--- title: Rhino 3D canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/rhino-3d/ category: 3D Modeling Software points: 48 rank: 4 of 9 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Rhino 3D NURBS modeler sold as a one-off licence for Windows and Mac, with Grasshopper and a 90-day evaluation. 48 points out of 100. #4 of 9 3D modeling programs. Vendor: Robert McNeel & Associates. Website: https://www.rhino3d.com/ - A commercial single-user Rhino 8 licence costs €995 [1]. - The vendor says all purchased licences are permanent and do not expire, with no maintenance fees [1]. - Spread over 36 months, the one-off price comes to about €27.64 a month [1]. - A full version can be tried once for 90 days [2]. - Students and faculty pay €195, not free [1]. Verdict: Rhino suits people who want NURBS and SubD modeling, Grasshopper and a licence they keep, on Windows or Mac [1][3]. The 90-day evaluation is long, and exports cover FBX, OBJ, glTF, STL, USD and STEP [2][4]. The catch: no free version, no Linux, web or iPad edition, and prices are shown in euros [1][3]. Best for: Designers who want precise curve and surface modeling and prefer to buy once. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Other systems | macOS | 2/8 | The features page says Rhino is available on Windows and macOS only [3]. | | Licence | Free version without a time limit | No | 0/10 | The buy page lists paid licences; the download page offers only a 90-day evaluation [1][2]. | | Licence | Free version allowed for paid work | No | 0/6 | There is no free version to use for paid work [1]. | | Licence | One-off licence you keep | Yes | 8/8 | Buy page: "All purchased licenses are permanent and do not expire" [1]. | | Licence | Open source | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the vendor's buy or features pages [1][3]. | | Licence | Free licence for students | No | 0/4 | Students and faculty pay €195 for a licence; that is a discount, not free [1]. | | Modelling tools | Precise curve and solid modeling | Yes | 5/5 | Features page: Rhino can create and edit NURBS curves, surfaces and solids [3]. | | Modelling tools | Digital sculpting | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the features page, which lists SubD and mesh editing but no sculpting brushes [3]. | | Modelling tools | Node-based procedural modeling | Yes | 5/5 | Features page: Grasshopper, a graphical algorithm editor, is included with Rhino [3]. | | Modelling tools | Rigging and animation | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the features page. Bongo, a separate paid add-on, covers animation [1][3]. | | Modelling tools | Physics simulation | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's features page [3]. | | Modelling tools | UV unwrapping | Yes | 4/4 | Features page lists UV mapping with a floating UV Editor and unwrapping algorithms [3]. | | Modelling tools | Built-in ray-traced renderer | Yes | 5/5 | Rhino comes with the Rhino Render raytracing engine built in [5]. | | Modelling tools | Scripting and add-ons | Yes | 5/5 | Developer site documents RhinoCommon, Rhino.Python and a plug-in SDK [6]. | | Formats | Built-in export formats | FBX, OBJ, glTF, STL, USD, STEP | 6/6 | File-format table shows save and export for all six on Windows and Mac; USD export only [4]. | | Price | Cheapest way to use it for paid work | $30.92/mo | 5/12 | Commercial licence €995 divided by 36 months; the buy page shows euros only [1]. Converted at €1 = $1.1186 [7]. | | Price | Full-feature trial | Yes | 3/3 | The download page offers the full version for a one-time 90-day evaluation [2]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Commercial | €995 [1] | - | | Students or faculty | €195 [1] | - | Prices are in euros before tax; the vendor says international prices may vary. Upgrades from a previous version cost €595 [1]. ## Strengths - One-off licence: purchased licences are permanent and do not expire [1]. - A full version can be evaluated for 90 days [2]. - Lists NURBS curves, surfaces and solids, SubD, a UV editor and Rhino Render [3]. - Grasshopper graphical algorithm editor is included with Rhino [3]. - Exports FBX, OBJ, glTF, STL, USD and STEP on Windows and Mac [4]. ## Limits - No free version; the buy page lists only paid licences [1]. - Windows and macOS only; no Linux, web or iPad edition is named [3]. - The buy page shows prices in euros only [1]. - Upgrading to a new major version costs extra, from €595 [1]. - The features page names no mesh sculpting, physics simulation or bones-and-timeline rigging [3]. ## Sources 1. [Buy Rhino 8](https://www.rhino3d.com/buy/), McNeel, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Download Rhino](https://www.rhino3d.com/download/), McNeel, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Rhino features](https://www.rhino3d.com/features/), McNeel, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Rhino file formats](https://www.rhino3d.com/features/file-formats/), McNeel, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Rhino rendering](https://www.rhino3d.com/features/rendering/), McNeel, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Rhino developer tools](https://developer.rhino3d.com/), McNeel, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Euro foreign exchange reference rates: US dollar](https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/eurofxref-graph-usd.en.html), European Central Bank, accessed 2026-10-08