15 Best architectural rendering software in 2024 for Windows, macOS, free and paid versions

best architectural rendering software 3D Rendering

3D visualization has changed our approach to architectural design. Gone are the days when professionals had to work with pencils, rulers, complex drawings, and a rich imagination. With 3D rendering technology, they are now able to create realistic images and animations of their projects that accurately convey their vision. This has made it possible to engage clients and investors faster and more effectively, to communicate their ideas, and to identify project failures, big and small before the first brick is laid. 

High-end architectural 3D visualization requires the use of specialized professional software. But how do you know which one will best suit your needs among the many software packages on the market today? To help you in this search, we have compiled a list of the top 15 best 3D architectural rendering software, proven by time and experience. Most of the solutions below are used regularly by our 3D rendering company to work on a variety of architectural projects. Our experts shared their experience and impressions of using these software packages and added a few more architectural rendering programs that you might find useful. The study was conducted in 2024.

Best 3D rendering software for architecture in 2024

AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Lumion… Find out which architecture visualization software is on our list of recommendations for 2024 by looking at the table below. For your convenience, we’ve put key information about each software package in the table, including prices, usage levels, free trials & versions, etc. We have also evaluated each program according to user preferences and ranked them according to the overall rating. To do this, we analyzed user reviews on several specialized platforms, such as G2, GetApp, Capterra, and Software Advice.

NamePriceBest forAvailable onFree trial/
version
Last update/
version
Rating
Chaos Corona $5.40/month
for an Educational
plan; From
$32.90/month for
a Commercial plan
Professionals,
beginners, and
amateurs
Windows,
macOS
Free 30-day
trial; Free
older versions
2023Overall: 4.9
Capterra: 4.9
GetApp: 4.9
Software
Advice: 4.9
G2: 4.7
BlenderFreeProfessionals,
beginners, and
amateurs
Windows,
macOS, Linux
2023Overall: 4.7
Capterra: 4.7
GetApp: 4.7
Software
Advice: 4.7
G2: 4.6
Lumion From $62.42/monthProfessionals,
beginners, and
amateurs
WindowsFree for
students, lecturers, and
academic programs;
Free
14-day  trial
2024Overall: 4.7
Capterra: 4.7
GetApp: 4.7
Software
Advice: 4.7
G2: 4.5
V-RayFrom $34.32/monthProfessionals,
beginners, and
amateurs
Windows,
macOS, Linux
Free 30-day
trial
2023Overall: 4.7
Capterra: 4.7
GetApp: 4.7
Software
Advice: 4.7
G2: 4.5
Unreal EngineFreeProfessionals,
beginners, and
amateurs
Windows,
macOS, Linux, Android, iOS 
2023Overall: 4.7
Capterra: 4.8
GetApp: 4.8
G2: 4.5
3ds Max$235/month;
$1,875/year;
$5,625/3 years
Professionals,
beginners, and
amateurs
WindowsFree 30-day
trial;
Free one-year educational access
2024Overall: 4.6
Capterra: 4.7
GetApp: 4.7
Software
Advice: 4.7
G2: 4.3
Revit$365/month;
$2,910/year;
$8,730/3 years

Professionals
and amateurs
WindowsFree 30-day
trial;
Free one-year educational access
2024Overall: 4.6
Capterra: 4.6
GetApp: 4.6
Software
Advice: 4.6
G2: 4.5
EnscapeFrom $46.90/month licenseProfessionals,
beginners, and
amateurs
Windows, macOSFree 14-day
trial;
Free for
students &
educators
2023Overall: 4.6
Capterra: 4.5
GetApp: 4.5
Software
Advice: 4.5
G2: 4.7
Cinema 4DFrom $116/month
Professionals,
beginners, and
amateurs
Windows, macOS, LinuxFree 14-day  trial2024Overall: 4.6
Capterra: 4.6
GetApp: 4.6
G2: 4.6
Twinmotion$445/year license
Professionals,
beginners, and
amateurs
Windows, macOSFree for
students,
educators, and hobbyists
2023Overall: 4.6
Capterra: 4.5
G2: 4.6
SketchUpFrom $119/year;
$55 /year for students
Professionals,
beginners, and
amateurs
Windows, macOSFree version;
Free
7-day trial
2023Overall: 4.5 Capterra: 4.5
GetApp:4.5
Software
Advice: 4.5
G2: 4.5
Artlantis 720 €/Plus
Package
Professionals
and amateurs
Windows, macOSFree 30-day
trial
2023Overall: 4.2
G2: 4.2
OctaneRender €23.95/month
(billed monthly)
Professionals,
beginners, and
amateurs
Windows, macOS, LinuxFree for personal
& commercial
use
2023Overall: 4.1
G2: 4.1
Maxwell RenderFrom
$595/license
Professionals
and amateurs 
Windows, macOS, LinuxFree 30-day
demo
2023Overall: 3.9
Capterra: 3.8
G2: 3.9
FStormRender$25/monthProfessionals
and amateurs
Windows2024

