Kerf vs Rhino 3D
Kerf
vulos.orgRhino 3D
rhino3d.comSide by side
| Figure | Kerf | Rhino 3D |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $95/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 14 |
| Spec score · Jewelry Design Software | 8.6 (#3) | 8.8 (#2) |
| Documentation | The documentation site contains getting-started, installation, configuration, architecture, file-format, domain, API, SDK, plugin and deployment sections. | McNeel provides online and offline Rhino help, context-sensitive command help, learning materials and a dedicated developer documentation site. |
| Maker | Kerf is part of the Vulos open-source software organization. | Robert McNeel & Associates, also identified as TLM, Inc., is privately held and employee-owned and was founded in 1980. |
| Parametric modeling | Feature operations include pads, pockets, revolves, fillets, chamfers, shells, holes, patterns, sweeps and lofts. | Yes |
| System requirements | Source development requires Python 3.11 or newer and Node 22 or newer. | Rhino 8 supports Windows 10/11 and macOS 12.4 through macOS 27, with at least 8 GB RAM recommended; Linux and Windows Server are unsupported for the desktop app. |
| What it does | Kerf is a locally run CAD system combining parametric modeling, drawings, simulation, CAM, electronics, BIM and manufacturing workflows. | Rhino is a 3D CAD application for creating, editing, analyzing, documenting, rendering, animating and translating NURBS, SubD, point-cloud and mesh geometry. |
Plans
Rhino 3D
- Commercial — Rhino 8 single concurrent user$995 a month
- Commercial — Rhino 8, 10 concurrent users$9,950 a month
- Commercial — Rhino 8, 50 concurrent users$49,750 a month
- Commercial upgrade — Rhino 8 single concurrent user$595 a month
- Student or faculty — Rhino 8 single user$195 a month
- Student or faculty upgrade — Rhino 8 single user$95 a month
- School — Rhino 8, 30-user lab$975 a month
- EvaluationFree
- Rhino 8 EvaluationFree
- Rhino 8 Educational Single User$195, paid once
In their own words
Kerf
Kerf is a free, open-source CAD workspace that runs on the user's own machine and supports work across 37 engineering domains. Users can describe design changes in plain language or use the Python kerf-sdk and JSON-RPC API. Mechanical design tools include constraint-based sketching, parametric feature history, validated B-rep geometry, drawings, and persistent face references. The workspace also includes FEM analysis, topology optimization, SPICE and RF analysis, CAM toolpaths, and G-code output. Listed outputs include STEP, STL, 3MF, IFC4, Gerber, PDF, DXF, BOM CSV, Touchstone, GDS-II, and firmware binaries. The site describes workflows for mechanical and electronics engineers, BIM architects, jewelry designers, and other engineering users. Kerf runs locally without accounts and keeps Git history for file revisions. Workshop content can be used offline once pinned. Installation options include source or Docker, with release archives listed for macOS arm64, macOS x64, and Linux x64; source installation requires Python 3.11 or later. The chat workflow can use a bring-your-own LLM; no bundled model or paid hosted plan is listed.
Rhino 3D
Rhino 3D is desktop software for Windows and macOS with listed capabilities for parametric modeling, animation, rendering, and 3D print export. The commercial Rhino 8 single concurrent-user license is listed at $995 a month, billed as a permanent license that does not expire. Licenses for 10 and 50 concurrent users are listed at $9,950 a month and $49,750 a month, respectively, also as permanent licenses. Student or faculty and school options are listed, with educational-status or school-licensing requirements. Commercial and student or faculty upgrade options are available, though evaluation versions cannot be upgraded. A free evaluation license costs nothing and lasts 90 days; saving and plugins stop working after that period. The listing describes Rhino 3D as paid while also indicating a free plan and free trial. Its maker is listed as founded in 1980 and based in Seattle, Washington, USA.