Rhino 3D vs SOLIDWORKS
Rhino 3D
rhino3d.comSOLIDWORKS
solidworks.comSide by side
| Figure | Rhino 3D | SOLIDWORKS |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $95/mo | $4/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 14 | 4 |
| Spec score · 3D modeling software | 9.5 (#1) | 8.9 (#15) |
| Spec score · 3D CAD Software | 9.4 (#1) | 9.1 (#2) |
| Spec score · 3D Design Software | 9.0 (#1) | 8.4 (#15) |
| Spec score · CAD software | 9.2 (#2) | 8.9 (#4) |
| Spec score · Engineering CAD Software | 8.9 (#2) | 8.4 (#7) |
| Spec score · Engineering Design Software | 8.8 (#2) | 8.3 (#8) |
| Spec score · Computer-Aided Design & Manufacturing Software | 9.0 (#2) | 8.4 (#6) |
| Animation tools | Yes | Yes |
| Founded | 1980 | 1993 |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Headquarters | The company lists its Seattle, Washington office at 146 N Canal Street, Suite 320. | Waltham, Massachusetts, USA |
| Parametric modeling | Yes | Yes |
| Platform access | desktop | both |
| 3D print export | Yes | Yes |
| Render engine | both | built-in |
| Support | Support resources include forums, telephone, email, live chat, tutorials, training classes and community sites, with support included in purchase price. | Online purchases include technical support and access to getting-started resources covering installation, onboarding and tutorials. |
| What it does | Rhino is a 3D CAD application for creating, editing, analyzing, documenting, rendering, animating and translating NURBS, SubD, point-cloud and mesh geometry. | Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS Corp. offers 3D software tools for creating, simulating, publishing and managing product data. |
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
SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Design Standard with Cloud Services$2,820 a year
- SOLIDWORKS Design Professional with Cloud Services$3,456 a year
- SOLIDWORKS Design Premium with Cloud Services$4,716 a year
- SOLIDWORKS for Makers$48 a year
In their own words
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.
SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS provides 3D software for creating, simulating, publishing, and managing product data. SOLIDWORKS Design supports parts, assemblies, drawings, sheet-metal, and framing workflows; the portfolio also includes simulation tools for evaluating performance, efficiency, and durability. The installed Design application can work offline. With Cloud Services, it connects to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for collaboration and data management, including sharing and marking up designs and managing revisions. Browser-based xDesign tools provide modeling without a local installation. Standard with Cloud Services costs $2,820 a year for a single machine-locked device, excluding local taxes. Professional costs $3,456 a year and Premium costs $4,716 a year, each for a single user and excluding local taxes. A Makers plan costs $48 a year for personal, non-commercial use, and Design Standard is free for students. The listed platforms include macOS, web, and Windows, though client SOLIDWORKS products list Windows 10 and Windows 11 64-bit support; eDrawings for Mac lists supported macOS releases. Online purchases include support, and orders can be canceled and refunded within 15 days.