Below you will find a detailed description of each software with their main pros and cons. We have divided these programs into two categories:

  1. 3D modeling and rendering software;
  2. Rendering engines.

So, read about the leading programs for architects this year and choose the one (or two) that best suit your needs and requirements.

3D modeling and rendering software for architects

Blender

Blender logo render

Price: Free
Best for: Professionals, beginners, and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Last update/version: 2023

4.7
Rating by Applet3D
Capterra
4.7
GetApp
4.7
Software Advice
4.7
G2
4.6

Blender is the best free architectural rendering software and one of the most popular on the market today. It includes features for modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, and real-time interactive 3D playback. Likewise, Blender 3D architecture software also contains a video editing function (sequencer) and a compositing application. Easily integrates 3D elements into real images, including using built-in 3D tracking. This architect rendering software allows you to create high-quality static images and animations. It will not be difficult to design a house or an entire skyscraper.

Useful features complement each other and simplify the process of modeling in architecture and other types of visualization. Thanks to the many useful tools and features, as well as its ease of use, Blender is suitable for both beginner hobbyists and professional designers, and modelers. For those who still have questions, there is always an active online community of program users who will help you figure it out. 

Pros:

  • This architectural rendering software is free and open-source;
  • Has a wide range of functions and tools to quickly create very complex models;
  • There are many keyboard shortcuts for different tasks to make the process easier;
  • A lot of free video tutorials on YouTube and other sites;
  • Free templates to create or use as placeholders;
  • Great support community;
  • Extensive integration of design and rendering tools;
  • A great software for 3D animation.

Cons:

  • Due to its complexity and large number of functions, it may seem difficult for beginners at first;
  • There are the same keyboard shortcuts for different jobs;
  • Does not have a powerful rendering engine compared to well-known 3D animation programs;
  • Can be slow;
  • The interface can be difficult for beginners.

Lumion

Landscaping rendering lumion logo

Price: From $62.42 per month; Free for students, lecturers, and academic programs; Free 14-day  trial
Best for: Professionals, beginners, and amateurs
Available on: Windows
Last update/version: 2024

4.7
Rating by Applet3D
Capterra
4.7
GetApp
4.7
Software Advice
4.7
G2
4.5

Lumion is an architectural visualization software with powerful real-time 3D visualization tools. This architecture renderer is ideal for creating cinematic videos and static scenes of various projects with dynamic environments. Lumion also allows you to do landscape and building rendering quickly. The results are rendered using GPU rendering technology.

Lumion is compatible with all popular programs such as SketchUp, Revit, ArchiCAD, Rhinoceros (LiveSync online synchronization), and 3ds Max. Another advantage of building rendering software is the ability to quickly update the model. Lumion includes a huge library with objects (over 5000), materials, artistic effects, and tools. This 3D architectural rendering software is greatly integrated, so you can add atmosphere, people, trees, lighting, and other content simultaneously for realistic architectural rendering.

Pros:

  • The program is intuitive to use and does not require tutorials or training;
  • Real-time rendering;
  • Allows to create stunning images on low-performance hardware at high speeds;
  • Excellent texture and scene quality;
  • Landscape design and walkthrough rendering features;
  • A wide range of 3d models for furniture, people, plants, etc.

Cons:

  • Limited to Windows only, not available for Mac/Apple devices;
  • Difficult to add lights to the model;
  • A powerful computer is required for the best results;
  • Difficult to navigate between variants of the same model;
  • Difficulties with customization of materials;
  • Problems with the orientation of views/cameras where needed;
  • You need to import your own 3D models from third-party applications rather than create them directly in the program.

