CAD · head to head
D5 Render vs SolveSpace
S
SolveSpace
CAD
Open source parametric CAD with a constraint solver in a few megabytes
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: D5 Render windows-only application with no macOS support; SolveSpace the in-house geometry kernel fails on complex boolean operations and fillets, and the failure is sometimes silent bad geometry rather than an error message, so models must be checked before export or manufacture.
- They diverge on capability: D5 Render covers Real-time ray tracing, SolveSpace covers Constraint solver.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which D5 Render and SolveSpace actually diverge.
| Attribute | D5 Render | SolveSpace |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | Open source, no licence fee |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Founded | 2019 | Unknown |
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 SolveSpace
- Constraint solver
- Solid modelling
- Assemblies
- Export formats
- Cross-platform
- Small footprint
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
D5 Render
- Architectural visualizationnot SolveSpace
- Interior rendersnot SolveSpace
SolveSpace
- Designing 3D printed parts on a machine that cannot run mainstream CADnot D5 Render
- Teaching constraint-based parametric modelling without buying licences for a classroomnot D5 Render
- Checking that a mechanical linkage moves as intended before cutting metalnot D5 Render
- Producing dimensionally accurate STEP or STL output from a small open source toolchainnot 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
SolveSpace
- The in-house geometry kernel fails on complex boolean operations and fillets, and the failure is sometimes silent bad geometry rather than an error message, so models must be checked before export or manufacture.
- There is no proper drawing and dimensioning workflow, so manufacturing documentation has to be produced in another application.
- Development is volunteer-led and intermittent; long gaps between releases are normal and there is no support contract available at any price.
- Assembly-level import of external CAD is very limited, so it does not fit a supply chain that exchanges native or assembly-level models with suppliers.
- The interface follows its own conventions rather than mainstream CAD ones, so existing SolidWorks or Fusion users spend time unlearning habits for a tool with a lower ceiling.
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
SolveSpace
Free- SolveSpaceFree
- Full application under the GPL
- No seat limit
- Windows, macOS and Linux builds
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 SolveSpace if
- You need constraint solver.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want solid modelling.
Questions people ask
- Is D5 Render or SolveSpace better?
- Neither clearly leads. D5 Render starts at Free and SolveSpace at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, D5 Render or SolveSpace?
- D5 Render starts at Free and SolveSpace at Free.
- Does D5 Render or SolveSpace run on more platforms?
- D5 Render runs on Windows. SolveSpace runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- 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 SolveSpace is typically brought in for.
- What can D5 Render do that SolveSpace cannot?
- D5 Render covers Real-time ray tracing, GI, Asset library, Video export. SolveSpace covers Constraint solver, Solid modelling, Assemblies, Export formats.
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.
SourceSolveSpace: Is it really free for commercial work?
Yes. It is released under the GPL with no licence fee and no seat limit. Support is community only.
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.
SourceSolveSpace: Can it replace Fusion 360 or SolidWorks?
No. It handles parts and simple assemblies well. Complex geometry, drawings and supply chain interoperability are outside its range.
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.
SolveSpace: What hardware does it need?
Very little. It runs on old laptops and small Linux machines where mainstream CAD will not start.
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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- SolveSpace vs Corona Renderer
- SolveSpace vs Octane Render
- SolveSpace vs Redshift
- SolveSpace vs OnShape
- SolveSpace vs Siemens NX
- SolveSpace vs Arnold
- SolveSpace vs LightWave 3D
- SolveSpace vs 3D-Coat
- SolveSpace vs Alibre Design
- SolveSpace vs Altium 365
- SolveSpace vs Bambu Studio
- SolveSpace vs BricsCAD
- SolveSpace vs CloudCompare
- SolveSpace vs V-Ray
- SolveSpace vs FreeCAD
- SolveSpace vs Creo
- SolveSpace vs IronCAD
- SolveSpace vs OpenSCAD
- SolveSpace vs Zoo
- SolveSpace vs Bentley MicroStation
- SolveSpace vs KiCad
- SolveSpace vs PrusaSlicer
- SolveSpace vs Mudbox
- SolveSpace vs Bentley iTwin Capture Modeler
- SolveSpace vs Carlson Software
- SolveSpace vs CATIA