--- title: "ARCHICAD Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra" description: "With the help of Capterra, learn about ARCHICAD Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other 3D Architecture products and more." source_url: "https://www.capterra.com/p/2018/ArchiCAD/" page_type: "product" language: "en" publication_date: "2026-10-19" --- # ARCHICAD Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on October 19, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Users](#users)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) ARCHICAD ## What is ARCHICAD? Tailored BIM for Architects, by Architects. With Archicad's comprehensive toolkit and user-friendly interface, empower your project design, visualization, documentation, and delivery, regardless of scale. It stands out as the market's most streamlined and intuitive BIM software, allowing you to concentrate on crafting exceptional architecture. ## What is ARCHICAD used for? [3D Architecture](https://www.capterra.com/3d-architecture-software/)[Architecture](https://www.capterra.com/architecture-software/)[Architectural CAD](https://www.capterra.com/architectural-cad-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 280 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 89% Neutral 10% Negative 1% Starting price $33.33 Per User, Per Month Free trial available Includes Free Version Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for ARCHICAD?[Manage this product listing](https://www.g2.com/products/archicad/claim_requests/new?auto=true) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### ARCHICAD 4.4 (280) VS. [4.4 (72)](https://www.capterra.com/p/207052/Enscape/reviews/) Starting Price $33.33 Per User, Per Month Starting Price $52.9 Other, Per Year Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 4.2 (279) Ease Of Use 4.6 (357) Value For Money 4.1 (220) Value For Money 4.2 (323) Customer Service 4.3 (220) Customer Service 4.0 (324) ## ARCHICAD alternatives [Design Flex](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/) [4.3 (357)](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 83% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/218525/2020-Design-Live/) Highest Rated [Programa](https://www.capterra.com/p/248518/Programa/) [4.8 (73)](https://www.capterra.com/p/248518/Programa/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 100% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/248518/Programa/) [RIB SpecLink](https://www.capterra.com/p/267349/SpecLink/) [4.5 (118)](https://www.capterra.com/p/267349/SpecLink/reviews/) Starting price Contact vendor for pricing Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 92% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/267349/SpecLink/) [Revit](https://www.capterra.com/p/265023/Revit/) [4.6 (484)](https://www.capterra.com/p/265023/Revit/reviews/) Starting price $365.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 96% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [Learn More](https://www.capterra.com/p/265023/Revit/) [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/2018/ArchiCAD/alternatives/) ## FAQs about ARCHICAD Overview ### What problems does ARCHICAD solve? ARCHICAD solves disconnected 2D drafting, 3D modeling, and documentation workflows by generating plans, sections, elevations, schedules, and visualizations from one building model. Architects, interior designers, engineers, and design-build teams use it to spot design conflicts earlier, revise drawings consistently, coordinate shared project files, and present realistic design options to clients. Answer based on 228 reviews Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from ARCHICAD? ARCHICAD is most used by architects, architectural designers, and project managers who create building models, produce construction documentation, and coordinate design changes. Civil engineers use it to align structural information with architectural plans, while firm principals, owners, and CEOs review project progress. Students and junior designers use it to develop BIM and drafting skills. Answer based on 256 reviews Overview ### What company size and industries is ARCHICAD built for? ARCHICAD is built primarily for small architecture and planning firms, which represent 86% of reviewers, and supports collaboration among architects, engineers, contractors, clients, municipalities, BIM, and IT managers. It is also used in construction (18%) and civil engineering (8%), with midsize and enterprise organizations accounting for 6% and 8%. Answer based on 280 reviews Features and Usability ### What are the key features of ARCHICAD? ARCHICAD includes BIM modeling and design management for creating and updating complete building models throughout architectural phases. Its core drafting, 2D drawing, and document management features generate plans, sections, elevations, and construction documents from the model. It also supports data import/export, rendering, 3D imaging, and presentation tools for consultant coordination and client communication. Answer based on 52 reviews Pricing ### How much does it cost and what fees or limitations are included? ARCHICAD offers Archicad Solo at $33.33 per user per month with annual billing, alongside a free version and free trial. Reviewers describe it as a cost-friendly alternative to higher subscription fees, although several find licensing expensive, especially for solo practices or growing teams, and report changing licensing systems. Answer based on 41 reviews Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does ARCHICAD integrate with? ARCHICAD integrates with AutoCAD for DWG-based drawing exchange and coordination, SketchUp for incorporating models, and rendering