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V-Ray Pros and Cons: Top Advantages and Disadvantages

Quick AI Summary Based on G2 Reviews

Generated from real user reviews

Users praise V-Ray's ease of use, allowing for intuitive, quick implementation and impressive results even for beginners. (39 mentions)
Users commend V-Ray for its exceptional rendering quality, achieving incredibly realistic effects for professional projects. (38 mentions)
Users praise the exceptional rendering quality of V-Ray, achieving stunningly realistic images effortlessly. (31 mentions)
Users love the exceptional realism of V-Ray's rendering capabilities, enhancing the quality of their architectural visualizations. (30 mentions)
Users admire the exceptional lighting quality of V-Ray, enabling photorealistic visuals and seamless workflow integration. (28 mentions)
Users value the powerful rendering engine of V-Ray, enabling realistic textures and lighting for architectural visualization. (22 mentions)
Users praise V-Ray's fast rendering, achieving stunning realism effortlessly across various projects and software integrations. (9 mentions)
Users find the difficult learning curve challenging, requiring time and experimentation to gain proficiency with V-Ray. (21 mentions)
Users experience poor rendering quality and long render times, complicating efficient production and workflow. (19 mentions)
Users find V-Ray's interface complex and overwhelming, requiring significant time to navigate and optimize settings effectively. (17 mentions)
Users find the complexity of V-Ray challenging, requiring time and effort to achieve proficiency and mastery. (14 mentions)
Users note the slow performance of V-Ray, especially during initial visualizations and interactive preview rendering. (14 mentions)
Users find the steep learning curve of V-Ray daunting, requiring significant time and effort to master. (12 mentions)
Users are frustrated by V-Ray's long rendering times, which can hinder productivity and workflow efficiency. (10 mentions)

Top Pros or Advantages of V-Ray

1. Ease of Use
Users praise V-Ray's ease of use, allowing for intuitive, quick implementation and impressive results even for beginners.
See 39 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Luca M.
LM

Luca M.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"From zero to working professionally with ease."

What do you like about V-Ray?

I really appreciate how easy it is to start using V-Ray right away, even without having the necessary skills. It avoids leading users into the program

BH

Bill H.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Long Time SketchUp User Finds Magic in V-Ray Rendering Results"

What do you like about V-Ray?

I've used SketchUp since it's very beginning, but always thought that StetchUp's images were informative but clunky. V-Ray was a magical revelation.

2. Rendering Quality
Users commend V-Ray for its exceptional rendering quality, achieving incredibly realistic effects for professional projects.
See 38 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Mohd A.
MA

Mohd A.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"V ray reviw"

What do you like about V-Ray?

Most realistic rendering can be produced by V Ray. Very detailed and vast software used to produce rendering of interior and exterior of buildings an

Verified User
U

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"V-Ray Review"

What do you like about V-Ray?

It's a great program to use for rendering. The effects are incredibly realistic.

3. Quality
Users praise the exceptional rendering quality of V-Ray, achieving stunningly realistic images effortlessly.
See 31 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Daniel T.
DT

Daniel T.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Great Visualisation Software"

What do you like about V-Ray?

The integration within the modelling software makes it part of the same program, not exporting and importing, making a change to the model integrates

GIOELE L.
GL

GIOELE L.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Stunning quality"

What do you like about V-Ray?

Because the quality of the 3d assets and the raster quality of the image.

4. Realistic Rendering
Users love the exceptional realism of V-Ray's rendering capabilities, enhancing the quality of their architectural visualizations.
See 30 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Mohd A.
MA

Mohd A.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"V ray reviw"

What do you like about V-Ray?

Most realistic rendering can be produced by V Ray. Very detailed and vast software used to produce rendering of interior and exterior of buildings an

Verified User
U

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"V-Ray Review"

What do you like about V-Ray?

It's a great program to use for rendering. The effects are incredibly realistic.

5. Lighting Quality
Users admire the exceptional lighting quality of V-Ray, enabling photorealistic visuals and seamless workflow integration.
See 28 mentions

See Related User Reviews

VB

vasile b.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"The only render engine I use because nothing else touches its reliability and the photoreal results."

