When you use rendering to change your 3D models into hyper-realistic images or videos, it demands significant computing power and can be slow on a single computer. To address this, many professionals use a render farm, which is a group of computers that work together.
In this article, I will explore the main types of render farms and highlight the best online rendering service in 2025.
Let’s begin with a brief introduction!
What is Render Farm?
It is a group of computers connected to work together on rendering tasks. Rendering means turning 3D models or visual effects into images and videos. As big projects can take a long time to process on one computer, render farm software distributes the work among multiple machines to make the process fast. In this way, users are able to finish the complex projects much earlier.
Main Types of Render Farms
Now that you know about a render farm, it is time to move on to their types to choose which is the best render farm.
1. Self-Built Render Farm
It is a network of computers assembled by an individual or organization, who are responsible for its maintenance. In a self-built render farm software, systems are connected locally and work together to perform their tasks. These rendering services minimize the risk of security threats as you are not uploading sensitive information on the Internet. Plus, you do not have to rely on the Internet to perform your tasks.
Pros
- Once the hardware is purchased, there are no recurring subscription costs.
- When the requirement changes, you can change parts and add custom plugins to your system
Con
- When you are hosting multiple machines, it requires a lot of power, which adds to operational costs.
2. Cloud-Based Render Farm
This service uses an active internet connection to provide online rendering through remote servers. You just need to upload your project files, and the rendering is done by the infrastructure of the provider. As you are using the Internet, you can access these services from anywhere without being bound to any physical location. Besides, you do not need to purchase any costly hardware to perform your operations.
Pros
- This method is effective for occasional usage as you just have to pay for the time you use a service.
- Many cloud-based rendering services allow you to integrate popular plugins and software to make it compatible.
Con
- You have to rely on a stable internet connection to perform your tasks.
The Top Pick of Cloud Render Farm Service in 2025
When you have to choose a stand-out and leading online rendering service, you cannot go beyond Fox Renderfarm. This cloud rendering service is flexible and runs on multiple operating systems like Windows, Mac, and Linux. The system intelligently detects your IT environment and aligns with the optimal cloud infrastructure for better performance. Additionally, you can easily integrate this rendering service into your production pipeline via APIs.
For faster file uploads and downloads, it uses Raysync’s high-speed transmission technology to reduce transfer times and streamline the workflow. Moreover, it has flexible pricing that allows users to estimate costs before starting their rendering projects.
Key Features
- Software Support: It supports many popular software and plugins, like Blender, Maya, Cinema 4D, 3ds Max and V-Ray.
- Secure: This service is ISO-certified and allows users an NDA to protect their rights and interests.
- Nodes: To increase productivity and complete your projects on time, this service releases thousands of rendering nodes.
- Rendering Options: This rendering service supports both CPU and GPU usage to process heavy projects requiring more power.
- Storage: It has high-performance SSD storage solutions for faster data access and better system response.
Popular 3D Animation Projects Rendered by Fox Renderfarm
This online render farm has contributed to many popular 3D animation projects, and here are a few examples:
1. Ne Zha 2
This 2025 Chinese animated film revolves around the Chinese mythological characters of Ne Zha and Ao Bing. The film achieved huge success and became history’s highest-grossing animated and non-English-language film. This performance has given it a place in the history of cinema.
2. Three Robots
The episode was part of an anthology series that presents a destroyed world through the eyes of three robots. It is praised for its great writing and the animation of high-quality, which brings its story to life.
3. Mr.Hublot
It is an Oscar-winning short film that introduces the character of Mr. Hublot. The film is celebrated for its heartwarming narrative and great integration of 3D animation. It is critically acclaimed, and its award shows the technical excellence presented in the film.
4. Oni: Thunder God’s Tale
This animation project intelligently mixes cultural folklore with modern storytelling to narrate the adventures of a young protagonist. The series is praised for its excellent animation and the thoughtful representation of cultural narratives. It treats the viewers with both entertainment and insight into mythological traditions.
Conclusion
A render farm is important for animation and visuals to speed up rendering tasks. This article discussed its two types, which are self-built farms and cloud-based farms. Moreover, we explored Fox Renderfarm, which is a cloud-based render farm with great software support and high-security features. It is a top choice for 2025 as it has powered renowned projects like Ne Zha 2 and Three Robots.
