5 Best 3D Rendering Software For Architects (Ranked and Reviewed)
Building your dream home? Getting ready to start that small business you have always been dreaming of? Or maybe you are building out a new addition to your home.
Sitting through the constriction process can be a long time to wait for your dreams and ideas to come into reality. Thanks to 3D rendering software, you can now see your building and design projects in more clarity and detail than ever.
In this article, we will be discussing the best 3D rendering software for architects and designers.
3D rendering software is a powerful tool for architects and owners alike. You have the ability to visualize the end product very early in the design and make changes and tweaks before they become costly to change orders.
Most computers and laptops can be used for 3D rendering which gives you the ability to work on your own project or work hand in hand with your architect or designer.
If playing designer sounds fun to you, let’s get into the list of the best 3D rendering software for Architects.
What Is The Best 3D Rendering Software For Architects?
- Best For The Home User: Sketchup
- Best For Professional Use: Autodesk Revit
- Best High-End Plug-In: Enscape
- Best Plug-in For Casual User: Twinmotion
- Best For Interior Designers: HomeByMe
1. Sketchup
Best For The Home User
Sketchup At A Glance:
Sketchup is a 3D modeling tool that allows architects, designers, and other creators to bring their ideas to life in a digital space. Made with the user in mind, Sketchup is easy to use and can is a stand-alone platform. You will model shapes in 3D and then apply textures and patterns to the surfaces to help you develop realistic 3D models and renderings.
Use SketchUp to generate realistic models, 3D renderings, and plan and design drawings.
Sketchup also has a variety of platforms and collaboration aspects that help you design from anywhere and with anyone.
Benefits
- Easy to learn and easy to use
- Quickly build real scale models and generate 3D renderings quickly.
- Generate detailed designs
- Transition designs into documentation for building
- Bring in satellite imagery to design with context
- Virtual Reality Connectivity
Pricing
- SketchUp Go 199/year
- SketchUp Pro: 299/year
- SketchUp Studio 699/year
Pro
- Learn to use the program quickly
- Access to a plethora of pre-built models
- Model on the go and from a work station
- Additional extensions allow you to customize your program
- Collaborate and share your work with the team
Cons
- Some commands can be difficult to use
- Creating drawings may be more difficult to learn
Google sketch up is a great tool for architects and designers. The ability to create models quickly and accurately is great for productivity. Being able to model and create renderings in one program is a bonus feature.
SketchUp is available in a couple of different tiers and can be tailored to suit your design and rendering needs. Whether you are a beginner or a hobby designer, SketchUp is a great tool to use if you are getting into design and visualization.
Ready to give it a try? Try the free 30 day trial
2. Autodesk Revit
Best For Professional Use
Revit At A Glance:
Autodesk Revit (commonly referred to as just “Revit”) is a powerful design and modeling tool used by many architects, engineers, and designers. Revit can be used to build fully integrated building models for large and small projects.
Modeling everything in 3D gives the user the ability to quickly show of 3D renderings in a variety of styles from wire frame, to realistic styles with shadows. Because of how Revit is set up, you can quickly integrate 3D models into 2D construction and presentation drawings and plan elements.
Benefits
- Work in the 3D space to build powerful and accurate designs
- Coordinate between multiple models with links
- Cloud-based storage available with AutodeskBIM 360
- Load in a variety of file types
- Easily transition to drawing documentation
- Load in a variety of Add ins for even better rendering and design tools
- Access a variety of components in parts libraries.
Pricing
Get Revit for: $268/month
Pro
- Build large or small models with logical and practical modeling tools
- Easily turn 3D models into 3D renderings and 2D plans
- Collaborate with multiple revit models
- Insert multiple file types for reference and coordination
- Design and build anything you can imagine
Con
- There is a learning curve
- Some features can be hard to integrate into model
- Somethings have specific workflows that need to be followed
Having used Revit all of my career, I can say it is a very powerful tool and has the ability to create 3D models quickly and accurately. Being able to collaborate with multiple models keeps individual models safe while working with large multi-discipline teams. You can use Revit to generate powerful 3D renderings and insert them right onto a sheet in one program.
Revit is a go-to program for design professionals. It is probably the best 3D modeling software for architects and engineers that focus on the design and integration of building projects.
If you are interested in Revit, there is a free trial you can take for a spin.
3. Twinmotion
Best Plug-in For Casual User
Twinmotion At A Glance:
Twinmotion is a stand-alone program or can also be an add-on for programs like Autodesk Revit, Rhino, and SketchUp Pro. This program allows the user to create high-quality visuals, shift into VR space and work in real-time to fine-tune their final 3D renderings,
Twinmotion creates high-quality visualizations and runs state-of-the-art rendering tools like ray tracing and photorealistic quality textures.
Benefits
- Run as a standalone program or integrate with your favorite 3D modeling software.
- Shift easily between modeling software and Twinmotion with minimal clicks
- Interactive creation allows you to adjust the renderings in real time.
- Adjust lighting conditions to see your project from a variety of conditions
- Twinmotion comes with over 10,000 high-quality assets
- Easily export your work to share for presentations and collaboration
Pricing
Twinmotion is free for the casual user and educators.
If you are using this for commercial purposes: $499
Twimmotion also comes included with Autodesk Revit
Pro
- Easy to use
- Available add in on many major modeling platforms
- Export standard, panoramic of 360 VR images
- Great price point
Con
- You might have to spend some time in the setting to get the rendering product the way you want.
The integration of this software into more common modeling tools like Revit makes design and modeling work convenient. Being able to adjust models and shift back into Twinmotion with minimal clicks makes the design run smoothly. Clients and users alike appreciate being able to generate 3D renderings quickly.
