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If you're running any previous version of Rhino (1 through 7), upgrading to Rhino 8 gives you the current fully released version with all its new modelling tools, plus access keys for your older versions and the Rhino 9 beta. This guide covers who qualifies, what it costs, and what actually happens to your existing licence when you upgrade.

Who Qualifies for a Rhino Upgrade?

Upgrade eligibility is straightforward: any valid previous Rhino licence — commercial or academic — qualifies you to purchase an upgrade to Rhino 8. The version you're upgrading from doesn't matter; any previous Rhino key (version 1 through 7) qualifies.

Your current status determines the upgrade type:

• Commercial upgrade — If you own a commercial Rhino licence (any previous version), you purchase the commercial upgrade. You do not need to prove academic status.
• Academic upgrade — If you currently hold student or educator status at an accredited institution, you can purchase the academic upgrade at reduced pricing, regardless of whether your original licence was commercial or academic.

Academic upgrades include full commercial use rights — the licence holder can use Rhino for paid client work. The only restriction is that the licence is non-transferable to another person.

Upgrade Pricing

The upgrade from any previous version to Rhino 8:

• Commercial upgrade: £450 ex VAT (£540 inc VAT)
• Academic upgrade: £79 ex VAT (£94.80 inc VAT)

Both include a full Rhino 8 perpetual licence — not a subscription, not a time-limited trial. You own it outright with no recurring fees. The licence includes service releases (bug fixes and minor updates) for the life of Rhino 8 at no additional cost.

For a complete breakdown of all Rhino 3D pricing including bundles and lab licences, see our pricing page.

What Happens to Your Old Version

When you upgrade, your previous licence doesn't disappear. An upgrade chain counts as a single licence that unlocks multiple versions. If you upgrade from Rhino 7 to Rhino 8, your Rhino 8 key also generates access keys for Rhino 6 and Rhino 7.

The practical implication: you can run Rhino 7 for a specific plugin that hasn't been updated yet, then switch to Rhino 8 for everything else. The only constraint is that you can only run one version at a time per licence — if you need Rhino 7 and Rhino 8 running simultaneously on separate machines, you need two licences.

This is particularly useful if you're in the middle of a project on an older version and want to test Rhino 8 without committing fully. Install Rhino 8 alongside your existing version — both can coexist on the same computer.

The Upgrade Process

Upgrading works as follows:

• Step 1: Purchase the upgrade licence from our commercial upgrade or academic upgrade page.
• Step 2: You'll receive your upgrade key by email, typically the same day.
• Step 3: In your existing Rhino installation, go to Tools > Options > Licences and enter the new key, or add it to your Rhino Account via Cloud Zoo.
• Step 4: Rhino validates the key against your previous licence and unlocks the new version.

If you're using Cloud Zoo, add the upgrade key to your Rhino Account at accounts.rhino3d.com. The upgraded licence is then available on any computer you log in from.

For step-by-step instructions on account setup and licence management, see our Rhino accounts setup guide.

Rhino 9: What It Means for Your Upgrade Decision

Rhino 9 is currently in public beta and available to all Rhino 8 licence holders at no additional cost during the beta period. You can install it alongside Rhino 8 without affecting your production setup.

When Rhino 9 reaches final release, upgrading from Rhino 8 to Rhino 9 will require a paid upgrade licence — the same model as every previous version transition. McNeel typically offers an introductory upgrade discount during the first three months after a new version ships.

If you're currently on any previous version (Rhino 1-7) and considering whether to upgrade to Rhino 8 now or wait for Rhino 9:

• Upgrading to Rhino 8 now gives you the current stable release, access to legacy Rhino 6 and 7 keys, and entry to the Rhino 9 beta immediately. When Rhino 9 ships, you'd then purchase an upgrade from Rhino 8 to Rhino 9.
• Waiting for Rhino 9 means staying on your current version without beta access. When Rhino 9 ships, you'd purchase an upgrade directly from your current version (Rhino 1-7) to Rhino 9, skipping the intermediate Rhino 8 step. However, McNeel hasn't confirmed whether direct upgrades from very old versions to Rhino 9 will be available at the same price as upgrading from Rhino 8.

For most users, upgrading to Rhino 8 now is the practical choice — you get the current stable version, beta access to Rhino 9, and the option to upgrade again when Rhino 9 ships. See our Rhino 9 upgrade guide for more detail on the timeline.

Upgrading from Academic to Commercial

If you purchased an academic licence while studying and have since graduated, you have two options:

• Keep using your academic licence — McNeel's academic licences do not expire when you graduate. Your Rhino continues working with full commercial use rights.
• Upgrade to a commercial licence — If you want a commercial upgrade key going forward, you can purchase the commercial upgrade using your existing academic licence as the qualifying previous version. This is useful for businesses that want all licences documented as commercial for accounting purposes.

You are not required to upgrade from academic to commercial after graduating. The academic licence remains valid permanently.

For students, our student licensing guide covers academic eligibility and the proof of status process.

Related Reading

• Rhino 9 Beta: Release Timeline and Upgrade Guide
• Should I Wait for Rhino 9?
• Rhino 3D Licensing Explained: Cloud Zoo, LAN Zoo, and Activation
• Buying Rhino 3D in the UK: Complete Guide
• Rhino 3D Academic Licence UK Guide