Softwr

CAD · head to head

D5 Render vs Rhino 3D

D5 Render logo

D5 Render

CAD

Real-time ray tracing renderer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rhino 3D logo

Rhino 3D

CAD

3D computer graphics and CAD application

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: D5 Render windows-only application with no macOS support; Rhino 3D windows-only for certain features including 3D digitizing hardware support
  • They diverge on capability: D5 Render covers Real-time ray tracing, Rhino 3D covers NURBS modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which D5 Render and Rhino 3D actually diverge.

Attributes where D5 Render and Rhino 3D differ
AttributeD5 RenderRhino 3D
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
PlatformsWindowsWindows, Mac, iOS
Founded20191980

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (CAD).

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 Rhino 3D

  • NURBS modeling
  • Surface modeling
  • 3D visualization
  • Grasshopper
  • Rendering
  • Grasshopper
  • KeyShot
  • V-Ray

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

D5 Render

  • Architectural visualizationnot Rhino 3D
  • Interior rendersnot Rhino 3D

Rhino 3D

  • NURBS-based 3D modelling for product design and engineeringnot D5 Render
  • Precision engineering and prototyping (aerospace, automotive, jewellery)not D5 Render
  • Generative design with Grasshopper visual programmingnot D5 Render
  • Mesh editing and point cloud processingnot 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

Rhino 3D

  • Windows-only for certain features including 3D digitizing hardware support
  • Performance depends on hardware capabilities; complex projects require better equipment
  • Pre-release/Work-in-Progress builds may contain bugs and are not production ready

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

Rhino 3D

Free
  • EvaluationFree
    • 90-day trial
    • All features included
    • No credit card required
  • Student License$195/mo
    • Perpetual license
    • Support included
    • Service releases
  • Commercial License$995/mo
    • Perpetual license
    • Support included
    • Service releases
  • Student Upgrade$95/mo
    • Perpetual license
    • Requires prior license key
    • Support included

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 Rhino 3D if

  • You need nurbs modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, iOS.
  • You also want surface modeling.
Rhino 3D review

Questions people ask

Is D5 Render or Rhino 3D better?
Neither clearly leads. D5 Render starts at Free and Rhino 3D at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, D5 Render or Rhino 3D?
D5 Render starts at Free and Rhino 3D at Free.
Does D5 Render or Rhino 3D run on more platforms?
D5 Render runs on Windows. Rhino 3D runs on Windows, Mac, iOS.
Can I use D5 Render for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Rhino 3D is typically brought in for.
What can D5 Render do that Rhino 3D cannot?
D5 Render covers Real-time ray tracing, GI, Asset library, Video export. Rhino 3D covers NURBS modeling, Surface modeling, 3D visualization, Grasshopper. 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
Rhino 3D: How much does Rhino 3D cost?

Student licenses cost EUR 195, commercial licenses cost EUR 995. Both are perpetual one-time purchases. Upgrades from prior versions cost EUR 95 for students and EUR 595 for commercial users.

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
Rhino 3D: Is there a free trial?

Yes, a 90-day evaluation license is available free with no credit card required. Full features are included and commercial use is allowed.

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.

Rhino 3D: Can Rhino 3D licenses be shared across multiple users?

Commercial versions support floating licenses that can be shared. Student licenses are limited to single-user perpetual licenses. All licenses include support and service releases.

Source
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.

Share

Related pages

More on D5 Render

More on Rhino 3D

Keep looking

Other head to heads