Autodesk Revit integrates well with both Epic Games Twinmotion and Lumion, providing real-time visualisation solutions for architectural projects. However, these two applications have distinct features, workflows, and performance impacts. Below is a detailed comparison of Twinmotion & Lumion when used with Revit.


External Reference: www.twinmotion.com

External Reference: www.lumion.com
1. General Comparison
Feature | Twinmotion (Epic Games) | Lumion |
Ease of Use | Beginner-friendly, simple UI, drag-and-drop assets | Intuitive but has a steeper learning curve than Twinmotion |
Rendering Speed | Fast real-time rendering with Unreal Engine | Fast real-time rendering, optimized for ease of use |
Quality of Renders | High-quality but slightly stylized, can achieve photorealism with tweaking | More photorealistic, superior lighting and reflections |
Asset Library | Large built-in asset library, includes Quixel Megascans / Sketchfab | Extensive library with high-quality models and materials |
Animation & Effects | Excellent for animations, including people and weather effects | More advanced effects, better realism in animations |
Integration with Revit | Direct Datasmith plugin for Revit – Auto Sync | LiveSync for seamless updates with Revit |
VR Support | Native VR support for interactive walkthroughs | VR support, but not as seamless as Twinmotion |
Cost | Free (for non-commercial use) or paid (Twinmotion subscription license) | Subscription-based, higher price point |
GPU & CPU Usage | Optimized for real-time performance, lower system requirements | More demanding on hardware, requires powerful GPU |
2. Pros and Cons
Twinmotion (Epic Games)
✅ Pros:
- Easier to learn and use – Ideal for beginners and quick visualizations.
- Free for personal use – Good entry-level option for designers.
- Real-time rendering – Uses Unreal Engine for instant results.
- Excellent VR support – Works well with virtual reality headsets.
- Fast rendering times – Less intensive on hardware.
- Seamless Revit integration – Works with Datasmith for smooth transfers.
- Auto Sync or Export with Datasmith

❌ Cons:
- Less realistic renders by default – Requires tweaks for photorealistic quality.
- Limited material customization – Not as deep as Lumion in some areas.
- Fewer lighting options – Not as advanced as Lumion’s Global Illumination.
Lumion
✅ Pros:
- More photorealistic results – Better reflections, shadows, and lighting.
- Extensive material and asset library – High-quality objects for interiors and exteriors.
- More advanced effects – Includes volumetric lighting, rain, snow, and wind.
- Better landscape and terrain editing – Great for large-scale projects.
- LiveSync or Export for Revit – Real-time updates without re-exporting.


❌ Cons:
- More expensive – Subscription-based, higher cost than Twinmotion.
- Higher system requirements – Demands a powerful GPU and more RAM.
- Steeper learning curve – Takes more time to master.
3. Performance and System Requirements
Factor | Twinmotion | Lumion |
CPU Usage | Medium | High |
GPU Usage | Medium | High (especially for realistic render settings) |
RAM Requirements | 16GB recommended, 32GB for large projects | Minimum 16GB, recommended 32GB+ for large scenes |
Storage Space | ~30GB | ~80GB+ |
Twinmotion System Requirements

Lumion System Requirements Benchmark

Which Uses More System Resources?
- Lumion is more demanding on GPU, CPU, and RAM due to its advanced rendering engine.
- Twinmotion is lighter and optimized for real-time rendering, making it better for lower-end PCs.
4. Best Use Cases
Project Type | Twinmotion | Lumion |
Small-scale residential projects | ✅ Faster workflow, good quality | ✅ Higher quality, better for interiors |
Conceptual design & quick presentations | ✅ Easy to use for quick drafts | ❌ Longer setup for high realism |
High-end marketing visuals | ❌ Less realistic without tweaks | ✅ More photorealistic results |
VR & interactive walkthroughs | ✅ Excellent for VR presentations | ❌ VR can be used with the 360 panoramas |
Twinmotion External Landscaping Tools

