Rhinoceros Alternatives

Rhinoceros is described as 'Rhino can create, edit, analyze, document, render, animate, and translate NURBS curves, surfaces, and solids, point clouds, and polygon meshes. There are no limits on complexity, degree, or size beyond those of your hardware'* and is a 3D Modeler in the photos & graphics category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Rhinoceros for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, PortableApps.com and Haiku. The best alternative is Blender, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Rhinoceros are FreeCAD, SketchUp, Autodesk Maya and Autodesk 3ds Max.

Rhinoceros alternatives are mainly 3D Modelers but may also be CAD Software or 3D Painting Apps. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Rhinoceros.

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Rhinoceros

Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler

Mac
Windows

Rhino can create, edit, analyze, document, render, animate, and translate NURBS* curves, surfaces, and solids, point...

Learn more about Rhinoceros

Blender
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
3D Modeler
VFX Software
Video Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
Haiku
Steam
Flathub
Flatpak
149 alternatives to Blender
Blender is the free and open-source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, video editing, and motion tracking.
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Blender Features
1. 3D SculptingBlender offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
2. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Blender, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
3. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsBlender can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
4. Animation RiggingBlender supports bone structures to manipulate a 3D model like a puppet for animation.
5. Physically-Based RenderingPrecise rendering method for Blender to represent of how light interacts with material properties.
6. Ad-freeBlender doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
7. Node BasedBlender supports node editing, a form of visual programming that gives you full control over the rendering.
8. Motion CaptureYou can capture and modify/animate faces, gestures, movements or objects within the Blender.
9. Parametric ModelingBlender can change the shape of model geometry as soon as the dimension value is modified.
Real time rendering
Compositor
Community-based
Texturing
3D Renderer
Grease Pencil
Texture painting
2D and 3D physics
Rendering
Low memory usage
Blender vs Rhinoceros opinions
Almost everyone thinks Blender is a great alternative to Rhinoceros.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Guest
Can't stop laughing. As NURBS was the main concern ("don't use for real life" posted anypoop) and is now fully integrated, what else but snobbery could keep easy-payers wasting money on a proprietary software?
Top positive comment•
1

Guest
Except the interfarce to control Dimensions, Blender can do everything that Rhino can do + Blender renders life like + Blender functions similar to T spline
Top positive comment•
-1

Guest
Its not a NURBS modeling software
Top negative comment•
2

troymc
Blender does support NURBS now, but that's not the default.
Comment•
0

Guest
Blender is a good tool, but it's not based on nurbs surface. I think it only should be used for media creation(game, video footage, movies...), not design product or industrial thing. (NEVER USE this tool for design something have to came out real life)
Negative comment•
-7