Unreal Engine

Ureal logo

Price: Free
Best for: Professionals, beginners, and amateurs
Available on: Windows,macOS, Linux, Android, iOS 
Last update/version: 2023

4.7
Rating by Applet3D
Capterra
4.8
GetApp
4.8
G2
4.5

Unreal Engine offers completely new possibilities for the presentation of architectural objects, and other methods of working with light and materials: realistic lighting, camera spans, and the effect of presence. It is also great free 3D architectural design software. Unreal Engine saves render in a second and allows you to “walk” within the project and interact with objects. To improve 3D building renderings, Unreal Engine suggests adding some interactive elements such as opening and closing doors, music, and various sound and visual effects. 

This free house rendering software also allows the post-processing of finished renders. Unreal Engine 4 supports many post-processing effects: darkening or lightening the edges of the frame, and highlights from bright light sources. Besides, the 3D architectural animation software reproduces the effect of sunlight refraction into the camera lens and gives animated noise, simulating a movie camera. 

Pros:

  • Wonderful graphics;
  • Best software for creating high-end animation;
  • Material editor function;
  • Has a resource store where you can purchase models or tools;
  • Visual programming capability;
  • Excellent tutorials;
  • Constantly updated.

Cons:

  • Learning curve; 
  • Requires powerful hardware; 
  • Can be difficult to use.

 3ds Max

3ds Max logo

Price: $235 per month; $1,875 per year; $5,625 per 3 years; Free 30-day trial; Free one-year educational access
Best for: Professionals, beginners, and amateurs
Available on: Windows
Last update/version: 2024

4.6
Rating by Applet3D
Capterra
4.7
GetApp
4.7
Software Advice
4.7
G2
4.3

3ds Max is considered to be one of the best architecture visualization software on the market. With this architectural rendering program, artists have the tools to create accurate, high-quality architectural designs. This architect rendering software is great both in modeling and animation. 

Advanced modeling, texturing, and lighting functions in 3ds Max create photorealistic images. Built-in 3ds Max rendering tools enable complex detailing. Besides the features needed for architectural renders, 3ds Max has powerful plugins such as V-Ray and Corona Renderer and supports AutoCAD files. This allows you to import existing working drawings, rather than create them from the beginning.

Our company prefers this architectural rendering program for creating building renderings. To meet the requirements of our clients, we always try to keep up with the times and research the market for new advanced technologies. Use our 3D architectural rendering services to take your project to the next level!

Pros:

  • Best for high-quality architectural visualization;
  • A huge community of users;
  • Easy to create complex 3D models and maps;
  • Built-in support for visual effects and animation;
  • A large number of tutorials;
  • Top-notch support from the Autodesk team;
  • Very easy to create animations and mapping materials;
  • Handles very large files well;
  • Very powerful software.

Cons:

  • High price; 
  • Requires high computing power;
  • No preset lighting;
  • Slows down on low-poly objects;
  • The user interface looks outdated and makes it difficult to find important tools and functions;
  • Due to the complexity of the program, it can be difficult to understand all its features.

Revit

Landscaping rendering revit logo

Price: $365 per month; $2,910 per year; $8,730 per 3 years; Free 30-day trial; Free one-year educational access
Best for: Professional and amateurs
Available on: Windows
Last update/version: 2024

4.6
Rating by Applet3D
Capterra
4.6
GetApp
4.6
Software Advice
4.6
G2
4.5

Autodesk Revit is also one of the best rendering software for architects. The house rendering software implements the principle of building information modeling (BIM). It is a powerful tool for building rendering and architectural design. By rendering in Revit, you can create custom objects and model-building elements in 3D. As a house rendering app, Revit provides opportunities for a flat drawing of the structural parts. You also can organize joint work on the project from start to finish. Revit creates 2D projections of an architectural design automatically from a 3D model.

The Revit database can contain information about a project at various stages of a building’s life cycle. The architectural 3D rendering software also has a powerful set of tools and a wide range of textures and patterns. If you are looking for the best 3D architectural rendering software that can do just about anything, Revit is for you.

Pros:

  • Integrated BIM capabilities;
  • Multiple team members can work on the same project file simultaneously;
  • Automatically generates precise schedules, sheets, and annotations directly from the 3D model;
  • Built-in energy and environmental analysis tools;
  • Support for numerous third-party add-ons.

Cons:

  • High price;
  • Steep learning curve;
  • Requires high-performance computing resources;
  • Windows only;
  • Large file sizes.

