C4B vs ClimateStudio

C4B vs ClimateStudio

ClimateStudio brings fast daylight, energy and comfort simulation to Rhino. C4B covers the site-climate analysis that comes before, in a browser and without a model.

Last checked18 September 2026

C4B and ClimateStudio at a glance

AspectC4BClimateStudio
TypeWeb app, in the browserRhino plugin for environmental simulation
PriceFree plan; paid plans from €59/month (cancellation takes effect after 12 billing cycles) or €599/year, with a 7-day free trialSubscription, price on request; trial and education licences
Choosing the locationSearch an address or click the map; no weather file neededWeather browser with more than 30,000 weather files
Weather dataNearest weather station file (Climate.OneBuilding.Org, usually TMYx) plus, in projects, site-specific reanalysis (ERA5 / ERA5-Land, CERRA, NORA3) at the exact coordinatesTMY / EPW weather files
Future climateSSP1-1.9 to SSP5-8.5, any year from 2025 to 2100, in projects on paid plansNot stated on the pages we reviewed
Outdoor comfortUTCI outdoor comfort, including on the Free planUTCI conditions on site, and thermal comfort simulation
Energy analysisPreliminary hourly energy balance; orientation and aspect-ratio optimization in projects on paid plansEnergyPlus-based energy modelling, daylight and PV simulation
OutputsInteractive charts; written readings on most charts in projects and a PDF report on paid plans; EPW downloads on Technical and EnterpriseSimulation results and visualisations in Rhino

Where ClimateStudio is strong

  • Fast daylight and energy simulation on Rhino geometry.
  • Climate analysis next to simulation: temperature, humidity, wind, radiation and UTCI on site.
  • A searchable library of more than 30,000 weather files.

Where C4B takes a different approach

  • Runs in any browser, on Mac or Windows, with no Rhino licence.
  • Starts from an address, and projects add site-specific reanalysis data instead of choosing a station file.
  • Adds future climate scenarios, Köppen-Geiger zones to 2100 and a PDF climate report for the brief.

ClimateStudio may suit you better if

  • You need daylight, glare or energy simulation on your Rhino model.
  • Your team works on Windows with Rhino.

C4B may suit you better if

  • You work on a Mac or without Rhino.
  • You need the site-climate brief before modelling starts.
  • You want future climate and a report the whole team can read.

See your site's climate before design begins

Pin any location and get climate, comfort and preliminary energy insight your whole team can read. Start with a 7-day free trial, or book a 30-minute demo.

Frequently asked questions

Does ClimateStudio run on Mac?

Its documentation states that ClimateStudio requires Windows and does not currently run on macOS. C4B runs in any modern browser.

Does C4B do daylight simulation?

No. C4B focuses on climate, comfort and preliminary energy analysis for a site; it does not simulate daylight or glare.

Can I use C4B weather files in ClimateStudio?

C4B's EPW downloads (Technical and Enterprise plans) are standard EPW files, the weather format ClimateStudio works with.

Sources

Information about ClimateStudio comes from its official website and documentation, checked on 18 September 2026. Products change, so check the official site for the latest details. ClimateStudio belongs to Solemma LLC; C4B is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

Other comparisons