Software · head to head
D5 Render vs Lumion
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; Lumion enterprise tier is priced by quote only, labelled Let's talk in the vendor's own pricing data, alongside otherwise self-serve tiers with published dollar and pound figures
- They diverge on capability: D5 Render covers Real-time ray tracing, Lumion covers Real-time rendering.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which D5 Render and Lumion actually diverge.
Identical on both: platforms (Windows), 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
- Geo-location
- 3ds Max
- Account activation
Only in Lumion
- Real-time rendering
- Content library
- Effects
- Video animation
- VR export
- Vectorworks
- License activation
Both cover
- LiveSync
- SketchUp
- Revit
- Rhino
- ArchiCAD
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
D5 Render
- Architectural visualization
- Interior rendersnot Lumion
Lumion
- Architectural visualization
- Client presentationsnot D5 Render
Both are used for architectural visualization, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
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
Lumion
- Enterprise tier is priced by quote only, labelled Let's talk in the vendor's own pricing data, alongside otherwise self-serve tiers with published dollar and pound figures
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
Lumion
$29/month- Standard$1499/month
- Core features
- Pro$2999/month
- Full features
- More content
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.
Choose Lumion if
- You need real-time rendering.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want content library.
Questions people ask
- Is D5 Render or Lumion better?
- Neither clearly leads. D5 Render starts at Free and Lumion at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, D5 Render or Lumion?
- D5 Render has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for D5 Render and $29/month for Lumion.
- Does D5 Render or Lumion run on more platforms?
- Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use D5 Render for free?
- Yes. D5 Render has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Lumion starts at $29/month.
- What is D5 Render best used for?
- D5 Render is most often used for architectural visualization, interior renders. Of those, interior renders is not what Lumion is typically brought in for.
- What can D5 Render do that Lumion cannot?
- D5 Render covers Real-time ray tracing, GI, Asset library, Video export. Lumion covers Real-time rendering, Content library, Effects, Video animation. Both handle LiveSync, SketchUp, Revit, Rhino.
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.
SourceD5 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.
SourceD5 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.