Studying architecture isn’t all about drawing building designs on drafting tables. With modern computers, the entire plan of a building can be rendered in a computer and checked for structural and design flaws before it even leaves the drawing board. This is more efficient, less wasteful, and a lot more convenient as well.
But to do this, you’re going to need a rendering software. This is what makes those designs into reality. Well, virtual reality anyway. With that in mind, here are some of the best rendering software for architects on the market that seriously deserve more recognition.
Best Rendering Software for Architects
1. Blender
There’s no complete list of rendering software without Blender on the list. There’s a good reason this is the renderer of choice for so many architects.
But why is it so popular? For the very good reason that it’s free. But just because it’s free doesn’t mean it’s useless. Quite the contrary, it’s one of the most powerful rendering tools that you can get your hands on.
With a plethora of features to provide you with any tool that you need to design houses, bridges, skyscrapers, and more, this is one of the complete rendering softwares on the list.
There is somewhat of a slight learning curve, but that’s easily solved with a few hours tinkering around with it.
Best of all, it’s got one of the most capable and helpful communities on the Internet. If you’re stuck at something, chances are there’s someone in the community that will help you, or there’s already a resource out there that’s got the answer you need.
2. Maxwell
Another software heavyweight on this list is Maxwell. Most architects would know of this software. And this is another one that’s also free to use and distribute. Maxwell combines an aesthetic user interface with a powerful set of rendering tools for everything that you may need in your designs.
And it’s been on the market for a very long time, making it one of the most supported software on the list. If you’re worried about long-term support and ease of use, then it makes sense to take a look at Maxwell. The community behind it is also helpful and supportive should you run into anything that you need help with.
But one of the best features about Maxwell is that it’s incredibly simple to learn. A lot of architecture students start off with Maxwell before even moving onto other software just because of how simple it is to use. This lets them understand and use other software without needing to relearn everything from the beginning.
3. Octane Render
True to its name, Octane Render is one of the best rendering software on the market, packing a truly powerful rendering engine with a ton of features at your disposal. If you’re already familiar with the rendering landscape, then it might be time to switch to Octane Render from other previous free software.
One of the biggest advantages of Octane Render is the rendering engine, which is incredibly powerful and a lot faster than traditional free software.
A relatively new entrant to the world of rendering software, it’s earned quite the reputation for itself from students and professionals alike.
This isn’t necessarily the best option to choose from if you’re looking for something cheap since a single license costs $399. But if you’re a professional and need one of the best renderers on the market for your work, then it makes sense to purchase this and boost your career prospects. Remember to be familiar with most other renderers, and you should be good to go.
4. Autodesk Revit
Autodesk Revit is another name that needs no introduction in the rendering community. It has one of the most powerful rendering engines on the market. It’s also got a powerful set of tools and a wide range of textures and models that you can play around with.
Also, you’re getting great customer support and even better community support. All of this makes this one of the best professional rendering software out there if you need something for professional use.
The BIM functionalities beyond simply make it one of the most extraordinary software one can learn and as Autodesk happily offers free educational licenses to students, it is accessible too ! Yes, Revit is not necessarily about rendering first hand but it does a decent job and considering how good it is at all the rest, it simply must be present in this list.
This product is marketed to professionals who already know what they’re doing and need this for their daily job. So, if you’re in the market for a soft that can realize pretty much everything, then this is what you should be taking a look at.
5. Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D is one of the lesser known products in this list, and that’s a shame. It’s got a decent set of features that most architects will find more than satisfactory. One of the biggest reasons it’s on this list is because of just how powerful it is.
If you spend enough time to learn all the tricks and hacks of Cinema 4D, then you’ll find this works way better than most of the other options on this list.
One other reason to choose Cinema 4D is if you want to stand out from the crowd of people using Blender and Autodesk, and go for something more offbeat, with your distinctive style.
Unfortunately, that style comes at a price, at $3510 a license. But if you’re sure that you can understand and master all the intricacies of Cinema 4D to create your unique style, then it might just be worth the investment. Go for it if you think it’s worth it.