Enscape

Landscaping rendering Enscape logo

Price: From $46.90 per month license; Free 14-day trial; Free for students & educators
Best for: Professionals, beginners and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS
Last update/version: 2023

4.6
Rating by Applet3D
Capterra
4.5
GetApp
4.5
Software Advice
4.5
G2
4.7

Professional real-time architectural rendering software. Enscape works with SketchUp, Rhino, Revit, and ArchiCAD. Any changes you make to your project will be displayed in real time. This architectural house rendering program offers a wide range of features and tools for creating walkthroughs and 360-degree panoramas. This is a great and fastest way to turn models into immersive 3D objects. It’s also a good option for collaborating on the same project.

A simple and intuitive interface of the program for creating architectural renderings allows you to work without special knowledge. The main advantage of this architecture renderer is the ability to design, visualize, and document at the same time using a single model. There is an extensive library of 3D models (trees, bushes, additional buildings, cars, etc.) ready for use. Floor plans, photorealistic architecture renderings, virtual reality, 3D penetrations, animations, panorama renderings, and real-time 3D renderings are all possible with Enscape.

Pros:

  • Easy to learn and use;
  • Great integration with SketchUp;
  • Excellent visualization quality;
  • Rendering in real-time;
  • Compatible with popular architectural software;
  • Geometry does not take much time to generate;
  • Passing functions with a high frame rate per second;
  • Ray tracing to increase the level of realism and accuracy of images;
  • The ability to edit materials;
  • VR.

Cons:

  • Difficult to calculate exposure in 360-degree images;
  • A relatively small library of resources;
  • Moving assets are not available;
  • No possibility of making batch 360 visualizations or animations; 
  • Textures are often broken.

Cinema 4D

Cinema 4D logo

Price: From $116 per month; Free 14-day  trial
Best for: Professionals, beginners and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Last update/version: 2024

4.6
Rating by Applet3D
Capterra
4.6
GetApp
4.6
G2
4.6

Cinema 4D is a popular 3D graphics and architectural modeling software. It is simple, and therefore popular with both beginners and professionals. Cinema 4D is always complemented by plug-ins since the basic version is quite limited – this has a positive effect on system requirements. Yet, you will have to spend some time mastering all the details and functions, since there is a rather steep learning curve. In this case, it is better to use the trial version of the architecture visualization software.

Having mastered all the tools in this architecture animation software, you will be able to: create 3D graphics, animate objects, render scenes, create visual special effects, and create textures for 3D objects. You can customize and process characteristics such as textures, materials, lighting, and more. All the necessary modern modeling tools are available in this solution. Stay tuned for updates – new features and capabilities are added to each of them.

Pros:

  • User-friendly and intuitive interface;
  • High-quality rendering;
  • Great for creating simple and complex animations/visual effects;
  • Offers a large library of templates, models, and ready-made animations;
  • Easy to work with modeling and texturing tools;
  • Integration and compatibility with Adobe products such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and After Effects video editor;
  • Faster rendering with third-party rendering integration software such as RedShift and Vray;
  • A large number of tutorials;
  • The MoGraph toolkit allows you to control, layer, and link effects much faster;
  • Has advanced UV mapping, placement tools, and scene manager;
  • Integration with RED Giant plugins.

Cons:

  • High price;
  • Steep learning curve;
  • Difficult to get information about animation;
  • Sometimes crashes when performing heavy tasks;
  • Not suitable for developing interactive animations.

Twinmotion

Twin motion logo

Price: $445 per year license; Free for students, educators, and hobbyists
Best for: Professionals, beginners, and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS
Last update/version: 2023

4.6
Rating by Applet3D
Capterra
4.5
G2
4.6

Twinmotion is a simple and fast real-time 3D architecture visualization solution based on Unreal Engine technologies. Twinmotion is used to create photorealistic objects, visually accurate space rendering, and presentations in virtual reality. Thanks to the tight integration of Twinmotion and ArchiCAD, the visual and architectural models are synchronized in real-time, allowing artists to edit the ArchiCAD model, and all changes are automatically updated inside Twinmotion. It is also a great solution for producing panoramas and 360° videos.

Using one program, you immediately get the geometry of a 3D model and all BIM information about architectural objects. This architecture animation software is compatible with all BIM programs and provides direct synchronization also with Rhino, Revit, and SketchUp Pro systems. Using the FBX, C4D, and OBJ formats, you can import data from almost any 3D modeling software. 

