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Construction · head to head

Buildertrend vs Rhino 3D

Buildertrend logo

Buildertrend

Construction

Construction project management for home builders and remodelers

From
$199/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rhino 3D logo

Rhino 3D

CAD

3D computer graphics and CAD application

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Rhino 3D has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Buildertrend pricing is by quote only, with no rate, plan name or minimum published on the pricing page; Rhino 3D windows-only for certain features including 3D digitizing hardware support
  • They diverge on capability: Buildertrend covers Project scheduling, Rhino 3D covers NURBS modeling.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Buildertrend and Rhino 3D differ
AttributeBuildertrendRhino 3D
Starting price$199/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows, Mac, iOS
CategoryConstructionCAD
Founded20061980

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 Buildertrend

  • Project scheduling
  • Customer management
  • Financial tracking
  • Selections management
  • Change orders
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero
  • Zillow

Only in Rhino 3D

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

What people use each for

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

Buildertrend

  • Running scheduling, budgets, change orders and client communication for a residential construction businessnot Rhino 3D
  • Giving homeowners a client portal to approve selections and view progressnot Rhino 3D
  • Consolidating estimating, purchase orders and job costing for custom home builders and remodelersnot Rhino 3D

Rhino 3D

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

Where each one falls short

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

Buildertrend

  • Pricing is by quote only, with no rate, plan name or minimum published on the pricing page
  • Getting a price requires completing a multi-step form declaring builder type and annual construction volume, then booking a call with a sales representative
  • The only published discount is 10% off for paying annually upfront

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

Buildertrend

$199/month
  • Essential$499/month
    • Unlimited projects and users
    • Schedule, to-do lists, customer portal
    • Proposals and email marketing
  • Advanced$799/month
    • All Essential features
    • Advanced estimating and change orders
    • Takeoff tool for materials
  • Complete$1099/month
    • All Advanced features
    • Selections and warranty management
    • RFI and cost inbox features
  • Buildertrend Boost$100/month
    • Dedicated setup and account managers
    • Customized onboarding and configuration
    • Personalized coaching and strategic reviews

Rhino 3D

Free
  • EvaluationFree
    • 90-day trial
    • All features included
    • No credit card required
  • Student License$195/mo
    • Perpetual license
    • Support included
    • Service releases
  • Commercial License$995/mo
    • Perpetual license
    • Support included
    • Service releases
  • Student Upgrade$95/mo
    • Perpetual license
    • Requires prior license key
    • Support included

Which should you pick?

Choose Buildertrend if

  • You need project scheduling.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want customer management.
Buildertrend review

Choose Rhino 3D if

  • You need nurbs modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, iOS.
  • You also want surface modeling.
Rhino 3D review

Questions people ask

Is Buildertrend or Rhino 3D better?
Neither clearly leads. Buildertrend starts at $199/month and Rhino 3D at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buildertrend or Rhino 3D?
Rhino 3D has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $199/month for Buildertrend and Free for Rhino 3D.
Does Buildertrend or Rhino 3D run on more platforms?
Buildertrend runs on Web, Ios, Android. Rhino 3D runs on Windows, Mac, iOS.
Can I use Rhino 3D for free?
Yes. Rhino 3D has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Buildertrend starts at $199/month.
What is Buildertrend best used for?
Buildertrend is most often used for running scheduling, budgets, change orders and client communication for a residential construction business, giving homeowners a client portal to approve selections and view progress, consolidating estimating, purchase orders and job costing for custom home builders and remodelers. Of those, running scheduling, budgets, change orders and client communication for a residential construction business and giving homeowners a client portal to approve selections and view progress are not what Rhino 3D is typically brought in for.
What can Buildertrend do that Rhino 3D cannot?
Buildertrend covers Project scheduling, Customer management, Financial tracking, Selections management. Rhino 3D covers NURBS modeling, Surface modeling, 3D visualization, Grasshopper.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Buildertrend: What are Buildertrend's monthly subscription prices?

Buildertrend offers three plans: Essential at $499/month, Advanced at $799/month, and Complete at $1,099/month. All include first-month discounts of $300, reducing starting costs to $199, $499, and $799 respectively.

Source
Rhino 3D: How much does Rhino 3D cost?

Student licenses cost EUR 195, commercial licenses cost EUR 995. Both are perpetual one-time purchases. Upgrades from prior versions cost EUR 95 for students and EUR 595 for commercial users.

Source
Buildertrend: What is Buildertrend Boost and does it cost extra?

Buildertrend Boost is an optional add-on program costing $100 per month. It includes dedicated account managers, customized setup, personalized coaching, and strategic business reviews to help you maximize the platform.

Source
Rhino 3D: Is there a free trial?

Yes, a 90-day evaluation license is available free with no credit card required. Full features are included and commercial use is allowed.

Source
Buildertrend: Does Buildertrend offer discounts for annual billing?

Yes, Buildertrend offers annual pricing discounts. For example, the Essential plan saves $1,799 per year, Advanced saves $2,159 per year, and Complete saves $2,519 per year when billed annually versus monthly.

Source
Rhino 3D: Can Rhino 3D licenses be shared across multiple users?

Commercial versions support floating licenses that can be shared. Student licenses are limited to single-user perpetual licenses. All licenses include support and service releases.

Source
Buildertrend: Are there unlimited users and projects included?

Yes, all Buildertrend plans include unlimited projects and users, allowing you to add employees, subcontractors, and clients at no additional cost per user.

Source
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