Revit vs Rhino

Architecture software is an umbrella term that covers a wide range of software solutions. These solutions and their categories also tend to overlap, causing confusion for less knowledgeable users. The architecture software market is also extremely competitive, with a wide range of solutions from many companies and platforms.

In these circumstances, picking a specific software solution can be challenging for both individuals and companies. What we can recommend here first is to learn about the distinction between the CAD and BIM fields. Both categories of software technically fall under the term architectural software, although their purposes differ drastically. This knowledge is important for comparing the specific solutions later on.

CAD vs BIM

CAD stands for “computer-aided design.” It is a methodology that involves the use of workstations to generate or improve project designs. It can be applied to both 2D illustrations and 3D models, and was originally introduced in the 1960s, making it a much older concept than BIM. CAD solutions have long served as the primary software for project visualization, offering a wide array of specialized customization tools.

BIM stands for “building information modeling” (or “building information management”). It is a methodology that revolves around creating and developing data-rich project models. A BIM model plays a valuable role in improving every aspect of the construction project lifecycle, from the design phase to post-construction facility maintenance.

In the context of BIM, components within a model are referred to as “objects” instead of individual design elements. For example, CAD software typically creates sketches with lines of different shapes and sizes. BIM solutions, on the other hand, use “objects” such as walls, windows, doors, roofs, and other architectural components as the primary design elements.

One of the biggest contributors to the common confusion between CAD and BIM solutions is the presence of bare-bones CAD capabilities in certain BIM applications. At the same time, the field of BIM software is large and varied enough by itself, with many solutions not possessing any model modification capabilities in the first place. For example, a BIM data management solution is still considered BIM software despite the complete absence of modeling capabilities.

Researching CAD and BIM software can take a long time for a number of reasons, including both the general variety of features and the abundance of options to choose from. As such, the best bet is to find relevant articles like this one, which provides extensive information on the capabilities of each solution we talk about to simplify the process of choosing a single software application.

Our goal is to offer comprehensive insights and compare a small selection of software applications in different categories in order to create a better picture of what each application is best at. In this particular article, we compare Autodesk Revit with Rhinoceros, two prominent options on the BIM and CAD markets, respectively.

Revit vs Rhino

Revit

At its core, Revit is a BIM solution, and part of the extensive portfolio of software solutions from the renowned corporation Autodesk. The primary purpose of Revit is to enhance construction project performance across different domains, enabling the creation of structures that are more energy-efficient, produce less waste, and require fewer revisions or reworks down the line. Revit showcases its versatility by seamlessly integrating with architectural design, structural engineering, and MEP systems, among other functionalities.

Functioning as a dedicated BIM solution, Revit operates with information-rich project models that function as a centralized data repository accessible to all project participants. This, in turn, leads to a noticeable enhancement in the overall decision-making process, as well as streamlined collaborative efforts, higher quality construction endeavors, and more. BIM models generated through Revit consistently maintain their integrity and currency, functioning effectively as a “single source of truth” about the current project status. This results in substantially fewer instances of miscommunication and rework, among other benefits.

Rhino

Rhino is an exceptional 3D modeling solution that offers accurate free-moving design and plenty of CAD-centric features. It can work both as a primary CAD tool or as a supplementary drawing solution for designs, renders, illustrations, animation, etc. While most CAD software is primarily oriented towards handling straight lines and basic geometric shapes, Rhino was conceived as a specialized tool focused on manipulating curved lines right from the beginning.

Rhino’s unconventional approach to geometric manipulation makes it an unparalleled tool for creating objects with unconventional elements or curves: intricate architectural components, supercase, and even human facial features. It is a very adaptable solution that also has a dedicated add-on environment capable of improving existing features of the software or introducing new ones.

Pricing and Features

Revit

Autodesk Revit can offer two different pricing models – a subscription-based one and Autodesk Flex.

Autodesk Revit subscription can be purchased in three different packs:

• $365 for one month
• $2,910 for one year
• $8,730 for three years

Autodesk Flex is a pay-as-you-go pricing model that uses tokens to provide access to some of Autodesk’s features, including Autodesk Revit. Autodesk Revit’s price in tokens is 10 tokens per day, and there are several different token packages that a user can purchase on the Autodesk website:

• $300 for 300 tokens
• $1,500 for 1,500 tokens
• A custom token amount

The majority of Revit’s features are built around its purpose as a BIM platform. It has a robust parametric modeling engine that makes it possible to propagate changes automatically throughout all connected documents and elements. It also excels in its documentation capabilities, and its set of collaborative features is also impressive, with robust clash detection capabilities and easy operation within the same model for multiple project teams at once.

