20 Best free rendering software in 2024 for all levels

Whether you’re a professional 3D artist with 7 years of experience or just starting in this field, in the competitive 21st century you can’t do without high-quality specialized software. The good thing is that there are a huge number of software packages on the market now, each with its functions and features designed to meet your specific needs. The bad news is that some may require you to empty your bank account to fully utilize and enjoy these undoubtedly beneficial and impressive benefits. And who among us likes to overpay for anything? So it’s quite understandable that the query “free 3D rendering software” in search engines has become one of the most popular in the industry in recent years.

As a professional 3D studio with many years of experience, we have worked with numerous tools suitable for different purposes. We decided to analyze our previous experience and compile a list of the top 20 best free rendering software useful for both beginners and advanced users in 2024. We’ve also included some great paid options on this list that offer free plans or trials so you can try them out and decide if you’re ready to pay for more advanced features. You may find some of these programs in the article about the Best 3D rendering software. 

2024 Best 3D rendering software free 

Check out the top 20 free rendering programs in the table below. To provide you with the most comprehensive information about each application, we have researched user reviews and ratings on specialized platforms such as Capterra, GetApp, G2, and Software Advice and created an overall rating. All programs are listed in the table according to this rating. It also contains key data about each software package, including pricing, the latest version, the “best for” level, etc.

Below you will find a detailed overview of the programs with their main features and capabilities they offer to users. Our experts have also shared their experiences and named the main pros and cons they have found while using them. For your convenience, we have divided the software packages into three categories:

• Completely free and unlimited; 
• Those that offer free plans or limited versions;
• Paid with free trials.

So, read and learn how you can make a 3D rendering for free.

Best free 3D rendering software in detail: No payments required

LuxCoreRender

Price: Free
Best for: Professionals and amateurs
Available on: Web
Last update/version: 2021

4.8

Rating by Applet3D

G2

4.8

LuxCoreRender belongs to the category of photorealistic or physically accurate (no assumptions) renders. It is a free rendering tool with a user-friendly interface. Scenes for LuxCore can be prepared in various 3D programs such as Blender, 3ds Max, Maya, etc. On the developer’s site, you can download a scene, which is recommended to be used for testing.

Since LuxCoreRender is a photorealistic rendering software, the rendering process can take an infinite amount of time. More precisely, it lasts until the user stops the process when a satisfactory quality is achieved. The user interface of this free 3D renderer allows you to set the conditions upon which rendering will stop. 

LuxCoreRender is free for both personal and commercial use. It works with all the major 3D software, including 3ds Max, Blender, Maya, Cinema 4D, and SketchUp. It includes a variety of material types. You can save and continue a rendering at any time. Upcoming releases look to support optionally biased path tracing. 

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• User-friendly interface ideal for beginners;
• Offers cloud-based collaboration features;
• Can be configured to use Cycles materials;
• This standalone render engine could be used with different 3D programs;
• Physically-based that allows you to use OpenCL to accelerate rendering;
• The final results have a very photographic look;
• Can be integrated with Blender, 3ds Max, Cinema 4d, Sketchup, and Maya.

Cons:

• Limited functionality compared to more advanced software;
• Too many options and a lack of thorough documentation can intimidate a new user;
• Reliant on internet connection due to its cloud-based nature.

Blender

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

Certainly, Blender has to be on the top of this list as the best 3D rendering software free. Blender is a full-fledged 3D graphics and animation editor. The free app includes modeling, animation, post-processing, video editing tools with audio, and most importantly, rendering tools.

Blender is considered an excellent alternative to paid software for rendering and the best free 3D modeling software. However, it is a little off the beaten path. So, if you ever want to switch to something else, you might encounter difficulties. Still, Blender can be an excellent program to learn. Images and animations are competitive compared with other programs. 

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Highly versatile with modeling, animation, and rendering capabilities;
• Large and active community support;
• Constantly updated with new features and improvements;
• Ideal for creating high-quality animated videos;
• Great graphics;
• Has a music library;
• Good documentation to help beginners or existing users create stunning 3D models;
• Has a training channel on YouTube;
• Provides CPU and GPU rendering capabilities;
• Advanced modeling tools;
• High-quality animation and rigging;
• Great visual effects;
• Supports 2D design in 3D scenes;
• Offers a rich collection of models and elements with cloud membership to Blender.