Twinmotion is great for full-time architects, designers, and casual user. If you are ready to take the plunge into this 3D rendering software, they offer a free trial.
4. Enscape
Best High-End Plug In
Enscape At A Glance:
Enscape is a real-time visualization tool that integrates with your favorite 3D modeling software. Use Enscape to create 3D renderings that you can walk through in real-time. This 3D rendering software is made for architects and focuses on creating immersive and high-quality experiences for designers and clients alike.
Whether you are looking at 3D renderings in a presentation or walking through the space in a VR sense, Enscape has options to let you create and style your models in real-time.
Benefits
- Work with Enscape in real-time in your favorite modeling software
- Create high-end renderings with different styles, lighting, and skies.
- Large asset library lets you customize rendering to match clients’ intent
- Create walk-through videos to help present design intent
- Walk and work on your models through VR in realtime
- Collaboration feature lets your team work together quickly
Pricing
Fixed License: 42.90/mo
Floating License: 74.90/mo
Pro
- Easy to use
- Create high-quality renderings quickly
- Quickly change the material and look of your model
- Change the 3D rendering with simple asset and atmosphere adjustments
Con
- Might need a powerful computer to run properly
- Price
Generating high-quality renderings while having a large number of tools to adjust on the fly is a helpful design tool for architects. Bringing clients in to collaborate on their designs in real-time helps them feel involved and makes for efficient use of their time. Whether in VR or working in the model in real-time lets decisions be made quickly without long email chains or multiple design sessions.
Enscape is a great tool if you want real-time feedback for your 3D rendering. There are lots of options and content that you can import to make your renderings as life-like and compelling as you wish.
Ready for a free trial? Take 14 days and check out Enscape for your self
5. HomeByMe
Best Rendering Software For Interior Designers
HomeByMe At A Glance:
This software lets homeowners and small design studios alike develop floor plans in 2D and create 3D renderings from them. Use this tool as a way to finalize your next DIY home project or put the finishing touches on your store remodel.
Benefits
- Mobil app lets you bring your design onsite or on the go
- HomeByMe community is a great place to find inspiration and get feedback or exchange ideas
- Incorporate real brand name furniture into your designs
- Generate renderings you can share with friends, family, and contractors alike.
- Export plans to Draftsight (HomeByMe Pro)
Pricing:
Free for the casual user
- HomeByMe Pro Premium Plan: $25/mo
- HomeByMe Pro Unlimited+ Plan $53/mo
Pro
- Easy to use
- Work in 2D before adding the 3D element
- Having realistic model elements helps with space and layout
- Shifting design into drafting space is convenient
- Great for interior designed focused project
- Price is great for DIYers
Con
- Can be limited on quality or options for renderings
HomeByMe is a great option for the homeowner or someone looking to visualize their project. The option to create 3D renderings and ease of use is helpful for someone that does not work in design every day. The community is also a great addition to help people looking for design inspiration.
If you are looking for a program that will help with a casual project or need a way to easily design a 2D floor plan but also want the option to do some 3D modeling, HomeByMe is a great choice.
Sign up today for free and get your next project started.
Other Questions You Might Be Asking
What Is 3D Rendering vs 3D Modeling?
3D modeling and 3D rendering are sequentially related to each other. In other words, the rendering can not happen without the modeling.
Since rendering is creating 2D images of a 3D model, having a 3D model is a critical place to start.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- 3D Modeling is the art of building a digital representation of a design or an existing condition based on real-life measurements, design criteria, and other project parameters. A 3D model is often built and polished before it is ready to be rendered regardless of the stage of the project.
- 3D Rendering is taking the digital model and creating it into 2D pictures and displaying content. The 3D model can be shown in a variety of ways, from street view, and birds eye view, to cross sections, and wireframe models.
Can I Do 3D Rendering Your Self?
The simple answer to this question is yes. But there are a couple things you need to know first. 3D rendering is the process of turning a 3D model into a 2D image. These 2D images are used for presentations, design discussions, collaboration, and other things related to the design process.
There are many other steps that get you to eventually be able to 3D render images. For instance, you should be able to build digital models of what you want to Render.
You cant sculpt something without the clay right? Making sure you have the fundamentals down of modeling first will help you get better results in 3D rendering space quicker.
Is It Hard To Learn 3D Rendering?
Learning 3D rendering is like learning any other computer program. There are workflows and sequences that you need to understand before publishing your work.
You can typically plan to have a good understanding of 3D rendering with about 2 to 3 weeks of working with the programs.
It should be noted that having a good understanding of the 3D modeling software will help you in your rendering goals also. Something to keep in mind.
What Is Needed For 3D Rendering?
3D rendering can require a powerful computer. If you are interested in creating the highest quality images as possible, you will need to computer power to back it up.
Focus on a high-quality graphics card first. If you are looking for a new computer for this effort, you should consider the most powerful graphics card you can afford.
Buying at the cutting edge of technology now will safeguard your computer for the next few years while programs continue to evolve and develop new ways to model.
Also, make sure that you have the CPU and the RAM to support your graphics card. Producing high-quality graphics requires a lot of attention from your computer.
The Wrap Up
3D rendering software for Architects is an important tool in today’s world. The need to showcase and convey design intent is crucial as projects get more and more complicated and construction costs continue to raise.
The best 3D rendering software for architects is Autodesk Revit. Being able to model and create 3D renderings in one program is a good return on investment. Not to mention you now can incorporate Twinmotion into Revit with no additional cost. Giving you the opportunity to create high-quality renderings all within a single program at one price point.
