Construction & Architecture · head to head
ArchiCAD vs Trimble

ArchiCAD
Construction & Architecture
BIM software for architects
- From
- $177/month
- Rated
- -

Trimble
Construction & Architecture
Construction and building information platform
- From
- $500/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: ArchiCAD available on Windows and macOS only, no native Linux support; Trimble listed on UK G-Cloud 14 at £30 to £50 per user per month for Viewpoint Field View, Trimble's construction field management product, submitted directly by Trimble UK Limited
- They diverge on capability: ArchiCAD covers BIM modeling, Trimble covers Project management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which ArchiCAD and Trimble actually diverge.
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Construction & Architecture).
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 Trimble
- Project management
- BIM collaboration
- Document management
- Field coordination
- Analytics
- Revit
- AutoCAD
- Procore
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
ArchiCAD
- Architectural design with BIM capabilitiesnot Trimble
- Real-time team collaboration via BIMcloudnot Trimble
- Automated documentation generation from design changesnot Trimble
- Mixed Windows and macOS team environmentsnot Trimble
Trimble
- BIM collaborationnot ArchiCAD
- Project coordinationnot ArchiCAD
- Document managementnot ArchiCAD
- Field operationsnot 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
Trimble
- Listed on UK G-Cloud 14 at £30 to £50 per user per month for Viewpoint Field View, Trimble's construction field management product, submitted directly by Trimble UK Limited
Pricing, plan by plan
ArchiCAD
$177/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the ArchiCAD review.
Trimble
$500/month- Connect$500/month
- Project management
- Collaboration
- Document control
- EnterpriseFree
- BIM integration
- Advanced analytics
- Custom workflows
Which should you pick?
Choose ArchiCAD if
- You need bim modeling.
- You work on Windows, macOS.
- You also want design tools.
Choose Trimble if
- You need project management.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want bim collaboration.
Questions people ask
- Is ArchiCAD or Trimble better?
- Neither clearly leads. ArchiCAD starts at $177/month and Trimble at $500/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, ArchiCAD or Trimble?
- ArchiCAD starts at $177/month and Trimble at $500/month.
- Does ArchiCAD or Trimble run on more platforms?
- ArchiCAD runs on Windows, macOS. Trimble runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- 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 Trimble is typically brought in for.
- What can ArchiCAD do that Trimble cannot?
- ArchiCAD covers BIM modeling, Design tools, Documentation, Rendering. Trimble covers Project management, BIM collaboration, Document management, Field coordination.
Related pages
Other head to heads
- ArchiCAD vs Autodesk Revit
- ArchiCAD vs Procore
- ArchiCAD vs SketchUp
- ArchiCAD vs SketchUp Pro
- ArchiCAD vs Vectorworks Architect
- ArchiCAD vs Autodesk Construction Cloud
- ArchiCAD vs Bluebeam Revu
- ArchiCAD vs BuildingConnected
- ArchiCAD vs Fieldwire
- ArchiCAD vs BricsCAD BIM
- ArchiCAD vs Builderbox
- ArchiCAD vs Buildertrend
- ArchiCAD vs Buildxact
- ArchiCAD vs Chief Architect
- ArchiCAD vs CMiC
- ArchiCAD vs CoConstruct
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- ArchiCAD vs Contractor Foreman
- Trimble vs Autodesk Revit
- Trimble vs Procore
- Trimble vs SketchUp
- Trimble vs SketchUp Pro
- Trimble vs Vectorworks Architect
- Trimble vs Autodesk Construction Cloud
- Trimble vs Bluebeam Revu
- Trimble vs BuildingConnected
- Trimble vs Fieldwire
- Trimble vs BricsCAD BIM
- Trimble vs Builderbox
- Trimble vs Buildertrend
- Trimble vs Buildxact
- Trimble vs Chief Architect
- Trimble vs CMiC
- Trimble vs CoConstruct
- Trimble vs ConstructConnect
- Trimble vs Contractor Foreman
