Side by side

Kray vs Mitsuba 3

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.

Kray

Free plan APIMacWeb+1

Kray provides a feature-rich renderer with LightWave workflows, a developer SDK and a functional demo. Check version compatibility and the demo watermark before choosing a paid edition.

Visit Kray

Mitsuba 3 combines configurable light-transport simulation with differentiable rendering and Python-based development. Check its Python, driver, and variant requirements before choosing it for a workflow.

Visit Mitsuba 3

The facts

	Kray	Mitsuba 3
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	API, Mac, Web, Windows	API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows
Lowest paid plan	Kray2 for LightWave academic license: €70, paid once	Free or on request
Plans published	3	1
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	kraytracing.com	mitsuba-renderer.org
On 3d rendering software	#5 of 46	#9 of 46

Kray: what it does well

Supports reflections, refractions and caustics
Offers several global-illumination algorithms
Includes node-based materials and multi-buffer output
Provides LightWave synchronization and preview
Free demo is fully functional

What to know first

Demo renders display a watermark
OpenCL GPU ray tracing is work in progress
LightWave 2018+ versions remain in progress
Listed prices exclude VAT

Mitsuba 3: what it does well

Supports monochrome, RGB, and spectral rendering.
Optional polarization tracking is available.
Computes derivatives with respect to simulation inputs.
Python integration supports custom rendering development.
Free, open-source package with tutorials and references.

What to know first

Python package includes thirteen variants by default.
Additional variants require compiling custom Dr.Jit with CMake.
Requires Python 3.10 or later.
GPU and parallel CPU computation have optional driver and LLVM requirements.

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