Software · head to head
Vectorworks vs Mari
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.; Mari the full annual licence is $1,289 paid annually, and a short term quarterly rental is $949 per quarter
- They diverge on capability: Vectorworks covers BIM modeling, Mari covers High-resolution painting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Vectorworks and Mari actually diverge.
| Attribute | Vectorworks | Mari |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, MacOS | Windows, MacOS, Linux |
| Founded | 1985 | 1996 |
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 Mari
- High-resolution painting
- UDIM support
- Procedural layers
- Baking
- Node graph
- Color management
- Maya
- Nuke
Both cover
- Windows support
- MacOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Vectorworks
- Building designnot Mari
- Landscape designnot Mari
- Stage designnot Mari
Mari
- Painting textures directly onto high complexity 3D assets for film and gamesnot Vectorworks
- Handling very large multi-UDIM texture sets in a look development pipelinenot 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.
Mari
- The full annual licence is $1,289 paid annually, and a short term quarterly rental is $949 per quarter
- The cheap $299 per year or $35 per month subscription is restricted to a single licence for people working alone or in small companies
- Node-locked and floating are separate licence types you must choose between
- All listed prices are before applicable taxes
- A separate non-commercial licence exists, so commercial use requires a paid tier
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
Mari
$29/month- Mari$1906/month
- Full features
Which should you pick?
Choose Vectorworks if
- You need bim modeling.
- You work on Windows, MacOS.
- You also want 2d/3d design.
Choose Mari if
- You need high-resolution painting.
- You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
- You also want udim support.
Questions people ask
- Is Vectorworks or Mari better?
- Neither clearly leads. Vectorworks starts at $29/month and Mari at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Vectorworks or Mari?
- Vectorworks starts at $29/month and Mari at $29/month.
- Does Vectorworks or Mari run on more platforms?
- Vectorworks runs on Windows, MacOS. Mari 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 Mari is typically brought in for.
- What can Vectorworks do that Mari cannot?
- Vectorworks covers BIM modeling, 2D/3D design, Documentation, Rendering. Mari covers High-resolution painting, UDIM support, Procedural layers, Baking. Both handle Windows support, MacOS support.