Side by side
Arnold vs NVIDIA Iray
Both stand on 3d rendering software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Paid LinuxMacWindows
Arnold provides path tracing alongside GPU, cloud, animation, and denoising capabilities across three desktop operating systems.
Visit Arnold Paid APIWeb
Iray combines rendering features with an API for integration into visualization applications. Buyers must contact a listed partner to inquire about obtaining the SDK and pricing.
Visit NVIDIA IrayThe facts
| Arnold | NVIDIA Iray | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Not published |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | API, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | autodesk.com | developer.nvidia.com |
| On 3d rendering software | #36 of 46 | #40 of 46 |
Arnold: what it does well
- Path-tracing rendering
- GPU rendering support
- Cloud rendering available
- Animation rendering included
- Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux
What to know first
- No free plan
- Only a 30-day trial is listed
NVIDIA Iray: what it does well
- C++ API supports integration and customization.
- Combines GPU and CPU rendering in one machine.
- Supports RTX ray tracing and AI denoising.
- Supports multi-machine and cloud rendering workflows.
- Includes features such as OpenVDB and motion blur.
What to know first
- Pricing is available only on request.
- SDK access is through partners.
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