Rhino

Rhino3D’s pricing model is fairly simple – a perpetual license for the software costs $995 for both the Windows and Mac version, there are no maintenance fees, and both newer versions and customer support are included in the package. It should also be possible to upgrade older versions of the software for $595 per user.

Rhino is a design solution with a completely different perspective than Revit. It relies on free-form Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines modeling capabilities, which give Rhino incredible flexibility in complex geometry, making it an excellent choice for generating organic shapes, curved surfaces, and other complex objects. It also has a set of dedicated commands to precisely control the creation and manipulation of geometries, and its Grasshopper visual programming interface simplifies the creation of parametric relationships and generative algorithms without traditional coding knowledge. Rhino is a much more modeling-focused solution than Revit, with exceptional interoperability and support for many different rendering engines such as Enscape or V-Ray, but it does lack native documentation tools and several other aspects of BIM environments.

Long-Term Cost of Ownership

Of course, all business software should also be reviewed from the standpoint of the long-term cost of ownership beyond the initial licensing fees. The long-term financial implications of each solution help businesses make sustainable technological investments without stretching their budgets.

Revit’s subscription model starts off with a significant annual investment that scales depending on team size and other factors. The ongoing hardware demands of the platform also play a part in the increased cost of ownership, and its steep learning curve demands that substantial time and resources be spent on training. Most businesses must also customize the solution to a certain degree, which can also be treated as another factor in the total cost of ownership. There is also the issue of ecosystem integration with other Autodesk products, which can technically create added value, but it also leads to the need for complementary subscriptions in order for these integrations to bear any fruit.

Rhino uses a perpetual licensing model with a much lower long-term expenditure trajectory. While it does offer upgrades for each major version as an additional purchase, they are all completely optional and are only required approximately every 1-2 years. The solution is also surprisingly modest when it comes to hardware requirements, considering that it is a fully-fledged CAD environment (which are known for being extremely resource-heavy). The abundance of free learning resources and the moderately steep learning curve reduce the total necessary training investments, as well. However, there are also factors, such as the plugin ecosystem, that create potential additional costs to obtain specialized functionality.

Certification and Training

Professional development in the context of specific architectural solutions tends to vary significantly from one case to another. It is possible to learn a lot about the market positioning and underlying philosophy of software applications through their certification structures and training approaches. Each educational ecosystem has the potential to impact both long-term skill potential and immediate productivity, making this information invaluable.

Revit

Autodesk provides a certification framework for Revit that highlights a comprehensive career progression path from basic Certified User to full-fledged Professional in the field. Autodesk Learning is a structured educational platform with clear assessment methods and skill-based benchmarks. The certification process itself evaluates user competency across not only building fundamentals but also collaboration protocols and documentation standards (with the help of rigorous proctored exams).

Revit’s learning ecosystem also extends beyond all official channels to include many specialized training partners and massive community knowledge bases. A large part of any educational investment in this case is a massive time commitment, with most proficiency milestones taking months instead of weeks to complete. There are also several specialization paths to choose from, allowing professionals to focus their efforts on the structural, architectural, or MEP disciplines after getting a firm grasp of the core competencies.

Rhino

Rhino’s certification options are significantly more limited, with two of the primary options for credentials being the McNeel-recognized Rhinoceros Level 1 and Level 2 certificates, which focus on modeling proficiency above all else. Rhino’s approach to learning emphasizes the acquisition of practical skills using project-based tutorials, with a lower number of comprehensive theoretical frameworks. There are also Grasshopper certifications that exist on a separate basis, since they are responsible for validating computational design skills instead of modeling capabilities.

With that being said, the topic of educational resources is a lot better for Rhino. There are many sources for such content, including many user-generated tutorials and even university-developed curriculum materials in addition to official documentation. The skill development process in this case is much more exploratory in comparison with many of its alternatives, encouraging experimentation and problem-solving instead of going through standardized workflows and learning frameworks. Community learning is also an important part of Rhino’s onboarding, especially in the area of advanced skill acquisition. Many forums and user groups can offer valuable assistance with troubleshooting and knowledge sharing, keeping the knowledge of professionals relevant and effective..

Compatibility and Versatility

Software integration capabilities have a substantial impact on workflow efficiency, determining how each tool can operate in a broader technological environment. Cross-platform compatibility and file exchange capabilities are surprisingly important when it comes to defining the practical value of solutions in a collaborative environment. With this in mind, we can say that the overall versatility of an application across different types of project determines its total utility in the long-term.

