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CAD · head to head

V-Ray vs Redshift

V-Ray logo

V-Ray

CAD

Professional 3D rendering software

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Redshift logo

Redshift

CAD

World's first fully GPU-accelerated biased renderer

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: V-Ray licences are subscription only with no perpetual option listed for any product; Redshift no specific pricing amounts published on product page
  • They diverge on capability: V-Ray covers Ray tracing, Redshift covers Out-of-core rendering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which V-Ray and Redshift actually diverge.

Attributes where V-Ray and Redshift differ
AttributeV-RayRedshift
Founded19972014

Identical on both: starting price ($29/month), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Windows, MacOS, Linux), 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
  • CPU rendering
  • Materials
  • Lighting
  • VR output
  • Scene intelligence
  • SketchUp

Only in Redshift

  • Out-of-core rendering
  • Proxy system
  • AOVs
  • Motion blur
  • Production shading
  • Houdini
  • Maxon account
  • Floating licenses

Both cover

  • GPU rendering
  • 3ds Max
  • Maya
  • Cinema 4D
  • Blender
  • Windows support
  • MacOS support
  • Linux 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 Redshift
  • Real time and ray traced rendering inside CAD and 3D applicationsnot Redshift

Redshift

  • 3D rendering and visualizationnot V-Ray
  • GPU-accelerated ray tracingnot V-Ray
  • Multi-GPU rendering up to 8 GPUs per machinenot 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

Redshift

  • No specific pricing amounts published on product page
  • Only 14-day free trial duration mentioned; no longer-term free tier
  • Must contact sales team for subscription cost details

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

Redshift

$29/month
  • Redshift$45/month
    • Full GPU rendering
  • Maxon One$149.91/month
    • Redshift + C4D + ZBrush

Which should you pick?

Choose V-Ray if

  • You need ray tracing.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want global illumination.
V-Ray review

Choose Redshift if

  • You need out-of-core rendering.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want proxy system.
Redshift review

Questions people ask

Is V-Ray or Redshift better?
Neither clearly leads. V-Ray starts at $29/month and Redshift at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, V-Ray or Redshift?
V-Ray starts at $29/month and Redshift at $29/month.
Does V-Ray or Redshift run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, MacOS, Linux, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Redshift is typically brought in for.
What can V-Ray do that Redshift cannot?
V-Ray covers Ray tracing, Global illumination, CPU rendering, Materials. Redshift covers Out-of-core rendering, Proxy system, AOVs, Motion blur. Both handle GPU rendering, 3ds Max, Maya, Cinema 4D.

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.

Source
Redshift: What is included with a Redshift subscription?

Redshift Subscription includes all integration plugins and capability for multiple instances up to 8 GPUs on a single computer. Specific features beyond rendering engine not detailed in public pricing documentation.

Source
V-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.

Source
Redshift: How long is the Redshift trial period?

Redshift offers a 14-day free trial for users to evaluate the software before purchase commitment.

Source
Redshift: Where can I find Redshift pricing details?

Specific pricing is available through Redshift store access or by contacting the sales team directly. Pricing amounts are not listed on the public product page.

Source
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