Cons:

• The complex interface can be overwhelming for beginners;
• A bit difficult to learn and use due to a large number of different functions built into one software;
• Not suitable for game development;
• Models are a bit noisy and messy to clean up;
• Some computing power is required to render complex animations;
• Render times can be lengthy for very complex scenes.

Houdini Apprentice

Price: The free version of Houdini FX
Best for: Beginners and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Last update/version: 2024

4.6

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.7

GetApp

4.7

G2

4.5

Houdini Apprentice is a free version of Houdini FX. The free rendering software is mostly used by professional artists, students, and amateurs to create personal non-commercial projects. Houdini Apprentice gives you access to all the virtual features of the Houdini FX. You can bring in your scene files and render them directly using Houdini Education at a higher resolution and without a watermark.

Houdini Apprentice allows working on 3D modeling, animation, physics simulation, rendering, and compositing. This rendering program free also has a large set of light sources, light shaders, and a material library. Here you will also find a set of tools that allow you to work with surround sound. Support for various renderers: Mantra, RenderMan, Mental Ray, and others.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Great tool for students, artists, and hobbyists;
• Offers nearly all the features of the commercial version for non-commercial use;
• Allows you to save to disk and render with a watermark;
• Strong in procedural generation, visual effects, and dynamic simulation;
• Allows you to bring in your own scene files and render them directly with Houdini Education at higher resolution and without watermarks;
• Provides a steep yet rewarding learning curve for those interested in VFX and animation.

Cons:

• Only for non-commercial projects;
• It is limited to 1280×720 when rendering;
• Does not work with third-party renderers;
• Cannot be used in the same pipeline as commercial versions of Houdini;
• Uses a proprietary .hipnc file format to save scenes and assets.

SketchUp Free

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

4.5

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.5

GetApp

4.5

Software Advice

4.5

G2

4.5

The free version of the SketchUp, program is used for 3D modeling and design. You can add new details, textures, and all kinds of elements to your models. Sketchup free rendering software comes with built-in realistic textures.

This 3D modeling software free has a simple and user-friendly interface, shadow setting functions, and the ability to use various plugins and download ready-made scripts. SketchUp Free renderer is an optimal program for novice 3D modelers and designers compared to complex and overloaded counterparts. 

The free rendering program also includes a plugin called 3D Warehouse. 3D Warehouse allows adding, searching, viewing, and downloading SketchUp models. Also, there is a Free 30-day trial of SketchUp for professional use and personal projects.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Free powerful tool;
• Easy to use, with a user-friendly interface and intuitive commands;
• Excellent viewing features;
• Great for architectural and interior design models;
• Web-based, accessible from any device;
• Extensive library of assets and models through SketchUp Warehouse;
• User-friendly viewing and navigation capabilities.

Cons:

• No templates;
• Slow to pick up;
• Less suitable for complex, detailed 3D modeling;
• It is difficult to find good models in the built-in browser;
• Requires installing different plugins for different jobs;
• It’s perfect for 3D modeling, but not enough for rendering and requires you to use third-party programs;
• Much more stable on the desktop.

Twinmotion

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 powerful and easy-to-use 3D visualization program that allows users to create stunning visualizations quickly and efficiently. Its main features are a user-friendly interface, a built-in library of 3D models and textures, and advanced rendering capabilities. With Twinmotion, users can create realistic real-time renderings and animations of their projects, including landscapes, architecture, and product visualizations. 

This design rendering software free offers an extensive library of materials and resources. You can play around with visual effects, and adjust lighting and weather conditions. One of the main advantages of Twinmotion is the ability to work with both SketchUp and Revit files, making it a great choice for architects and designers who need to quickly create detailed visualizations.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• User-friendly and intuitive interface;
• Huge built-in library of 3D models, materials, and textures;
• Advanced rendering capabilities;
• Speed of modeling and creating a realistic project atmosphere;
• Ability to work with SketchUp and Revit files;
• Compatible with various BIM and CAD software;
• It is easy to update the model;
• You can add people who move and interact with the environment;
• Integration of augmented reality; 
• Can be used with the Unreal Engine for more realistic rendering.