This software for 3D building rendering allows you to design realistic, highly detailed 3D models of buildings, streets, and environments. All this can be accompanied by weather effects and moving in real-time, animated objects (animals, plants, people). It is also possible to visualize the stages of the construction of the project and create a trajectory for the movement of objects, moving pedestrians, or vehicles.

Pros:

  • Simple and intuitive interface;
  • Very easy to learn;
  • Integration of augmented reality;
  • High modeling and rendering speed;
  • Free for individuals;
  • Has many customization options;
  • Can be used with the Unreal Engine for more realistic renderings;
  • Free student license;
  • Easy to update the model;
  • Ability to control individual objects directly in the engine;
  • Good compatibility with various BIM and CAD software; 
  • A huge library of moving elements such as vegetation, people, cars, and animals; 
  • You can work with low-quality mode;
  • Has a large library of materials and textures;
  • Easy to import 3D models from other programs.

Cons:

  • Difficult to install;
  • Weighs a lot, which makes the work very slow from time to time;
  • Not optimized for computers with low statistics;
  • Unstable for certain complex tasks;
  • The layout is a bit confusing, it is unclear how to navigate between options;
  • The size of objects in the object library is too large;
  • The quality may seem worse than in other programs.

SketchUp

interior design software sketch up pro logo

Price: From $119 per year; $55  per year for students; Free version; Free 7-day trial
Best for: Professionals, beginners and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS
Last update/version: 2023

4.5
Rating by Applet3D
Capterra
4.5
GetApp
4.5
Software Advice
4.5
G2
4.5

SketchUp is one of the most popular architectural rendering programs today. It has proven to be one of the most effective solutions in the field of architectural design and 3D modeling. This architect rendering software has a user-friendly interface and is known for its ease of use and extensive functionality.

One of the main advantages of SketchUp is its versatility. It’s a great platform for conceptual design and visualization. Not only does it allow you to create detailed drawings, but it also has tools for scaling and adjusting dimensions with impeccable accuracy. In addition, SketchUp offers the 3D Warehouse, a large library containing millions of free 3D models. This feature can significantly speed up the design process.

SketchUp has many features that make rendering intuitive and fun. Two of its features include Shadow Casting, a tool that allows users to study the movement of the sun and understand how it affects their design, and Layer Manager, which gives users the ability to control the visibility of design elements for an unobstructed workspace.

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface;
  • Comprehensive 3D modeling and rendering;
  • Availability of a wide array of plugins;
  • Extensive library of pre-existing models in 3D Warehouse.

Cons:

  • Limited features in the free version;
  • Large projects may slow down the software;
  • Requires high system requirements for smooth functioning.

Artlantis

Artlantis logo

Price: €720 per Plus Package; Free 30-day trial
Best for: Professionals and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS
Last update/version: 2023

4.2
Rating by Applet3D
G2
4.2

Artlantis is the fastest standalone application designed specifically for house rendering. Available in two versions, Artlantis offers a line of products suitable for different needs and purposes. As the best software for architectural visualization, Artlantis allows you to create realistic images, assign and change the optical properties of materials, set the perspective and sources of natural and artificial light, create virtual reality scenes, and edit motion trajectories for animated videos.

Artlantis 2021 combines previous versions of Render and Studio in one powerful application, including all their features, offering useful display modes such as perspectives and parallel views, and creating images, panoramas, VR objects, and animations in very high quality and in a short time. Collections of materials, textures, and objects, known as Artlantis Media, allow users to simulate naturalistic scenes. The clear and rich catalog is set up intuitively for easy navigation. You can use your own images as materials. Data import in DWF, OBJ, and FBX formats as well as DXF, DWG, and 3DS provide interoperability with all leading CAD manufacturers. 

Recently, the manufacturer released a separate version of 2021 and now the name of the program is officially indicated as Artlantis RT2. Now you can purchase an extended package that combines both versions and iVisit 360 – Artlantis RT² + Artlantis 2021 + iVisit 360 for €720 HT.

Pros:

  • The ability to quickly change materials that have patterns such as bricks, tiles, paving stones, etc.;
  • Easy and smooth rendering;
  • Ease of use;
  • High rendering speed;
  • You can create your own textures/materials;
  • Allows to edit shaders and add those that match your projects;
  • A wide range of settings for rendering;
  • Ability to export an architectural model from Revit or Archicad to easily and quickly improve textures and light for future rendering.

Cons:

  • Watermarks;
  • Difficult to edit material shaders;
  • You cannot make changes to the 3D model.

