Overview

Rhino brings modeling and several tools for developing and presenting models into one desktop product. Its permanent commercial licenses can suit individuals and organizations that want a license that does not expire; concurrent-user options cover teams as well as solo buyers. It is a less natural fit for anyone seeking a lasting free version or a low-cost way to evaluate the full product, since the evaluation is limited to 90 days.

Key features

Parametric modeling: Supports parameter-driven modeling, making Rhino relevant to users whose work depends on that approach as well as general 3D modeling.
Animation and rendering: Animation tools and a render engine let users develop and present models within the same software.
3D-print export: Export support gives Rhino a place in workflows that take models toward 3D printing.

Pricing

Commercial Rhino 8 licenses are permanent and do not expire. The single concurrent-user license costs 995.00 USD per month, billed as a permanent license, and suits an individual commercial user. The 10-concurrent-user option costs 9950.00 USD per month, while the 50-user option costs 49750.00 USD per month; both retain permanent licensing while scaling the permitted concurrent users for larger groups.

Commercial upgrades cost 595.00 USD per month for one concurrent user, but evaluation versions cannot be upgraded. Students and faculty can choose a single-user license for 195.00 USD per month with proof of educational status, or a single-user upgrade for 95.00 USD per month with a prior-version license key. Schools can license a 30-user lab for 975.00 USD per month, with proof of status required. These lower educational prices come with eligibility or prior-license conditions.

The Evaluation option is free for 90 days. After that, saving and plugins stop working, so it is useful for a time-limited assessment but not as an ongoing free license. Rhino's pricing model is paid; its free option is an evaluation, not a permanent free plan.

Platforms

Rhino is desktop software for Windows and macOS. That suits users working on either platform, but not those who need a listed mobile or web version.

Who it's for

Rhino is a strong candidate for designers and makers who need parametric modeling, animation, rendering, and 3D-print export together, and for teams that can make use of permanent multi-user licensing. Students, faculty, and schools should compare the educational options, while buyers uncertain about committing should use the 90-day evaluation with its post-trial limits in mind. Those who need ongoing free access or another platform should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

Pro: Permanent commercial licenses do not expire, avoiding a recurring license term.
Pro: Commercial tiers span one, 10, and 50 concurrent users, with a separate 30-user school lab option.
Pro: Parametric modeling, animation, rendering, and 3D-print export address several stages of 3D work in one desktop product.
Con: The single-user commercial license costs 995.00 USD per month, a substantial commitment for an individual buyer.
Con: The free evaluation lasts only 90 days; saving and plugins stop working afterward.
Con: The desktop platform range is limited to Windows and macOS.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse 3D CAD Software, Jewelry Design Software, 3D modeling software, and CAD software.

SOLIDWORKS may suit buyers who prefer its freemium model and want a yearly option; its Design Standard with Cloud Services costs 2820.00 USD per year.
Onshape is worth considering for mobile or web access and a free non-commercial plan, with documents publicly accessible on that plan.
Shapr3D offers a free Basic plan capped at two projects, or a Pro plan at 299.00 USD per year, and runs on macOS and Windows.
Autodesk Inventor is another paid option for Windows with a free trial; its listed choices include monthly subscription and 24-hour Flex access.
OwlCAD may appeal to users seeking a free-forever option with commercial rights, parametric editing, and broad import/export support across Linux, macOS, web, and Windows.
Creo is another paid alternative, with a floating-license option for organizational users.
AVEVA E3D Design is another paid option, with an enterprise plan for contracts spanning three years or more.
nanoCAD may suit Windows users looking for freemium 2D/3D drafting with native DWG support; its Platform plan costs 289.00 USD per year.

Verdict

Choose Rhino if you need its combination of parametric modeling, animation, rendering, and 3D-print export, and value a permanent commercial license or multi-user tiers. Its main reason to look elsewhere is the high commercial cost; the evaluation can help with a short-term decision, but it is not a substitute for ongoing free use.

	LightWave 3D	Rhino 3D
Free plan	No	Yes
Free trial	Yes	Yes
Paid from	£450/mo	$95/mo
Platforms	macOS, Windows	Windows, macOS
Free plan	No	No
Physics simulation	Yes
Motion capture	Yes
Procedural motion	Yes
Facial animation	Yes
Crowd animation	Yes
Platform access		desktop
Animation tools		Yes
Parametric modeling		Yes
Render engine		both
3D print export		Yes

LightWave 3D vs Rhino 3D

LightWave 3D

Rhino 3D