Cons: 

• Not stable, when working on complex projects, it may freeze or close without saving progress;
• Difficult to install;
• The program weighs a lot and takes up a lot of space;
• Not optimized for computers with low statistics;
• The size of objects in the object library is too large.

Daz Studio

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

4.5

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.5

Daz Studio is a powerful yet completely free 3D modeling software. One of the features of the program is the creation of GPU-accelerated 3D images during rendering, which makes it possible to create very realistic models. Daz Studio also has support for creating scenes and functionality for animating models.

As a free rendering program, Daz Studio allows for animating ready-made 3D shapes. Thanks to this, artists of any skill can create 3D animations based on existing models of people, animals, vehicles, accessories, environments, and other objects. So, it is a really powerful engine with high-quality rendering for free.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Strong for character creation, posing, and animation;
• User-friendly for beginners entering the 3D space;
• Impressive built-in muscle group flexibility feature;
• Great for manipulating ready-made models;
• Most models are of excellent quality and can be easily exported;
• Daz marketplace with a lot of free resources to use.

Cons:

• Less flexibility for custom 3D model creation;
• The interface can feel cluttered with the numerous content and asset panels;
• A bit confusing to use;
• Learning resources are less extensive for advanced features;
• Crashes during use;
• You need to buy add-ons to create various graphical images.

Wings 3D

Price: Free
Best for: Amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Last update/version: 2023

4.0

Rating by Applet3D

G2

4.0

Wings 3D is free open-source software for modeling and texturing. Users are provided with many tools with which to create very realistic models and prototypes. You can present the customer with variants of character images to determine the concept and further work with it.

Wings 3D has a customizable interface. The free modeling program does not support animation, so to create scenes in the dynamics of the figure, you will have to export to other software.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Open-source and completely free;
• A fully customizable system that allows you to personalize keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys for any function;
• User-friendly interface;
• Has all the necessary tools and functions for low-poly modeling;
• Built-in library of 3D models;
• Sculpting function;
• A large number of user manuals that can be viewed online for free;
• Great for prototyping;
• Supports almost all file types for export and import.

Cons:

• A bit complicated for beginners;
• No native rendering engine; relies on third-party plugins;
• High-end and advanced features lag;
• The UV mapping system is not as intuitive as in other programs.

Kerkythea

Price: Free
Best for: Professionals and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Last update/version: 2018

3.9

Rating by Applet3D

G2

3.9

Kerkythea is a free and closed-source rendering engine that helps in the creation of photorealistic images. The program offers to use of physically accurate materials and lighting. Kerkythea has a simple and user-friendly interface and supports various types of objects. Kerkythea is often used in creating images for commercial purposes. 

This 3D rendering program comes equipped with a material editor, allowing artists to create and manipulate their texture libraries for repeated use. Kerkythea provides: a material editor, general visualization and renders adjustments, and GL real-time viewer. It also has a free exporter for SketchUp. Users can work in two rendering methods: biased or unbiased. You can both install it on your device and use it online. The rendering tool has an advanced toolkit, so the scene setup can be easily automated.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Free and easy to learn;
• Good quality rendering with simple settings;
• Provides photorealistic rendering capabilities for free;
• Compatible with programs such as Blender and SketchUp;
• Excellent quality and accuracy of materials;
• Supports a wide range of materials and textures;
• Friendly to beginners with extensive tutorials and community support;
• Easy to render models created in SketchUp.

Cons:

• Outdated interface and difficult to get used to;
• Rendering takes a lot of processing power and time;
• Limited in-app modeling tools, primarily a renderer;
• Can be slow sometimes.

Cycles Renderer

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

If you are going to use an open-source Blender, you have to know about its unbiased render engine Cycles, that built-in GPU- accelerated. It is a flexible and speedy engine.

