Many interior design projects begin with rendering software, which has the power to transform the designer’s visions into realistic 3D visualizations.
However, with so many available options, choosing the best software can be a challenge for interior designers. And with the number of high-quality rendering programs continuously increasing, the decision has become even more overwhelming.
In some cases, all you need are easy-to-use drawing tools, a good template library, and lighting features. Other times, you might require a more complex rendering system with capabilities for collaboration, sculpting, and animation.
So, which software is best for the needs of your interior design business? Whether you’re a solo designer just starting out seeking a decent free rendering software or a founder of a large firm willing to invest in a more sophisticated rendering program, there are plenty of available options. Many user-friendly rendering software choices are either free or available for a small fee, and for more advanced needs, higher-priced options offer more complex features.
Many rendering programs are made for specific platforms such as Windows or MacOS, so it’s important to factor in whether an online program, an app, or downloadable software is best suited to your resources.
We’ve sifted through the rendering software reviews and put together a list of the best options on the market. While some of these programs have been developing for decades, there are also new and emerging companies breaking into the industry, each offering something unique.
Table of Contents
10 best rendering software
These 10 rendering programs are our top choices.
1. D5 Render
D5 Render is a real-time ray-tracing software for interior design, architecture, 3D, and landscape design, enabling the creation of photorealistic images and VR experiences. It’s compatible with most major design software platforms and offers intuitive UI, powerful features like AI Atmosphere Match, and abundant assets.
Built for: Interior designers, architects, landscapers, engineers, and other 3D professionals.
Features:
- D5 GI solution
- Real-time ray tracing
- Large scene capability
- High-res images/panoramas up to 16k
- 4k video rendering
- Virtual reality and animation
- D5 SR image rendering
- AI capabilities include AI-generated material texture maps, atmosphere match, ultra HD texture, and text to 3D.
- Collaboration tools
- Content and component library
Pricing: D5 Render has a free version designed for beginners and individuals. It offers a pro plan for $30 per month and a team version for $59 per month.
Reviews: D5 Render has an average rating of 4.8 (out of 231 reviews) on Capterra and 4.9 (out of 380 reviews) on G2.
Platform: Windows
2. Blender
Blender is a free program that contains everything from modeling, rigging, animation, and simulation to rendering, compositing, and motion tracking. It even has video editing and game creation features. However, it’s more complex than other rendering software and can be overwhelming for interior designers focused on practical design tasks.
Built for: Interior designers, 3D artists, animators, filmmakers, designers, VFX studios, game developers, and architects.
Features:
- Cycles render engine
- Sculpting and modeling tools
- Effects
- Topology
- Template library
- File editing, video editing
- Downloadable application
- Character animation tools like rigging and skinning
- Node-based compositor
- Phyton scripting for custom tools and add-ons
Pricing: Blender is completely free to download and use. You have access to all tools and resources because Blender is defined by its General Public license. You can also purchase the studio subscription for $11.50.
Reviews: Blender has an average rating of 4.7 (out of 927 reviews) on Capterra and 4.6 (out of 294 reviews) on G2.
Platform: Windows, MacOS, Linux
3. Lumion
Due to its ease of use and simple layout, Lumion is a great option for interior designers who require a quick, high-quality output. However, a device with high performance such as the RTX 4090 Laptop GPU or equivalent with 10GB+ and at least Windows 10 is recommended. It’s not best suited for Macs and other operating system users.
Built for: Interior designers, architects, and 3d designers.
Features:
- Textures and shading
- Exterior rendering
- Aerial rendering
- Lighting
- Atmospheric rendering
- Documentation
- Sequence
- Collaboration
- 3D rendering and 3D rendering integration
- Library including objects and materials
Pricing: Lumion offers a standard package for $62.42 per month and a pro version for $124.92. Both packages include one month for free.
Reviews: Lumion has an average rating of 4.7 (out of 153 reviews) on Capterra and 4.5 (out of 84 reviews) on G2.
Platform: Windows PCs
4. ZBrush
As a creative designer, you will probably love ZBrush. The software includes a wide range of tools and features including some of the best shape and sculpting tools. It also includes various polygons that allow users to sculpt organic and hard surfaces. However, its initial interface may overwhelm beginners and it can take some time to get the hang of it.
Built for: All creative professionals
Features:
- Photoreal rendering
- Wide selection of Plugins
- Suitable for 3D printing
- Non-linear design
- 3D fibers
- Transparent Subtools
- Map generation
- LightCap system
- Custom materials
- 3D sculpting
Pricing: ZBrush has five different pricing options, ranging from $39.95 to $895.
Reviews: ZBrush has an average rating of 4.7 (out of 31 reviews) on Capterra and 4.7 (out of 100 reviews) on G2.
Platform: Windows, macOS
5. DesignFiles
DesignFiles is an all-in-one platform for interior designers including a rendering application. It’s easily accessible, user-friendly, and perfect for bringing your ideas to life in a fast, professional way.
Built for: Interior designers, decorators, and stagers
Features:
- Comprehensive project management tools
- 2D & 3D editor
- Moodboard creation and rendering capabilities
- Integrated billing and invoicing system
- Centralized sourcing and procurement
- Client collaboration and communication portal
- Cloud-based for access from anywhere
- Drag and drop
- CRM
- Customizable branding
Pricing: DesignFiles offers 3 plans, including the eDesign Plan (check out the top-rated eDesign software here), which is $49 per month, the Full Service Plan, which is $69 per month, and a Team Plan, which is offered at a custom price based on your team size and needs.
Reviews: Design Files has an average rating of 4.6 (out of 535 reviews) on Capterra and 4.5 (out of 3 reviews) on G2.
