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CAD · head to head

nTop vs Rhino 3D

nTop logo

nTop

CAD

Implicit computational design for lattices, heat exchangers and topology-driven parts

From
On request
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: nTop nTop is a specialist tool that sits alongside mainstream CAD rather than replacing it, so you pay for an extra seat and accept a handoff between two geometry systems.; Rhino 3D windows-only for certain features including 3D digitizing hardware support
  • They diverge on capability: nTop covers Implicit modelling, Rhino 3D covers NURBS modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where nTop and Rhino 3D differ
AttributenTopRhino 3D
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteone-time
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, CloudWindows, 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 nTop

  • Implicit modelling
  • Lattice and cellular structures
  • Field-driven design
  • Integrated simulation
  • Reusable workflows
  • Topology optimisation
  • CAD and AM interoperability

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.

nTop

  • Designing a variable-density lattice bracket where mass must drop without losing stiffness in the loaded regionsnot Rhino 3D
  • Generating a heat exchanger with thousands of internal channels that a conventional CAD kernel cannot representnot Rhino 3D
  • Producing patient-specific implant geometry with porous surfaces at scale rather than one at a timenot Rhino 3D
  • Automating a family of parts as a reusable design workflow that reruns when the load case changesnot Rhino 3D

Rhino 3D

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

Where each one falls short

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

nTop

  • nTop is a specialist tool that sits alongside mainstream CAD rather than replacing it, so you pay for an extra seat and accept a handoff between two geometry systems.
  • Implicit modelling requires a different way of thinking from feature-based CAD, and the retraining period is long enough that unused licences are a common and expensive outcome.
  • No pricing is published and there is no free or hobbyist tier, so evaluation runs through a sales process and small teams cannot try it seriously without engaging.
  • Subscription only, with no perpetual licence, means the geometry logic you built stops being editable the day you stop paying, which is a real risk for long-lifecycle aerospace and medical programmes.
  • The output is most valuable when you have additive manufacturing capacity to make it; organisations without machines that can print the geometry end up designing parts nobody can produce.

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

nTop

On request
  • nTop$undefined/year
    • Annual named or floating seat subscription
    • No perpetual licence offered
    • Capability tiers quoted by use case

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 nTop if

  • You need implicit modelling.
  • You work on Windows, Cloud.
  • You also want lattice and cellular structures.
nTop 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 nTop or Rhino 3D better?
Neither clearly leads. nTop starts at On request and Rhino 3D at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, nTop or Rhino 3D?
Rhino 3D has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for nTop and Free for Rhino 3D.
Does nTop or Rhino 3D run on more platforms?
nTop runs on Windows, Cloud. 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. nTop starts at On request.
What is nTop best used for?
nTop is most often used for designing a variable-density lattice bracket where mass must drop without losing stiffness in the loaded regions, generating a heat exchanger with thousands of internal channels that a conventional cad kernel cannot represent, producing patient-specific implant geometry with porous surfaces at scale rather than one at a time, automating a family of parts as a reusable design workflow that reruns when the load case changes. Of those, designing a variable-density lattice bracket where mass must drop without losing stiffness in the loaded regions and generating a heat exchanger with thousands of internal channels that a conventional cad kernel cannot represent are not what Rhino 3D is typically brought in for.
What can nTop do that Rhino 3D cannot?
nTop covers Implicit modelling, Lattice and cellular structures, Field-driven design, Integrated simulation. Rhino 3D covers NURBS modeling, Surface modeling, 3D visualization, Grasshopper.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

nTop: Is nTop the same company as nTopology?

Yes. nTopology rebranded to nTop. The product is the same lineage.

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
nTop: Does it replace SolidWorks or NX?

No. It is used alongside them. Mainstream CAD handles the conventional geometry and assembly; nTop handles the lattice, field-driven and complex internal structure work.

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
nTop: Is there a free version?

No free commercial tier is published. Access runs through a demo and sales process, with academic programmes handled separately.

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
nTop: Can I buy a perpetual licence?

No. It is sold as an annual subscription, so budget it as recurring cost across the life of the programme.

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