You can create Photorealistic 3D renderings of any complexity with a system of nodes used for materials. The significant advantages of the engine are the ability to quickly view the result directly in the 3D viewport, as well as rendering using GPU. So, it is an excellent option for beginners. This free 3D software allows the creation of stunning characters for games and various architectural objects.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Integrated into Blender, offering a seamless workflow;
• Allows you to create highly realistic images with accurate lighting, shadows, and reflections;
• Open-source, with a robust and active development community.

Cons:

• While fast, may not always match the speed or efficiency of specialized third-party renderers;
• Learning to optimize scenes for best performance can require time and experience.

Rendering programs with free plans/licenses or limited versions

Vectary

Price: $15 per month; Free plan
Best for: Professionals
Available on: Web
Last update/version: 2023

4.9

Rating by Applet3D

G2

4.9

Vectary is a free online rendering tool to create and manage stunning and interactive 3D designs. It is a great program for quickly creating high-quality 3D visuals. Every model is done in the browser and saved in the cloud. It is an easy-to-use tool with a simplified user interface. 

Vectary is used by designers of all levels to create, share, and customize 3D models online. The free rendering program allows the creation of interactive 3D configurators with custom materials, animations, and shapes.

Vectary offers step-by-step tutorials for new users. They can access their designs from anywhere since it is a browser-based program. Besides, it has a rich library of assets, like free 3D scenes, models, and materials. 

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Intuitive, user-friendly interface, great for beginners;
• Fast and easy to use;
• Cloud-based, facilitating collaboration and remote work;
• Features a wide range of templates and assets;
• Supports augmented reality (AR) projects;
• Export of objects to OBJ and STL formats;
• Allows you to make changes quickly;
• Has many options for creating custom textures and surfaces.

Cons:

• Limited documentation;
• Dependent on an internet connection;
• Creating or modifying some types of objects with smooth curved surfaces can be a bit complicated and time-consuming.

D5 Render

Price: From $30 per month; Free plan for beginners and individuals
Best for: Professionals, beginners, and amateurs
Available on: Windows
Last update/version: 2023

4.8

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.8

GetApp

4.8

Software Advice

4.8

G2

4.9

Fairly new, but very powerful GPU-based system. D5 Render provides interactive design in real-time with photorealistic rendering. The system combines ray tracing and rasterization methods. The free 3D rendering software is self-contained and has direct compatibility with SKP files. The program also understands other formats such as FBX and D5A (a native format for D5 Render) can be exported to 3ds Max or Blender via export plugins. D5 has also developed plugins for other platforms such as SketchUp, ArchiCAD, Revit, Rhino, and Cinema 4D. Simple 3D modeling and application of materials in SketchUp are enough to create beautiful images and impressive videos with D5 Render. 

Other features of this free 3D visualization software include object scattering, a physical sky system, support for volume and particle-based effects, automatic exposure, depth-of-field selection, camera cut-off, and integrated noise reduction. D5 has also added a new built-in dynamic particle material library simulating fire, smoke, dust, and 3D plant models. D5 Render is available for Windows offers a free “Community” version for commercial use and has no feature limitations. The interface of the 3D rendering software free is quite easy to use while being compatible with the workflow of different verticals. It can be directly applied to architecture, interiors, landscapes, and other scenes. 

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Real-time rendering with impressive lighting and material effects;
• The excellent and extensive library of resources;
• Photorealistic renderings;
• Easy to learn and user-friendly interface;
• High speed and quality of rendering;
• Compatible with 3ds Max;
• Excellent real-time rendering performance;
• Supports large-scale environments and detailed scenes;
• Constant updates;
• Good training resources; 
• Many ready-made scenes can be downloaded from the forum page.

Cons:

• Import incompatibility with other types of formats;
• Adjusting texture colors;
• Some materials lack accuracy and complexity;
• Too little data when preparing a scene for rendering;
• Hardware-intensive, requiring a powerful PC for smooth operation;
• Limited support for third-party plugins compared to other software;
• There is no snap system for precise alignment of objects;
• No possibility to customize the rendering quality (i.e. samples);
• The shadow from the vegetation is too dark.

