Software · head to head
Vectorworks vs V-Ray
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Vectorworks the Internet Archive's capture of Vectorworks' products page on 12 December 2019 named seven distinct editions and add-on modules, Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Fundamentals, Designer, Vision, and the Braceworks/ConnectCAD add-ons, each with its own 'Buy Now' link, but no price figure appeared on the page itself.; V-Ray licences are subscription only with no perpetual option listed for any product
- They diverge on capability: Vectorworks covers BIM modeling, V-Ray covers Ray tracing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Vectorworks and V-Ray actually diverge.
| Attribute | Vectorworks | V-Ray |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux |
| Founded | 1985 | 1997 |
Identical on both: starting price ($29/month), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Vectorworks
- BIM modeling
- 2D/3D design
- Documentation
- Rendering
- GIS integration
- Entertainment design
- Landscape tools
- Lumion
Only in V-Ray
- Ray tracing
- Global illumination
- GPU rendering
- CPU rendering
- Materials
- Lighting
- VR output
- Scene intelligence
Both cover
- Cinema 4D
- License management
- Windows support
- MacOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Vectorworks
- Building designnot V-Ray
- Landscape designnot V-Ray
- Stage designnot V-Ray
V-Ray
- Photorealistic rendering for architecture and product visualisationnot Vectorworks
- Real time and ray traced rendering inside CAD and 3D applicationsnot Vectorworks
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Vectorworks
- The Internet Archive's capture of Vectorworks' products page on 12 December 2019 named seven distinct editions and add-on modules, Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Fundamentals, Designer, Vision, and the Braceworks/ConnectCAD add-ons, each with its own 'Buy Now' link, but no price figure appeared on the page itself.
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Vectorworks
$29/month- Architect$2495/month
- BIM
- Architecture tools
- Landmark$2495/month
- Landscape design
- GIS
- Design Suite$3295/month
- All modules combined
V-Ray
$29/month- V-Ray Solo$60/month
- 1 workstation
- 5 render nodes
- V-Ray Premium$80/month
- Multiple apps
- Cloud credits
Which should you pick?
Choose Vectorworks if
- You need bim modeling.
- You work on Windows, MacOS.
- You also want 2d/3d design.
Choose V-Ray if
- You need ray tracing.
- You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- You also want global illumination.
Questions people ask
- Is Vectorworks or V-Ray better?
- Neither clearly leads. Vectorworks starts at $29/month and V-Ray at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Vectorworks or V-Ray?
- Vectorworks starts at $29/month and V-Ray at $29/month.
- Does Vectorworks or V-Ray run on more platforms?
- Vectorworks runs on Windows, MacOS. V-Ray runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- What is Vectorworks best used for?
- Vectorworks is most often used for building design, landscape design, stage design. Of those, building design and landscape design are not what V-Ray is typically brought in for.
- What can Vectorworks do that V-Ray cannot?
- Vectorworks covers BIM modeling, 2D/3D design, Documentation, Rendering. V-Ray covers Ray tracing, Global illumination, GPU rendering, CPU rendering. Both handle Cinema 4D, License management, Windows support, MacOS support.
Related pages
More on Vectorworks
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