Revit

Even though Revit has a native file format that has the status of an industry standard in most BIM workflows (.RVT), it can be challenging to work with when it comes to information exchange with non-Autodesk software. IFC support does offer a certain degree of standardized data exchange, but the level of detail it can actually transfer varies greatly depending on the receiving platform and the export settings. Cloud collaboration in Revit is conducted mostly using the Autodesk Construction Cloud environment, which is powerful and versatile but also necessitates that all participants adopt the Autodesk ecosystem in the first place.

Revit is substantially limited in the early conceptual design phase, which relies a lot on the exploration of fluid forms. Meanwhile, discipline-specific templates can help improve adaptability in different types of project without disrupting the consistency of data structures, and complete API access provides the ability to develop completely custom tools for specialized workflows, even if the development process can be demanding and expensive.

Rhino

Rhino’s capabilities from an interoperability standpoint are exceptional. It supports a massive number of file formats (OBJ, DXF, DWG, 3DM, etc), making it an effective tool for translation between different software platforms. It also has a number of plugin extensions that improve the original capabilities of the solution, making BIM-like functionality possible without sacrificing geometric flexibility in the process. Cloud collaboration is made possible by Rhino Compute, providing browser-based access to computational design tools without the necessity of local installation.

Rhino excels in cross-disciplinary applications ranging from urban planning to product design and fabrication, extending its influence far beyond the traditional building design. Grasshopper integration can dramatically expand the versatility of the solution using algorithmic approaches to problem solving, and several development frameworks offer virtually unlimited potential for customization if a company is willing to spend resources on it.

Hardware Requirements

The hardware specifications for Revit and Rhino naturally differ due to their different target operations and a number of other reasons.

Minimal

Despite the fact that CAD solutions are known for being resource-intensive, Rhino shows a clear pattern of being much less demanding in terms of hardware than Revit.

Recommended

The trend with Revit being a lot more hardware-intensive than Rhino continues in the recommended hardware requirements, with the gap between the two becoming even bigger.

Community Support

Extensive access to user communities and knowledge networks is often the difference between success and failure for complex design software if the official support channels are unavailable for some reason. Community resources have a substantial effect on adoption rates while also assisting greatly with real-world implementation scenarios. The quality and accessibility of collaborative learning environments can have a substantial impact on both innovation potential and general business productivity.

Revit

Revit has an established community on many platforms, including Autodesk forums, specialized LinkedIn groups, and a variety of third-party websites that serve diverse experience levels. The massive content libraries associated with many of these resources offer a myriad of user-generated families and templates, even if the quality varies from one case to another. Additionally, regional user groups organize meetups on a frequent basis, holding conferences to facilitate direct knowledge exchange among software users.

As for official community engagement, there are multiple Autodesk University events and certification programs that serve as networking opportunities. Expert accessibility through RevitForum and similar sources provide direct interactions with recognized authorities in the industry, and educational integration within modern curriculums offers a stable influx of new community members to help maintain the relevance of the solution.

Rhino

Rhino has its own substantial community that revolves around interactive platforms, the Grasshopper forums. Users can share algorithms and problem-solving approaches with one another. An open-source philosophy permeates the entire ecosystem, with many plugins, scripts, and methodologies shared on a regular basis. There is also active cross-disciplinary participation with fields outside of traditional architecture, expanding the knowledge base of the environment using diverse perspectives and unconventional approaches.

The frequent involvement of developers in community discussions is a direct communications channel that has the potential of influencing future development priorities. The academic presence of Rhino remains steadfast, with many contributions from research institutions exploring different aspects of computational design and experimental methodologies. Collaborative platforms such as Food4Rhino contribute in their own way, centralizing plugin distribution and offering feedback mechanisms to facilitate developer-user interactions on a regular basis.

User-Friendliness

Interface design and the intuitiveness of different workflows can have a substantial impact on productivity, especially during the initial adoption of the design software. The success of implementation is often determined by the learning curve and team acceptance within professional environments. The ability to strike a balance between operational simplicity and depth of functionality is an incredible bargaining chip for any solution on this market.

Revit

The complexity of the Revit interface is completely intentional as a consequence of its massive feature set, with all the property panels, ribbons, and toolbars imaginable. However, its complex approach to software design does follow a certain logic, with a structured approach so that building elements maintain intelligent relationships. Navigating between different views or scales in Revit necessitates the ability to visualize a mental model of the entire project instead of just relying on isolated drawings or elements.

Revit also uses a lot of industry-specific terminology that might be difficult for newcomers to learn at first, such as “families,” “hosts,” “worksets,” and so on. Meanwhile, there are many customization tools that can help adapt its interface for use in certain disciplines. Additionally, extensive use of keyboard shortcuts might also play a part in improving the overall user experience.

Rhino

Rhino has a command-driven interface with several input methods to choose from:  customizable shortcuts, toolbar selection, and even command line entry. The visual feedback of the solution creates a much more intuitive modeling experience, with snapping, highlighting, and dynamic object display. There is also the issue of viewport flexibility, which provides configurable display modes and navigation controls, simplifying transitions between visual styles and making them much more convenient in the process.

Rhino’s organizational simplicity with layers and named selections makes it easier to create a straightforward project structure without complex hierarchies. It even has a methodology called progressive disclosure, which facilitates the development of modeling skill by opening up access to more complex features on a gradual basis. A portion of learning resources are embedded directly within the Rhino interface in the form of helpful panels and tooltips that facilitate contextual understanding for active design processes.

Target Audiences and User Ratings

Software selection should always align with the types of project the organization deals with, along with its long-term technological strategy and the composition of its team. It is not uncommon for different platforms to attract their own categories of professionals based on what the software offers. Good knowledge of the primary user base for each solution can help a lot in predicting the future availability of support, resource development, and even potential trajectories for the future evolution of the environment.

Revit

Revit is focused on medium-sized and large businesses in the field of architecture or engineering, with a preference for complex infrastructural, institutional, or commercial projects. The BIM-centric approach of the platform is most appealing to businesses that prioritize data management, detailed construction documentation, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Enterprises with standardized workflows benefit the most from Revit’s structured approach thanks to its consistency in data management and environment handling capabilities.

When it comes to user ratings, Revit is relatively well-known on several different platforms online:

• Capterra – 4.6/5 points rating based on 384 customer reviews.
• TrustRadius – 8.7/10 points rating based on 189 customer reviews.
• G2 – 4.5/5 points rating based on 795 customer reviews.

Rhino

Rhino’s core audience is design-focused companies that require computational design, geometric complexity, and the formal exploration of project models. This includes academic institutions that rely on the accessibility of Rhino’s learning curve to introduce fundamental modeling concepts to their students. There are also interdisciplinary practitioners who value the flexibility of Rhino – and its ability to operate in digital fabrication, product design, architecture, etc. The perpetual licensing model is also highly appreciated by most, especially when it comes to smaller businesses.

As for user ratings, Rhino’s results are as follows:

• Capterra – 4.6/5 stars based on 82 customer reviews.
• TrustRadius – 9.0/10 stars based on 46 customer reviews.
• G2 – 4.4/5 stars based on 179 customer reviews.

Sustainability

Environmental impact considerations have become much more prevalent in recent years. Such capabilities are now often treated equally importantly as traditional criteria such as functionality or cost. If a solution supports the analysis and optimization of sustainability, it directly contributes to both the certification requirements and green building goals that are becoming mandatory all over the planet. Many forward-thinking businesses already see how the value of sustainable practices will only continue to grow and are investing in compatible software beforehand.

Revit provides integrated energy analysis tools for evaluating building performance during early design phases. It can track materials and use detailed quantity takeoffs with embedded carbon calculations to offer a comprehensive environmental impact assessment. Other capabilities of Revit in this department include daylight simulation with direct solar gain evaluation, aided by certification documentation tools that help streamline BREEAM, LEED, and other sustainability credential processes. Lastly, there is also a plugin ecosystem that can expand the original capabilities of the solution with even more specialized capabilities.

Rhino offers its own computational analysis capabilities via Grasshopper. They provide complex environmental simulation feature sets with airflow analysis, thermal modeling, radiation studies, etc. The geometric flexibility of the solution also includes optimized building forms and advanced shading systems that can respond to site-specific climate conditions if there are any. The abundance of specialized plugins can expand this feature set even further. One example of this is Ladybug Tools, an environmental performance analysis tool that is available directly in the modeling environment.

Customizability

Adaptability to specific workflows has the potential to significantly impact the long-term productivity of a business, along with the capability of a certain software application to fit in at all. Customization capabilities help organizations align their digital tools with established processes instead of changing their workflows to match the capabilities of the software. The extent of personalization can determine whether a platform is a constraining factor or a convenient framework for future developments.

Revit’s family creation system is a complex framework for creating custom parametric objects and elements capable of maintaining intelligent behavior in BIM models. It helps establish consistent data structures across different projects using standardized information management and automation capabilities. The Dynamo visual programming language is the biggest reason for most of the automation capabilities in Revit, simplifying the creation of complex automation routines even without the prerequisite coding skills. The existing templates can also be customized when necessary, helping establish custom design standards and graphic conventions for each business on a case-by-case basis, making them reusable in the future.

Rhino uses an open-ended command structure that allows users to create complex macros, combining multiple operations into a single streamlined workflow. The outstanding interface flexibility makes it easier to perform sophisticated workspace reorganization with user-defined arrangement of panels and tools. The integration of Python scripting also helps with automation by providing direct access to the software’s core functionality, while the Grasshopper toolset enables the development of proprietary computational design tools using business-specific methodologies.

Potential Shortcomings

All software solutions have their own limitations and shortcomings, which should be considered and evaluated alongside their benefits and features. Knowing the major constraints of the software you are thinking of purchasing can help with recognizing the boundaries of the platform and managing the expectations of your business while also developing various mitigation strategies beforehand.

Revit struggles a lot with complex curved forms and non-standard building elements due to the limitations of its parametric object approach. The performance degradation of the solution in large and complex projects can lead to substantial productivity bottlenecks on practically any hardware. Version compatibility issues between collaborators are surprisingly common, as well, necessitating cumbersome workarounds for most information exchange processes. The overall rigidity of the data structure Revit uses may force some designers to adapt to the software’s limitations instead of the other way around. The solution is also completely cloud-dependent in most of its collaborative capabilities.

Rhino is somewhat weak when it comes to project documentation – it cannot match the capabilities of most dedicated BIM platforms on this front. The data management capabilities of the software are not as good at tracking parameters and scheduling as many of its competitors, and there are also many collaboration limitations to keep an eye on, especially in multi-user environments. Grasshopper’s versatility is balanced by performance issues with complex processes or datasets. Additionally, there are no centralized management tools for consistent implementation, which can be detrimental for enterprise deployment.

Which Solution Is the Best for Newcomers?

The selection of software for beginners in each field requires a careful balance between long-term professional value and immediate accessibility. Initial experiences with any software have a strong effect on the development of confidence and motivation for learning, as well. From this standpoint, our two solutions represent completely different ideals and goals.

Revit necessitates a much steeper initial investment of resources, with potentially massive long-term professional dividends. The structured nature of the platform makes it easily guided using methodological approaches, benefitting beginners who prefer defined processes instead of open-ended exploration. Proficiency with Revit is also often favored in career opportunities on the overall market, considering the sheer market share Revit has right now. The same logic applies to academic integration, and transferable concepts about parametric relationships and building data management offer valuable foundational knowledge for future endeavours.

Rhino’s proficiency milestones are a lot quicker in comparison, with basic modeling skills being easily achievable in weeks instead of months. This kind of encouraging early result works wonders when it comes to motivating users to continue learning. The conceptual accessibility of the solution makes it a perfect choice for design-focused individuals who may not want to confront complex technical documentation requirements from the very beginning. Rhino has affordable entry points using educational licenses, as well as progressive complexity that relies on exploration to develop each user’s skills. It also has the skill transferability we mention above, creating a foundation of competencies in the field that can later be applied to different design solutions or industries outside of traditional architecture.

Conclusion

Autodesk Revit is an advanced Building Information Modeling (BIM) solution that offers an extensive array of features for a diverse range of use cases. Its extensive capabilities help streamline collaboration, generate data-rich models, improve teamwork, mitigate conflicts, and improve project efficiency. While the solution is undoubtedly very expensive, both up-front and from a long-term investment standpoint, it should also be easy to see how the abundance of features and integrations may be extremely beneficial to businesses in the future.

Rhino is an impressive CAD software solution that uses a NURBS-based design model to provide some of the best architectural capabilities in the industry when it comes to unusual shapes and models. It is also heavy on integration with other architecture solutions, one of the reasons being its rather limited feature set in anything that is not directly related to CAD modeling. It is also impressive that Rhino still operates using a perpetual licensing model with no additional fees for updates or technical support.

Once again, it is not easy to source a solution tailored for a very specific use case, and sourcing one that meets all of your needs is downright impossible. This means that the priority for potential customers should be to identify the key features they need from architecture software.

There is also the fact that these solutions can sometimes work together – for example, Rhino 7 officially supports integration with Revit, making data transfer a lot easier while boosting the overall quality of a typical construction project. With all of that in mind, it should be easy to understand how architecture software often has a rather narrow set of benefits and use cases it works best in, so a thorough understanding of your individual preferences and needs is vital if you are to choose the optimal architecture software solution for your business.