Likelihood to Recommend 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 GrabCad Workbench is well suited for group projects, where all my team members can view the designs at the same time, and by integrating it with CAD software like SolidWorks, all my team members can see the live changes in the projects based on the recommendations received. I can also do conversations with my team, which are project-specific, thus reducing time in email and video conferences. For assemblies, I can generate a Bill of materials with a single click. However, there are some drawbacks like every member needs to have an account in order to sync files with everyone, and the platform requires good internet connectivity otherwise file uploading will be time-consuming.
Read full review Pros 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. Read full review GrabCAD is the source of truth for the files being used GrabCAD is free Easy to use and get started Read full review Cons 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. Read full review The software is not intuitive. You must have an account to share files. Read full review Support Rating 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.
Read full review Never needed.
Read full review Alternatives Considered AutoCAD uses line works in actual presentation whiles ARCHICAD uses real structural walls which are easy to use and present compared to line works.
Revit largely and mainly focused on structural design and is more complex to use compared to ARCHICAD which helps one focus on different aspects of drawing and is easy to integrate with rendering software like Lumion 360 panorama.
Read full review It’s the bottom of the barrel.
Read full review Return on Investment 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 GrabCad Workbench is the best in terms of integration with other CAD software like SolidWorks where live changes can be made to a product. GrabCad Workbench has a common parts library, which allows us to use repetitive parts without redesigning them again and again. Hence saving a lot of time. I can do all the conversations in the file itself, reducing time in email and other modes. It automatically generates BOM for my assembly files. It tracks versions, all the files are updated automatically for all members once a new version is created. It would be good if it can be updated to read drawing and sketch files. The team needs to improve the stability of the platform. Read full review ScreenShots