Software · head to head
D5 Render vs Prospect
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; Prospect no longer available as a standalone product; has been discontinued and replaced by other solutions
- They diverge on capability: D5 Render covers Real-time ray tracing, Prospect covers BIM visualization.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which D5 Render and Prospect actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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
- ArchiCAD
- 3ds Max
Only in Prospect
- BIM visualization
- Real-scale viewing
- Collaboration
- Annotations
- Navisworks
- Vr support
- Pc support
- Quest support
Both cover
- SketchUp
- Revit
- Rhino
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
D5 Render
- Architectural visualizationnot Prospect
- Interior rendersnot Prospect
Prospect
- VR Gamingnot D5 Render
- AR Marketingnot D5 Render
- Virtual Trainingnot D5 Render
- 3D Visualizationnot D5 Render
- Immersive Experiencesnot 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
Prospect
- No longer available as a standalone product; has been discontinued and replaced by other solutions
- Acquisition by The Wild in 2021 resulted in product discontinuation and transition to Workshop XR
- No ongoing development, bug fixes, or feature updates since acquisition
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
Prospect
$225/month- Team$350/month
- Multiuser VR collaboration
- Design review tools
- Voice communication
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 Prospect if
- You need bim visualization.
- You work on VR Headsets (Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Meta Quest).
- You also want real-scale viewing.
Questions people ask
- Is D5 Render or Prospect better?
- Neither clearly leads. D5 Render starts at Free and Prospect at $225/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, D5 Render or Prospect?
- D5 Render has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for D5 Render and $225/month for Prospect.
- Does D5 Render or Prospect run on more platforms?
- D5 Render runs on Windows. Prospect runs on VR Headsets (Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Meta Quest).
- Can I use D5 Render for free?
- Yes. D5 Render has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Prospect starts at $225/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 Prospect is typically brought in for.
- What can D5 Render do that Prospect cannot?
- D5 Render covers Real-time ray tracing, GI, Asset library, Video export. Prospect covers BIM visualization, Real-scale viewing, Collaboration, Annotations. Both handle 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.
SourceProspect: What is Prospect by IrisVR?
Prospect was an immersive VR application that converted 3D design files from Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, and Navisworks into virtual reality walkthroughs with one click. It enabled AEC teams to conduct design reviews, collaborate in VR, and present projects to clients immersively.
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.
SourceProspect: Is Prospect still available?
No. Prospect by IrisVR was acquired by The Wild in February 2021 and has been discontinued. Autodesk Workshop XR is now the recommended successor for AEC teams migrating from Prospect.
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.
Prospect: How was Prospect priced?
Prospect's Team plan cost approximately $350 per workstation per month when billed annually. Earlier pricing information from 2020 showed starting prices around $225. Custom enterprise pricing was available.
SourceD5 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.
Prospect: What VR headsets did Prospect support?
Prospect was compatible with major VR headsets including Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and later Meta Quest. Support depended on the runtime and connection method available.
SourceProspect: What was Prospect's biggest advantage?
Prospect's one-click conversion from native design files (Revit, Rhino, SketchUp) into immersive VR experiences was its primary value proposition, enabling non-VR specialists to easily create compelling design reviews and client presentations.
SourceRelated pages
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