Rhino 9 review

Rhino 9 is the choice for Mac users who want a professional modeler without a subscription. McNeel's North America price list shows a single concurrent user license at US$995 for Windows and/or Mac, and upgrades from any older version at US$595, with a promotion that cuts that to US$395 until 1 March 2027. The toolset spans precise NURBS surfaces, SubD and mesh. Rhino 9 adds curvature-matched patches, setback fillets, tools that match SubD edges to surface edges, and drafting features such as non-rectangular details, section styles and saving layouts to DWG. Grasshopper 1 and Grasshopper 2 handle visual scripting for facades and patterns, and new gem materials target jewelry renders. McNeel also reworked the command line to behave the same on Windows and Mac. The trade-offs are the upfront price and the learning curve of surface modeling. Animation needs the Bongo 2 plug-in, which is Windows only, so animators on Mac should look elsewhere.

Who it is for

Industrial, jewelry and architectural designers who prefer a one-time license

Price

US$995 for a single-user commercial license; upgrades from US$595.

Rhino 9 - Single Concurrent User US$ 995
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Freeform surface modeling with curvature-continuous patches and setback fillets
• SubD and mesh tools, including matching SubD edges to surface edges
• 2D drafting with section styles, non-rectangular details and DWG layout export
• Grasshopper 1 and Grasshopper 2 for visual scripting
• Gem materials and refraction for jewelry renders

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: One license covers Windows and/or Mac
• Strength: No subscription: a single user license costs US$995
• Strength: Upgrade from any older version for US$595, discounted to US$395 until 1 March 2027
• Weakness: Highest upfront cost on this list outside the professional animation suites
• Weakness: Animation needs the Bongo 2 plug-in, which is Windows only
• Weakness: Surface modeling takes time to learn for mesh modelers

Key facts

• Price: US$995, single concurrent user
• Platforms: Windows and/or Mac
• Modeling type: NURBS, SubD and mesh
• Upgrade: US$595 from any older version

Where it ranks

Rhino 9 is No. 4 in our Best 3D Modeling Software for Mac verdict.