Platform: Web
6. Planner 5D
Planner 5D includes an impressive amount of textures, styles, and customization. However, its lack of advanced features makes it best for beginning interior designers. There have also been reports of occasional glitches and the web version can slow down your computer.
Built for: Interior designers and home decorators
Features:
- 2D drawing
- 3D imaging
- Building
- Activity dashboard
- Building information model
- Data import/export
- Customizable templates
- Data visualization
- Design management
- Degree visualizer
Pricing: There are Basic and Premium plans available on Planner 5D. The Basic plan is free but with limitations. If you want access to the full catalog, different payment options can depend on your platform or region. There is a three-day trial with iOS and MacOS platforms.
Reviews: Planner 5D has an average rating of 4.5 (out of 114 reviews) on Capterra and 4.6 (out of 66 reviews) on G2.
Platform: Web, IOS, Android, macOS, Windows, VisionOS
7. 3ds Max Design
3ds Max Design is a comprehensive 3D design, modeling, animation, and rendering software developed by Autodesk Media and Entertainment, it can create complex 3D models and is recommended for high-end renders. However, it’s a powerful software, is expensive, and has a steep learning curve.
Built for: Any creative professional
Features:
- 3Drendering
- Integrated Arnold renderer
- Retopology tools
- Interactive viewports
- Multiple file format support
- Interactive viewports
- Smart Extrude
- Texturing and shading
- Animation and effects including motion paths and character animation tools
- Modern UI and workspaces
- Extensive plug-in library
Pricing: 3ds Max starts at $215 per month with yearly discounts available.
Reviews: 3ds Max has an average rating of 4.7 (out of 100 reviews) on Capterra and 4.3 (out of 277 reviews) on G2.
Platform: Windows
8. Cinema 4D
Due to its easy-to-use style, designers can create complex 3D graphic models using Maxon’s Cinema 4D. It features advanced UV mapping, placement tools, scene manager, and Redshift rendering which makes it an industry-leading 3D software. However, due to its price point, it’s difficult for individual or beginner designers to access.
Built for: Any creative professional
Features:
- 3D modeling
- Animation
- Building information model
- Design management
- Image editing
- Content library
- 2D drawing
- Video content
- Drag & drop
- Templates
Pricing: Cinema 4D offers a 14-day free trial for new users, after which the software is available from $999 per year / $140 per month.
Reviews: Cinema 4D has an average rating of 4.6 (out of 69 reviews) on Capterra and 4.6 (out of 131 reviews) on G2.
Platform: Windows, MacOS, Linux
9. KeyShot
KeyShot is a real-time render engine popular in the design industry for its ease of use, compatibility with CAD data, and accurate material appearance. However, it’s more of an expensive option compared to other rendering softwares with little added benefit.
Built for: Industrial designers, interior designers, graphic designers, engineers, CG specialists, photographers, and marketing professionals.
Features:
- Real-time speed
- Easy to make rendering changes
- CPU powered
- Accurate materials
- Advanced lighting
- Efficient workflow
- Animation
- CMF
- Physics simulation
- Web viewer
Pricing: KeyShot offers a package at $99 per month or you can select various bundles starting from $29 per month.
Reviews: KeyShot has an average rating of 4.7 (out of 52 reviews) on Capterra and 4.5 (out of 179 reviews) on G2.
Platform: Windows, MacOS
10. SketchUp
Popular in the industry SketchUp is a powerful tool for those designers who need exact precision and don’t require the use of templates. It’s best for interior designers who are willing to invest time in learning how to use it since the interface isn’t exactly intuitive.
Built for: Interior designers who are willing to invest time in learning a more complicated platform.
Features:
- 2D Drawing and 3D imaging
- 3D design and modeling
- Animation
- Annotations
- Architectural symbol library
- BIM modeling
- Collaboration tools
- Component and content library
- Data import/export
- Document generation
Pricing: SketchUp starts from $119 per year for a basic plan, $349 per year for professional work, and $749 per year for advanced workflows.
Reviews: SketchUp has an average rating of 4.5 (out of 1,019) on Capterra and 4.5 (out of 1,249) on G2.
Platform: Windows and MacOS
FAQs about rendering software
Here are the answers to the most common FAQs about rendering software.
Rendering software is a specialized computer program used to create lifelike visualizations of designs, helping clients envision projects before development.
These tools benefit interior design professionals and their clients alike.
While mood boards and sketches have their place in the design process, renderings reduce ambiguity and offer a clearer vision, allowing the designer, client, and any other collaborators to align from the get-go.
For interior designers, often a more simple rendering tool works best. D5 Render is one of the highest-rated rendering software platforms out there. It’s an affordable, speedy, and user-friendly program that provides high-quality renders. It would work well in conjunction with a program like DesignFiles, which offers project management functionality.
If your resources are limited, Blender is a good free option. For larger companies willing to invest in training, 3ds Max Design and Cinema 4D can create complex 3D models.
There are lots of rendering programs that offer free versions, though they may have limitations compared to paid software. Here are a few of the best free rendering options available:
Blender is a free platform with maximum features and no limitations. It’s a powerful and versatile open-source 3D creation suite, although it has a steep learning curve. Basic Planner 5D is a free plan with a few limitations. The free version is a great place to start and you can design your space with a number of objects from the catalogue. However, there are little customization possibilities compared to the Premium package. SketchUp is excellent for creating basic 3D models and applying simple textures and materials. While the free version has limitations on exporting and rendering quality, it’s a good starting point.
Ultimately, the ideal software hinges on your specific requirements. If you prioritize speed and user-friendliness, D5 Render, DesignFiles, or Planner 5D might be excellent choices. For projects demanding intricate detail, Blender (free yet has a steeper learning curve) or professional options like 3ds Max Design and Cinema 4D could be better choices.
Or, you might want to choose a design software with the best all-around features (including rendering). If so, check out DesignFiles.
