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Rhino

Rhino

Overview

What is Rhino?

Robert 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…

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Rhino 3D has found a wide range of applications across multiple industries. One of its key use cases is in the field of architectural …
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Multi use 3D software

10 out of 10
March 23, 2020
Rhino assists in shoe performance analysis, application of leather textures (upper, which covers and protects the upper part of the foot) …
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Great for 3D

8 out of 10
January 16, 2020
Incentivized
I use Rhinoceros 3D as a design tool for studio and other architecture courses as a graduate student pursuing my Masters of Architecture. …
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Pricing

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Rhino 3D for Windows & Mac

$995

On Premise
one-time fee

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.rhino3d.com/en/sales/north…

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

Starting price (does not include set up fee)

  • $995 one-time fee
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Product Demos

ExactFlat for Rhinoceros 3D: Overview

YouTube
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Product Details

What is Rhino?

Robert 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.

Special features include:
  • Uninhibited free-form 3D modeling tools, or model any shape.
  • Accuracy needed to design, prototype, engineer, analyze, and manufacture anything from an airplane to jewelry.
  • Compatibility with other design, drafting, CAM, engineering, analysis, rendering, animation, and illustration software.
  • Read and repair meshes and extremely challenging IGES files.
  • Development platform for hundreds of specialty 3D products.
  • Available for Windows or Mac on a perpetual license for a one-time fee.

Rhino Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise
Operating SystemsWindows, Mac
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Robert 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.

Rhino starts at $995.

Reviewers rate Support Rating highest, with a score of 7.5.

The most common users of Rhino are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(47)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Rhino 3D has found a wide range of applications across multiple industries. One of its key use cases is in the field of architectural design, where it proves valuable during the early stages of concept design and 3D modeling involving complex geometry or parametric design. Users have praised Rhino 3D for its ability to provide true design freedom, without the limitations found in other 3D design programs, making it a popular choice among architecture students and professionals alike.

In addition to architecture, Rhino 3D is also highly valued in precision industries such as optics. Users have reported that the software excels in handling complex shapes and maintaining continuity, enabling them to produce intricate designs with precision. This makes Rhino 3D a powerful tool for industries where accuracy and attention to detail are paramount.

Another significant use case of Rhino 3D is its role as a programmable bridge between different AEC software. Users have found that the software's interoperability with Revit has improved, allowing for seamless integration and facilitating the translation of Rhino sketches into the Revit environment. This automation not only streamlines the construction document workflow but also saves time by automating repetitive tasks.

Furthermore, Rhino 3D's rendering capabilities have been praised by users for generating realistic images that enhance the visualization of designs. Architects and interior designers find this feature invaluable when presenting their ideas to clients, as it allows them to create visually stunning and immersive experiences that help clients envision the final outcome.

Overall, Rhino 3D's versatility and performance make it a go-to tool in various domains such as architectural design, industrial design, shipbuilding, jewelry design, optics, and more. Its ability to handle complex geometries, offer true design freedom, streamline workflows through automation, and produce visually appealing renderings has made it an essential part of many professionals' toolkits.

Versatile Feature Set: Many users have praised Rhino 3D for its wide range of features, including freeform modeling, parametric design, and seamless import/export capabilities. This versatility allows for flexibility in creating and modifying designs to meet specific needs.

Efficient Parametric Modeling: Reviewers appreciate the efficient parametric modeling capabilities of Rhino 3D, which enable easy modification of models. The integration with Grasshopper also allows for a rapid iterative process in designing, enhancing productivity and creativity.

Seamless Collaboration: Rhino 3D's lightweight models have been commended by users as they seamlessly integrate with other AEC software. This makes it easier to collaborate with professionals from various disciplines, enhancing communication and teamwork throughout the design process.

Limited 2D CAD functionality: Some users have found that Rhino 3D is not well optimized for pure 2D CAD drafting, with a number of reviewers suggesting that other software options may be more suitable for this purpose.

Challenges with compatibility: Several users have expressed frustration with the way drawings display in Rhino 3D compared to AutoCAD. This discrepancy can make it difficult for users who are accustomed to working in AutoCAD and may require additional effort to adjust to Rhino's display features.