What do you like about V-Ray?

What I like best about V-Ray is the sheer ease of use: sane defaults, predictable lighting, and materials that just work and paired with the Chaos Van

Kalyani S.
KS

Kalyani S.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Easy to create"

What do you like about V-Ray?

Speedy Renders , Quick Light placements.

6. Features
Users value the powerful rendering engine of V-Ray, enabling realistic textures and lighting for architectural visualization.
See 22 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Daniel T.
DT

Daniel T.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Great Visualisation Software"

What do you like about V-Ray?

The integration within the modelling software makes it part of the same program, not exporting and importing, making a change to the model integrates

Anthony M.
AM

Anthony M.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Easy to go from new purchase to a rendering"

What do you like about V-Ray?

That it's easy to start with and become more advaned easily and how easily it integrates with Sketchup. I use it daily and its easy to implement. I

7. Fast Rendering
Users praise V-Ray's fast rendering, achieving stunning realism effortlessly across various projects and software integrations.
See 9 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Isolina M.
IM

Isolina M.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Essential Tool for High-Quality Visuals"

What do you like about V-Ray?

I’ve been using V-Ray for SketchUp for many years, and it has consistently impressed me with how much it has improved over time. Each new version feel

Machteld v.
MV

Machteld v.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Vray is the key software for our daily work"

What do you like about V-Ray?

In our 3D render studio we work with 3DS Max combined with Chaos Vray for rendering. The ease of use is great. We love the quick 5 minute previews

Top Cons or Disadvantages of V-Ray

1. Difficult Learning
Users find the difficult learning curve challenging, requiring time and experimentation to gain proficiency with V-Ray.
See 21 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Daniel T.
DT

Daniel T.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Great Visualisation Software"

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

There is a steep learning curve which takes trial and error to become profficient in the use. Whilst intial renders are easily achievable the complexi

Ryan L.
RL

Ryan L.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"V-ray on G2"

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

I dislike how complicated the software can be without being able to have a tutorial to render

2. Poor Rendering Quality
Users experience poor rendering quality and long render times, complicating efficient production and workflow.
See 19 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
U

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

3.5/5

"A good software with endless amount of customisations."

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

No downsides as such but sometime it feels that the UI could be improved so as to ease quick rendering as the industry demands short production time a

Verified User
U

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Architectural design review"

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

The only downside is the render time and having to purchase cloud credits if you want to run more than one render.

3. Complex Interface
Users find V-Ray's interface complex and overwhelming, requiring significant time to navigate and optimize settings effectively.
See 17 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Robson L.
RL

Robson L.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Bringing My Projects to Life with V-Ray"

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

What I dislike about V-Ray is that it can be a bit hard to use at first. The least helpful part is how complex some settings are, and sometimes it nee

Barak V.
BV

Barak V.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Powerful rendering engine for professional 3D visualization"

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

Render times can still be heavy on complex animations, especially when using brute force on high-detail scenes. GPU memory limitations can also be a c

4. Complexity
Users find the complexity of V-Ray challenging, requiring time and effort to achieve proficiency and mastery.
See 14 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Daniel T.
DT

Daniel T.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Great Visualisation Software"

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

There is a steep learning curve which takes trial and error to become profficient in the use. Whilst intial renders are easily achievable the complexi

Ryan L.
RL

Ryan L.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"V-ray on G2"

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

I dislike how complicated the software can be without being able to have a tutorial to render

5. Slow Performance
Users note the slow performance of V-Ray, especially during initial visualizations and interactive preview rendering.
See 14 mentions

See Related User Reviews

GIOELE L.
GL

GIOELE L.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Stunning quality"

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

Sometimes it's slow for the first visualization

Verified User
U

Verified User

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.0/5

"Chaos V-Ray"

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

While V-Ray excels with complex projects, I find it could be faster when working on simpler scenes. The interactive preview rendering (IPR) feedback s

6. Learning Curve
Users find the steep learning curve of V-Ray daunting, requiring significant time and effort to master.
See 12 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Isolina M.
IM

Isolina M.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

4.5/5

"Essential Tool for High-Quality Visuals"

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

V-Ray still has a learning curve, especially for beginners, as the number of settings can feel overwhelming at first. Rendering is also quite resource

OMAR T.
OT

OMAR T.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Excellent software and excellent service"

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

I think harder to learn how to use it compared to other softwares like D5

7. Long Rendering Time
Users are frustrated by V-Ray's long rendering times, which can hinder productivity and workflow efficiency.
See 10 mentions

See Related User Reviews

Verified User
U

Verified User

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

5.0/5

"Architectural design review"

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

The only downside is the render time and having to purchase cloud credits if you want to run more than one render.

