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Construction · head to head

Autodesk Revit vs Houdini

Autodesk Revit logo

Autodesk Revit

Construction

BIM software for architects and engineers

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Houdini logo

Houdini

CAD

Procedural 3D animation and VFX

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Houdini has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Autodesk Revit exact subscription rates not shown on product page; pricing template contains placeholder {{PRICE}} variable; Houdini houdini Indie at $299 per year requires annual gross revenue under $100K USD
  • They diverge on capability: Autodesk Revit covers BIM modeling, Houdini covers Procedural modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Autodesk Revit and Houdini actually diverge.

Attributes where Autodesk Revit and Houdini differ
AttributeAutodesk RevitHoudini
Starting price$29/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsWindows, MacOS, Linux
CategoryConstructionCAD
Founded19821987

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

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 Autodesk Revit

  • BIM modeling
  • Parametric components
  • Collaboration
  • Documentation
  • Structural analysis
  • MEP design
  • Cloud worksharing
  • AutoCAD

Only in Houdini

  • Procedural modeling
  • VFX
  • Simulations
  • Particle systems
  • Pyro FX
  • Ocean tools
  • Rigging
  • Maya

Both cover

  • Rendering
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Autodesk Revit

  • Building designnot Houdini
  • Construction documentationnot Houdini
  • BIM coordinationnot Houdini

Houdini

  • Procedural 3D modelling and environment generationnot Autodesk Revit
  • Visual effects simulation for pyro, fluids, cloth and rigid bodiesnot Autodesk Revit
  • Building reusable procedural assets for a studio pipelinenot Autodesk Revit

Where each one falls short

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

Autodesk Revit

  • Exact subscription rates not shown on product page; pricing template contains placeholder {{PRICE}} variable
  • Multiple pricing options (monthly, annual, 3-year term) available but actual costs require navigation to separate pricing flow

Houdini

  • Houdini Indie at $299 per year requires annual gross revenue under $100K USD
  • Houdini Indie cannot be used in the same pipeline as commercial versions of Houdini
  • Houdini Indie and Apprentice save to their own .hipnc file format, which commercial Houdini pipelines do not share
  • The free Apprentice edition is non commercial, caps render resolution at 1920x1080 and watermarks output images
  • Houdini Indie ships with only 2 render tokens
  • Full DOP level simulation node access requires Houdini FX at $4,495 per workstation; Core at $1,995 exposes only SOP level pre built simulation assets
  • Extra render tokens cost $195

Pricing, plan by plan

Autodesk Revit

$29/month
  • Revit$2545/month
    • Full BIM capabilities
    • Collaboration tools
  • AEC Collection$2975/month
    • Revit + AutoCAD + Civil 3D + more

Houdini

Free
  • ApprenticeFree
    • Learning version
    • Non-commercial
  • Indie$269/month
    • Revenue limit $100K
  • Core$1995/month
    • Full commercial
  • FX$4495/month
    • Full + simulations

Which should you pick?

Choose Autodesk Revit if

  • You need bim modeling.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want parametric components.
Autodesk Revit review

Choose Houdini if

  • You need procedural modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want vfx.
Houdini review

Questions people ask

Is Autodesk Revit or Houdini better?
Neither clearly leads. Autodesk Revit starts at $29/month and Houdini at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Autodesk Revit or Houdini?
Houdini has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Autodesk Revit and Free for Houdini.
Does Autodesk Revit or Houdini run on more platforms?
Autodesk Revit runs on Windows. Houdini runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
Can I use Houdini for free?
Yes. Houdini has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Autodesk Revit starts at $29/month.
What is Autodesk Revit best used for?
Autodesk Revit is most often used for building design, construction documentation, bim coordination. Of those, building design and construction documentation are not what Houdini is typically brought in for.
What can Autodesk Revit do that Houdini cannot?
Autodesk Revit covers BIM modeling, Parametric components, Collaboration, Documentation. Houdini covers Procedural modeling, VFX, Simulations, Particle systems. Both handle Rendering, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Autodesk Revit: How much does Autodesk Revit cost per month?

Autodesk Revit is available on a monthly subscription, with a 15-day return policy for trial conversions. Specific rates are not published on the product page.

Source
Houdini: How much does SideFX Houdini cost?

SideFX Houdini pricing is not published on their website. Specific prices for commercial, educational, and non-commercial licenses must be obtained by adding items to your cart or contacting SideFX sales directly.

Source
Autodesk Revit: What discount does Autodesk offer for annual Revit subscriptions?

Revit annual subscriptions save 33% compared to monthly pricing. Specific price points are not displayed on the homepage.

Source
Houdini: What license types does Houdini offer?

Houdini offers Commercial licenses (Houdini Indie for under $100K USD annual revenue, Houdini Core, Houdini FX, Houdini Engine), Non-Commercial licenses (Houdini Apprentice free, Houdini Education for Students and Schools), Rental options, and Annual Upgrade Plans. Volume-based discounts are available for Houdini Engine.

Source
Autodesk Revit: Can I install Revit on multiple computers?

Revit subscriptions allow installation on up to 3 computers, but only one named user can sign in at a time. Multi-seat team pricing is not detailed on the site.

Source
Houdini: Is Houdini available for free?

Yes. Houdini Apprentice is available free for non-commercial use. Houdini Education licenses are also available for students and schools at no cost.

Source
Houdini: Are volume discounts available for Houdini?

Yes. Volume-based discounts are available for Houdini Engine licenses. Rental and Annual Upgrade Plan pricing have been adjusted as of Houdini 21.

Source
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