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 checked13 October 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, EPW files built from site-specific reanalysis (ERA5 / ERA5-Land, CERRA, NORA3) at the exact coordinatesTMY / EPW weather files
PrecipitationMonthly totals and rain event intensity from NOAA rain gauges near the site; in projects, site-specific reanalysis at the exact coordinates and a rainfall record from 1941Not among its site analysis metrics
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
Passive design strategies (indoor)Passive Design Strategies for Indoor Environments, with seven strategies per bioclimatic method, in projects on paid plans; the chart with the strategy zones drawn on it in the Designer module on Technical and EnterpriseNot provided
Energy analysisPreliminary hourly energy balance; orientation and aspect-ratio optimization and window shading recommendations (five fixed devices on eight facades) in projects on paid plansEnergyPlus-based energy modelling, daylight and PV simulation
Design directionIndoor passive design strategies, outdoor comfort strategies, building orientation and aspect ratio, PV panel orientation and window shading recommendations, in projects on paid plansNot provided: its site analysis visualises climate data, and simulation results are read by the user
Accessibility of outputGraphics and data interpretation are targeted at laypeople, and can be read by architects and building developers, in addition to more technical personnelResults inside Rhino, for AEC designers and consultants; plots export as PNG or PDF
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, UTCI and a psychrometric chart of weather frequency.
  • 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.

Free plan; paid plans from €59/month (cancellation takes effect after 12 billing cycles) or €599/year, with a 7-day free trial. No card required. If you add a card during the trial, the plan is charged when the trial ends; otherwise your account moves to the Free plan. See all plans.

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 13 October 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.

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