Rendering engines

Chaos Corona

Corona logo

Price: $5.40 per month for an Educational plan; From $32.90 per month for a Commercial plan; Free 30-day trial; Free older versions
Best for: Professionals, beginners, and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS
Last update/version: 2023

4.9
Rating by Applet3D
Capterra
4.9
GetApp
4.9
Software Advice
4.9
G2
4.7

Chaos Corona is familiar to anyone who has ever worked with Autodesk 3ds Max or MAXON Cinema 4D. This modern, photorealistic renderer is available as a powerful and high-performance engine for the above programs and standalone software. In 2022, Chaos rebranded Corona (introducing Chaos Scatter, Chaos Cosmos, and a new premium subscription) and teamed up with Enscape to push the rendering boundaries.

This 3D architectural design software has a concise interface and predefined parameters that allow you to achieve high-quality building rendering without additional effort. The main difference between Chaos Corona and other programs for architectural 3D renderings is its flexibility and speed. 

Corona also has a rich and free library of materials that is constantly growing. Setting up the physically correct display of objects in Corona does not require additional time – even the light in the scene for rendering can be automatically set. This software for exterior architecture rendering allows you to seamlessly export the already created materials – a scene created for V-Ray can be converted to a scene for Corona in one click. Corona is also a good choice for architectural interior rendering. 

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use interface;
  • Supports both biased and unbiased rendering;
  • Excellent visualization quality;
  • Ability to produce very photorealistic renders with a wide configuration of materials and lighting;
  • Allows you to easily add reflective and refractive caustics to scenes;
  • Regular updates;
  • Has the ability to render complex animations without flicker; 
  • Can render on the power of the CPU, without the need for an additional GPU.

Cons:

  • Not supported by many other products except 3ds Max and Cinema 4D;
  • Volumetric rendering features are incomplete;
  • The functionality seems a bit lacking compared to competitors.

V-Ray

vray

Price: From $34.32 per month; Free 30-day trial
Best for: Professionals, beginners, and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Last update/version: 2023

4.7
Rating by Applet3D
Capterra
4.7
GetApp
4.7
Software Advice
4.7
G2
4.5

V-Ray is most often used in conjunction with 3ds Max because it was one of the earliest modeling programs with a big user base. Over time, this 3D house rendering software has acquired many settings. Versions of V-Ray have appeared for various modeling programs: SketchUp, Rhino, Revit, ArchiCAD, Maya, Cinema 4D, Blender, and many others. 

The V-Ray material editor has a wide range of possibilities: procedural maps and a huge number of flexible settings allow you to render any materials from a large library and create your own. This software for 3D architecture rendering is user-friendly for most modeling programs. To achieve photorealism, you need sufficient experience in this 3D rendering software for architecture. 

Our specialists often choose V-Ray in conjunction with 3ds Max to create photorealistic renders. In the article “What is photorealistic rendering?”, we’ve told you about this and many other interesting things. 

 Pros:

  • Very convenient and easy to use;
  • Unsurpassed quality of image visualization;
  • Allows you to navigate effortlessly and with minimal interruptions;
  • A rich library of ready-made models;
  • Sophisticated light and sun settings;
  • Hyper-realism and unsurpassed quality of the visualization;
  • Many materials that are easy to modify.

Cons

  • Steep learning curve;
  • Some functions do not work properly;
  • Does not support the creation of animations;
  • Decreased stability after many updates.

OctaneRender

Octane Render logo

Price: €23.95 per month (billed monthly); Free for personal & commercial use
Best for: Professionals, beginners, and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Last update/version: 2023

4.1
Rating by Applet3D
G2
4.1

OctaneRender is state-of-the-art software that can be used to implement a wide variety of projects in the field of architecture, where it acts as a graphics engine. The software for architecture rendering allows you to visualize 3D models of any complexity and integrates with numerous software. The peculiarity of the OctaneRender is that it works exclusively on GPUs, with Nvidia graphics cards (GPUs). It is free for personal and commercial use.

The OctaneRender interface is intuitive and easy for advanced users to master. For beginners, there is a guide on the official website. Thanks to OctaneRender features, you can get high-quality exterior architecture rendering in a short time. After all, OctaneRender is considered one of the fastest engines for 3D architectural designs. Using OctaneRender, you can render even the most complex scenes. It also offers an extensive library of materials, textures, and powerful tools.

