CAD · head to head
V-Ray vs Lumion
The short version
- Each has a real cost: V-Ray licences are subscription only with no perpetual option listed for any product; 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: V-Ray covers Ray tracing, Lumion covers Real-time rendering.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which V-Ray and Lumion actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price ($29/month), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 V-Ray
- Ray tracing
- Global illumination
- GPU rendering
- CPU rendering
- Materials
- Lighting
- VR output
- Scene intelligence
Only in Lumion
- Real-time rendering
- Content library
- Effects
- Video animation
- VR export
- LiveSync
- ArchiCAD
- Vectorworks
Both cover
- SketchUp
- Rhino
- Revit
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
V-Ray
- Photorealistic rendering for architecture and product visualisationnot Lumion
- Real time and ray traced rendering inside CAD and 3D applicationsnot Lumion
Lumion
- Architectural visualizationnot V-Ray
- Client presentationsnot V-Ray
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
V-Ray
- Licences are subscription only with no perpetual option listed for any product
- Subscription terms renew automatically
- Cloud rendering runs on separately purchased credits, with the Pro tier at $25.30 a month for 1,000
- Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales
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
V-Ray
$29/month- V-Ray Solo$60/month
- 1 workstation
- 5 render nodes
- V-Ray Premium$80/month
- Multiple apps
- Cloud credits
Lumion
$29/month- Standard$1499/month
- Core features
- Pro$2999/month
- Full features
- More content
Which should you pick?
Choose V-Ray if
- You need ray tracing.
- You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- You also want global illumination.
Choose Lumion if
- You need real-time rendering.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want content library.
Questions people ask
- Is V-Ray or Lumion better?
- Neither clearly leads. V-Ray starts at $29/month and Lumion at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, V-Ray or Lumion?
- V-Ray starts at $29/month and Lumion at $29/month.
- Does V-Ray or Lumion run on more platforms?
- V-Ray runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. Lumion runs on Windows.
- What is V-Ray best used for?
- V-Ray is most often used for photorealistic rendering for architecture and product visualisation, real time and ray traced rendering inside cad and 3d applications. Of those, photorealistic rendering for architecture and product visualisation and real time and ray traced rendering inside cad and 3d applications are not what Lumion is typically brought in for.
- What can V-Ray do that Lumion cannot?
- V-Ray covers Ray tracing, Global illumination, GPU rendering, CPU rendering. Lumion covers Real-time rendering, Content library, Effects, Video animation. Both handle SketchUp, Rhino, Revit, Windows support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
V-Ray: What is included in Chaos software subscriptions?
All Chaos subscriptions include free support, access to a large community of professionals, continuous updates, and a 14-day money-back guarantee. Annual subscriptions save 45% versus monthly billing. Use of AI credits voids the refund right.
SourceLumion: 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.
SourceV-Ray: Does Chaos offer enterprise pricing?
Yes, Chaos provides enterprise pricing plans for teams with more than 10 licenses. Enterprise customers should contact the Chaos sales team directly for custom pricing quotes tailored to their specific needs.
SourceLumion: 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.
SourceLumion: 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.
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