TrustRadius: an HG Insights company

Save this comparison

Save this comparison

Add Product

Recommended Comparisons

    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Rhino

    Score8.7 out of 10
    N/ARobert McNeel and Associates headquartered in Seattle offers Rhinoceros 3D (or Rhino 3D), a 3D modeling and design application. Rhino can create, edit, analyze, document, render, animate, and translate NURBS curves, surfaces and solids, subdivision geometry (SubD), point clouds, and polygon meshes.

    $995

    one-time fee

    SOLIDWORKS

    Score8.7 out of 10
    N/ADassault Systemes offers SOLIDWORKS, a computer-aided design (CAD) system for education and manufacturing supporting 2D or 3D design, electrical design, simulations, and product development with collaboration tools.

    $1,295

    per year

    Pricing
    RhinoSOLIDWORKS
    Editions & Modules
    Rhino 3D for Windows & Mac
    $995
    one-time fee
    Solidworks Annual Subscription
    1,295
    per year
    Solidworks Standard
    3,996
    per standalone license
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    RhinoSOLIDWORKS
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional DetailsDiscount available for students and faculty.—
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    RhinoSOLIDWORKS
    Considered Both Products
    Robert McNeel and Associates
    Chose Rhino
    Rhino3D was built to excel at modeling complex, freeform surfaces with excellent continuity of shape. Rhino3D's large community, robust plug-ins and generative modeling with Grasshopper make it unique. Rhino3D is very affordable providing excellent value for the financial …
    Incentivized
    Chose Rhino
    Rhinoceros 3D is an excellent tool for quick concepts, as are programs like SketchUp and AutoCAD. However, Rhinoceros 3D excels at being flexible in terms of file exports and the capability to work with other software easily like Adobe Creative Suite, Revit, and more. It is a …
    Incentivized
    Dassault Systemes
    Chose SOLIDWORKS
    SOLIDWORKS has all of the features and functionality needed for nearly any engineering and design task. Onshape is catching up and will work for many tasks, but SOLIDWORKS still has the edge. SOLIDWORKS is easy to pick up and use and, with a wide reach and large install base, …
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    100%
    Would buy again
    8 Answers
    97%
    Would buy again
    32 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    7 Answers
    94%
    Delivers good value for the price
    30 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    8 Answers
    97%
    Happy with the feature set
    32 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    6 Answers
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    19 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    8 Answers
    96%
    Implementation went as expected
    24 Answers
    Features
    RhinoSOLIDWORKS
    Computer-Aided Design Software
    Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of Rhino 3D and SOLIDWORKS
    Feature
    Rhino 3D
    4.5
    1 Ratings
    50% below category average
    SOLIDWORKS
    8.8
    3 Ratings
    16% above category average
    3D Modeling10.01 Ratings9.83 Ratings
    2D Drafting2.01 Ratings9.43 Ratings
    Rendering and Visualization4.01 Ratings7.93 Ratings
    Parametric Design5.01 Ratings7.62 Ratings
    Collaboration and Sharing1.01 Ratings9.62 Ratings
    Compatibility with other software and formats7.01 Ratings9.83 Ratings
    Assembly Design10.01 Ratings9.23 Ratings
    Simulation and Analysis1.01 Ratings6.22 Ratings
    Documentation and Annotation1.01 Ratings9.42 Ratings
    Customization and Extensions4.01 Ratings9.43 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    RhinoSOLIDWORKS
    Small Businesses
    Onshape
    Score6.4 out of 10
    Onshape
    Score6.4 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Onshape
    Score6.4 out of 10
    Onshape
    Score6.4 out of 10
    Enterprises
    PTC Creo
    Score7.6 out of 10
    PTC Creo
    Score7.6 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    RhinoSOLIDWORKS
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.0
    (9 ratings)
    9.7
    (58 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    Usability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.9
    (5 ratings)
    Support Rating
    7.5
    (4 ratings)
    5.2
    (16 ratings)
    In-Person Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Online Training
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    RhinoSOLIDWORKS
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Robert McNeel and Associates
    One of the main highlights of Rhino is the built-in visual programming system "Grasshopper". It is widely used for parametric architectural design, by a variety of world-class architectural offices. It is also very popular within architectural schools and universities. Its usefulness has increased a lot by having add-ins, plug-ins, scripts, and integrations with Revit and ARCHICAD for BIM workflows.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Dassault Systemes
    As a mechanical engineer, it is one of the best tools to just start modeling and engineering with. The UI tools are intuitive and engineering analysis such Mold Analysis, FEA, are great! Other 3D CAD modeling tools have a longer learning curve to master. All in all, if you're not planning to design an entire airplane with large assembly files, then Solidworks is your tool!
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Robert McNeel and Associates
