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CAD · head to head

Mari vs Vectorworks

Mari logo

Mari

CAD

3D painting for film and games

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vectorworks logo

Vectorworks

CAD

Design software for the AEC industry

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Mari has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Mari the full annual licence is $1,289 paid annually, and a short term quarterly rental is $949 per quarter; Vectorworks pricing not visible on homepage; no rate disclosure in cached vendor content
  • They diverge on capability: Mari covers High-resolution painting, Vectorworks covers BIM modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mari and Vectorworks actually diverge.

Attributes where Mari and Vectorworks differ
AttributeMariVectorworks
Starting priceFree$29/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxWindows, MacOS
Founded19961985

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), 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 Mari

  • High-resolution painting
  • UDIM support
  • Procedural layers
  • Baking
  • Node graph
  • Color management
  • Maya
  • Nuke

Only in Vectorworks

  • BIM modeling
  • 2D/3D design
  • Documentation
  • Rendering
  • GIS integration
  • Entertainment design
  • Landscape tools
  • Lumion

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • MacOS support

What people use each for

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

Mari

  • Painting textures directly onto high complexity 3D assets for film and gamesnot Vectorworks
  • Handling very large multi-UDIM texture sets in a look development pipelinenot Vectorworks

Vectorworks

  • BIM (Building Information Modeling) design for architecture and constructionnot Mari
  • 3D landscape design and site planning with terrain modelingnot Mari
  • Stage lighting and event production design softwarenot Mari
  • CAD architectural drawing and technical documentationnot Mari
  • 2D/3D drafting for interior design and kitchen/bath layoutsnot Mari

Where each one falls short

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

Mari

  • The full annual licence is $1,289 paid annually, and a short term quarterly rental is $949 per quarter
  • The cheap $299 per year or $35 per month subscription is restricted to a single licence for people working alone or in small companies
  • Node-locked and floating are separate licence types you must choose between
  • All listed prices are before applicable taxes
  • A separate non-commercial licence exists, so commercial use requires a paid tier

Vectorworks

  • Pricing not visible on homepage; no rate disclosure in cached vendor content

Pricing, plan by plan

Mari

Free
  • Individual Subscription$86/month
    • Solo artists or small companies
    • $689 per year alternative billing
  • Team Subscription$null/year
    • Node-locked or floating licenses
    • Annual payment
  • Team Rental$949/quarter
    • Short-term access
    • Node-locked or floating licenses

Vectorworks

$29/month
  • Architect$2495/month
    • BIM
    • Architecture tools
  • Landmark$2495/month
    • Landscape design
    • GIS
  • Design Suite$3295/month
    • All modules combined

Which should you pick?

Choose Mari if

  • You need high-resolution painting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want udim support.
Mari review

Choose Vectorworks if

  • You need bim modeling.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS.
  • You also want 2d/3d design.
Vectorworks review

Questions people ask

Is Mari or Vectorworks better?
Neither clearly leads. Mari starts at Free and Vectorworks at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mari or Vectorworks?
Mari has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Mari and $29/month for Vectorworks.
Does Mari or Vectorworks run on more platforms?
Mari runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. Vectorworks runs on Windows, MacOS.
Can I use Mari for free?
Yes. Mari has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Vectorworks starts at $29/month.
What is Mari best used for?
Mari is most often used for painting textures directly onto high complexity 3d assets for film and games, handling very large multi-udim texture sets in a look development pipeline. Of those, painting textures directly onto high complexity 3d assets for film and games and handling very large multi-udim texture sets in a look development pipeline are not what Vectorworks is typically brought in for.
What can Mari do that Vectorworks cannot?
Mari covers High-resolution painting, UDIM support, Procedural layers, Baking. Vectorworks covers BIM modeling, 2D/3D design, Documentation, Rendering. Both handle Windows support, MacOS support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mari: What is Mari's pricing?

Individual Subscription costs $689 per year or $86 per month. Team Subscription costs $1,289 per year. Team Rental costs $949 per quarter for short-term access. Both subscriptions support node-locked or floating licenses.

Source
Vectorworks: How much does Vectorworks cost?

Vectorworks pricing is not displayed on its homepage. The vendor directs users to contact a distributor or reseller for subscription rates.

Source
Mari: Does Mari offer a free trial?

Mari offers a free 30-day trial with unrestricted access to help users evaluate the software before purchasing.

Source
Vectorworks: Does Vectorworks offer a free trial?

Vectorworks directs potential users to contact a distributor to inquire about trial versions. Trial availability is not mentioned on the website.

Source
Mari: Does Mari offer student pricing?

Yes, Mari offers free or discounted access to all Foundry products for students, as well as free non-commercial licenses for learning and exploration.

Source
Vectorworks: What is the cost of Vectorworks training and education?

Vectorworks University offers customizable training through online seminars, regional classes, and onsite sessions, but pricing is not published on the website.

Source
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