Barak V.
BV

Barak V.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

5.0/5

"Powerful rendering engine for professional 3D visualization"

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

Render times can still be heavy on complex animations, especially when using brute force on high-detail scenes. GPU memory limitations can also be a c

V-Ray Reviews (215)

Reviews

V-Ray Reviews (215)

4.5
215 reviews
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Isolina M.
IM
Principal owner
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Essential Tool for High-Quality Visuals"
What do you like best about V-Ray?

I’ve been using V-Ray for SketchUp for many years, and it has consistently impressed me with how much it has improved over time. Each new version feels more refined, making it easier and faster to achieve high-quality results. The interface has become more intuitive, and the rendering engine continues to strike a balance between realism and efficiency. I appreciate that I can now get professional-level visuals without spending endless hours tweaking settings. It’s a reliable and powerful tool that has become essential to my workflow. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

V-Ray still has a learning curve, especially for beginners, as the number of settings can feel overwhelming at first. Rendering is also quite resource-intensive, so having a powerful machine is almost a must. And while I find the quality worth it, the licensing cost can be high, particularly for smaller studios or independent designers. With very complex models, I’ve also experienced occasional slowdowns or instability. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

julien m.
JM
Architecte d'intérieur
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"A powerful rendering engine for architecture"
What do you like best about V-Ray?

V-Ray offers a remarkable balance between realism and performance. The quality of the renders is truly impressive, particularly due to the precision brought to the management of lights, materials, and textures. I especially appreciate the flexibility of the settings, which allows for both quick renders for daily work and the production of photorealistic images intended for client presentations. The seamless integration with SketchUp is also a significant advantage, as it greatly simplifies the workflow, especially when using this software daily. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

The learning curve can seem quite steep for beginners, as the interface offers many options and can sometimes prove complex to handle. Furthermore, some particularly heavy renderings require a lot of hardware resources, which can slow down the work if the computer is not powerful enough. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

JACKIE TEH T.
JT
3d visualizer
Design
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Review of V-Ray Renderer"
What do you like best about V-Ray?

V-Ray consistently delivers high-quality, photorealistic results that clients immediately connect with. The material library, lighting accuracy, and support for both CPU and GPU rendering make it a reliable tool for architectural visualization. I especially value the level of control over render settings — from global illumination to fine-tuning shaders — which allows me to push realism while balancing performance. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

V-Ray has a learning curve, especially for beginners unfamiliar with render engines. Some renders can be resource-heavy, requiring careful optimization when working on very large projects. While documentation is strong, the interface could be more intuitive in places compared to newer real-time rendering solutions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Zohaib K.
ZK
Sr. CAD Operator | 3d Visualizer
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Realistic Render Engine"
What do you like best about V-Ray?

V-Ray stands out as one of the most powerful and versatile rendering engines for architects, designers, and 3D artists. The best part about V-Ray is its photorealism and flexibility.

I like V-Ray best because it combines quality, speed, and flexibility in one package. Unlike some renderers that are either too slow or too limited, V-Ray gives me confidence that I can deliver photorealistic results on deadline whether it’s a quick draft for client approval or a final cinematic presentation. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

While V-Ray is a powerful rendering engine with incredible strengths, there are a few aspects that I find less appealing:

Heavy System Requirements, Long Render Times, Slower Real-Time Feedback. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

VB
ing
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"The only render engine I use because nothing else touches its reliability and the photoreal results."
What do you like best about V-Ray?