    • Parametric Modeling - Grasshopper allows for easy/rapid iterative process
    • White box renders display - looks great as a quick diagram export with no post-production required.
    • robust command prompts - rhino was originally made for industrial design and it flexes a lot of unique modeling commands that put it up there with SolidWorks
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Dassault Systemes
    • The collaborative work environment is a cool and useful feature where groups of people can work on the same model at the same time, and SOLIDWORKS ensures that you don't overwrite each other's work.
    • The ease and amount of customization options are very useful for creating a personalized and intuitive user interface, whether SOLIDWORKS is your native CAD package or not.
    • It is very easy to quickly edit a model you have already created. The software allows sketch and feature editing without having to take the time to actually enter the sketch/feature environment.
    • The use of configurations and configurations-specific dimensions in the same sketch is very useful for creating different forms of the same part
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Robert McNeel and Associates
    • Rhino has very limited sheet layout tools.
    • Grasshopper could be better integrated into the main interface.
    • Lack of backwards file compatibility can be frustrating.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Dassault Systemes
    • Save DWG 2D files in inches or metric easily, defaults to metric and has to be manually converted to inches
    • When using the sketch feature, the ability to disable ALL references. If I don't know the exact shape and I want to draw/adapt my design, it harshly interprets the references which have no value to me. The easiest exact is to think about when you have a Microsoft Word document that has a lot of formatting, photos, tabs, etc. If you accidentally hit the "enter" key, you can explode the formatting and everything goes crazy. SW does this to me, I just want to "doodle" my sketches, edit/delete/etc and not be bound by arbitrary references.
    • For the sketch feature, ability to use a DraftSight plugin of some sort. I'm super fast in DS, if I could draw using the commands in SW then I would probably never open DS again and convert to SW full time. Currently, I only use SW as a way to convert 3D files so I can build everything in DraftSight.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Robert McNeel and Associates
    No answers on this topic
    Dassault Systemes
    We have absolutely no reasons to not keep with SolidWorks for the foreseeable future.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Robert McNeel and Associates
    No answers on this topic
    Dassault Systemes
    I have been using SOLIDWORKS for around 12 years as of writing this review, so have learned where most things are and how they work. When first starting out it was quite daunting, but the interface is well laid out with like functions near each other which made finding new functions relatively easy.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Robert McNeel and Associates
    A majority of the support for Rhinoceros 3D does not come from the company itself, but from online forums and boards where other Rhinoceros 3D users outline their issues and solutions. The Rhinoceros 3D website does not offer much in-depth support and just outlines general how to's. At the same time, online forums allow for more specific issues to be addressed and solved by the Rhinoceros 3D community.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Dassault Systemes
    We have an unusual arrangement. We don’t pay for support, but we’re partnered with a VAR for second-tier support.
    I work with other users if I have questions but when we’ve had to ask the VAR, they always have answers. It appears that all of the VARs have access to a support platform from DS SOLIDWORKS that helps them answer most questions.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Robert McNeel and Associates
    It's hard to compare Rhino to other modeling software as Rhino is in a niche of its own. No other software (to my knowledge) is as customizable/programmable and has such a large community and such a large amount of free, open-source addons. Rhino (and Grasshopper) can be intimidating at first but once you get familiar with it and grow your toolbox with your own scripts, so much time will be saved
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Dassault Systemes
    Onshape is a direct competitor. It has great entry level pricing and it is easy to access with no installation required. Being a web based app there is sometime some lag being based in NZ. Management also have concerns over where the data is stored on the cloud. With SW we can control where it is stored
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Robert McNeel and Associates
    • Right away Rhino3D is useful for simple and accurate 3D model import, repair and export all in a variety of formats.
    • Rhino3D is easy to use and learn. The time to productivity is very short with this modeling tool.
    • The price is low for the value received, a great investment.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Dassault Systemes
    • Creation of small 3D pieces to generate cash flow.
    • Not being able to create 3D sculptures with this tool, and not being able to fulfill the client's requirements.
    • To be able to sell high visual quality simulations for companies that hire the service.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots