Build on the Rhino 3D licence you already own with a suitable upgrade. Choose a commercial or academic upgrade, then plan the move around your projects and plugins.

Choose Your Upgrade

Commercial upgrade: for existing Rhino licence holders, including graduates upgrading from an academic licence. View the Rhino 3D commercial upgrade.

Academic upgrade: for eligible current students and educators. See our academic eligibility and proof-of-status guide.

An upgrade requires a qualifying Rhino licence you already own. An evaluation licence by itself does not qualify for an upgrade.

Academic licences include commercial use rights and remain valid after graduation. They belong to the named holder and are non-transferable.

What Your Upgrade Includes

Your upgrade provides a perpetual licence for the supplied Rhino release, with service releases included for that major version's product cycle. You can continue using your licensed version and choose when to move to a later major release.

An upgrade continues your existing licence; independent simultaneous users need their own seats. For earlier-release access and activation details, see our Rhino licensing guide.

Choose When to Move Your Projects

Buying an upgrade and moving production work can happen at different times. Keep your proven setup for current deadlines while you explore the newer release using copies of your projects.

Move projects once your plugins, hardware and file exchange have been tested together. For teams and teaching labs, agree the timing with your licence administrator.

Test Your Workflow

1. Back up your work. Preserve original models, drawings, Grasshopper definitions, render scenes, settings and templates. Record your current software versions.
2. Check your setup. Confirm support for your operating system, hardware, plugins and Grasshopper components. VisualARQ and LandsDesign require Windows.
3. Test project copies. Try your usual modelling, scripts, drawings and rendering, then check file exchange with clients and colleagues.
4. Plan the switch. Allow time for updates and learning, and move between deadlines once the workflow is ready.

Try Rhino Before Moving

Use McNeel's 90-day Rhino evaluation for Windows or Mac to test your projects. Activate with a purchased licence to continue saving files and loading plugins afterwards. Plugins may have separate licence or trial terms. See McNeel's evaluation terms.

Licensing and Setup Guidance

Our Rhino Accounts guide covers account and licence management. See our Rhino licensing guide for activation and setup advice.

Compare options in our Rhino 3D buying guide.