tools including Lumion, Artlantis, and Twinmotion. These connections support importing, exporting, model sharing, visualization, and presentation workflows across architectural design projects. Answer based on 76 reviews Getting Started and Support ### How easy is it to onboard and train a team on ARCHICAD? ARCHICAD is approachable for users learning basic drafting and modeling, with some reviewers reporting quick adoption through practice. Training can include courses, tutorials, support documentation, and online resources. Teams new to BIM, advanced tools, object settings, or CAD workflows often need more structured instruction and time to become fully proficient. Answer based on 51 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does ARCHICAD offer, and how do users rate the experience? ARCHICAD offers Email/Help Desk support and an FAQ/Forum. Users often describe customer service as accommodating and helpful in resolving questions and access issues. However, some report slow ticket responses, limited support resources, and difficulty getting satisfying answers to common problems, which can affect productivity. Answer based on 32 reviews Ease of use ### How easy is ARCHICAD to learn and use? ARCHICAD offers an approachable BIM workflow for many architects, especially those familiar with CAD drafting and 2D-to-3D design. New users often need tutorials and regular practice to navigate settings, object editing, and advanced tools. Small architecture teams value its flexible interface, while some users find the learning curve and command access confusing. Answer based on 51 reviews ## Who uses ARCHICAD? Based on Capterra reviews from the past 5 years Talk to a software expert to get a free software list tailored to your business needs ## Features AI summary Based on 1,156 3D Architecture reviews Not all 3D Architecture products cover every feature buyers care about most. Here is what Capterra reviewers highlight as essential when choosing a solution: - **Real-time Product Visualizations** (**40%** of reviewers rated this feature as critical) - **Content Library** (**33%**) - **Rendering** (**49%**) ARCHICAD includes **Content Library** and **Rendering**, giving architecture teams access to reusable design assets and the tools to create detailed visual outputs for client reviews and project development. However, it does not offer **Real-time Product Visualizations**. Instead, it provides other features that reviewers also consider important, including **Data Import/Export** (**35%**), **Component Library** (**35%**), and **Design Management** (**33%**). These features help businesses move project data between systems, organize building elements more efficiently, and maintain control over design workflows, allowing teams to work faster and keep projects consistent. Content Library 3.8 (4) 125.00% of 4 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Centralized repository to store content and assets Rendering 3.9 (45) 60.00% of 45 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Generation of non-photorealistic images from a 2D or 3D model Data Import/Export 4.4 (48) 58.33% of 48 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Import and export data to and from software applications Component Library 3.8 (13) 53.85% of 13 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Database of components and materials used in design templates Design Management 4.4 (55) 61.82% of 55 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Collaborate on creating a product by sharing and adjusting designs through a shared portal Drafting 4.5 (53) 71.70% of 53 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Prepare preliminary versions of digital documents, technical drawings, or design mock-ups for review ARCHICAD 58 features ### All Features - 2D Drawing: Drawing and modeling designs within 2D flat dimensions - 3D Imaging: Representation of any object in 3D - 3D Modeling: Representation of any object in 3D - Access Controls/Permissions: Define levels of authorization for access to specific files or systems - Activity Tracking: Track and document all activities across devices, networks, and other systems - Animation: Ability to insert animations/transitions - Annotations: Highlight content and/or make notations about parts of content - Approval Process Control: Manage the process of evaluating documents or requests submitted for approval - Bills of Material: Material list of manufacturing parts and associated costs - BIM Modeling: 3D design and modeling tool enabling a virtual information model - CAD Tools: Computer aided design to create precision drawings or technical illustrations - Change Management: Track and monitor efficient handling of all changes/transitions - Collaboration Tools: Provides a channel for team members to share AI models, media files, communicate, and work together - Comparison View: View and compare images, studies, etc., to track changes over time - Component Library: Database of components and materials used in design templates - Configurable Workflow: Configure existing workflows to meet your organization's needs - Conflict Tracking: Detects conflicts in the latest version when multiple users are editing a file at the same time - Contact Management: Manage, organize, and store contact information - Content Library: Centralized repository to store content and assets - Contract/License Management: Track, store, and access client contracts or licenses - Customizable Templates: Pre-designed layouts that can be customized to match preferences and requirements - Data Import/Export: Import and export data to and from software applications - Data Visualization: Graphical representation of data - Design Management: Collaborate on creating a product by sharing and adjusting designs through a shared portal - Design Modeling: Helps create, plan and design construction models for AEC businesses - Document Management: Store, manage, and track all electronic documents in a centralized location - Document Storage: Store and organize documents in a centralized system - Drafting: Prepare preliminary versions of digital documents, technical drawings, or design mock-ups for review - File Management: Create, save, and store files - For AEC Industry: Primarily serving architecture, engineering, and construction industry professionals - For Architects: Intended to be used by architects - Graphical Data Presentation: Visual representation of data using various graphical elements such as charts, graphs, maps & other visual aids - Historical Reporting: Information, data and reports that are being tracked over time - Issue Tracking: Record and follow the progress of every issue - Mobile Access: Access software remotely via mobile devices - Modeling & Simulation: Using physical, mathematical, or logical models as a basis for simulations to generate data for managerial or technical decision-making - Multiple Projects: Ability to handle several projects simultaneously - Offline Access: Ability of websites, web applications, or mobile applications to function without an active internet connection - Presentation Tools: Share and present designs - Project Management: Plan and coordinate all the resources, costs and time needed to execute assignments - Project Planning: Organize and schedule projects - Project Tracking: Monitor the progress of projects from start to finish - Project Workflow: Create, manage, or update project workflows. - Projections: Estimate or forecast of a future scenario based on the study of present trends - Quotes/Estimates: Generate quotes or estimates for customers - Rendering: Generation of non-photorealistic images from a 2D or 3D model - Reporting & Statistics: Collection, analysis, and representation of numerical data and generation of reports to understand various patterns - Reporting/Analytics: View and track pertinent metrics to find patterns and gain insights from data - Role-Based Permissions: Set & manage permission levels based on user roles and restrict access to only authorized individuals - Scheduling: Plan availability and assign specific time slots for tasks and resources - Search/Filter: Search and filter data across systems to locate required information by entering keywords or certain criteria - Secure Data Storage: Securely stores data to prevent data loss or breaches - Status Tracking: Track the status over time for a request, process, asset, or transaction - Subcontractor Management: Track information, qualifications, and contact details of subcontractors - Template Management: Create, save, and re-purpose templates for emails, forms, etc. - User Management: Manage user accounts, profiles, roles, permissions, and other details across applications, devices or networks - Version Control: Track revisions and updates made to files and navigate between different versions - Workflow Management: Create, design and manage workflows for repetitive tasks --- Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.4 (272) 4.4 Based on 272 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.1 (220) Free Trial Free Version [View pricing plan details](https://www.capterra.com/p/2018/ArchiCAD/pricing/) Archicad Solo $33.33 Per User,Per Month It includes: - Annual Billing Value for money 4.1 (220) 4.1 Based on 220 reviews Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 4.3 (220) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 4.3 (220) 4.3 Based on 220 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.4 Based on 280 reviews Filter by rating 5(159) 4(91) 3(27) 2(1) 1(2) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent SM Simon M. Architectural assistant Architecture & Planning ### "Mature BIM software" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 August 18, 2026 Pros Amazing complete software package, a massive range of functions that work well together, highly developed and through through BIM work flow, excellent learning resources online Cons Struggles with larger scale work, some of the functions are non-intuitive and occasionally struggles to find a reason why elements have disappeared Switched from [Rhino 7](https://www.capterra.com/p/58468/Jewelry-Modeling/) Needed a more powerful software for architectural design Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. BF Benedikt F. Architekt Architecture & Planning ### "Gute Ansätze - viel Potential nach oben." 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 November 8, 2024 Die Ansätze sind gut - es gehört aber für die hohen Kosten sehr viel verbessert. Pros Es geht gut auf die Bedürftnisse von Architektur ein. Die Verbindung von 2D und 3D ist sehr praktisch. Cons Das Hochladen des Softwareschlüssel ist mühsam (Bei Verwendung von Laptop und PC). Viele Klicks. Da mal anmelden. Mühsam. Und wenn der Softwareschlüssel heruntergeladen wird wird man tatsächlich gefragt, ob man fortfahren möchte, anstatt, dass das Programm einfach hochfährt. Das Wording ist sehr altertümlich. Das laden von dwg wird "Interoperabilität" genannt - klingt nach DDR. Generell gehört die Oberfläche einmal komplett gereinigt und erneuert. Siehe zB die intuitive Oberfläche von Rhino. Die Auswahl von Objekten ist mehr als mühsam. Siehe auch hier die Einfachheit bei Rhino, Autocad,... Switched from [Rhino 7](https://www.capterra.com/p/58468/Jewelry-Modeling/) [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/) Dachten es sei zeitgemäß. Viele Büros verwenden es bereits. Rhino verwenden wir noch, weil intuitiver und schneller im modellieren - vor allem von koplexeren Objekten wie Dächer (ähm) Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. JH Jared H. Owner Architecture & Planning ### "Unaffordable for small practitioners " 1.0 Overall Rating 1.0 1.0 Ease of Use 1.0 1.