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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    ARCHICAD

    Score8.5 out of 10
    N/AARCHICAD is a 3D architectural design application and BIM from Graphisoft, a Nemetschek Group company headquartered in Budapest.

    $240

    per month

    FreeCAD

    Score9.4 out of 10
    N/AFreeCAD is an open-source CAD software that specialized in 3D design. New features are added to FreeCAD by an active community of developers.N/A
    Pricing
    ARCHICADFreeCAD
    Editions & Modules
    Archicad Solo Version
    $240
    per month
    Archicad Full Version
    $280
    per month
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    ARCHICADFreeCAD
    Free Trial
    YesNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    ARCHICADFreeCAD
    Considered Both Products
    Graphisoft
    No answer on this topic
    Open Source
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    100%
    Would buy again
    7 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    6 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    7 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    5 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    ARCHICADFreeCAD
    Computer-Aided Design Software
    Comparison of Computer-Aided Design Software features of ARCHICAD and FreeCAD
    Feature
    ARCHICAD
    7.1
    1 Ratings
    5% below category average
    FreeCAD
    7.4
    1 Ratings
    1% below category average
    3D Modeling9.01 Ratings7.01 Ratings
    2D Drafting7.01 Ratings6.01 Ratings
    Rendering and Visualization5.01 Ratings5.01 Ratings
    Parametric Design8.01 Ratings7.01 Ratings
    Collaboration and Sharing6.01 Ratings5.01 Ratings
    Compatibility with other software and formats7.01 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Assembly Design7.01 Ratings7.01 Ratings
    Simulation and Analysis8.01 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Documentation and Annotation7.01 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Customization and Extensions7.01 Ratings10.01 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    ARCHICADFreeCAD
    Small Businesses
    Onshape
    Score7.4 out of 10
    Onshape
    Score7.4 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Onshape
    Score7.4 out of 10
    Onshape
    Score7.4 out of 10
    Enterprises
    PTC Creo
    Score7.8 out of 10
    PTC Creo
    Score7.8 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    ARCHICADFreeCAD
    Likelihood to Recommend
    8.0
    (9 ratings)
    8.0
    (2 ratings)
    Usability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    6.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    10.0
    (2 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    ARCHICADFreeCAD
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Graphisoft
    ARCHICAD, is well suited in presenting all desired projects in building and construction works more so where the client has just an idea but lacks the actual picture in mind. When doing all commercial buildings where proper records and evidence is record is needed, ARCHICAD should be considered. Projects which involve complex and large volumes of labor require well-presented drawings or representation done with ARCHICAD for proper and easy execution. ARCHICAD is less appropriate for small jobs like shades which are not complex and need less attention.
    Read full review
    Open Source
    I see FreeCad as the perfect solution for a startup with limited resources that want to save as much as possible and doesn't mind using non-standard 3D CAD software, i.e., it's not required by customers to use specific software for compatibility. It's perfect for hobbyist use and makers who don't care about brands and pay monthly fees. I see it as very well suited for small businesses that need FEA (finite element analysis) and can't/don't want to pay huge amounts of money for it, just like us. I see FreeCad as less appropriate for big corporations or well-established businesses that need standardized solutions, compatibility with clients or good version management. Don't get me wrong, it can get the job done, but it will be much slower than state-of-the-art CAD systems.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Graphisoft
    • User interface is super cool. It helps you customize any new theme on your architectural objects.
    • Minimalistic approach in the toolkit helps in quick editing.
    • Render realistic images.
    • Collaboration with other team members is an awesome feature.
    Incentivized
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    Open Source
    • Importing CAD formats
    • Converting mesh formats to solid and surface objects geometry
    • Fixing errors in geometry cad
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Graphisoft
    • ArchiCAD lacks a few feature sets, including an automatic Keynote database extraction system, an expandable Phasing/Options manager, and an easy way to transfer standard details into a project.
    • The Revision/Change Manager, as well as the new Stair and Railing tools, while impressively flexible, are too complex to set up and customize.
    • It is an underdog product. Revit has a market share because it spends more money on marketing, and less on product development.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Open Source
    • Overall, the UI feels very old and non-polished.
    • There are some quirky behaviors, like being unable to select a plane by having the cursor over it; it has to be over the edges of the plane.
    • It's overwhelming having those many modules and options for doing things that appear to be similar.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Graphisoft
    No answers on this topic
    Open Source
    Usability is awkward. Perhaps if you learn it as your first CAD, it will feel OK. Still, it comes from commercial CAD products like mine (Onshape, Solid Works, Inventor, Solid Edge). You will feel it is less intuitive, with a less polished UI, difficult to customize and, this is a subjective one, less serious. I'd love to see it improve the usability and UI. I believe the engine behind it is powerful, but how you interact with the software is still lacking.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Graphisoft
    We have rapid responses from their support team, and they often go the extra mile to pinpoint the root cause of an issue and assist the team in resolving it. They are honest when a problem is down to user error, or a glitch on the version we are on.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    Graphisoft
    On the first hand, ARCHICHAD offers more versatility in modeling complex geometric shapes and forms. ARCHICHAD also offers greater flexibility for customization and the development of add-ons and extensions. This allows users to tailor the software to their specific needs and workflows, enhancing productivity and efficiency. While both ARCHICHAD and Revit offer rendering capabilities, ARCHICHAD's built-in rendering engine, CineRender, is better for its ease of use and high-quality output.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Open Source
    Freecad is used often when receiving files from multiple sources and the need to work with cad in various forms from meshes to solid cad. Often when receiving scans of 3d objects the format is easy to work with and convert to traditional cad later on. There is no other cad that can bridge the gap between all the cad formats that we found yet.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Graphisoft
    • This product allows us to draft on a Mac OS.
    • The tool we use to make our product (Architectural Plans).
    • Helps 3D model and render images for clients.
    Read full review
    Open Source
    • It has allowed us to do some cad work that no other systems has allowed us to do and is key to getting that done fast
    • It has lots of online support through forums and blogs for trouble shooting
    • It could have an updated interface to make the functionality more user friendly for first time users
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots