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CAD · head to head

KeyShot vs Lumion

KeyShot logo

KeyShot

CAD

Real-time 3D rendering and animation

From
$1299/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Lumion logo

Lumion

CAD

Architectural visualization made easy

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: KeyShot professional plan costs £108.25/month per user; total cost for small teams can be substantial; 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: KeyShot covers Ray tracing, Lumion covers Content library.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KeyShot and Lumion actually diverge.

Attributes where KeyShot and Lumion differ
AttributeKeyShotLumion
Starting price$1299/year$29/month
Founded20031998

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Windows), 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 KeyShot

  • Ray tracing
  • Animation
  • Material library
  • HDR lighting
  • VR output
  • GPU rendering
  • Denoising
  • SolidWorks

Only in Lumion

  • Content library
  • Effects
  • Video animation
  • VR export
  • LiveSync
  • Revit
  • ArchiCAD
  • Vectorworks

Both cover

  • Real-time rendering
  • Rhino
  • SketchUp
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

KeyShot

  • Product rendering and visualisationnot Lumion
  • Real-time ray tracing for design reviewnot Lumion
  • 3D animation and motion graphicsnot Lumion
  • Interactive 3D product presentationsnot Lumion

Lumion

  • Architectural visualizationnot KeyShot
  • Client presentationsnot KeyShot

Where each one falls short

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

KeyShot

  • Professional plan costs £108.25/month per user; total cost for small teams can be substantial
  • 3-year commitment reduces to £3,897 per user, but locks in pricing for extended period
  • Network Rendering, Studio VR, and Cloud Rendering are paid add-ons (£29-£99/month additional)
  • No clear platform support information; likely Windows-only based on CAD tool integrations

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

KeyShot

$1299/year
  • KeyShot Professional$1299/year
    • Non-transferable individual seat license
    • Complete 3D visualization toolkit
    • AI capabilities included
  • KeyShot Business$1599/year
    • Transferable individual seat licenses
    • Centralized seat management
    • Network Rendering options
  • KeyShot Enterprise$null/year
    • Custom billing options and flexible terms
    • Single Sign-On (SSO)
    • Dedicated Customer Success Manager

Lumion

$29/month
  • Standard$1499/month
    • Core features
  • Pro$2999/month
    • Full features
    • More content

Which should you pick?

Choose KeyShot if

  • You need ray tracing.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want animation.
KeyShot review

Choose Lumion if

  • You need content library.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want effects.
Lumion review

Questions people ask

Is KeyShot or Lumion better?
Neither clearly leads. KeyShot starts at $1299/year and Lumion at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KeyShot or Lumion?
KeyShot starts at $1299/year and Lumion at $29/month.
Does KeyShot or Lumion run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is KeyShot best used for?
KeyShot is most often used for product rendering and visualisation, real-time ray tracing for design review, 3d animation and motion graphics, interactive 3d product presentations. Of those, product rendering and visualisation and real-time ray tracing for design review are not what Lumion is typically brought in for.
What can KeyShot do that Lumion cannot?
KeyShot covers Ray tracing, Animation, Material library, HDR lighting. Lumion covers Content library, Effects, Video animation, VR export. Both handle Real-time rendering, Rhino, SketchUp, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

KeyShot: What is the difference between KeyShot Professional and Business licenses?

Professional ($1,299/year) is for individual designers with non-transferable seats. Business ($1,599/year) includes transferable seats, centralized management, and is designed for team use. Professional does not include network rendering options.

Source
Lumion: Where can I find Lumion pricing information?

Specific pricing details are not published on Lumion's public website. Interested customers need to visit the full Lumion website or contact the sales team directly for quotes.

Source
KeyShot: Can I pay monthly for KeyShot instead of annually?

No, KeyShot pricing is structured around annual subscriptions. Professional is $1,299/year ($108.25/month equivalent) and Business is $1,599/year ($133.25/month equivalent). 3-year terms offer lower per-year costs.

Source
Lumion: Does Lumion offer a free trial?

A free trial is available for Lumion, though the specific trial duration and included features are not detailed on the main website.

Source
KeyShot: What add-on costs should I budget for KeyShot Studio VR?

KeyShot Studio VR costs $99/month or $1,188/year separately. Network Rendering is $32/month ($384/year) and NX Plugin is $29/month ($348/year).

Source
Lumion: What is Lumion's licensing model?

Lumion is a commercial software product for architects and 3D rendering professionals. Licensing details and purchase options require contacting the sales team directly.

Source
KeyShot: Is educational pricing available for KeyShot?

Yes, KeyShot offers EDU tier licensing for eligible students and faculty at $95/year, providing access to identical core features and AI capabilities as paid plans.

Source
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