Pros:

  • Very high-speed and high-quality rendering;
  • Photorealistic results;
  • Intuitive rendering options;
  • Easy to use;
  • Real-time visualization window;
  • Integration with a wide range of applications;
  • Detail and layout;
  • Has a wide range of complex features that support OSL scripting, and volume shading.

Cons:

  • Sometimes crashes;
  • Can be difficult for beginners;
  • Requires an Nvidia card; 
  • Problems with light customization;
  • OpenCL is not compatible;
  • Not as versatile as other programs on the market;
  • There is a limit on the number of textures used.

Maxwell Render

Maxwell logo

Price: From $595 per license; Free 30-day demo
Best for: Professionals and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Last update/version: 2023

3.9
Rating by Applet3D
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3.8
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3.9

Maxwell Render is the perfect solution for creating the physically accurate and photorealistic architectural renderings that designers and architects require. The functionality of the best 3D rendering software for architecture offers everything you need to achieve professional results, while it is straightforward to learn – suitable even for novices. The camera parameters of the program work and are configured in the same way as a real camera, and light intensity is measured by real-world values. It’s easy enough to create complex scenes and get the best architectural renders.

Maxwell Render offers a fast interactive rendering tool, Maxwell Fire, which provides consistent results while setting up a scene. An app offers several necessary functions for preparing, editing, and rendering photorealistic images. That program for architecture 3D renderings can help architects and designers understand what interior and exterior lighting, and even the finished product, will look like in the end. It also integrates with many major 3D and CAD programs.

Pros:

  • Highly realistic and detailed images;
  • Available lighting options and material processing;
  • Lots of training materials available online;
  • Good support;
  • Fire feature to customize the look and feel, test and refine visualization settings;
  • Excellence and originality of materials;
  • Easy to change and customize materials;
  • Multilight function, which allows you to perform post-rendering, changing any lighting (natural, artificial, etc.) after the rendering is complete.

Cons:

  • Low speed compared to other rendering engines;
  • Quite difficult to learn for beginners;
  • Difficulty in working with the material editor;
  • Some materials in the library are low-quality;
  • Built-in animation capabilities are limited and require other special software;
  • There is no ready-made library of assets that can be dragged and dropped to fill scenes;
  • Not support GPU rendering for Mac computers.

FStorm

Fsorm render logo

Price: $25 per month
Best for: Professionals and amateurs
Available on: Windows
Last update/version: 2024

Another powerful GPU rendering engine made special for 3ds Max. The advantages of FStorm are an excellent ratio of rendering speed and quality, ease of use of materials and light sources, relative simplicity, and realism. You can create outstanding artistic renderings with this program. FStorm Render does not use any existing solutions implemented in other rendering engines but uses only proprietary technologies, which give outstanding, unique, and photorealistic results. 

Built-in scene converter easily and neatly converts any scene from other 3D architectural programs such as Corona, V-Ray, and Octane Render. This architectural rendering animation software may be a great solution for creating impressive presentations.

Pros:

  • One of the best rendering engines for 3ds Max;
  • Convenient materials and light sources;
  • High rendering speed and realism;
  • Easy to use;
  • Scales well.

Cons:

  • It currently supports only 3ds Max;
  • GPU-only renderer;
  • Only for Windows.

Conclusion

With the help of 3D architectural renderings, you can get acquainted with the future appearance of the building at the project stage, whether it be a business center, a cafe, or a residential complex. You also can evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the structure, its compliance with the architectural concept, and the location of objects in the adjacent territory. Therefore, architectural rendering artists need to find and choose the right 3D architectural rendering software.

As a professional architectural visualization studio, we decided to share our experience and created a top list of the best architectural rendering programs to use in 2024. This article aims to help both beginners and advanced users compare some of the most popular software packages on the market and, based on their functionality, purpose, pros, and cons, choose the one that suits you best.

Ira maksymova author

Author of Applet 3D articles. In passion about art, so writing about design, architecture, the animation is a great chance to enjoy my work. Rule of life - set little goals but achieve big results.

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  1. architecture

    Hi, I am a huge fan of your website! I can totally relate to this as I work as an architectural drafter for an outsourcing company.

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      Ira Maksymova author

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  2. Tori

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    1. Ira maksymova author
      Ira Maksymova author

      Thanks for your feedback! This is important for us) We try to make each article informative and useful for the readers. Stay tuned!

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