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CAD · head to head

MicroSurvey CAD vs Rhino 3D

MicroSurvey CAD logo

MicroSurvey CAD

CAD

Survey drafting and COGO on an IntelliCAD engine, sold outright rather than by subscription

From
$2945/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Rhino 3D logo

Rhino 3D

CAD

3D computer graphics and CAD application

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Rhino 3D has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: MicroSurvey CAD dWG compatibility is file-level, not feature-level, so Civil 3D corridors, pipe networks and other object-enabled entities do not arrive intact and collaboration with engineering consultants remains awkward; Rhino 3D windows-only for certain features including 3D digitizing hardware support
  • They diverge on capability: MicroSurvey CAD covers Coordinate geometry, Rhino 3D covers NURBS modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MicroSurvey CAD and Rhino 3D actually diverge.

Attributes where MicroSurvey CAD and Rhino 3D differ
AttributeMicroSurvey CADRhino 3D
Starting price$2945/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseone-time
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsWindows, Mac, iOS
FoundedUnknown1980

Identical on both: 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 MicroSurvey CAD

  • Coordinate geometry
  • Traverse adjustment
  • Field data reduction
  • IntelliCAD drafting
  • Legal descriptions
  • Surface and contours
  • Point cloud viewing

Only in Rhino 3D

  • NURBS modeling
  • Surface modeling
  • 3D visualization
  • Grasshopper
  • Rendering
  • Grasshopper
  • KeyShot
  • V-Ray

What people use each for

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

MicroSurvey CAD

  • A boundary surveying practice that wants to reduce field data, adjust the traverse and write the legal description in one packagenot Rhino 3D
  • A firm that refuses to pay an AutoCAD subscription but must deliver DWG files clients can opennot Rhino 3D
  • A survey office standardised on Leica total stations that wants instrument data flowing in without a translation stepnot Rhino 3D
  • A two-person practice with irregular workload that wants to own its software outright rather than lose access if it stops payingnot Rhino 3D

Rhino 3D

  • NURBS-based 3D modelling for product design and engineeringnot MicroSurvey CAD
  • Precision engineering and prototyping (aerospace, automotive, jewellery)not MicroSurvey CAD
  • Generative design with Grasshopper visual programmingnot MicroSurvey CAD
  • Mesh editing and point cloud processingnot MicroSurvey CAD

Where each one falls short

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

MicroSurvey CAD

  • DWG compatibility is file-level, not feature-level, so Civil 3D corridors, pipe networks and other object-enabled entities do not arrive intact and collaboration with engineering consultants remains awkward
  • Only one price is listed publicly, for the floating network licence, and the differences between the Standard, Premium and Ultimate editions are resolved through a reseller conversation rather than a published comparison
  • It is Windows only and the installed base is concentrated in North America, so support, training material and experienced staff are much harder to find elsewhere
  • IntelliCAD lags AutoCAD on newer drawing format features and on third party plug-in availability, so a firm depending on a specific AutoCAD add-in will not find an equivalent
  • MicroSurvey now sits inside Hexagon alongside Leica Geosystems, which means the product competes for investment with a much larger portfolio, and buyers of a perpetual licence should ask about the release cadence commitment before assuming years of updates

Rhino 3D

  • Windows-only for certain features including 3D digitizing hardware support
  • Performance depends on hardware capabilities; complex projects require better equipment
  • Pre-release/Work-in-Progress builds may contain bugs and are not production ready

Pricing, plan by plan

MicroSurvey CAD

$2945/one-time
  • MicroSurvey CAD, floating network licence$2945/one-time
    • Perpetual licence, shared use with no USB dongle
    • Includes one year of maintenance and support
    • Standard, Premium and Ultimate editions differ in included modules
  • Edition upgrades and add-ons$undefined/one-time
    • Premium and Ultimate edition pricing quoted by MicroSurvey or a reseller
    • Point cloud and scanning modules priced separately
    • Reseller pricing varies by region

Rhino 3D

Free
  • EvaluationFree
    • 90-day trial
    • All features included
    • No credit card required
  • Student License$195/mo
    • Perpetual license
    • Support included
    • Service releases
  • Commercial License$995/mo
    • Perpetual license
    • Support included
    • Service releases
  • Student Upgrade$95/mo
    • Perpetual license
    • Requires prior license key
    • Support included

Which should you pick?

Choose MicroSurvey CAD if

  • You need coordinate geometry.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want traverse adjustment.
MicroSurvey CAD review

Choose Rhino 3D if

  • You need nurbs modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, iOS.
  • You also want surface modeling.
Rhino 3D review

Questions people ask

Is MicroSurvey CAD or Rhino 3D better?
Neither clearly leads. MicroSurvey CAD starts at $2945/one-time and Rhino 3D at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MicroSurvey CAD or Rhino 3D?
Rhino 3D has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2945/one-time for MicroSurvey CAD and Free for Rhino 3D.
Does MicroSurvey CAD or Rhino 3D run on more platforms?
MicroSurvey CAD runs on Windows. Rhino 3D runs on Windows, Mac, iOS.
Can I use Rhino 3D for free?
Yes. Rhino 3D has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MicroSurvey CAD starts at $2945/one-time.
What is MicroSurvey CAD best used for?
MicroSurvey CAD is most often used for a boundary surveying practice that wants to reduce field data, adjust the traverse and write the legal description in one package, a firm that refuses to pay an autocad subscription but must deliver dwg files clients can open, a survey office standardised on leica total stations that wants instrument data flowing in without a translation step, a two-person practice with irregular workload that wants to own its software outright rather than lose access if it stops paying. Of those, a boundary surveying practice that wants to reduce field data, adjust the traverse and write the legal description in one package and a firm that refuses to pay an autocad subscription but must deliver dwg files clients can open are not what Rhino 3D is typically brought in for.
What can MicroSurvey CAD do that Rhino 3D cannot?
MicroSurvey CAD covers Coordinate geometry, Traverse adjustment, Field data reduction, IntelliCAD drafting. Rhino 3D covers NURBS modeling, Surface modeling, 3D visualization, Grasshopper.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MicroSurvey CAD: Do I need AutoCAD to run it?

No. It is built on the IntelliCAD engine and reads and writes DWG natively without an Autodesk licence.

Rhino 3D: How much does Rhino 3D cost?

Student licenses cost EUR 195, commercial licenses cost EUR 995. Both are perpetual one-time purchases. Upgrades from prior versions cost EUR 95 for students and EUR 595 for commercial users.

Source
MicroSurvey CAD: Is it a perpetual licence or a subscription?

Perpetual. The listed 2,945 US dollar licence includes one year of maintenance and support, after which maintenance is optional.

Rhino 3D: Is there a free trial?

Yes, a 90-day evaluation license is available free with no credit card required. Full features are included and commercial use is allowed.

Source
MicroSurvey CAD: Who owns MicroSurvey?

Hexagon, the same group that owns Leica Geosystems.

Rhino 3D: Can Rhino 3D licenses be shared across multiple users?

Commercial versions support floating licenses that can be shared. Student licenses are limited to single-user perpetual licenses. All licenses include support and service releases.

Source
MicroSurvey CAD: Will Civil 3D drawings open correctly?

The geometry will. Civil 3D object data such as corridors and pipe networks will not come through as editable objects.

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