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FreeCAD
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
CAD Software
3D Modeler
Interior Design App
Mac
Windows
Linux
Online
BSD
PortableApps.com
103 alternatives to FreeCAD
FreeCAD is a general purpose parametric 3D CAD modeler. The development is completely Open Source (LGPL License). FreeCAD is aimed directly at mechanical engineering and product design but also fits in a wider range of uses around engineering, such as architecture or other...
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FreeCAD Features
1. Parametric ModelingFreeCAD can change the shape of model geometry as soon as the dimension value is modified.
2. Procedural ModelingFreeCAD can create or modify 3D models and textures based on a sequence of rules.
3. PortableFreeCAD can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Drawing 2D
FEM
DWG support
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
3d Drawing
Windows XP Compatibility
Parametric
Bim
Portable Linux
FreeCAD vs Rhinoceros opinions
SketchUp
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
3D Modeler
Interior Design App
Mac
Windows
Online
167 alternatives to SketchUp
SketchUp (formerly Google Sketchup) is a 3D modeling computer program for a wide range of drawing applications such as architectural, interior design, civil and mechanical engineering, film, and video game design—and available in a freeware version, SketchUp Make, and a paid...
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SketchUp Features
3d sketching
Built-in 3D model viewer
Pencil
3d Drawing
Cabinet design
Image to 3D
Mechanical Design
Browser-based
SketchUp vs Rhinoceros opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
Both are used for say interior/exterior design and both have v-ray render plugin (separate buy)
Positive comment•
1
Autodesk Maya
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
VFX Software
3D Animator
Mac
Windows
Linux
70 alternatives to Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Maya software is a powerful, integrated 3D modeling, animation, visual effects, and rendering solution.
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Autodesk Maya Features
1. 3D SculptingAutodesk Maya offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
2. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Autodesk Maya, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
Texturing
Cross-Platform
Autodesk 3ds Max
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
Windows
89 alternatives to Autodesk 3ds Max
3D modeling and rendering software for design visualization, games, and animations.
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Autodesk 3ds Max Features
1. Parametric ModelingAutodesk 3ds Max can change the shape of model geometry as soon as the dimension value is modified.
2. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Autodesk 3ds Max, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
Splines
Bones
Autodesk 3ds Max vs Rhinoceros opinions
SOLIDWORKS
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
CAD Software
3D Modeler
Windows
95 alternatives to SOLIDWORKS
SOLIDWORKS is a leading 3D CAD software for design, analysis and product data management. SOLIDWORKS solutions can help boost productivity, harness intelligence, foster innovation, and facilitate collaboration.
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SOLIDWORKS Features
1. Parametric ModelingSOLIDWORKS can change the shape of model geometry as soon as the dimension value is modified.
Easy Measurements
3D design
Drawing 2D
Cinema 4D
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
Mac
Windows
52 alternatives to Cinema 4D
CINEMA 4D is a commercial, cross-platform, high-end 3-D graphics application, produced by MAXON Computer GmbH of Friedrichsdorf, Germany. Noted for its flexible interface and ease of use, it is capable of procedural and polygonal/subd modelling, animating, lighting, texturing...
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Cinema 4D Features
1. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Cinema 4D, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
2. Support for scriptingCinema 4D supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
3. Procedural ModelingCinema 4D can create or modify 3D models and textures based on a sequence of rules.
Rendering
MoI - Moment of Inspiration
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
CAD Software
3D Modeler
Mac
Windows
19 alternatives to MoI - Moment of Inspiration
MoI’s sleek intuitive UI blends a fluid easy workflow with powerful tools, making it the perfect choice for someone who has been frustrated with the complexity of existing CAD tools.
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MoI - Moment of Inspiration Features
1. LightweightMoI - Moment of Inspiration consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
MoI - Moment of Inspiration vs Rhinoceros opinions
Almost everyone thinks MoI - Moment of Inspiration is a great alternative to Rhinoceros.
Guest
MoI uses the same 3dm file as rhino and NURBS design. The UI is easier to navigate so you do not have to spend ages looking for the right command, moreover it can be easily customized. You can add shortcuts and run scripts if you need additional features and use the forum to get any help you might need. I used rhino since version 2.0 but prefer Moi because is more design focused. It does not have an internal render engine, but there are plenty available nowadays.
Positive comment•
0
Bforartists
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Windows
Linux
Haiku
AmigaOS
MorphOS
78 alternatives to Bforartists
Bforartists is a complete 3D suite to create 3D content. It offers you the full 3D art pipeline to create game graphics, prerendered movies and stills.
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Bforartists Features
1. Motion CaptureYou can capture and modify/animate faces, gestures, movements or objects within the Bforartists.
2. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in Bforartists, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
3. LightweightBforartists consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. 3D SculptingBforartists offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
Rendering
Non linear editor
Customizable
HD-Rendering
Rendering with graphics card
Compositor
Texture painting
Texturing
MODO
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
3D Modeler
3D Painting App
Mac
Windows
Linux
104 alternatives to MODO
MODO is a fully featured 3D content creation application, famous primarily for it's modelling capabilities, MODO also offers a fast renderer, sculpting, painting, dynamics and animation tools.
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MODO Features
1. 3D SculptingMODO offers tools to push, pull, smooth, grab or pinch to manipulate a 3D model.
2. Support for scriptingMODO supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
3. Physically-Based RenderingPrecise rendering method for MODO to represent of how light interacts with material properties.
4. Keyframe AnimationCompositions can be keyframed in MODO, allowing you to change the parameters over time.
Texturing
Rendering