5. Conclusion: Which One to Choose?
- For quick visualisations & ease of use → Twinmotion
- For photorealistic renders & high-end projects → Lumion
- For VR & interactive presentations → Twinmotion
- For large-scale architectural projects → Lumion
- For budget-conscious users → Twinmotion (free for non-commercial use)
Final Verdict
If you need fast, interactive, real-time rendering with VR support, Twinmotion is the better choice.
If you want the best photorealistic results for professional marketing materials, Lumion is the winner.
Can Lumion and Twinmotion both import additional assets?
Custom Asset Import: Twinmotion vs. Lumion
Both Twinmotion and Lumion support custom asset imports, but they handle it differently.
1. Twinmotion – Custom Assets & Formats
✅ Supports importing additional assets such as custom materials, animated characters, furniture, vehicles, and objects.
Custom Asset Import in Twinmotion:
- File Formats Supported:
- 3D Models:
- FBX, SKP (SketchUp), C4D, OBJ, glTF, DAE (Collada)
- Textures & Materials:
- PNG, JPG, TGA, TIFF, BMP, MP4 (for animated textures)
- Animations:
- FBX (with animation baked in)
- Quixel Megascans Assets:
- Direct integration with Epic Games’ Quixel Megascans for high-quality objects and materials.
- 3D Models:
Saving Assets in the Twinmotion User Library | Twinmotion Documentation | Epic Developer Community
Adding Custom Objects to Twinmotion:
- Import models via Datasmith, FBX, or SketchUp (SKP).
- Apply custom materials or textures.
- Animated objects (such as people and vehicles) require FBX with baked animations.
Pros of Custom Assets in Twinmotion:
✔ Full Quixel Megascans library for ultra-realistic materials and objects.
✔ Can import animated objects (e.g., people walking, rotating fans, TV screens).
✔ Works well with Unreal Engine assets.
Limitations in Twinmotion:
❌ Limited native animation control – Imported animations must be pre-baked in software like Blender or 3ds Max.
2. Lumion – Custom Assets & Formats
✅ Lumion allows importing custom assets, including furniture, materials, vehicles, trees, and animated characters.
Custom Asset Import in Lumion:
- File Formats Supported:
- 3D Models:
- FBX, SKP (SketchUp), OBJ, DAE (Collada), MAX (via 3ds Max export)
- Textures & Materials:
- PNG, JPG, TGA, TIFF, MP4 (for animated textures)
- Animations:
- FBX (supports object movement, rotation, scaling)
- Built-in animation effects for custom objects
- 3D Models:
Adding Custom Objects to Lumion:
- Import models via FBX, SKP, or OBJ.
- Apply Lumion’s materials and textures.
- Animate objects inside Lumion
Pros of Custom Assets in Lumion:
✔ Better support for animated people and objects.
✔ LiveSync ensures seamless updates with Revit, SketchUp, and Rhino.
✔ More control over object placement and environment customization.
Limitations in Lumion:
❌ Requires a powerful PC for high-poly models.
❌ Larger file sizes for imported assets can slow down performance.
3. Which Software is Better for Custom Assets?
Feature | Twinmotion | Lumion |
Supports custom 3D objects (chairs, coffee machines, etc.) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Supports animated people & objects | ✅ Yes, but needs pre-baked animations in FBX | ✅ Yes, built-in object animation tools |
Custom material imports | ✅ Yes (PNG, JPG, TGA, etc.) | ✅ Yes (PNG, JPG, TGA, etc.) |
Supports animated textures (e.g., TV screens, water) | ✅ Yes (MP4, GIF) | ✅ Yes (MP4, GIF) |
Supports pre-made object libraries | ✅ Yes (Quixel Megascans, Sketchfab, Unreal Marketplace) | ✅ Yes (Lumion library, 3D Warehouse) |
Best for easy asset placement | ✅ Yes, drag-and-drop | ✅ Yes, but more manual control |
4. Final Verdict: Twinmotion vs. Lumion for Custom Assets
- For simple custom asset imports (like furniture, materials, and small objects) → Both Twinmotion and Lumion work well.
- For photorealistic materials and Quixel Megascans integration → Twinmotion is better.
- For animated people, vehicles, and object movements → Lumion is better (easier to animate without external software).
- For pre-baked animations from Blender/3ds Max → Both can import animated FBX models, but Twinmotion works better with Unreal Engine assets.
👉 Use Twinmotion if you prefer Unreal Engine, Quixel Megascans, and easy-to-use imports.
👉 Use Lumion if you need more control over object animation and terrain editing.
Twinmotion Free vs. Twinmotion Paid – Pros, Cons, and Differences
Twinmotion offers both a free version and a paid version with key differences in licensing, features, and usability. Below is a breakdown of the pros, cons, and differences between the two versions.
1. General Comparison Table
Feature | Twinmotion Free (Education & Personal Use) | Twinmotion Paid (Commercial License) |
Cost | Free for personal and educational use | Paid – One-time purchase (perpetual license) |
Allowed for commercial use? | ❌ No, only for non-commercial use | ✅ Yes, can be used for professional projects |
Rendering quality | ✅ Same as paid version | ✅ Same as free version |
File format compatibility | ✅ Same as paid version | ✅ Same as free version |
Library & assets | ✅ Full access | ✅ Full access |
VR support | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Revit & Datasmith integration | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Cloud rendering & team collaboration | ❌ Not available | ✅ Available |
License restrictions | Personal/educational use only | Can be used in commercial projects |
2. Twinmotion Free Version
✅ Pros:
✔ Completely free – No cost for personal and educational users.
✔ Full feature set – Includes all Twinmotion tools and assets.
✔ Revit integration – Works with Datasmith, FBX, and other import formats.
✔ VR support – Allows real-time VR walkthroughs.
❌ Cons:
❌ No commercial usage – Cannot be used for paid projects.
❌ No cloud collaboration – Cannot share projects with teams using Twinmotion Cloud.
3. Twinmotion Paid Version
✅ Pros:
✔ Commercial usage – Can be used for client projects and paid work.
✔ Regular updates & support – Full access to Epic Games updates and customer support.
✔ Cloud sharing & collaboration – Access to Twinmotion Cloud for presenting projects online.
✔ Better team collaboration – Suitable for studios and firms using Twinmotion
commercially.
✔ Offline use
❌ Cons:
❌ Costs money – Requires a subscription
❌ Can be installed on multiple computer, but requires seats that are assigned to the different user. Linked to Epic Games Account
4. Which One Should You Use?
- Use Twinmotion Free if:
- You are a student, educator, or hobbyist.
- You need to learn Twinmotion without spending money.
- You’re working on personal or non-commercial projects.
- Use Twinmotion Paid if:
- You are a professional or company needing commercial usage.
- You want to use Twinmotion Cloud for collaboration.
Final Verdict:
👉 Twinmotion Free is perfect for students, educators, and hobbyists.
👉 Twinmotion Paid is necessary for professional architects, designers, and firms.
Twinmotion: A cutting-edge real-time visualization tool – Twinmotion
Lumion: Industry-Leading 3D Rendering Software | Lumion – Lumion 3D Rendering Software

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