Modo

Price: From $485 per year; Free Student License; Free 30-day trial
Best for: Professionals, beginners, and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Last update/version: 2024

4.6

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.7

GetApp

4.7

Software Advice

4.7

G2

4.3

A program for 3D construction of objects, drawing dynamic scenes, rendering, network visualization, sculpting, and creating architectural projects. Modo spatial visualization application allows you to create realistic objects based on geometric shapes. The program interface offers deep customization of almost all work items. The free 3D rendering program contains ready-made object templates and a large set of drawing tools. Also, free 3D programs such as Modo allow you to create your own special tools for the personal needs of the user.

The 3D rendering freeware provides a large set of tools for transforming objects. It can be used both for simple sculpting (similar to ZBrush) and the implementation of complex animation scenes. The application is popular among designers, advertisers, special effects developers, and architects. It has features such as the creation and processing of 3D shapes and storylines, an integrated set of palettes, brushes, and effects, modeling working surfaces, advanced UV processing, and elastic drawing on a plane and in perspective.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Easy and fast modeling;
• Excellent UV texturing;
• Direct access to key features such as UV and rigging tools;
• Polygonal modeling tools;
• Highly customizable;
• Flexible procedural modeling and animation systems;
• Great rendering quality;
• Good integration with industry-standard tools and pipelines;
• Very good user community and free resources. 

Cons:

• Lacks some features when it comes to texturing and fluid simulation;
• Can be resource-intensive on lower-end machines;
• Crashes sometimes;
• Slightly complicated interface and learning curve;
• Slow speed of rendering information.

Lumion

Price: From $62.42 per month; Free for students, lecturers, and academic programs
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 one of the most well-known and popular programs for real-time 3D visualization. It is a perfect tool for professionals in the fields of architectural design, interior design, and landscape design. Thanks to its real-time capabilities, you can make any changes on the fly. Incredible rendering speed and quality are the main advantages of Lumion. It is easily synchronized with other professional software packages such as SketchUp, Revit, ArchiCAD, Rhino, and Autocad.

Since Lumion offers a completely free version for educational purposes, the program has many useful guides and tutorials. Although the tool is extremely easy to use and very beginner-friendly, it won’t take you long to master the program. There is a wide library of materials and 3D assets in good quality. If you need to create high-quality and detailed animations quickly and on low power, Lumion is the perfect option for you. Currently, Lumion is only available for Windows. One of the best free rendering software for students.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• High-quality results with fast rendering times;
• Intuitive interface for easy use;
• A vast library of textures and 3D models that can be animated;
• Advanced lighting and shading options;
• Walkthrough rendering;
• Creates high-quality images directly from the model;
• Powerful animation tools.

Cons:

• Windows only;
• Difficulty in customizing materials;
• No key binding;
• No editing function;
• The working area is limited to 2 km by 2 km, which makes it difficult to work with large landscapes;
• You cannot use the program on multiple computers at the same time.

Enscape

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

 

4.5

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.5

Software Advice

4.48

GetApp

4.5

G2

4.6

Enscape is one of the best architectural renderers. This is a paid program that offers a great free trial. This free architectural rendering software allows the application of various stylized modes such as paper, sketch, and polystyrene models. In Enscape you can get the content you need from many programs, such as SketchUp, Rhino, Revit, and ArchiCAD. 

Working with Enscape, you can find features for designing process support. Thanks to them, you are free to monitor all your changes to know how the final picture will look after rendering. With this tool, it is easy to achieve a realistic effect. 

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Excellent real-time rendering software;
• Compatible with popular architecture software;
• Ability to make changes on the fly;
• Easy to use;
• Excellent rendering quality and speed;
• Ability to walk around and immerse yourself in the space;
• Live fly-throughs in Zoom;
• Switching between multiple finishes in real-time.

Cons:

• Limited customization options for advanced users;
• No batch 360-degree visualization and animation;
• Problems with textures;
• Lacks a lot of video effects and real-time animations;
• Lack of VR support in the Enscape app for MacOS.

