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ARCHICAD

Score8.7 out of 10

29 Reviews and Ratings

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What is ARCHICAD?

ARCHICAD is a 3D architectural design application and BIM from Graphisoft, a Nemetschek Group company headquartered in Budapest.

Categories & Use Cases

Key Features

Learn about the best (and worst!) features ARCHICAD has to offer, as determined by TrustRadius' reviewers.
Based on 29 ratings of ARCHICAD's features
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Top Performing Features

  • 3D Modeling

    Allows users to create and manipulate 3D objects with precise measurements and control.

    Category average: 7.8

  • Parametric Design

    Enables users to define and modify design parameters, allowing for faster iteration and design changes.

    Category average: 7.6

  • Simulation and Analysis

    Provides tools for simulating physical properties and behaviors of designs, allowing users to test and optimize their designs before production.

    Category average: 6.3

Areas for Improvement

  • Customization and Extensions

    Provides options for customizing the software interface or to include add-ons which extend the functionality of the software.

    Category average: 7.2

  • Collaboration and Sharing

    Provides tools for sharing and collaborating on designs with others in real-time, including the ability to track changes and manage design revisions.

    Category average: 6.9

  • Rendering and Visualization

    Allows users to create realistic images and visualizations of their designs, including the ability to apply materials, textures, and lighting effects.

    Category average: 6.6

Most Frequent Users

Top 3 industries using ARCHICAD.
Based on HG Insights installation data
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#1 most frequent

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

28.8%

1,254 installations of 4,354

#2 most frequent

Construction

9.0%

394 installations of 4,354

#3 most frequent

Manufacturing

5.3%

229 installations of 4,354

Reviews

What users are saying about ARCHICAD.
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Best CAD software for Mac OS

Brian Walker, AIAView profile
Architect in Professional Services at Align Architecture & Planning, PLC (1-10 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

ARCHICAD is our primary CAD/BIM software for 2D and 3D Architectural drawings. We use it to produce our Architectural plans, and in some projects, 3D models that we export for further rendering. Without a product like ARCHICAD, I would have to learn to draw by hand, so I am thankful to have it.

Pros

  • 2D Drafting (CAD).
  • Linking Drawings to Layout Sheets.
  • 3D Visualizing.
  • CAD to BIM integration.

Cons

  • More control / options for exporting to other platforms.
  • 3D model manipulation.
  • 3D modeling for custom object building.

Most Important Features

  • Drafting
  • 3D Modeling.
  • Automatic Schedules.

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.

Other Software Used

SketchUp

The future of construction and life of architectural and engineering made easy.

peter mugambiView profile
Mathematics Teacher in Engineering at Kenyatta University (201-500 employees employees)

Pros

  • Presenting sketched paper works into an actual real object by transforming it from line work to real structural walls with all the necessary features like windows, doors, stone texture, and colors.
  • The integration of other software like Lumion 360 render software makes drawing appear more real
  • Using modular patterns included in the façade design workflow, a hierarchical curtain wall system can be readily established, built, specified, and erected. ARCHICAD adapts natural graphical inputs in design settings with 3D or 2D elevation.

Cons

  • Increasing the size of the files in ArchiCAD to allow it to be used for more complex applications can be more comfortable and user-friendly.
  • Improving it to support more tutorials, add-ons, resources, and e-books.
  • Withholding releasing and developing new software and concentrating on improving the existing version can greatly help in the life of architecture and engineering.

Most Important Features

  • Faster and smoother 3D navigation aspect which helps in displaying plan into actual building.
  • Complex and well-defined objects make it easy when I need to display actual objects on a drawing plan.
  • Stair design is one of the most difficult problems in architecture. The Stair Tool in Archicad analyses thousands of design choices and presents the best stair designs in the context of the specific structure.

Return on Investment

  • ARCHICAD have positively increased the volume of projects as it is easy to execute since the projects are well defined.
  • Also, ARCHICAD has positively helped mobilize quickly and effectively funds, labor, and necessary requirement since everything is well outlined such that it is easy to calculate actual cost.
  • ARCHICAD has helped reduce paperwork which was more tiresome and time-consuming by doing drawings manually and this has helped save on time of completing projects.

Alternatives Considered

AutoCAD and Revit

Other Software Used

Navisworks, Revit, Azure Remote Rendering

Transform Designs to Reality with ARCHICAD!

Incentivized
Huma Ali
Center Head at iNIFD (51-200 employees employees)

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.

Cons

  • Subscription or pricing is on a little higher side.
  • Requires a robust system of high level RAM, otherwise it crashes often.
  • Due to its minimalistic approach, it is not flexible enough like other software.

Most Important Features

  • Easy way of imparting training to students
  • Quick customization for quick results
  • Visualization of geometrical objects is amazing and gives a holistic view of your imagination
  • Resolution on images, such as light, texture and theme is quick and agile

Return on Investment

  • Helped us build an expert team of faculties to teach ARCHICAD
  • Developed design workflow has sped up
  • Working collaboratively and sharing information has become easier
  • Workflow tracking with detailed analysis has helped solve problems at the root stage

Alternatives Considered

AutoCAD

Other Software Used

AutoCAD, Revit

Easy Working

Incentivized
Bahar Fardnia
Student at TU Berlin (10,001+ employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We draw a 3D Model, Plan, and section with it. It is designed really well and easy to use, there are just some small points: I use the student version of it. In the scaling for printing, there is a limitation of scale with proper scale size in the Student version! And also in rendering, there is not enough landscape features.

Pros

  • Drawing precisely.
  • Easy to draw 3D Model , section, elevation, plan in the same time.

Cons

  • Landscape Features
  • Furniture's
  • Open GIS file easily

Most Important Features

  • Precise and fast drawings.
  • Easy to combine 3d and 2D.
  • Easy to learn.

Return on Investment

  • Fast and easy drawing help me to save more time.
  • Use DXF file also help me to use my old files in Archicad.

Alternatives Considered

Revit and AutoCAD

Other Software Used

AutoCAD

ARCHICAD as one of the main BIM tools for the future of modeling

Incentivized
Verified User
Manager in Marketing (11-50 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I normally use ARCHICAD for the creation of 3D models of buildings, adding structural elements such as doors, windows, and other components, and also to visualize how the final structure could look like. One of the main problems is the incompability of different versions of ARCHICHAD and the different element libraries that are installed in each version.

Pros

  • visualization of the building
  • vast library of elements
  • automatic generation of sections and elevations

Cons

  • creation of a common element library for all the versions
  • further development of rendering settings
  • more comprehensible work-interface

Return on Investment

  • faster and more effective development of plans
  • the collaboration features enable teams to work together more effectively, regardless of geographical location
  • by integrating architectural, structural, and MEP systems into a single model, ARCHICAD helps identify and resolve potential conflicts early in the design process.
  • the compatibility issues with other software platforms or stakeholders which are not using ARCHICAD could pose challenges for collaboration and interoperability.

Alternatives Considered

Revit

Other Software Used

SketchUp, AutoCAD, Adobe InDesign