Light Tracer Render vs Terragen
Light Tracer Render
lighttracer.orgTerragen
planetside.co.ukSide by side
| Figure | Light Tracer Render | Terragen |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $9.99/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 26 |
| Spec score · 3D Rendering Software | 8.1 (#11) | 8.6 (#3) |
| Animation | Users can animate objects, lighting, and camera paths and record physics simulations on a timeline. | Nearly every project parameter can be animated, with keyframes, timeline and curve editors, text keyframe import and command-line frame rendering. |
| Platforms | Native standalone versions are offered for Windows 11 and macOS 15 Sequoia or newer; the web version runs in modern browsers across operating systems. | The current Terragen 4.8.64 download page offers builds for Windows 64-bit and macOS, and the product comparison lists a Linux render node. |
| Purpose | Light Tracer is a physically based 3D rendering tool designed for jewelry and product designers. | Terragen builds, renders, and animates realistic natural environments for landscape visualization, visual effects, and artistic work. |
| Rendering | It uses GPU rendering and hardware ray tracing when available, with software ray tracing as a fallback. | The renderer combines micropolygon and ray tracing methods, is multithreaded, supports command-line execution and network rendering managers. |
| Support | Paid plans include priority email support, and the site links to a Discord community. | Support is provided through licensed-user contact, forums, Discord and the documentation wiki. |
Plans
Light Tracer Render
- 3-Month Plan$9.99 a month
- Monthly Plan$12.99 a month
- Perpetual License$169.99, paid once
Terragen
- Terragen 4 Professional — Indie 50$10 a month
- Terragen 4 Professional — Indie 50$96 a year
- Terragen 4 Professional — Indie 100$16 a month
- Terragen 4 Professional — Indie 100$150 a year
- Terragen 4 Professional — Small Co$27 a month
- Terragen 4 Professional — Small Co$240 a year
- Terragen 4 Professional — Mid Co$42 a month
- Terragen 4 FreeFree
- Professional INDIE 50 monthly$10 a month
- Terragen 4 Professional — INDIE 50$10 a month
In their own words
Light Tracer Render
Light Tracer Render is a physically based 3D rendering tool for jewelry and product designers. It uses GPU rendering and hardware ray tracing when available, with software ray tracing as a fallback. Users can animate objects, lighting, and camera paths, and record physics simulations on a timeline. It imports OBJ, STL, PLY, glTF 2.0, FBX, DAE, 3DM, STEP, IGES, and BREP files. Its cloud library contains over 2,300 PBR materials and 900 HDRI maps, while the web version supports live sharing links and an embeddable real-time viewer.
The listed platforms are Windows 11, macOS 15+, web browsers, iOS, and Android. Downloads require a GPU released after 2015 with an updated driver. Licenses can be installed on multiple computers but used on only one at a time without an additional license. Internet access is needed for license verification at startup and during use. There is no free plan; a 14-day trial is available. The 3-Month Plan costs $9.99 a month, billed every three months.
Terragen
Terragen builds, renders, and animates natural environments for landscape visualization, visual effects, and artistic work. It creates procedural and heightfield terrain, can use real-world terrain data, and adds details such as cliffs and overhangs. Its spherical planetary atmosphere model includes volumetric clouds and fog, multiple scattering, and global illumination. The hybrid renderer combines micropolygon rendering and ray tracing, with support for anti-aliasing, motion blur, depth of field, and render elements. Nearly every project parameter can be animated, and image sequences can be rendered through the interface or command line. Terragen imports 3D objects and camera data, exports terrain as heightfields or geometry in formats including TER, EXR, LWO, OBJ, and FBX, and handles camera data in FBX, Nuke CHAN, and Maya MOV formats. It can also generate HDR environments for lighting in other renderers. Windows and macOS are supported, with Linux render-node support. The free edition is for non-commercial use or 30 days of commercial evaluation, with still renders limited to 1280 × 900. Professional subscriptions start at $10 a month.