Pixar’s RenderMan

Price: $595 per license; Free for all non-commercial purposes
Best for: Professionals 
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Last update/version: 2023

4.7

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

5.0

GetApp

5.0

G2

4.2

RenderMan by Pixar is known as the world’s most versatile renderer. It’s hard to disagree with this, considering everything we see on our screen while watching the Studio’s masterpieces. 

It is worth noting, that Pixar has made RenderMan photorealistic rendering software free for non-commercial use. The free version of RenderMan has no restrictions or watermarks. It works on macOS, Windows, and Linux, supports Maya and Katana plugins, and works with Cinema4D and Houdini. Plugins for 3ds Max, Modo, Rhino, Lightwave, and Blender are listed as possible. The Studio also launched a community of program users, where you can discuss work and upload your projects. This free rendering app offers advanced shading, lighting, and rendering technology. 

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Great tool for creating photorealistic images and animations;
• Industry-proven quality, used in many feature films;
• Realistic lighting effects;
• Regularly updated with new features;
• Offers a free non-commercial version with nearly all the features of the commercial version;
• Great support team;
• Compatible with a wide range of 3D modeling and animation software;
• Large and active user community.

Cons:

• Designed for high-end systems and professional use;
• Complex for beginners;
• Rendering time is high;
• Requires a powerful computer for smooth operation;
• Stability and performance issues, especially when working with large and complex scenes.

Clara.io

Price: From $10 per month; Free Basic Plan
Best for: Professionals 
Available on: Web
Last update/version: 2022

4.2

Rating by Applet3D

G2

4.2

Clara.io is a free online program for 3D modeling, rendering, and animation. Clara.io provides several tools for working with meshes and allows you to edit objects. There is a huge library of photorealistic materials, as well as flexible lighting settings. In addition, the program supports importing and exporting 3D files of various formats, including FBX, Collada, STL, OBJ, Three.JS, Babylons.JS, STEP, and others.

This easy-to-use tool has a wide range of animation features that do not require any additional software to be installed on-site. As a cloud-based solution, Clara.io is available on multiple platforms and supports simultaneous multi-user editing and real-time collaboration.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Easy-to-use interface for beginners and professionals alike;
• Rendering time may be longer if there is no hardware acceleration;
• Real-time sharing and collaboration;
• Easy creation of 3D characters;
• Supports over 30 common 3D file formats;
• Powerful modeling, rendering, and animation tools for free and web-based software.

Cons:

• Requires an internet connection;
• Can sometimes overload the browser and freeze;
• Learning curve;
• Rendering is sometimes a bit slow.

Indigo Renderer

Price: From €145 per license; Free limited version
Best for: Professionals 
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Last update/version: 2021
Use: 3D rendering

4.0

Rating by Applet3D

G2

4.0

The Indigo Renderer is a powerful rendering tool for modeling lighting effects. This freeware rendering software allows you to work with lighting types such as daylight, night, indirect, and direct lighting, using one kind of rendering. The product includes a material editor that allows you to create any kind of material from sand, leather, and wood to car paint and water. This is the best option for you if you are trying to achieve maximum photorealism.

The 3D rendering free software uses a hybrid GPU acceleration system to support real-time editing of footage and camera data. The Indigo Renderer also has powerful rendering features available for architects, product designers, 3D models, and artists. Indigo offers full support for network rendering and multicore processors. That free GPU renderer is easy to manage and comes with pre-made materials and lighting, so you can focus on your projects without spending hours tweaking materials and settings.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Photorealistic renderings with realistic materials and lighting;
• Supports GPU acceleration;
• Good integration with SketchUp and Blender;
• Easy to learn;
• Smooth and unchanged interface;
• Offer tutorials;
• Simulate a real camera;
• Work with light layers and lighting types.

Cons:

• Difficult to master;
• Requires some understanding of rendering techniques and settings;
• Can be slow without a powerful GPU;
• Some functions are very complicated.

