Softwr

Software · head to head

CryEngine vs KeyShot

CryEngine logo

CryEngine

Software

Build worlds, break limits. Professional game development engine.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
KeyShot logo

KeyShot

Software

Real-time 3D rendering and animation

From
$108.25/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CryEngine has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CryEngine a royalty of 5% of Gross Receipts is payable to Crytek on every game built with CRYENGINE; KeyShot professional plan costs £108.25/month per user; total cost for small teams can be substantial
  • They diverge on capability: CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, KeyShot covers Real-time rendering.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CryEngine and KeyShot actually diverge.

Attributes where CryEngine and KeyShot differ
AttributeCryEngineKeyShot
Starting priceFree$108.25/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Playstation, Xbox, LinuxWindows
Founded19992003

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 CryEngine

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

Only in KeyShot

  • Real-time rendering
  • Ray tracing
  • Animation
  • Material library
  • HDR lighting
  • VR output
  • GPU rendering
  • Denoising

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

CryEngine

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

KeyShot

  • Product rendering and visualisationnot CryEngine
  • Real-time ray tracing for design reviewnot CryEngine
  • 3D animation and motion graphicsnot CryEngine
  • Interactive 3D product presentationsnot CryEngine

Where each one falls short

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

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

KeyShot

  • Professional plan costs £108.25/month per user; total cost for small teams can be substantial
  • 3-year commitment reduces to £3,897 per user, but locks in pricing for extended period
  • Network Rendering, Studio VR, and Cloud Rendering are paid add-ons (£29-£99/month additional)
  • No clear platform support information; likely Windows-only based on CAD tool integrations

Pricing, plan by plan

CryEngine

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

KeyShot

$108.25/month

No published plan breakdown. See the KeyShot review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose KeyShot if

  • You need real-time rendering.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want ray tracing.
KeyShot review

Questions people ask

Is CryEngine or KeyShot better?
Neither clearly leads. CryEngine starts at Free and KeyShot at $108.25/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CryEngine or KeyShot?
CryEngine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CryEngine and $108.25/month for KeyShot.
Does CryEngine or KeyShot run on more platforms?
CryEngine runs on Windows, Playstation, Xbox, Linux. KeyShot runs on Windows.
Can I use CryEngine for free?
Yes. CryEngine has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. KeyShot starts at $108.25/month.
What is CryEngine best used for?
CryEngine is most often used for building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illumination, developing with full engine source code access, sandbox based level design with what you see is what you get export. Of those, building photorealistic first person and open world games with real time global illumination and developing with full engine source code access are not what KeyShot is typically brought in for.
What can CryEngine do that KeyShot cannot?
CryEngine covers Advanced graphics, Physics engine, AI system, Animation tools. KeyShot covers Real-time rendering, Ray tracing, Animation, Material library. Both handle Windows support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on CryEngine

More on KeyShot

Keep looking

Other head to heads