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Construction · head to head

ArchiCAD vs Contractor Foreman

ArchiCAD logo

ArchiCAD

Construction

BIM software for architects

From
$177/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Contractor Foreman logo

Contractor Foreman

Construction

Construction management for contractors covering scheduling, invoicing and crew management

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Contractor Foreman has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ArchiCAD available on Windows and macOS only, no native Linux support; Contractor Foreman 100-day money-back guarantee only available for annual billing, not monthly
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ArchiCAD and Contractor Foreman actually diverge.

Attributes where ArchiCAD and Contractor Foreman differ
AttributeArchiCADContractor Foreman
Starting price$177/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOSWeb
Founded1982Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Construction).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ArchiCAD

  • BIM modeling
  • Design tools
  • Documentation
  • Rendering
  • Energy analysis
  • IFC support
  • Teamwork collaboration
  • Library parts

Only in Contractor Foreman

Nothing recorded that ArchiCAD does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ArchiCAD

  • Architectural design with BIM capabilitiesnot Contractor Foreman
  • Real-time team collaboration via BIMcloudnot Contractor Foreman
  • Automated documentation generation from design changesnot Contractor Foreman
  • Mixed Windows and macOS team environmentsnot Contractor Foreman

Contractor Foreman

  • Construction project management and trackingnot ArchiCAD
  • Field team crew coordinationnot ArchiCAD
  • Project timeline managementnot ArchiCAD
  • Multi-project workload balancing for contractorsnot ArchiCAD

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ArchiCAD

  • Available on Windows and macOS only, no native Linux support
  • Subscription-only licensing model with no perpetual licence option
  • Studio tier does not include MEP Designer - requires Collaborate tier at $208/month

Contractor Foreman

  • 100-day money-back guarantee only available for annual billing, not monthly
  • All plans include 30-day trial, but commitment ends trial with charges
  • Stripe payment adds 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction fee; ACH adds 1% + $0.30 max fee

Pricing, plan by plan

ArchiCAD

$177/month
  • Archicad Studio$177/month
    • Archicad Windows & macOS
    • BIMx Pro
    • BIMcloud Basic
  • Archicad Collaborate$208/month
    • Archicad Windows & macOS
    • MEP Designer
    • BIMx Pro

Contractor Foreman

Free
  • Basic$49/month
    • 1 user
    • 30-day free trial
    • 100-day money-back guarantee (annual only)
  • Standard$105/month
    • 3 users
    • 30-day free trial
    • 100-day money-back guarantee (annual only)
  • Plus$166/month
    • 8 users
    • 30-day free trial
    • 100-day money-back guarantee (annual only)
  • Pro$221/month
    • 15 users
    • 30-day free trial
    • 100-day money-back guarantee (annual only)

Which should you pick?

Choose ArchiCAD if

  • You need bim modeling.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want design tools.
ArchiCAD review

Choose Contractor Foreman if

  • You want to start without paying.
Contractor Foreman review

Questions people ask

Is ArchiCAD or Contractor Foreman better?
Neither clearly leads. ArchiCAD starts at $177/month and Contractor Foreman at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ArchiCAD or Contractor Foreman?
Contractor Foreman has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $177/month for ArchiCAD and Free for Contractor Foreman.
Does ArchiCAD or Contractor Foreman run on more platforms?
ArchiCAD runs on Windows, macOS. Contractor Foreman runs on Web.
Can I use Contractor Foreman for free?
Yes. Contractor Foreman has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ArchiCAD starts at $177/month.
What is ArchiCAD best used for?
ArchiCAD is most often used for architectural design with bim capabilities, real-time team collaboration via bimcloud, automated documentation generation from design changes, mixed windows and macos team environments. Of those, architectural design with bim capabilities and real-time team collaboration via bimcloud are not what Contractor Foreman is typically brought in for.
What can ArchiCAD do that Contractor Foreman cannot?
ArchiCAD covers BIM modeling, Design tools, Documentation, Rendering.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ArchiCAD: What is the cost of Archicad's subscription plans?

Archicad Studio starts at $177/month or $2,123 upfront annually. Archicad Collaborate, the most popular tier, is $208/month or $2,497 upfront annually. Both include local and cloud teamworking capabilities.

Source
Contractor Foreman: How much does Contractor Foreman cost?

Contractor Foreman pricing ranges from $49/month for 1 user (Basic) to $332/month for unlimited users (Unlimited). Annual payment provides 100-day money-back guarantee.

Source
ArchiCAD: What is the difference between Archicad Studio and Archicad Collaborate?

Studio includes architectural modeling and BIMcloud Basic for local teamwork. Collaborate adds MEP Designer for MEP modeling and BIMcloud SaaS for cloud-based global teamwork, and costs $31 more per month.

Source
Contractor Foreman: How many users are included in each Contractor Foreman plan?

Basic includes 1 user, Standard includes 3 users, Plus includes 8 users, Pro includes 15 users, and Unlimited plan includes unlimited users.

Source
ArchiCAD: Is Archicad free for students?

Yes, Archicad offers free educational licenses for students, educators, and academic institutions. Archicad Studio is available free for 30 days as a trial.

Source
Contractor Foreman: Does Contractor Foreman offer a free trial?

Yes, all Contractor Foreman plans include a 30-day free trial with no charge until the trial ends. Annual plans also include a 100-day money-back guarantee.

Source
Contractor Foreman: What payment methods does Contractor Foreman accept?

Contractor Foreman accepts Stripe payments (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) and ACH bank transfers (1% + $0.30 max fee).

Source
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