Guerilla Render

Price: From €280 per node; One Free unlimited license
Best for: Professionals 
Available on: Windows, Linux
Last update/version: 2023

Guerilla Render is an unbiased 3D rendering software that has been used more than once in the creation of famous feature films. Guerilla Render also uses progressive rendering inside its viewport. 

Thanks to its physically based rendering features, it can quickly produce photorealistic stills, 3D renders, and sequences. The 3D rendering features also include subsurface scattering and cycle renders. The lighting system of Guerilla is highly flexible. 

The software offers a free unlimited single-seat license. It allows uncapped usage of the program for a single user, providing your connection to the Internet.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• High-end production quality, suitable for complex scenes and VFX;
• Efficient handling of very large datasets;
• Free version available with nearly full functionality.

Cons:

• The steep learning curve for those unfamiliar with advanced rendering techniques;
• Limited community and learning resources compared to more popular packages.

Best rendering software with free trials

Verge3D

Price: From $90 per year; Free trial
Best for: Professionals, beginners, and amateurs
Available on: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Last update/version: 2023

4.8

Rating by Applet3D

G2

4.8

Verge3D is a powerful free real-time 3D renderer and related toolkit for creating and displaying interactive 3D graphics in browsers. Verge3D uses WebGL technology. This free renderer allows users to create interactive content using 3D modeling tools (currently supported by Blender, Autodesk 3ds Max, and Maya) by converting 3D scenes into a form suitable for viewing in a browser. 

The free real-time rendering software has an intuitive toolkit. Verge3D can be used for online stores, creating interactive animations, 3D presentations, 3D portfolios, educational materials, and browser games. This 3D rendering software is free to download on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Focused on web-based real-time rendering;
• Easy to use;
• Full and detailed tutorials;
• The Puzzle system is very clear for creating interactive applications;
• A support team that responds quickly to requests;
• Constantly updated with new features;
• Intuitive interface, powerful set of tools;
• Immediate one-click publishing to the web using the Verge3D network;
• Seamless integration with Blender and 3ds Max;
• Good for creating VR/AR experiences without extensive coding knowledge.

Cons:

• Can be complex for beginners;
• Requires knowledge of web development for full functionality;
• Lacks some advanced rendering features of dedicated rendering engines.

Artlantis

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 a unique 3D visualization program that allows you to quickly and easily get high-quality project photos, panoramas, and virtual reality scenes, as well as animation. Artlantis has an intuitive interface and powerful management tools and is very easy to use. This 3D rendering program free is and well-compatible with ArchiCAD. ArchiCAD exports a virtual building model in Artlantis format using a specialized extension. It is also compatible with such programs as SketchUp Pro, Autodesk Revit Architecture, Rhinoceros, and Vectorworks.

The 3D rendering software free is presented in two versions – Artlantis R (Render) and Artlantis S (Studio). Artlantis Render is more suitable for creating very high-quality renderings – an excellent solution for architects, interior designers, landscape designers, urban planners, etc. Artlantis Studio is an ideal tool for creating not only high-quality static renderings but also various animations, VR Objects, and iVisit 3D panoramas. Created specifically for Artlantis, Artlantis Media elements make it easy and fast to simulate believable scenes with realistic environments.

Here are some pros and cons that you should pay attention to:

Pros:

• Easy and smooth rendering;
• Excellent quality;
• The program creates 3D images very quickly;
• User-friendly interface;
• High-quality output with support for various light and material effects;
• The program can be combined with Sketchup and simply exported to Artlantis;
• You can create your own textures/materials;
• The ability to quickly change materials;
• Real-time preview of changes.

Cons:

• The library of objects is too limited;
• Less suited for non-architectural projects;
• There is no video rendering.

Best free rendering software for SketchUp

Looking for free SketchUp rendering software? We suggest you check out our top 5 recommendations that you can use to work on your projects.

Free rendering software for SketchUp in detail

V-Ray

Price: $99.00 per month; Free 14-day trial
Best for: Professionals, beginners, and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux
Last version: 2023

4.7

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.7

GetApp

4.7

Software Advice

4.7

G2

4.5

V-Ray is a real-time rendering software great for interior design. It is a pretty fast rendering program, that supports other 3D design software. It also has global illumination with unique lighting effects.

