Software · head to head
BricsCAD vs Octane Render
The short version
- Each has a real cost: BricsCAD the Lite edition has no 3D modelling, surveying or point cloud support; Octane Render studio+ is limited to 10 render nodes by default
- They diverge on capability: BricsCAD covers DWG native, Octane Render covers GPU rendering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which BricsCAD and Octane Render actually diverge.
| Attribute | BricsCAD | Octane Render |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | one-time | subscription |
| Founded | 2002 | 2008 |
Identical on both: starting price ($29/month), free tier (No), platforms (Windows, MacOS, Linux), 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 BricsCAD
- DWG native
- 2D drafting
- 3D modeling
- BIM
- Sheet metal
- Mechanical
- LISP support
- AutoCAD compatible
Only in Octane Render
- GPU rendering
- Unbiased rendering
- Out-of-core geometry
- AI denoising
- Network rendering
- Blender
- Maya
- Cinema 4D
Both cover
- 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 Octane Render
- 3D mechanical design and assembly modellingnot Octane Render
- BIM modelling and construction documentationnot Octane Render
Octane Render
- GPU accelerated unbiased rendering from Blender, Cinema 4D, Maya or Houdininot BricsCAD
- Network rendering across multiple GPU nodesnot BricsCAD
- Producing photoreal stills and animation for product and archviz worknot 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
Octane Render
- Studio+ is limited to 10 render nodes by default
- Monthly billing costs 23.95 euro per month against 19.99 euro per month on the yearly plan
- Offline USB dongle support is restricted to annual subscriptions and the dongle costs an extra 49 euro
- The offline dongle must be updated every 4 months and blocks access to cloud features
- There is no free tier, only a demo version
- OctaneRender is GPU only, so hardware compatibility must be tested before purchase
Pricing, plan by plan
BricsCAD
$29/month- Lite$550/month
- 2D drafting
- Pro$875/month
- 2D + 3D
- Ultimate$1575/month
- All features
Octane Render
$29/month- Prime$19.99/month
- 1 GPU
- Studio$39.99/month
- 2 GPUs
Which should you pick?
Choose BricsCAD if
- You need dwg native.
- You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- You also want 2d drafting.
Choose Octane Render if
- You need gpu rendering.
- You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- You also want unbiased rendering.
Questions people ask
- Is BricsCAD or Octane Render better?
- Neither clearly leads. BricsCAD starts at $29/month and Octane Render at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, BricsCAD or Octane Render?
- BricsCAD starts at $29/month and Octane Render at $29/month.
- Does BricsCAD or Octane Render 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 Octane Render is typically brought in for.
- What can BricsCAD do that Octane Render cannot?
- BricsCAD covers DWG native, 2D drafting, 3D modeling, BIM. Octane Render covers GPU rendering, Unbiased rendering, Out-of-core geometry, AI denoising. Both handle Windows support, MacOS support, Linux support.
Related pages
More on Octane Render
Keep looking
Other head to heads
- BricsCAD vs Enscape
- BricsCAD vs V-Ray
- BricsCAD vs FreeCAD
- BricsCAD vs KeyShot
- BricsCAD vs Lumion
- BricsCAD vs Houdini
- BricsCAD vs Arnold
- BricsCAD vs Inventor
- BricsCAD vs Mudbox
- BricsCAD vs Corona Renderer
- BricsCAD vs D5 Render
- BricsCAD vs Twinmotion
- BricsCAD vs LightWave 3D
- BricsCAD vs OpenSCAD
- BricsCAD vs PrusaSlicer
- BricsCAD vs Siemens NX
- BricsCAD vs ZBrush
- BricsCAD vs 3D-Coat
- Octane Render vs Enscape
- Octane Render vs V-Ray
- Octane Render vs FreeCAD
- Octane Render vs KeyShot
- Octane Render vs Lumion
- Octane Render vs Houdini
- Octane Render vs Arnold
- Octane Render vs Inventor
- Octane Render vs Mudbox
- Octane Render vs Corona Renderer
- Octane Render vs D5 Render
- Octane Render vs Twinmotion
- Octane Render vs LightWave 3D
- Octane Render vs OpenSCAD
- Octane Render vs PrusaSlicer
- Octane Render vs Siemens NX
- Octane Render vs ZBrush
- Octane Render vs 3D-Coat