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Software · head to head

D5 Render vs Modo

D5 Render logo

D5 Render

Software

Real-time ray tracing renderer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Modo logo

Modo

Software

Creative 3D modeling and rendering

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only D5 Render has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: D5 Render windows-only application with no macOS support; Modo foundry announced on November 7, 2024 that it is winding down development of Modo after the Modo 17.1 release, with no further feature or maintenance releases anticipated
  • They diverge on capability: D5 Render covers Real-time ray tracing, Modo covers Polygon modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which D5 Render and Modo actually diverge.

Attributes where D5 Render and Modo differ
AttributeD5 RenderModo
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindowsWindows, MacOS, Linux
Founded20191996

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 D5 Render

  • Real-time ray tracing
  • GI
  • Asset library
  • Video export
  • LiveSync
  • Geo-location
  • SketchUp
  • Revit

Only in Modo

  • Polygon modeling
  • Subdivision surfaces
  • Sculpting
  • UV tools
  • Procedural modeling
  • Rendering
  • Animation
  • MeshFusion

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

D5 Render

  • Architectural visualizationnot Modo
  • Interior rendersnot Modo

Modo

  • Polygon and subdivision surface modelling for media and entertainment assetsnot D5 Render
  • Look development and rendering of product and character modelsnot D5 Render

Where each one falls short

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

D5 Render

  • Windows-only application with no macOS support
  • Requires dedicated NVIDIA GPU, limiting hardware compatibility
  • Community edition restricted to non-commercial use only
  • Teams plan at USD 75/seat/month becomes expensive for larger organizations

Modo

  • Foundry announced on November 7, 2024 that it is winding down development of Modo after the Modo 17.1 release, with no further feature or maintenance releases anticipated
  • Support continues only until each customer's current contract term expires
  • Foundry does not guarantee that Modo will keep working on future operating system updates because no patches will be issued, and recommends customers migrate to alternative 3D workflows
  • Perpetual licences keep working but receive no further updates, bug fixes or support
  • The Modo forums closed in December 2024 and downloads, docs and the support knowledgebase were committed only until November 2025

Pricing, plan by plan

D5 Render

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Full rendering engine with real-time ray tracing
    • Unlimited projects
    • High-resolution image and panorama output
  • Pro$38/month
    • 16K stills and panoramas
    • 4K video
    • Frame sequence rendering
  • Teams$75/month
    • All Pro features
    • Multi-seat licensing
    • Team collaboration

Modo

$29/month
  • Indie$599/month
    • Full Modo
    • Revenue limit $100K
  • Modo$1898/month
    • Full commercial license

Which should you pick?

Choose D5 Render if

  • You need real-time ray tracing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want gi.
D5 Render review

Choose Modo if

  • You need polygon modeling.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want subdivision surfaces.
Modo review

Questions people ask

Is D5 Render or Modo better?
Neither clearly leads. D5 Render starts at Free and Modo at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, D5 Render or Modo?
D5 Render has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for D5 Render and $29/month for Modo.
Does D5 Render or Modo run on more platforms?
D5 Render runs on Windows. Modo runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
Can I use D5 Render for free?
Yes. D5 Render has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Modo starts at $29/month.
What is D5 Render best used for?
D5 Render is most often used for architectural visualization, interior renders. Of those, architectural visualization and interior renders are not what Modo is typically brought in for.
What can D5 Render do that Modo cannot?
D5 Render covers Real-time ray tracing, GI, Asset library, Video export. Modo covers Polygon modeling, Subdivision surfaces, Sculpting, UV tools. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

D5 Render: What is the pricing for D5 Render Pro?

D5 Render Pro costs USD 38/month or USD 360/year. Annual billing saves 20-21% compared to monthly payments.

Source
D5 Render: Is there a free version of D5 Render?

Yes. D5 Render Community edition is free for non-commercial use. It includes the full rendering engine with real-time ray tracing, unlimited projects, and approximately 2,000 library models and materials.

Source
D5 Render: Does D5 Render work on macOS?

No. D5 Render is a Windows-only application that requires a dedicated NVIDIA GPU. There is no Mac version available.

D5 Render: What are the output resolution capabilities in Pro?

D5 Render Pro supports 16K stills and panoramas, 4K video, frame sequence rendering, and VR output with full Showreel capabilities.

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