What I like best about V-Ray is the sheer ease of use: sane defaults, predictable lighting, and materials that just work and paired with the Chaos Vantage hookup for buttery real-time look-dev and instant scene exploration. V-Ray GPU is the star: blisteringly fast iterations, super clean noise handling, and final frames that look production-ready without a fight. That combo is it's stellar usability, Vantage integration, and GPU punch, makes it my no-brainer renderer. Frequency of use? Daily. Ease of implementation? I mainly work with 3ds Max and on my 2023 version I have no issue of using it. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

Honestly? The price. In Europe you’re looking at roughly €469/year for V-Ray Solo and about €649/year for Premium before VAT, with Solo monthly around €70, awesome tool, but that subscription stings. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Sagar V.
SV
Civil Structural Engineer
Civil Engineering
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
"Software that turn My Design visualization work into Reality"
What do you like best about V-Ray?

With update it is getting more smooth usable, its now more smarter with real-time rendering capabilities.

V-Ray now provides Vision options that allows to see lighting, materials, and design changes instantly while working. Material Library also getting updated which includes more high-quality PBR materials that make any 3D house model look incredibly realistic without extra tweaking. Also, the enhanced Light Mix feature helps test multiple lighting moods in a single render. With all the upgrades V-ray makes client presentations more faster and clearer. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

Rendering is still big task for Some big architectural work, if any full-resolution renders then its continue to take time more time, so further optimization or smarter options will be helpful. Some software integration is still little complex that improvement can add better advantage and more production with any software integration. Yes material library has expanded but many practical and everyday materials still need to be imported or custom-built. Having more ready-to-use, real-world textures and presets would save a lot of time for designers working on tight schedules.

Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Barak V.
BV
Designer and owner
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Powerful rendering engine for professional 3D visualization"
What do you like best about V-Ray?

V-Ray consistently delivers photorealistic results with a high level of control over every rendering aspect. The integration with 3ds Max is smooth and stable, making it my go-to renderer for product animations and architectural visualization. The wide range of materials, lighting tools, and render elements provides flexibility for both stills and animations. The denoiser and progressive rendering make look-development faster and more efficient. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

Render times can still be heavy on complex animations, especially when using brute force on high-detail scenes. GPU memory limitations can also be a challenge for very large projects. While Chaos has improved the UI in recent versions, some settings are still scattered and require advanced knowledge to fully optimize. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Daniel T.
DT
Module Leader for 2nd Year IDS
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Great Visualisation Software"
What do you like best about V-Ray?

The integration within the modelling software makes it part of the same program, not exporting and importing, making a change to the model integrates effortlessly. The rendering quality and custimisation of settings to achieve desired results makes it a leading rendering program. Installation of the software is very simple and the regular updates with new features shows the dedication to continually enhance the software. I use the software regularly proffessionally and as a lecturer of communication modules. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

There is a steep learning curve which takes trial and error to become profficient in the use. Whilst intial renders are easily achievable the complexities take time to master. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Cole E.
CE
Animation Manager
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"V-Ray has upped my game in 3D graphics and animation"
What do you like best about V-Ray?

Easy to get started and put into your arsenal of tools and get great results without changing settings plus the ability to tweak performance and results. Customer service is amazing and have looked at our 3D scenes and fixed issues and gave back to us. Use it daily in a variety of projects. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

Distributed rendering doesn't work sometimes and when it does, sometimes it is slower than rendering on one computer. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Vladimiras M.
VM
Junior Software Engineer
Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)
"Great all-rounded rendering software that can be used with SketchUp"
What do you like best about V-Ray?

Best part of using V-Ray is the ability to easily get high-quality assets that will render perfectly using the V-Ray rendering engine.

The plug-in is very powerful and allowed me to create stunning renders without much effort. The lighting set-up was straightforward and the easiest of all SketchUp plugins I have tried.

The set-up on SketchUp was as straightforward as just installing the plug-in, settings up a few lighting components and hitting render. I have used it for every studio design project and it proved to be an amazing sale-up opportunity. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about V-Ray?

V-Ray can sometimes feel overwhelming. There is a lot that this plug-in offers and, realistically, you would need to dedicate time and attention to tutorials/documentation to use this plug-in to the maximum. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

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