6. Lumion 3D
At this point, you might be thinking what’s the major difference between Lumion and every other rendering software on this list. But Lumion does have a significant advantage, which they proudly tout in their marketing. It’s compatible with every other 3D rendering software on the market, making it incredibly useful if you’re dealing with students or fellow architects who have their preference in rendering software.
Regarding actual usability, Lumion shines in creating attractive renders with minimal effort. Another thing to note is that the user interface is one of the best out there, making this an absolute joy to use. This means that the learning curve on Lumion is incredibly user-friendly, making it a lot more “warm” to the touch than other offerings.
If you’re a student and you want to learn, there’s good news. Lumion offers students a free license. But if you’re a professional, the license is $1820 for the basic version and $2420 for the Pro version. But it’s not as expensive as some of the other options here.
7. Viz Render
Another offering from Autodesk, this is another popular option for architects. But the defining feature here is not that it does visualizations particularly well or anything like that. For the simple fact that it’s an Autodesk product, and that it makes learning other Autodesk products that much easier, it’s a great choice to go for. Best of all, it’s free.
So, if you’re planning on engrossing yourself into the Autodesk ecosystem, then it might be worth the effort to download this and give it a spin.
But apart from the introduction into Autodesk, it does visualizations pretty well and has a powerful set of tools and features that rival the other options in this list, even the paid ones.
If you’re stuck with something, there’s always the Autodesk community to help you out. So, if you feel that this is worth the time and effort to look into, then it certainly won’t cost you anything more than that. Give it a try and see if it’s to your liking.
8. Punch Home Design Studio
This isn’t the most powerful rendering suite on this list, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely useless. It’s one of the easiest to use, making it an excellent springboard to start learning if you’re interested in learning how to create architectural visualizations.
From creating basic visualizations to advanced renders, Punch Home Design Studio can certainly help you do all of that, while teaching you everything that you need to know about rendering and architectural visualizations as a whole.
Although it’s not free, it’s not as inaccessibly expensive as some of the other tools on this list. Coming in at $25 on Amazon, it’s one of the most affordable pieces of rendering software that you’ll find.
But get this only if you’re planning for some basic home renders and room visualizations. For things more advanced than that, you’re going to want something with a bit more bite and punch. Overall, it is a great way to start off your journey into rendering, with enough, but not over-the-top features, and a good community to help out.
9. VRAY
This is arguably the king of rendering software. From 3DS Max, the inventors of computer graphics, this software has remained at the pinnacle of architectural rendering. And for good reason. This is one of the most, if not the most powerful rendering engine available on the market today.
With an exhaustive list of tools and features to visualize anything from a small room to a skyscraper, the sky is the limit with VRAY.
With what I’m describing, you’re probably preparing yourself for one hefty price tag. But you’ll be glad to hear that’s not the case. Compared to some other offerings on this list, it’s competitively priced, at $730 for a license.
But there is another caveat with the price. You can get a free trial and see if you are comfortable using it. Only after that do you have to make a purchase. So, if you’re looking for one rendering software that does it all and does it in style, then this is where your search should stop at.
10. Corona
Corona Renderer is one of the newer rendering software on the market. It has a standard license that costs $530, or you can choose to pay a monthly subscription, which starts at
But how it performs as a renderer is what makes it stand out. It allows deep integration with 3DS Max, giving you the full freedom to employ complex 3D models without having to worry about compatibility and complexity concerns.
While it isn’t as fast as some of the other software on this list like VRAY or Octane Render, it certainly does the job well.
Another thing to note is that while it isn’t a complete rendering software, if we take into account the factor that this is meant to be an architectural visualization, then it certainly gets the job done in spades. If that is your use case, then it makes sense to go for it. Just remember to see if the subscription or one-time purchase is better for you.
Final Words
In a way, rendering software are like pens. Every person has their preference, regardless of whether or not it’s the best. But that’s not a bad thing. Some people are better working with certain tools than others.
If you’re looking to make a switch from your previous rendering software or need something that can introduce you to the world of rendering, the best rendering software for architects mentioned above should do quite nicely.
Source : www.architecturelab.net
