A study of optical properties of ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{\text{3+}}$ doped oxyfluoride glasses and glass ceramics prepared by three different methods has been carried out. These methods start from ${\mathrm{NdF}}_3,$ ${\mathrm{Nd}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3,$ or a ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{\text{3+}}$ ion solution as doping agent. The alternative preparation method based on a preliminary dissolution of the ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{\text{3+}}$ ions is proposed in order to avoid nonhomogeneous dopant distribution and spontaneous devitrification during glass elaboration. In the frame of the Judd–Ofelt theory, main radiative parameters have been studied: transition probabilities, lifetimes, and stimulated emission cross sections. Fluorescence decay curves have been also analyzed in order to study the final distribution of the ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{\text{3+}}$ ions after the ceramming process, discerning between ions that reside in the fluoride nanocrystals precipitated during heat treatment and those remaining in the glassy phase. The ${\mathrm{NdF}}_3$ based glass ceramics present the best values for spectroscopic parameters as the stimulated cross section of the ${}^4{F}_{\text{3/2}}{\to }^4{I}_{\text{11/2}}$ laser transition.