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3D & CAD · head to head

BricsCAD vs V-Ray

BricsCAD logo

BricsCAD

3D & CAD

DWG-based CAD platform

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
V-Ray logo

V-Ray

3D & CAD

Professional 3D rendering software

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: BricsCAD the Lite edition has no 3D modelling, surveying or point cloud support; V-Ray licences are subscription only with no perpetual option listed for any product
  • They diverge on capability: BricsCAD covers DWG native, V-Ray covers Ray tracing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BricsCAD and V-Ray actually diverge.

Attributes where BricsCAD and V-Ray differ
AttributeBricsCADV-Ray
Pricing modelone-timesubscription
Founded20021997

Identical on both: starting price ($29/month), free tier (No), platforms (Windows, MacOS, Linux), user rating (Not yet rated), category (3D & CAD).

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 BricsCAD

  • DWG native
  • 2D drafting
  • 3D modeling
  • BIM
  • Sheet metal
  • Mechanical
  • LISP support
  • AutoCAD compatible

Only in V-Ray

  • Ray tracing
  • Global illumination
  • GPU rendering
  • CPU rendering
  • Materials
  • Lighting
  • VR output
  • Scene intelligence

Both cover

  • License management
  • Windows support
  • MacOS support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

BricsCAD

  • 2D drafting as a DWG native alternative to AutoCADnot V-Ray
  • 3D mechanical design and assembly modellingnot V-Ray
  • BIM modelling and construction documentationnot V-Ray

V-Ray

  • Photorealistic rendering for architecture and product visualisationnot BricsCAD
  • Real time and ray traced rendering inside CAD and 3D applicationsnot BricsCAD

Where each one falls short

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

BricsCAD

  • The Lite edition has no 3D modelling, surveying or point cloud support
  • Lite is sold as a network licence only with a 5 seat minimum
  • Mechanical excludes BIM tools and BIM excludes mechanical and surveying tools, so cross discipline work needs Ultimate at 1,176 euro
  • Importing 3D geometry and PMI from other CAD systems requires the Communicator add on at 294 euro per year
  • Network licences require the customer to run their own licence server
  • Maintenance is included for the first year only and renewal is a separate annual charge on perpetual licences
  • Listed prices exclude local taxes
  • Bricsys now trades as Octave and the product site has moved to bricscad.octave.com

V-Ray

  • Licences are subscription only with no perpetual option listed for any product
  • Subscription terms renew automatically
  • Cloud rendering runs on separately purchased credits, with the Pro tier at $25.30 a month for 1,000
  • Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales

Pricing, plan by plan

BricsCAD

$29/month
  • Lite$550/month
    • 2D drafting
  • Pro$875/month
    • 2D + 3D
  • Ultimate$1575/month
    • All features

V-Ray

$29/month
  • V-Ray Solo$60/month
    • 1 workstation
    • 5 render nodes
  • V-Ray Premium$80/month
    • Multiple apps
    • Cloud credits

Which should you pick?

Choose BricsCAD if

  • You need dwg native.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want 2d drafting.
BricsCAD review

Choose V-Ray if

  • You need ray tracing.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want global illumination.
V-Ray review

Questions people ask

Is BricsCAD or V-Ray better?
Neither clearly leads. BricsCAD starts at $29/month and V-Ray at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BricsCAD or V-Ray?
BricsCAD starts at $29/month and V-Ray at $29/month.
Does BricsCAD or V-Ray run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, MacOS, Linux, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is BricsCAD best used for?
BricsCAD is most often used for 2d drafting as a dwg native alternative to autocad, 3d mechanical design and assembly modelling, bim modelling and construction documentation. Of those, 2d drafting as a dwg native alternative to autocad and 3d mechanical design and assembly modelling are not what V-Ray is typically brought in for.
What can BricsCAD do that V-Ray cannot?
BricsCAD covers DWG native, 2D drafting, 3D modeling, BIM. V-Ray covers Ray tracing, Global illumination, GPU rendering, CPU rendering. Both handle License management, Windows support, MacOS support, Linux support.
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