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CAD · head to head

Redshift vs Plasticity

Redshift logo

Redshift

CAD

World's first fully GPU-accelerated biased renderer

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Plasticity logo

Plasticity

CAD

CAD for artists

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Redshift no specific pricing amounts published on product page; Plasticity limited plugin ecosystem compared to Rhino; fewer third-party extensions available
  • They diverge on capability: Redshift covers GPU rendering, Plasticity covers Smooth surface modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Redshift and Plasticity actually diverge.

Attributes where Redshift and Plasticity differ
AttributeRedshiftPlasticity
Starting price$29/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWindows, MacOS, LinuxWindows, macOS, Linux, Ubuntu
Founded20142023

Identical on both: 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 Redshift

  • GPU rendering
  • Out-of-core rendering
  • Proxy system
  • AOVs
  • Motion blur
  • Production shading
  • Maya
  • 3ds Max

Only in Plasticity

  • Smooth surface modeling
  • Fillet operations
  • Boolean operations
  • Mesh export
  • Fast workflow
  • Artist-friendly
  • Game engines
  • License key

Both cover

  • Blender
  • Windows support
  • MacOS support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Redshift

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

Plasticity

  • Concept designnot Redshift
  • Hard surface modelingnot Redshift

Where each one falls short

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

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

Plasticity

  • Limited plugin ecosystem compared to Rhino; fewer third-party extensions available
  • Young product with shorter track record; fewer industry case studies and community resources
  • No parametric history tree; may require different workflow for some users accustomed to feature-based modeling
  • Premium pricing for Indie users despite being positioned as affordable alternative

Pricing, plan by plan

Redshift

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

Plasticity

On request
  • Indie$149/one-time

Which should you pick?

Choose Redshift if

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

Choose Plasticity if

  • You need smooth surface modeling.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Ubuntu.
  • You also want fillet operations.
Plasticity review

Questions people ask

Is Redshift or Plasticity better?
Neither clearly leads. Redshift starts at $29/month and Plasticity at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Redshift or Plasticity?
Redshift starts at $29/month and Plasticity at On request.
Does Redshift or Plasticity run on more platforms?
Redshift runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. Plasticity runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Ubuntu.
What is Redshift best used for?
Redshift is most often used for 3d rendering and visualization, gpu-accelerated ray tracing, multi-gpu rendering up to 8 gpus per machine. Of those, 3d rendering and visualization and gpu-accelerated ray tracing are not what Plasticity is typically brought in for.
What can Redshift do that Plasticity cannot?
Redshift covers GPU rendering, Out-of-core rendering, Proxy system, AOVs. Plasticity covers Smooth surface modeling, Fillet operations, Boolean operations, Mesh export. Both handle Blender, Windows support, MacOS support, Linux support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Plasticity: What is Plasticity designed for?

Plasticity is a NURBS-based 3D modeler designed for concept and product design, prioritizing an artist-friendly workflow over parametric history-based modeling.

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
Plasticity: What platforms does Plasticity support?

Plasticity runs on Windows, macOS (Intel and M-Series), Linux, and Ubuntu using Parasolid's geometric modeling kernel.

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
Plasticity: What is the pricing model for Plasticity?

Plasticity is a one-time purchase: Indie tier costs $149 and Studio tier is available at a higher price point. A 30-day free trial is available.

Source
Plasticity: Does Plasticity integrate with Blender?

Yes. Plasticity includes a Blender Bridge add-on that enables live-linking between Plasticity and Blender, allowing you to preview Plasticity models inside Blender with proper materials and lighting.

Source
Plasticity: What key features distinguish Plasticity from other CAD tools?

Plasticity features streamlined UI with context-sensitive widgets, chordal fillets, key bindings familiar to Blender users, radial menus, Dimension and Measure commands for absolute constraints, and handles complex Boolean operations on dense geometry.

Source
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