Published: 3 September 2026

Rhino 3D offers three ways to manage your licence: access through a Rhino Account with Cloud Zoo, shared access across a local network with LAN Zoo, or activation on a single computer. Each suits a different working arrangement, from an individual workstation to a studio licence pool or teaching lab.

Cloud Zoo: Access Rhino Through Your Account

Cloud Zoo connects your licence to your Rhino Account, giving you access to Rhino on the computers you use. It is a practical choice when you work across different locations or move between a desktop and a laptop. Periodic internet access keeps your licence availability up to date.

For organisations, a Cloud Zoo Team brings eligible licences into a shared pool. Team members sign in with their own Rhino Accounts, while the organisation manages membership and the available seats centrally. Individual academic licences remain personal to their named holders.

The Rhino licensing guides explain account-based activation and licence management.

Company Ownership and Staff Access

A company-controlled Cloud Zoo Team helps keep business licences under the organisation’s control as staff and responsibilities change. Company-managed administration and recovery details, together with a second trusted owner, support continuity of access.

Team ownership, administration and day-to-day use are separate responsibilities. Owners control ownership and administrative roles; administrators manage members and licences; staff access the shared pool through their individual Rhino Accounts.

Staff departures also require attention to domain-linked access. Removing someone from a Team may not prevent them from rejoining if their account still qualifies through the organisation’s domain or sign-in configuration. Existing licence sessions may also take time to end.

Our Rhino Account guide covers invitations and domain linking. The Rhino Team administration guidance and seat-reclamation instructions provide the technical detail for managing changes in access.

LAN Zoo: Shared Licences on Your Local Network

LAN Zoo manages a shared licence pool from a Windows computer on your organisation’s network. It supports commercial and educational lab licences, making it relevant to studios and teaching environments with centrally managed workstations. Individual academic and evaluation licences use other activation methods.

The Zoo server software and the Rhino version running on each workstation are separate considerations. The current Zoo release supports current and earlier Rhino versions, but a current Rhino licence key requires the current Zoo release even when the workstation runs an earlier Rhino version. The server computer must also meet the requirements in the LAN Zoo guide.

The LAN Zoo guide provides server requirements, the Zoo download and deployment information.

Zoo Server Upgrades and Moves

Updating Zoo on its existing server and moving the licence pool to a different computer are distinct tasks. Installing the current Zoo release on the existing server migrates its licences automatically. A move to another computer involves transferring and validating the licence keys.

The relevant upgrade and server-transfer procedures are covered in the LAN Zoo documentation for your IT administrator.

Single-Computer Activation

Single-computer activation assigns a supported Rhino licence to one workstation, allowing you to work offline once activation and validation are complete. It suits a dedicated computer, particularly where internet access is limited.

The licence is managed on that computer rather than accessed through an account-based or network licence pool. The Rhino activation instructions explain activation, moving a licence to another computer and switching between licensing methods.

Working with Earlier Rhino Versions

Your Rhino licence also provides access to earlier Rhino versions. This can help maintain established projects and specialist plugin workflows where a particular software combination is important. Compatibility depends on the Rhino release, operating system and plugins in use; LAN Zoo installations also require the appropriate current server software.

An upgrade continues an existing licence rather than creating an additional independent seat. Separate users working at the same time need their own licence seats.

Earlier installers are available through the Rhino download page.

Academic Licences and Teaching Labs

An individual academic licence belongs to its named holder and permits commercial work as well as study. It is a personal licence, distinct from the shared access provided by an educational lab licence. Our academic eligibility and proof-of-status guide explains the purchasing requirements.

Teaching labs have different access and administration needs from individual students or educators. Our university lab licensing guide covers the institutional options.

Choosing Your Licence

The licence you purchase and the way you activate it are related but separate decisions. Commercial, academic and institutional options reflect who will use Rhino, while the activation method determines how that access is managed.

Compare the purchasing options in our Rhino 3D buying guide. If you already own Rhino, our upgrade guide explains the upgrade route.