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Construction · head to head

ArchiCAD vs Dalux

ArchiCAD logo

ArchiCAD

Construction

BIM software for architects

From
$177/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Dalux logo

Dalux

Construction

BIM viewing, snagging and field quality control for construction and facilities teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Dalux 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; Dalux no pricing is published for any paid module, so comparing Dalux against Procore or Autodesk Construction Cloud on cost requires entering a sales process and waiting for a quote you cannot benchmark.
  • They diverge on capability: ArchiCAD covers BIM modeling, Dalux covers Mobile BIM viewer.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ArchiCAD and Dalux actually diverge.

Attributes where ArchiCAD and Dalux differ
AttributeArchiCADDalux
Starting price$177/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOSWeb, iOS, Android, Windows
Founded1982Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Dalux

  • Mobile BIM viewer
  • Field snagging
  • Dalux Box
  • InfraField
  • Dalux FM
  • Handover
  • Checklists and forms
  • Free viewer tier

What people use each for

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

ArchiCAD

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

Dalux

  • A Nordic main contractor wants every subcontractor raising and closing snags in one system without paying a seat fee for each trade, so the free Field Basic tier carries the supply chain.not ArchiCAD
  • An engineering consultancy needs site staff to interrogate a federated model on a phone in a basement with no signal, where a browser-based viewer would be useless.not ArchiCAD
  • A public asset owner wants the as-built model and asset register to survive handover into an FM system rather than arriving as a pallet of ring binders.not ArchiCAD
  • A rail or highways contractor needs quality records located by chainage along a route rather than by level and grid on a building floor plan, which is what InfraField exists for.not 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

Dalux

  • No pricing is published for any paid module, so comparing Dalux against Procore or Autodesk Construction Cloud on cost requires entering a sales process and waiting for a quote you cannot benchmark.
  • There is no cost management, estimating, budgeting or payment application functionality, so commercial teams keep a separate system and someone reconciles the two by hand.
  • The integration catalogue is thin next to the American incumbents, and ERP or finance connections generally mean custom work through the API rather than a listed connector.
  • Support, documentation and product terminology are strongest in Danish and Northern European construction conventions, and teams working to AIA or other North American contract norms will find the workflows do not map cleanly.
  • The free tier is deliberately limited: Field Basic has no checklists, no document control and no reporting, so the free users your subcontractors get are consumers of information rather than participants in a controlled process, and upgrading them is a paid conversation.

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

Dalux

Free
  • BIM Viewer and Field Basic$undefined/year
    • Federated model viewing on desktop and mobile
    • Basic snagging against drawings and BIM
    • Unlimited invited project members at no cost
  • Dalux Field, Box, InfraField, Handover, FM$undefined/year
    • Full quality, safety and document control workflows
    • Handover and tender modules
    • Facilities management on the as-built model

Which should you pick?

Choose ArchiCAD if

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

Choose Dalux if

  • You need mobile bim viewer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
  • You also want field snagging.
Dalux review

Questions people ask

Is ArchiCAD or Dalux better?
Neither clearly leads. ArchiCAD starts at $177/month and Dalux at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ArchiCAD or Dalux?
Dalux has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $177/month for ArchiCAD and Free for Dalux.
Does ArchiCAD or Dalux run on more platforms?
ArchiCAD runs on Windows, macOS. Dalux runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
Can I use Dalux for free?
Yes. Dalux 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 Dalux is typically brought in for.
What can ArchiCAD do that Dalux cannot?
ArchiCAD covers BIM modeling, Design tools, Documentation, Rendering. Dalux covers Mobile BIM viewer, Field snagging, Dalux Box, InfraField.

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
Dalux: Is Dalux really free?

BIM Viewer and Field Basic are genuinely free with unlimited invited users. Dalux Box, the full Field product, InfraField, Handover, Tender and FM are paid and quoted privately.

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
Dalux: Does Dalux work offline on site?

Yes. Models, drawings and snags sync to the device and the mobile apps are built to work in basements and lift shafts, syncing when signal returns.

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
Dalux: Can Dalux replace Procore?

Not on the commercial side. It covers field quality, safety, documents and handover, but has no cost control, budgets or payment applications.

Dalux: Is it available outside Europe?

It is sold globally and the apps are multilingual, but the customer base, partner network and support hours are centred on Northern Europe.

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