFIs, submittals, change orders, budget management) restricted to higher tiers
  • BIM viewer availability gated to Business tier and above

Pricing, plan by plan

Arnold

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

Fieldwire

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Fieldwire review.

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 Fieldwire if

  • You need task management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want digital blueprints.
Fieldwire review

Questions people ask

Is Arnold or Fieldwire better?
Neither clearly leads. Arnold starts at $29/month and Fieldwire at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arnold or Fieldwire?
Fieldwire has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Arnold and Free for Fieldwire.
Does Arnold or Fieldwire run on more platforms?
Arnold runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. Fieldwire runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Fieldwire for free?
Yes. Fieldwire has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Arnold starts at $29/month.
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 Fieldwire is typically brought in for.
What can Arnold do that Fieldwire cannot?
Arnold covers Ray tracing, GPU rendering, Production shading, OSL. Fieldwire covers Task management, Digital blueprints, Punch lists, Inspections.

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
Fieldwire: Is there a free version of Fieldwire?

Yes. Fieldwire's Basic plan is free for up to 5 users, 3 projects, and 100 sheets. It includes core features like plan viewing, task management, specifications, files, photos, and checklists.

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
Fieldwire: What are the per-user costs for paid Fieldwire plans?

Pro costs $39 per user per month (annual billing), Business costs $64 per user per month, and Business Plus costs $89 per user per month. All paid plans include unlimited sheets and unlimited projects regardless of plan tier.

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
Fieldwire: How many users can I have on a free Fieldwire account?

The Basic plan (free) supports up to 5 users with 3 projects. Pro and higher plans scale without hard user limits; you pay per user added.

Source
Fieldwire: Does Fieldwire offer discounts for annual billing?

The pricing page lists annual billing rates for the standard plans shown. Custom contracts are available through sales with options for unlimited users, tailored training, dedicated success teams, API access, and single sign-on.

Source
Fieldwire: What is included in the Business Plus plan that isn't in lower tiers?

Business Plus ($89/user/month) adds RFIs, submittals, change orders, and budget management features compared to the Business tier. Business itself adds custom forms, app integrations, BIM viewer, and custom task fields compared to Pro.

Source
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