Softwr

Construction · head to head

ArchiCAD vs Microsoft Project

ArchiCAD logo

ArchiCAD

Construction

BIM software for architects

From
$177/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft Project logo

Microsoft Project

Construction

Keep projects organized and on track

From
$10/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ArchiCAD available on Windows and macOS only, no native Linux support; Microsoft Project performance degrades with large projects over 400 tasks, becoming slow and unstable
  • They diverge on capability: ArchiCAD covers BIM modeling, Microsoft Project covers Gantt charts.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ArchiCAD and Microsoft Project actually diverge.

Attributes where ArchiCAD and Microsoft Project differ
AttributeArchiCADMicrosoft Project
Starting price$177/month$10/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWindows, macOSWeb, Windows, macOS
Founded19821975

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Microsoft Project

  • Gantt charts
  • Resource management
  • Budget tracking
  • Timeline views
  • Task dependencies
  • Critical path
  • Earned value analysis
  • Portfolio management

What people use each for

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

ArchiCAD

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

Microsoft Project

  • Project schedulingnot ArchiCAD
  • Resource allocationnot ArchiCAD
  • Portfolio managementnot ArchiCAD
  • Budget trackingnot ArchiCAD
  • Enterprise project managementnot 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

Microsoft Project

  • Performance degrades with large projects over 400 tasks, becoming slow and unstable
  • Limited Agile methodology support, primarily designed for waterfall project management
  • Proprietary .mpp file format creates compatibility issues on non-Windows systems
  • No offline mode, limiting users without reliable internet connectivity

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

Microsoft Project

$10/month
  • Plan 1$10/month
    • Task and project management
    • Grid views
    • Timeline features
  • Plan 3$30/month
    • Desktop client
    • Resource management
    • Advanced scheduling
  • Plan 5$55/month
    • Portfolio management
    • Demand management
    • Enterprise capabilities

Which should you pick?

Choose ArchiCAD if

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

Choose Microsoft Project if

  • You need gantt charts.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want resource management.
Microsoft Project review

Questions people ask

Is ArchiCAD or Microsoft Project better?
Neither clearly leads. ArchiCAD starts at $177/month and Microsoft Project at $10/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ArchiCAD or Microsoft Project?
ArchiCAD starts at $177/month and Microsoft Project at $10/month.
Does ArchiCAD or Microsoft Project run on more platforms?
ArchiCAD runs on Windows, macOS. Microsoft Project runs on Web, Windows, macOS.
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 Microsoft Project is typically brought in for.
What can ArchiCAD do that Microsoft Project cannot?
ArchiCAD covers BIM modeling, Design tools, Documentation, Rendering. Microsoft Project covers Gantt charts, Resource management, Budget tracking, Timeline views.

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
Microsoft Project: What are the different Microsoft Project plans and pricing?

Microsoft Project offers Plan 1 at $10/user/month for basic project management, Plan 3 at $30/user/month with desktop client and resource management, and Plan 5 at $55/user/month for enterprise portfolio management. Desktop licenses (2024) start at $679.99 for Standard and $1,129.99 for Professional.

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
Microsoft Project: Does Microsoft Project support Agile methodology?

Microsoft Project was primarily designed for traditional waterfall project management. While it has some Agile features, it is not optimized for Agile workflows compared to dedicated Agile tools like Jira or Monday.com.

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
Microsoft Project: Can multiple teams collaborate in real-time on Microsoft Project?

Yes, Microsoft Project for the Web provides real-time collaboration through cloud-based access. However, collaboration is noted as harder compared to modern cloud-native tools due to its file-based architecture.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on ArchiCAD

More on Microsoft Project

Keep looking

Other head to heads