V-Ray can combine vector art with a 3D image, and simply drag and drop the layout into place. With the V-Ray plugin for SketchUp, you can draw and edit in layers and update the entire layout. This photorealistic rendering software will help you to create unforgettable designs.

Keyshot

Price: From $34.32 per month; Free 30-day trial
Best for: Professionals, beginners, and amateurs
Available on: Windows, macOS
Last version: 2024

4.6

Rating by Applet3D

Capterra

4.7

G2

4.5

Keyshot is one of the easiest-to-use and technologically advanced renderers on the market. Keyshot also happens to interface smoothly with SketchUp, giving users a rendering engine without complex options,  preferences, and sliders. With Keyshot, SketchUp visualizations become unsurpassed.
This free render software for SketchUp allows tweaking textures, camera, lighting, and even massing and instantaneously viewing the rendering results. It is a powerful real-time rendering program. It can import your models into the base rendering program for quick use.

Twilight Render

Price: $99.00 per Pro license; Free hobby version
Best for: Professionals and amateurs
Platform: Windows, macOS
Last version: 2024

Twilight Render can be safely called the best free render for SketchUp. It is a visualization tool for professionals and hobbyists alike. It is the user-friendly interface SketchUp, with a powerful rendering engine that can produce photorealistic images.

Twilight Render is a quality and fast rendering program that offers multiple rendering methods. It has easy-to-adjust templates and a deep material editor. This free 3D rendering software for SketchUp has many settings, which allow you to change various aspects of the drawing process.

SU Podium

Price: Free 30-day trial
Best for: Professionals and amateurs
Platform: Windows, macOS
Last version: 2020

SU Podium is an easy-to-use rendering plugin for SketchUp. SU Podium was designed from the ground up specifically for use with SketchUp. The 3D rendering program allows any user to manipulate shapes within their drawing space.

With this free rendering software for Sketchup 2024, the user can create virtual tables on the computer, including complex shapes such as oval and polygon. This free architectural design software also allows the user to save and share their work with other users via the Internet, email, or social media OS. It is possible to create multiple copies of one picture. Once rendering is complete, the user can tweak settings such as brightness, contrast, and color filters, adding flexibility to the entire process.

Lumion LiveSync

Price: Free 
Best for: Professionals and amateurs
Available on: Windows
Last version: 2024

Lumion LiveSync for SketchUp is the free, real-time rendering plugin that seamlessly connects your SketchUp 3D model to a live Lumion project. This free renderer for Sketchup lets you visualize architectural designs online while you work with them in CAD. By enabling LiveSync between SketchUp and Lumion, you can view all of your designs, modifications, and tests in the stunning, detailed Lumion environment.

Whether you’re working with a BIM model or 2D drawings, you can import your models into Lumion and quickly create photorealistic or conceptual images that convey the beauty of design ideas. The rendering tool allows you to instantly import your 3D model without interrupting the rendering process. Lumion gives you the best render quality for landscape or exterior design. 

Although most of these solutions are paid, thanks to free trials and free versions, presented rendering software for Sketchup is available to everyone. 

Architectural rendering software free

Talking about free rendering software for architectural visualization, we have selected for you the next list from the programs listed above:

1. SketchUp Free
2. Blender 
3. Cycles
4. SU Podium
5. SweetHome 3D
6. LuxCore Render
7. Enscape

It should be added that Autodesk also offers free software for students and educators. We told you more about the Best 3D rendering software for architecture in our other article. Follow the link and learn about all the features of each program.

Conclusion

When choosing the best 3D rendering software, you can frequently face the problem of high or simply unaffordable prices. In the quest to create high-quality and realistic renderings, this can be a significant obstacle. That is why the search for professional but free rendering programs is becoming popular and relevant. So, we have selected for you the top 20 free rendering software in 2024 that will best meet all your needs. With these solutions, you can render for free and realize all your ideas. In addition, above, you will also find a separate top free rendering software for SketchUp and architectural rendering free programs.