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Corona Renderer vs CryEngine

Corona Renderer logo

Corona Renderer

Software

Modern high-performance rendering

From
$414/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
CryEngine logo

CryEngine

Software

Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development engine.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CryEngine has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Corona Renderer plugs into 3ds Max and Cinema 4D only, so it is not available for Blender, Maya or standalone use; CryEngine a royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE
  • They diverge on capability: Corona Renderer covers Unbiased rendering, CryEngine covers Advanced graphics.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Corona Renderer and CryEngine actually diverge.

Attributes where Corona Renderer and CryEngine differ
AttributeCorona RendererCryEngine
Starting price$414/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOSWindows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux
Founded20091999

Identical on both: 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 Corona Renderer

  • Unbiased rendering
  • Interactive rendering
  • LightMix
  • Scatter
  • Materials
  • 3ds Max
  • Cinema 4D
  • License management

Only in CryEngine

  • Advanced graphics
  • Physics engine
  • AI system
  • Animation tools
  • Flow Graph visual scripting
  • C++ and Lua support
  • Entity component system
  • Sandbox editor

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Corona Renderer

  • Photorealistic architectural visualisation rendersnot CryEngine
  • Interior and exterior stills from 3ds Maxnot CryEngine
  • Motion graphics rendering from Cinema 4Dnot CryEngine
  • Rendering with minimal setup thanks to defaults tuned for archviznot CryEngine

CryEngine

  • Building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illuminationnot Corona Renderer
  • Developing with full engine source code accessnot Corona Renderer
  • Sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get exportnot Corona Renderer

Where each one falls short

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

Corona Renderer

  • Plugs into 3ds Max and Cinema 4D only, so it is not available for Blender, Maya or standalone use
  • Sold by subscription rather than perpetual licence, from $414 a year for Corona Solo
  • Asset library access is metered by tier, at 15,000 assets on Solo against 18,500 on Premium
  • AI credits are capped monthly, at 100 on Solo and 500 on Premium
  • Real-time ray tracing through Vantage requires the Corona Collection tier at $994.80 a year

CryEngine

  • A royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE
  • Royalties are waived only on the first USD 5,000.00 of Gross Receipts per year per game
  • Royalties are calculated at source on gross receipts before any publisher or platform deductions, so a developer receiving 70% of USD 100,000 still owes USD 4,750
  • Military projects, gambling, simulation, science, architecture and serious games are excluded from the standard licence and are not covered as Games
  • The licence forbids combining CRYENGINE with code from other game engine providers
  • Supported platforms are limited to those Crytek announces at its sole discretion, listed in the agreement as Windows, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
  • Support is only provided against payment of a separate Support Fee that Crytek may change at its sole discretion
  • Crytek may modify the licence agreement at any time, with the only remedy for disagreement being to stop using CRYENGINE

Pricing, plan by plan

Corona Renderer

$414/year

No published plan breakdown. See the Corona Renderer review.

CryEngine

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full engine access
    • Source code
    • Asset library

Which should you pick?

Choose Corona Renderer if

  • You need unbiased rendering.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want interactive rendering.
Corona Renderer review

Choose CryEngine if

  • You need advanced graphics.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
  • You also want physics engine.
CryEngine review

Questions people ask

Is Corona Renderer or CryEngine better?
Neither clearly leads. Corona Renderer starts at $414/year and CryEngine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Corona Renderer or CryEngine?
CryEngine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $414/year for Corona Renderer and Free for CryEngine.
Does Corona Renderer or CryEngine run on more platforms?
Corona Renderer runs on Windows, macOS. CryEngine runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux.
Can I use CryEngine for free?
Yes. CryEngine has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Corona Renderer starts at $414/year.
What is Corona Renderer best used for?
Corona Renderer is most often used for photorealistic architectural visualisation renders, interior and exterior stills from 3ds max, motion graphics rendering from cinema 4d, rendering with minimal setup thanks to defaults tuned for archviz. Of those, photorealistic architectural visualisation renders and interior and exterior stills from 3ds max are not what CryEngine is typically brought in for.
What can Corona Renderer do that CryEngine cannot?
Corona Renderer covers Unbiased rendering, Interactive rendering, LightMix, Scatter. CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Physics engine, AI system, Animation tools. Both handle Windows support.
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