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 1.0 1.0 Likelihood to Recommend 1/10 November 4, 2024 Due to the constantly changing licensing system, you essentially end up purchasing the software new every few years making it unaffordable for small practitioners. There is a reason why Revit dominates the US market and will continue to do so if they do not make some drastic changes. Pros Most robust 3D CAD/ BIM software available. Cons They constantly change the licensing so you essentially end up buying the software from scratch every few years. You can not upgrade, but you also lose support. Also, the annual updates and features are great, but they need to focus on how to clean up, consolidate, and streamline a lot of these features which are often redundant. Hence, the learning curve is intense and takes years to master the program. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. EH Eric H. Tech Architecture & Planning ### "Great program but Pricey" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 6/10 August 9, 2024 Really good, everything was smooth and intuitive, more options than you probably need, but really well done. Pros very high level of usability from a Bim standpoint, helpful through the entire building design process. Cons The price, per seat per month was just more than we were looking to spend as we added more employees. Did not feel like it would grow at our pace. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. EI Emmanuel I. intern Architecture & Planning ### "Archicad is an alright software" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 3.0 3.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 5/10 August 4, 2024 fairly good the only issue I have was that to get good renders you need another app Pros Its ease of use makes it very easy to pick up Cons its interface is not very appealing to new users Switched from [Revit](https://www.capterra.com/p/265023/Revit/) wanted to experiment with new softwares to compare and contrast Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. NK nayeon K. assistant manager Mechanical or Industrial Engineering ### "Basically solid architectural software" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 6/10 July 1, 2024 It is generally satisfactory because it is a program that works well even without a high-spec computer. Pros The features were intuitive and convenient to use. Also, the program runs easily even if the computer specification is not good. Cons Increasingly, the more advanced what I was trying to learn, the longer it took and the lower the performance compared to other programs. It was a pity that there were sometimes no basic functions in other programs. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AH Alina H. Studentin Architecture & Planning ### "Archicad für Architekturstudierende" 3.0 Overall Rating 3.0 3.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 May 12, 2024 Pros 2D Zeichnungen erstellen, Grundrisse, Lagepläne, etc Cons 3D Modelle erstellen ist relativ schwierig und besonders runde Formen sind fast unmöglich. Alles ist auf einfaches Einfamilienhaus entwerfen ausgerichtet Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. CF Claudia F. Architect Architecture & Planning ### "BIM software for architects" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 February 9, 2024 Pros Easy to use, lots of new functionalities, creates a 3D model as you go and it is super easy to get the 2D from it. Cons A bit expensive and it tales a while to learn. Switched from [AutoCAD](https://www.capterra.com/p/265024/AutoCAD/) It is more complete program and allows to design in a more realistic way. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. DP DOMENICO P. Fotografi Publishing ### "Ottimo software per gestire rendering in 3D, facile da usare " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 January 17, 2024 Software molto facile da usare ed intuitivo, anche per chi è neofita. Elaborazione di rendering veloce, utile per chi ha bisogno di supporto grafico. Rapporto qualità prezzo ottimo... consigliato Pros Software molto facile da usare ed intuitivo, anche per chi è neofita Cons Per la mia necessità grafica di elaborazione rendering, non ho trovato inconvenienti Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AN Anonymous User Architecte Construction ### "Dessin Bâtiment " 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 January 12, 2024 Pros Contrairement à d'autres logiciels ARCHICAD est conçu pour des dessins bâtiments et très rapide quand je dessine avec cet logiciel Cons ARCHICAD est très lent voir ne peut pas fonctionner avec des ordinateurs à faible puissance. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/2018/ArchiCAD/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. Popular comparisons [Design Flex vs ARCHICAD](https://www.capterra.com/compare/2018-218525/ArchiCAD-vs-2020-Design-Live)[RIB SpecLink vs ARCHICAD](https://www.capterra.com/compare/2018-267349/ArchiCAD-vs-SpecLink)[Revit vs ARCHICAD](https://www.capterra.com/compare/2018-265023/ArchiCAD-vs-Revit) [Vectorworks Architect vs ARCHICAD](https://www.capterra.com/compare/2018-29995/ArchiCAD-vs-Vectorworks-Architect)[SketchUp vs ARCHICAD](https://www.capterra.com/compare/2018-211798/ArchiCAD-vs-SketchUp)[ActCAD vs ARCHICAD](https://www.capterra.com/compare/2018-168061/ArchiCAD-vs-ACTCAD-Professional)