Performance issues with parametric models: Numerous reviewers have reported experiencing slowdowns when working with extensive parametric models in Rhino 3D, resulting in decreased performance. This limitation can impact productivity and workflow efficiency for users handling complex projects.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-3 of 3)
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Stefan Boeykens | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Rhino or Rhinoceros 3D is a general-purpose CAD system, which is targeted mainly at freeform 3D modelling. It is specialised in NURBS modelling, but it also has toolsets for Mesh Modelling and (recently) Subdivision Modelling. It is not aimed at one particular domain but is widely used for architectural design, industrial design and specialised domains, such as shipbuilding and jewellery design.
  • Freeform modeling.
  • Parametric design.
  • Import and export to other 3D software.
  • For pure 2D CAD drafting, other software may be more optimised.
  • DWG support is decent, but drawings don't always display like they do in AutoCAD.
  • Very extensive parametric models really slow down the software.
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.
  • Grasshopper (visual programming).
  • Efficient and flexible CAD software that runs on macOS (as well as Windows).
  • Educational license never expires and allows commercial usage.
  • I have been quite successful in developing two video courses on Udemy for Rhino and Grasshopper.
  • I frequently use it instead of AutoCAD or SketchUp.
Rhino is a generic platform. For BIM, you can combine it with Revit or ARCHICAD or look for extensions, such as VisualArq or the GeometyGym extensions for Grasshopper. Due to its good interoperability, I often use it for reviewing AutoCAD drawings or converting 3D models. That said, the most efficient and fast mesh modeling for non-organic geometry is still SketchUp, due to its many smart approaches to automatic mesh cleanup.
Antoine Carpentier, E.I.T | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
My organization uses Rhinoceros 3D in different ways:
  • When quickly iterating through different designs during the schematic design phase of a project.
    Rhino is perfect for parametric modeling. It allows to easily change for example the span of a bay, or the number of joists between two girders simply by using a slider.
  • As a presentation software.
    Most modeling software quickly feel sluggish when a project starts to grow big which can be a problem when sharing our model with stakeholders during live presentations. Rhino is always fast and smooth, making it ideal for this purpose.
  • As a programmable bridge between different AEC software we use.
    Thanks to Grasshopper (which is a user-friendly v
    isual programming language and environment included in Rhino), it is possible to automate various repetitive tasks and save time and some sanity when putting together construction documents.
    Rhino quickly becomes the central hub linking all your analysis models and Revit models together, allowing you to overlap them to highlight differences and even import elements from one model to another.
    There is a learning curve to Grasshopper but it allows the user to gain full control over the workflow of their modeling tasks.

  • Parametric modeling
  • Fully programmable
  • Lightweight models
  • Integration with other AEC software
  • Sharp learning curve
  • Not meant to create construction documents - need for another software
Rhinoceros 3D is very well-suited for buildings with repetitive bay layouts as a design can be quickly be updated (span, number of bay, height etc) simply by updating a couple numerical sliders.
It is also well suited to quickly update one model (for example Revit) based on the changes in another model (either another Revit model or an analysis model).

Rhinoceros 3D is not well-suited for teams that are not interested in learning GrassHopper as most of Rhino's value is in GrassHopper.
  • grasshopper
  • Rhino.Inside.Revit
  • Parametric
  • Customisable/Programmable
  • 2 hours saved per week and per model when comparing our structural Revit models to the weekly architectural Revit models we receive
  • Reduce by 90% the time needed to import elements from other AEC software
  • A LOT of sanity preserved, which is invaluable
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.
August 10, 2021

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Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Rhinoceros 3D is used for rapid iteration and precision/unique modeling at our company. We use Revit for documentation, but there are many cases where Rhino is much easier and faster to take a look at things. With the latest version(s) of Revit, interoperability with Rhino has never been easier, so you can bring your Rhino sketches to life in the Revit world.
  • 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
  • Sometimes large files become slow to save
  • while it can beat the crap out of Revit in modeling, for documentation it is not as streamlined.
Rhino is definitely well suited for getting fast iterations out in the world for people to react to. it is also really nice if you can use grasshopper to be able to parametrically control geometry at your will. It is also great for then taking that geometry into Revit for final documentation. I would, however, want to document a whole set in Rhino, it would basically be like doing so in AutoCAD. While it lacks in that area, there are many young designers being trained in thinking outside the box with Rhino as their pencil. Without this artistic medium, I fear all buildings would become boring boxes.
  • Grasshopper / Parametric Modeling
  • Rapid Iteration
  • Design Thinking vs. Documentation
  • Personally a lot of really cool designs have made it into the real world thanks to my good friend Rhino. Being in the architecture, the ROI is elevated design through giving talented designers the right tool to pull it off.
Our company has all of these products listed above. In the design field, it would be misguided to think that one tool is all you need for a collection of staff with varying levels of expertise. It's not a question of 'one or the other', but rather how can they all contribute to the crazy whirlwind we call "a Project". When I was brought onto this company I advocated to get some Rhino licenses because we did not have any. The main reason to do this is that I and other people within the firm already are trained in Rhino and are able to do things you just couldn't or wouldn't want to do in Revit, Sketchup, or AutoCAD.
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