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Head-to-head · Lighting Design Software

ReluxDesktop vs Capture

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
ReluxDesktop #5 in Lighting Design Software 7.9/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit ReluxDesktop
Capture #6 in Lighting Design Software 7.9/10 From €395 ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Capture

ReluxDesktop leads on 1 check, Capture on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Free planonly ReluxDesktop

ReluxDesktop and Capture score identically on our rubric (7.9 out of 10) for lighting design software; ReluxDesktop sits at #5 and Capture at #6 in our editorial ranking, so the choice comes down to fit.

ReluxDesktop offers free plan; Capture doesn't.

ReluxDesktop is the better fit for free architectural lighting simulation and planning. Capture is the better fit for production teams needing plots and live visualization.

  • ReluxDesktop fits best

    Free architectural lighting simulation and planning

  • Capture fits best

    Production teams needing plots and live visualization

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature ReluxDesktop 7.9/10 Visit ↗ Capture 7.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 7.9 7.9
Ranking #5 in Lighting Design Software #6 in Lighting Design Software
Best for Free architectural lighting simulation and planning Production teams needing plots and live visualization
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows Windows, macOS
Support Tickets Email, Docs, Community
Integrations 3 integrations 12 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features ReluxDesktop 3/3 · Capture 3/3
3D visualization ✓ ✓
Plot & paperwork ✓ ✓
Live previsualization ✓ ✓
Specs
Console protocols Not published Art-Net, CITP, Compulite VC, MA-Net2, MA-Net3, sACN, NewTek NDI, Martin P3, PosiStageNet, Blacktrax RTTrP, Kinesys K2, OSC
Platforms Windows 10/11 Windows, macOS
Fixture library size Not published Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Plans indoor, outdoor, daylight, sensor and emergency lighting.
  • Combines photorealistic 3D visualisation with real-time interactive planning.
  • Exports compliance calculations and supports CAD/BIM formats.
  • Creates 2D sketches and 3D lighting plots with change-updating reports
  • Visualizes lighting, media and motion, with image and video rendering
  • Connects to consoles and show systems through a broad range of protocols
Cons
  • Runs on Windows 10/11 only.
  • Displaying non-Relux member luminaires requires a separate ReluxThirdParty licence.
  • Delivered as desktop software rather than a web-based planning tool.
  • No free plan; entry starts at €395 as a one-time license
  • Solo is limited to 1 universe, 1 local video, 1 streaming video and 1 laser feed
  • Desktop-only, with Windows and macOS as the supported platforms
Our verdict

ReluxDesktop is desktop software for simulating artificial light and daylight and planning lighting and sensors in indoor and outdoor spaces. It also supports emergency-lighting planning, including automatic luminaire placement. Its…

Read the review →

Capture is a desktop application for lighting designers working across stage design, documentation and previsualization. It brings 2D sketches and 3D lighting plots together with fixture and accessory placement, 3D model exchange, and…

Read the review →
  1. ReluxDesktopLighting Design Software 7.9Free plan
  2. CaptureLighting Design Software 7.9From €395

Strengths and trade-offs

  • ReluxDesktop — where it wins

    • Plans indoor, outdoor, daylight, sensor and emergency lighting.
    • Combines photorealistic 3D visualisation with real-time interactive planning.
    • Exports compliance calculations and supports CAD/BIM formats.

    Where it doesn't

    • Runs on Windows 10/11 only.
    • Displaying non-Relux member luminaires requires a separate ReluxThirdParty licence.
    • Delivered as desktop software rather than a web-based planning tool.

  • Capture — where it wins

    • Creates 2D sketches and 3D lighting plots with change-updating reports
    • Visualizes lighting, media and motion, with image and video rendering
    • Connects to consoles and show systems through a broad range of protocols

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan; entry starts at €395 as a one-time license
    • Solo is limited to 1 universe, 1 local video, 1 streaming video and 1 laser feed
    • Desktop-only, with Windows and macOS as the supported platforms

More comparisons

All lighting design software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update